A discreet knock distracted him. When he opened the door this time it was to see Concha bearing a large tray. On witnessing Harry in such a state of undress her eyes widened. She shot a swift glance past him to Elena and, on seeing her mistress in like case, sent a conspiratorial smile that way. Then she handed over the tray and left them.
Harry pulled the table closer to the fire and laid two places. Then he set out the dishes and drew up two chairs. The tray bore a tureen full of rich and savoury stew. It was accompanied by a loaf of fresh bread. It was a simple meal but it tasted delicious and they ate hungrily. Gradually the chill receded and was replaced by contented warmth. Afterwards they lingered over the rest of the spiced wine. Harry leaned back in his chair, surveying her over the rim of his cup.
‘Better?’
‘Very much better,’ she replied.
‘You look it.’ It was an understatement, he thought. Her colour had returned and, now that her hair had dried, an unruly mass of dark curls tumbled over her bare shoulders. The linen towel clung to the contours of her figure and, since it finished just above her knees, left a pleasing amount of shapely leg on view.
Aware of his scrutiny to the last atom of her being, she realised that she should have felt embarrassed or ashamed, but she didn’t. Those feelings were long gone. When Harry looked at her it engendered a very different sensation.
‘Thanks to you,’ she replied. ‘It’s thanks to you that I’m here at all.’
‘I beg you will not mention it.’
‘Not mention it?’ She regarded him incredulously. ‘You saved my life, Harry, and risked your own to do it.’
His gaze locked with hers. ‘You are too precious to lose. I did not know how precious until that moment.’
With an effort she managed to keep her voice level. ‘You don’t know how much it means to hear you say that.’
His heart performed an unusual and risky manoeuvre. He hesitated, fearing to ask the next question but knowing he was going to anyway. ‘Then am I to understand that the sentiment is returned?’
‘Yes, it is returned. I wanted to tell you before but, in view of what had happened, I didn’t know how.’ She rose from her chair and moved round to his side of the table. Taking his face in her hands she bent and kissed him. ‘It took an icy bath in the river to bring me to my senses.’
Harry put an arm about her waist and drew her on to his lap. ‘I think I am the one who needed bringing to my senses.’
Her arms slid around his neck and she kissed him again, gently at first, then more deeply. He tasted of wine and cloves and cinnamon, a combination that was exciting and erotic. His tongue flirted with hers, inviting and getting a like response. She pressed closer, breathing his scent, revelling in the touch of his skin beneath her hands and the play of muscles across his shoulders. As she moved, the towel slipped a little. Strong warm hands caressed her back and shoulders. The towel slipped further, uncovering her breasts and, as flesh met flesh, the kiss became passionate.
Eventually Harry drew back a little, heart pounding, and his gaze locked with hers. ‘If this doesn’t stop now, my sweet, it isn’t going to stop at all.’
‘I don’t want it to stop.’
For a moment he wasn’t sure if he’d heard aright but the expression in those dark eyes held an unmistakable invitation. ‘Are you quite sure about this, Elena?’
‘Yes, I’m sure.’
He scooped her up and carried her across to the bed. Kneeling on the mattress he drew her to her knees in front of him, letting his hands ride her waist, pulling her closer. His mouth brushed hers, light, teasing, then gradually more insistent. He wanted her so badly it hurt, but he had no intention of hurrying this. Nor did he intend to make any demands. It was solely about giving her all possible pleasure. Thus his exploration of her body was leisurely and thorough, every caress designed to arouse and increase desire. His lips moved from her mouth to her cheek and thence to the lobe of her ear. He nibbled lightly, sending a delicious shiver the length of her, but what she felt now was increasing excitement, not fear.
He resumed, moving lower, kissing her neck and throat and then her breasts. Recalling her response the last time he’d done this he took a soft peak in his mouth, teasing gently. He heard her gasp, saw the rosy flush that bloomed along her skin. He unfastened the towel and discarded it along with his own. Then he resumed, sliding a hand down her back to her hips and buttocks. The other caressed her belly, moving thence to the secret place between her thighs. Very gently he found what he was seeking and stroked.
Heat flooded her pelvis and deep within it a coil of tension formed and grew. As he continued stroking the sensation intensified producing slick wetness. Blood became fire. She shuddered, arching towards him, carried on a shock wave of exquisite pleasure. It was followed by another and another.