The Seduction (Unexpected Circumstances 2)

“Hmm.” He tightened his grip on my waist and turned me around. I tilted my head to look up at him, trying to decipher the meaning of the sound he made. As I had been on several other occasions in our short time together, I was a little in awe of his magnificent features. I found myself wanting to touch his face and wondered if that was something I would be allowed to do or if it would not be welcomed. I looked to his eyes, and his expression was passive. I wasn’t sure if my answer pleased him or not.

“Is that…wrong?” I asked tentatively.

“Of course not,” he said with a small shake of his head. “I was only intrigued by your response. What I appreciate when I look upon you is your softness, your curves. I find it interesting you seem to appreciate the opposite.”

“It seems more fitting for a man.”

“I suppose it does.” Branford nodded. “I have always considered how strength benefits me in battle but not how it might be perceived by others. Of course, I’ve never had anyone to bathe me before. Well, not for a long time.”

“When was the last?” I asked and then considered I might not want to know the answer.

“The woman who cared for Ida and me when we were young would bathe us. I didn’t really trust any servants after we left Sterling. I would never let anyone get that close to me.”

“But you…you trust me to do it?”

Branford looked at me sharply for a moment, and I could see the doubt in his eyes though he contained it quickly. His chest rose with a deep breath before he answered.

“The bathing doesn’t concern me,” he said. “When you shaved me…well, that was rather difficult, I must admit. I’ve never allowed anyone to do that before, and I’m not used to being in such a vulnerable position.”

I didn’t know how to respond though I was not surprised by what he said. I had seen the uneasiness when I held the shaving blade near his throat and had felt him relax noticeably when it was over. He had been perceptibly nervous the entire time.

“Would you like me to start? With your bath, I mean?”

“Most definitely,” Branford replied, his eyes sparkling. He turned in a half circle, apparently wishing for me to start with his back. With my hands, I traveled slowly over my husband’s shoulders and down to his waist. Warm droplets of water escaped the washcloth and dripped down his skin, flowing quickly over the outlined muscles before merging into the fabric of his soft linen trousers.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly as I used a dry towel to remove the drops. I immersed the washcloth in the warm water and wrung it out, testing it to make sure it didn’t drip this time.

“I think it just means you’ll have to do it all again,” Branford said as he looked over his shoulder. When I looked up to his eyes, they sparkled with playfulness.

“If you like,” I said, trying to contain my own smile.

“I like it very much.”

I went back to my task, trying to control my smile by biting at my lip. The feel of his skin underneath the cloth made my fingers tingle though I wasn’t sure why. I washed around the muscles in Branford’s back, dried him off, and then washed the backs of his arms as well.

“Will having Amarra share our rooms truly not bother you?” Branford asked suddenly.

“I don’t think so,” I said. “I’ve never really spent much time around animals.”

“I’m glad,” he said. “I have to admit I was a little hesitant to ask.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t know if you would want an animal in our rooms. Some people don’t think they should ever be indoors.”

“I’ve never seen animals inside like that,” I told him. I ran a dry cloth up and down Branford’s arms until they were dry. “I know there were some hunting dogs around Hadebrand, but I never came into contact with them. I had never touched a dog before today.”

Branford turned to face me and then leaned over a little to kiss my lips softly. He stood back up, and I rinsed out the cloth to start washing his chest.

“Is there another washcloth?” Branford asked.

“Yes,” I replied. “Do you not like this one?”

“I like that one fine,” Branford said.

I reached under the basin and pulled out another cloth, but Branford took it from my hand as he spoke.

“I just thought maybe I should wash you, too.”