With a loud sigh, Beth cuddled against his broad chest and a smile touched her lips. She felt fulfilled, relaxed and slightly tired despite it being early afternoon. "Where are you taking me?" she murmured against his chest.
Chapter 11
"Mmmm. You don't have to do that." Beth sighed as she closed her eyes, hugging her legs to her. The water came to her chest in the deep, claw-style bathtub. Gabriel's skilled fingers were working out the kinks in her neck and shoulders that had formed from being bound for so long. Once they had finished with their play, Gabriel had taken her directly to the bathroom and ran them a nice soothing bubble bath and they were now submerged, Beth sitting between Gabriel's legs, her back to his chest.
"Yes, I do," he informed her softly, kissing the side of her neck. She moaned her satisfaction as his lips sent a soft shiver through her.
He spared no detail; soft music played in the background. Lavender-scented candles were lit and the intoxicating floral scent of the bath oils he'd added to the water enhanced the romantic atmosphere. It was like something out of one of the romance novels she loved so much. Just minus the rose petals floating on top of the water. She'd never enjoyed a bath as much as she did at that moment. Of course his erection pressing at her bottom and his skilled fingers caressing her sore flesh certainly added to the experience.
"You know we still didn't get to finish that conversation we started in the kitchen Beth."
Damn. The last thing she wanted right now was to bring that back up. "I don't want to." His soft chuckle behind her made her grin and she looked back over her shoulder at him.
"I think we should. And face forward please."
Her grin widened as she placed her chin back on her arms, which were crossed over her knees. His hands felt so good, his fingers pressing and kneading at just the perfect spots. "Yes, Sir."
"Smart ass."
"I know."
"Don't change the subject."
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I've said what I wanted to already."
To her dismay he stopped massaging her. "Sit back against me."
She complied, settling back against his bubble-covered chest. Gabriel wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight, kissing her temple tenderly. It felt like heaven in his arms. She felt cared for and protected in his embrace and would happily stay there for the rest of eternity, enjoying the moment as it was.
"Why would you ever think I would consider you a fling, or a bought and paid for fuck, Beth?"
There seemed to be genuine concern and upset in his tone that made her glance up and capture his eyes with her own. "I just... I've had some bad experiences with men in the past and I just don't want to make any more mistakes." She lowered her eyes from his. "Mistakes hurt too much."
His frown deepened. He brushed the back of his hand against her cheek and then traced her lower lip with his thumb. "Do you think I may be a mistake?"
Beth's heart stopped beating for a moment and it felt as though time was standing still as she lifted her eyes to meet his once more. She cared for him and there was no doubt in her mind that it wouldn't take long before her heart would fully and completely be his. Gabriel wasn't the kind of man you loved and easily forgot about. If she gave in to her emotional desires for him she could be potentially setting herself up for the devastation of her lifetime.
"Do you think I may be a mistake?" he repeated a little firmer in his tone; his hurt over the thought was apparent.
She closed her eyes a moment and steadied her frazzled nerves. When she opened them back up she shook her head. "No. No you're not."
A smile tugged at the corners of his lips and he nodded, pulling her tighter to him. "There. So where do we go from here?" He brushed his lips against her temple again.
That was the million-dollar question right there, as far as she was concerned. The room filled with silence once more and she shrugged, nibbling at her lower lip as she gazed back at him.
"Hmmm. Well, since you're not offering a suggestion how about this?"
Interested in what he had to say and wanting to see his expression when he said it, she switched positions in the tub so she was facing him. Water splashed over the side of the tub to soak the floor. "You realize that I will be expecting you to clean that," he stated, pushing forward slightly so she could wrap her legs around his waist.
"I would be happy to take care of it Mr Reynolds."
"That being said, you are in a wonderful position for me to begin massaging your legs." He gave her his wickedly sexy smile that sent her pulse racing and his hands immediately touched her left knee and slowly began to work their way up her thigh.