‘Can we start now?’ she whispered, pressing her hips into him.
‘Not so fast,’ he warned, moving away.
She bit down on the soft swell of her bottom lip as she narrowed her eyes and gazed at him warily.
Finally he appeared to relent. ‘OK,’ he agreed sternly, loosening his belt.
She watched entranced as he moved to draw the heavy blinds across the window. ‘Light those candles,’ he said, pointing to the thick creamy white pillars installed in brass holders around the room. ‘And switch off the lights.’
She did as he asked and in a few moments the bright artificial light was replaced by the flickering glow of a dozen or more scented candles.
‘That’s much better,’ Ramon murmured, holding out his hands to her. ‘Now, come here.’
She obeyed, her eyes fixed on his. Keeping her locked in his gaze, Ramon slowly eased his suit trousers down over his lean hips. Her fast intake of breath sounded above the seductive murmur of the bathwater, bouncing off the walls as the tension rose between them like the heat in a sauna. Adrenalin raced through her veins as he stood naked before her with all the assurance of some priapic warrior. And then slowly…almost lazily…he reached out and drew her close.
Tipping her chin so that she had to meet his gaze, he swung her into his arms and lowered her down carefully into the warm soapsuds. Joining her, he drew her back into his arms again, and now his kiss was long and slow, his hands sliding through her hair in a caress that stole away every thought in her mind but him. As she scored the broad expanse of his shoulders with her fingertips and arched against him his kiss grew hotter in reply, his tongue clashing against hers until daggers of desire brought her bucking against him. Reaching down to take him in her hands, she trembled at what she found, and trembled still more with the need to have him inside her.
They moved quickly, reversing positions as he brought her round to sit over him. His hands were firm on her buttocks as he guided her, teased her, held her back until, understanding that she was almost beyond control, he lowered her down, entering her slowly, only to lift her again at the same steady pace. She was all sensation, all compliance, all need as he continued to direct her movements. And when he relaxed his hold she slid as he had taught her, inch by inch, while Ramon rested against the end of the tub with his head thrown back and his arms stretched out along the sides.
But when she heard his soft, knowing laugh she started moving at her own pace, faster and faster, grabbing at his powerful shoulders for support while her head went back and her mouth opened to suck in the breath she needed to carry her through to release. And then he brought her back into his embrace again, stroking and kissing and murmuring to her in his own language as she shuddered through the last violent spasms in the safety of his arms.
‘And I haven’t even washed you yet,’ he murmured, his lips nuzzling her ear.
‘Mmm?’ Annalisa answered contentedly, turning a little in his arms.
‘Pass me the sponge,’ he instructed.
And she rested between his powerful thighs with her head leaning against his chest while he soaped her all over.
‘Am I clean enough now?’ she asked huskily.
‘For now,’ Ramon said, smiling as he squeezed out the sponge and tossed it back onto the shelf.
‘What are we going to do for the rest of the day?’ she murmured, snuggling into him.
He lifted her away from him so that he could stand up. ‘Unfortunately I have business meetings scheduled…as do you, tomorrow,’ he said when he saw her face. ‘But I have extended my stay here for another night and I have made several bookings so that you can test the beauty salon for me. I take it that is agreeable to you?’
Annalisa smiled back as she held out her hand for a towel. ‘You think of everything.’
‘I try to,’ he confirmed. ‘Come here and let me dry you, and then I can prepare for my meeting.’
“‘For love’s sake, kiss me once again!’”
Stirring sleepily in Ramon’s arms, Annalisa reached up to stroke his neck, his cheek…his lips. What a wonderful way to meet the new day. His voice was like chocolate, rich and deep, as it seeped into the furthest reaches of her drowsy mind to coax her to full wakefulness. ‘No. Don’t stop there,’ she purred against his lips. ‘I want more.’
‘Your wish is my command,’ he murmured, brushing her lips with the lightest touch before taking full possession of her mouth again. His tongue plunged deep and retreated slowly, his message unmistakable now.
‘That’s not what I meant,’ Annalisa whispered when he lifted his head to level a burning gaze on her face.