Page 55 of Juliet's Touch

Unless you are falling in love with Eric Stone.Was it possible? This soon?

Perhaps, but then why was she still fantasizing about someone else?

Soap in hand, he rubbed lather into her upper shoulders and down her arms. “There is a woman I slept with a couple of times,” he said, his voice as gentle as his ministrations. “I liked her very much, but I did not love her. And that is the extent of my carnal knowledge.”

She probably shouldn’t feel relieved at his admission, and yet, she didn’t want to share Eric with other women.

“Because you are an honorable gentleman,” she said.

He gently nudged her forward, then used the soap to draw circles on her back.

“How heavenly,” she murmured as her muscles turned to mush.

“Are you warming up?” he asked.

“Oh, yes.” She was, in fact, on fire. Since they were sharing deep secrets with each other, she felt the need to confess more of her feelings. “By the by, you have a lovely smile.”

“What?” he asked.

“I favor your smile. ’Tis so genuine.” Unlike the insincere men of her class.

Although she couldn’t see his face, she could feel him thinking. Was it possible he had no idea how handsome he was?

“Thank you for saying so.”

His exhale lifted the hairs escaping from her twist.

“I have another confession,” he said.

So far, their intimate conversation was going quite well, and she wished it to continue. “I am ready for it.” Hopefully.

“I took the book back to my room.” His words were so soft, she wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly.

She slid her buttocks forward and swiveled to face him. Caring for his injuries, she brushed a finger over each of the bruises on his face.

His lids drifted closed and he hummed. “I studied a couple of pictures and read the text this morning.” He opened his eyes and raised his brow as if awaiting her response.

Her first instinct was to ask, “What was in these pictures?”If she did,would he balk or would he describe every single detail?

While gathering her thoughts about how to make her request, she took the soap from him and slid it over his chest and shoulders. His breathy moans tickled her cheeks. Reverently, she continued to massage the soap into his skin as she captured his sensual utterances in her mouth.

As he took her into his arms, the water splashed, and the slippery soap slid from her grasp. Coarse chest hair tickled and titillated her nipples as his tongue slid into her mouth to swirl and tap. Matching his needy kisses, she sucked on his tongue and dug her fingernails into his back.

Her vigorously pumping bloodwhooshedin her ears, drowning out her thoughts. She would have to break from their kisses if she meant to formulate a coherent request. Reluctantly withdrawing her lips from his, she again swiveled, then comfortably nestled her back against his torso.

“Tell me about the pictures you looked at,” she boldly said over her shoulder.

He rested his chin in the crook of her neck and gently rubbed his nose over the sensitive spot. “It would be my pleasure.”

Why had she fretted so? It was so easy to be forthright with him.

Tipping her head back so that he absorbed all her body weight, she waited as excited imaginary bees buzzed in her chest.

“My favorite is of a beautiful woman lying naked. Her head is thrown back in ecstasy, and her nipples are pebbled.” His hand slid over one of Juliet’s nipples, and he rolled it between his fingers.

She moaned a deep, throaty sound that seemed to echo in the chamber.

“Her thighs are open.” His whispered words sent a shiver down the back of her neck. “And the hair covering her mound is dark and decadent.” He dipped his hand into the water and scraped his fingers through her protective curls.