He sucked in a breath. "Lord help me, restraint is going to be far more difficult than I thought."
She couldn't speak. She could feel him standing close, almost jumped when he rained featherlight kisses along her shoulder. With her eyes closed, her body reacted to every touch, to every breath that drifted over her skin. She knew the moment he moved away.
"Don't turn around. Not yet." His tone was rich and heavy amidst the sound of splashing water. "It might feel cold at first."
As soon as the soaked linen touched her skin, she inhaled sharply, arching her back to pull away. "Good Lord."
"Hush," he whispered, pressing his mouth against her ear as one hand settled on her hip while the other wiped over her back with the damp cloth. A hint of lavender drifted through the air to tease her senses. "Your skin is so soft." The hand at her hip moved in caressing circles.
"It … it doesn't feel as cold now." She felt dizzy, drunk, a little disorientated as she swayed with his soothing touch. A bolt of desire shot to her core when he wiped the cool, moist piece of linen over her buttocks. "Marcus," came her breathless pant.
He must have dropped the cloth because two strong hands gripped her hips. Falling to his knees, he kissed along the base of her spine, moved lower to nip and lick each bare cheek.
The heavy feeling between her legs grew in intensity.
"Tell me you want me to touch you," he said. "Tell me you want to feel my hands all over your body."
"I do," she panted, a moan falling from her lips as he stroked the outside of her thigh, moving up the inside to skim lightly over the place that ached for him. "I do." Her tone revealed her impatience.
"Tell me what you want, Anna."
"Touch me," she whispered feeling no shame. "Touch me again."
"Like this?" His fingers travelled up her thigh, brushed against her sex, and she groaned as she moved against them.
"Yes."
Her breasts felt full and heavy, the slight chill in the air causing her nipples to peak. Desire raged through her like nothing she had ever felt before. The need to feel close to him, to feel him cover her body, push deep into her core, was overwhelming.
She almost whimpered when he dropped his hand, but the rustling of garments, the thud of boots hitting the floor convinced her he would soon be naked, too. With her heart beating so loudly, she gasped when he stepped closer. His bare skin felt hot, scorching against her back, the hard evidence of his arousal pressing against her buttocks.
He cupped her breasts as he pushed against her, his thumbs grazing over her nipples. Closing her eyes, she welcomed all the wonderful sensations. One hand drifted down to the apex of her thighs. As he nuzzled her neck, he whispered of all the things he wanted to do to her.
"Marcus," she murmured as she writhed against his fingers. "I can't wait. I need you. I need you now."
"Thank the Lord," he said turning her to face him. He gulped as his gaze fell to her breasts. "Hell, I haven't the strength to hold back."
She marvelled at the sculptured muscles in his chest. She couldn't resist touching him, her fingers gliding over the hard planes, her gaze falling to stare at his jutting erection. "Good heavens."
Stepping forward, he snaked his arm around her back and pulled her close until she could feel the warmth radiating from his skin. "Now, where were we?"
He claimed her lips like a man possessed, devouring, delving deep inside, branding her with his hot mouth. Rampant hands seemed to cover every inch of her body.
"Forgive me," he gasped as he sucked in a breath. "I have a feeling this will be a frantic coupling as I don't have the patience to be thorough. At least, not this time."
"I don't care." She threaded her arms around his neck, pulled him closer, the thick shaft of pure masculine flesh pressing against her stomach. "I just want you. More than I have ever wanted anything."
He lowered her down onto the bed, covering her with his body. The time for talking had passed. The time for thinking about anything other than the pleasure rippling in waves, ready to carry her off to an exotic location had passed, too.
"I'll try to be gentle," he said, tormenting her with kisses on her neck, taking her nipple into his mouth and sucking.
"I'm fine. Just hurry, Marcus."
He needed no further inducement. Using his knee to coax her legs apart, he took himself in hand and pushed slowly inside her. There were no words to describe the overwhelming sense of joy as she took him into her eager body.
"I'm not hurting you?"
"No … no. Not at all." She shook her head, wrapped her legs around him and relished in the glorious look of satisfaction etched on his face.