“What are you waiting for, love?” he asked when Tess remained motionless.
“Nothing.”
“Then take off your robe or I will do it for you.”
The words were a gauntlet, a threat, and there was a distinct challenge in his gaze. But Tess mutely shed her robe and stood before him naked.
His expression turned frankly sensual as his gaze slowly swept downward, over every part of her. Raising his hands, he brushed his palms over her nipples, making all the nerves in her body shiver with delight. Then his fingers spread, fanning over her breasts.
His warm caresses sent a jolt of desire through Tess and set the inner passage between her thighs to aching. She wanted his magnificent length pressing deep inside her, filling her emptiness with heat.
A faint moan escaped her as he thumbed the taut peaks, but when she clutched at his shoulders to draw him closer, Ian stepped back.
“Not yet. The pleasure will be greater if we delay.”
Hiding her disappointment, Tess accompanied him to the dressing room, where she pinned up her hair so as not to get it wet. Then Ian led her to the tub and supported her as she stepped into the water. When she sank down, he joined her.
To her surprise, however, Ian would not allow her to wash herself. “I intend to play lady’s maid today,” he informed her, taking the soap and cloth from her.
Then he proceeded to bathe her, making Tess understand why so many women longed to be his lover.
She had never seen this playful side of Ian, nor had she ever been the sole target of his wicked, seductive charm, even though undoubtedly he had used it to devastating effect on other members of her sex.
“You can be exceedingly charming when it suits you,” she said tightly as he washed her aching breasts.
“Indeed.”
The corners of his fascinating mouth turned up in a slow smile that was full of sin. Tess was nearly undone by that smile, but she forced herself to think of something other than his enchanting attentions.
“I suppose all your mistresses were exquisite beauties,” she observed.
“Are you fishing for compliments, love?”
“Not at all.”
“You compare favorably with any woman I have ever known.…”
As if to prove his point, he began commenting on each part of her body as he washed and rinsed her inch by inch, punctuating his observations frequently with his mouth as well as his hands. Her blood was pounding by the time he finished.
As his husky laughter caressed her nipple, Tess pulled back and commandeered the soap and cloth. She washed him in turn, pleased that Ian was obviously as aroused as she felt, judging from the size and hardness of his swollen male member.
When they emerged from the bathtub clean and dripping wet, he resumed control and used a towel to dry her off, paying particular attention to the sensitive folds between her legs. A shock of fierce pleasure shot through her nerve endings when he cupped her sex, then sank two fingers into her, his teasing slow and deliberate.
“Wicked man,” she said in a strangled voice, closing her own fingers around his thick shaft.
“Wicked woman,” he countered with a low, devilish laugh.
She held on for another moment, marveling at the hard length of him, before reaching for another towel to dry his skin.
When she was done, they left the damp towels behind and returned to his bedchamber, where they faced each other. Ian’s gaze held hers, and Tess could only stare back, enthralled by the challenge in his eyes.
The battle lines were clearly drawn, but she intended to meet his challenge measure for measure. Ian was an expert at lovemaking; if she hoped to remain unscathed by their love games, let alone be victorious, she would have to become much better at arousing him.
Reaching up, Tess unpinned her hair and shook her head, sending the long tresses tumbling over her bare shoulders. His gray eyes darkened with a heated look that only fed the aching need inside her.
Taking a step toward him, she ordered him to lie down on the bed. After a moment’s hesitation, Ian obeyed. Moving to the bedside, Tess stood staring down at his splendid nude form.
She had kissed his body briefly yesterday. Now she wanted to explore him at her leisure, to learn him with her hands, to taunt him until he lost control.