Rain worried her lower lip with her teeth as she listened to the sound of Marcus settling into the tub on the other side of the privacy screen. Rather than make the servants drag his massive copper tub from his bedchamber to hers, they had opted to have the bath in his. She hadn't been in this room since their wedding night, but the anticipation building held at bay any painful memories as she heard the water splashing.

The room had not changed in two years. It was still the same thick mahogany furniture; the massive four-poster bed, a washstand with a porcelain bowl, a large writing desk—naturally, it was Marcus's room after all—and a couple of comfortable chairs by a small table with a chess set on it. The walls were cream and a deep blue, matched by most of the fabrics in the room, broken only by a few splashes of golden yellow. And then there was the large privacy screen hiding the bathtub.

"Rain?" Marcus's dark voice came from the other side of the screen, refocusing her scattered thoughts. "Are you joining me?"

She stared at the screen while running her thumbs nervously over the tips of her nails. He was naked back there. She swallowed. Was she ready for this?

"In a moment." Her voice was a little more of a squeak than she would have liked. Not that she didn't want to take a bath with him. It just felt like such a big step. They would both be naked. At the same time. Together. She swallowed. Marcus would never take advantage of the situation, she knew that. She trusted him to keep his vow not to consummate their marriage. Unless she asked him to. Then all bets were off. And she wasn't sure if she wanted to ask.

Stripping out of her last piece of clothing; a chemise, she took a shuddering breath before walking around the screen. Marcus had seen her naked the previous night, but that didn't make her feel any less self-conscious as she padded over to the copper tub, her arms across her chest. He looked relaxed, leaning back against it, his arms resting along the rim as his eyes followed her approach. Two oil lamps on wall sconces lit the area, their flickering light showing off the wide expanse of his shoulders and muscular arms. His dark hair was damp, and drops of water glistened on his broad chest.

"Don't hide," he mumbled. "You're beautiful."

His hoarse compliment brought back her confidence, and she lowered her hands, watching as his eyes remained on her, taking in every inch of bared skin. Gathering her hair, she twisted it into a bun, which she secured at the top of her head with a large hairpin. Marcus's eyes didn't leave her for a moment. When she took the last two steps to the edge of the tub, he lifted a hand to assist her to step over the tall side. The water was comfortably hot without being scalding as she sat down in front of him with her back to him and his long legs on either side of her.

She almost forgot to breathe as they sat still for a moment, the inside of his thighs against her hips their only contact. Scooting back towards him was a little beyond what she had the nerve to do. That a very naked Marcus was right behind her was both exciting and terrifying.

"Are you all right?" he asked softly.

She nodded. "Yes, it's just..."

"Not something we're used to," he supplied helpfully when her words trailed off.

We're so naked.

"Yes, something like that."

She both felt and heard him moving slightly as he grabbed something from a stool next to the tub. A moment later, a wet flannel pressed against her back as he squeezed warm water out over her skin. She closed her eyes and leaned her head to the side as he continued washing her. His hands were firm but gentle as he moved the flannel across her back and shoulders, her neck and arms. The gentle ministrations made her relax, her breathing slowing down.

When his lips touched the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, she automatically leaned back towards him and he wrapped his arms around her. She turned her head and his mouth found hers in a teasing kiss. As he continued kissing and nibbling at her, he forewent the flannel and used his hands to gather water to pour over her bare chest. The water trickled down her skin and created little rivulets following the shapes of her breasts and along her ribs.

Grabbing a soap, Marcus worked up a lather in his hands before putting his palms against her. His hands were warm compared to the cooler air in the room as he lathered her torso with the soap in long, steady strokes. Cupping her breasts, he massaged gently and molten heat travelled from his palms through her body, igniting every inch of her to his touch.

When his thumbs grazed her nipples, she moaned against his lips. His unhurried, gentle approach was maddening, and she shifted restlessly in his arms. Unfazed by her obvious impatience, he continued massaging her breast with one hand while the other drifted down her stomach. Frustrated by his leisurely pace, she nipped his lower lip but only got a deep-throated chuckle in response.

By the time his hand slipped between her thighs she thought she might be ready to combust, she was so tightly wound. A spear of pleasure burst through her as he dragged his fingers over her most sensitive spot and she leaned back against his firm chest, her hands gripping his knees on either side. Marcus bent his head to lick, nibble and suck on her ear and neck, sending tingling sensations that converged where his hand was so expertly building her pleasure higher and higher. Every touch, every caress drawing another moan from her throat.

"Let go for me, darling," he whispered darkly, his hot breath fanning her ear.

When he gently bit her earlobe, she cried out as waves of pleasure crashed over her, pushing her higher and higher up the shore as he continued caressing her. Until she finally collapsed in his arms, spent.

Marcus held her against him, the fingers of his hand tracing light patterns on the skin just below her clavicles. With her eyes closed, Rain enjoyed the simple touch, too tired to move. Something hard was wedged against her lower back, where she leaned against him. Something definitely no longer hidden behind a layer of fabric. Suddenly wide awake again, she shifted a little in the water and was rewarded by Marcus's arm at her waist tightening its grip slightly before he forced himself to relax again.

"I believe bath time is finished," he said with a soft kiss on her shoulder. "Let's get up."

Reluctantly, she stood and stepped out of the tub. Wrapping a towel around herself, she turned around. Marcus was still sitting in the tub, his eyes closed.

"Are you coming?" she asked.

"In a moment." He took a deep breath, his chest expanding. "I just need a moment."

She wrapped her towel a little tighter as she watched him take another deep breath. "Marcus," she said quietly. "If you are worried about your... state. You don't need to be. We are married. I am certain I won't faint at the sight of you."

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he opened his eyes to look at her. "While it would be flattering, I don't think you would faint. I simply do not wish to force you to see me... exposed."

"You are worried about my modesty?" She giggled. "After the things we have done?"

He made a wry face. "I realise it makes no sense. You may exit the screen if you wish, though."

"No." She shook her head. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious. "I... I have never seen a naked man before."

"Exactly. Maybe you would prefer not to."

"I think I would prefer to."

His hazel eyes met hers, and her cheeks heated at the confession. "I mean... ah..." Was her face as hot as it felt? "If I am ever to see a naked man, it should be my husband, should it not?"

"I cannot argue with that logic."

With that statement, he braced himself on the edges of the tub and stood. Water dripped down his body, and her eyes followed the path of one particular drop as it made its way along his chest, down the abdomen and lower... Her eyes widened as her gaze came to rest on the obviously erect part of his anatomy. She had seen drawings of naked men before. Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man; a sketch of the statue of David. None of them had looked anything like this.

"Rain?" Marcus's voice made her realise she was staring and her eyes guiltily darted back to his. Were all men that... large? Or was he above average in this, just like he was in nearly everything else?

When she said nothing, he gave her a quick smile before stepping out of the tub and grabbing a towel, drying himself off before wrapping it around his waist. She wasn't sure whether she was relieved or disappointed. Maybe a little of both. Embarrassed by the tongue-tie, she followed him when he walked around the privacy screen. He found a bottle and glass on his writing desk and poured himself a glass of brandy. Taking a sip, he watched her over the rim of the glass as she shifted nervously from one foot to the other.

The sight of him in nothing but a towel around his waist was rather distracting. Especially now that she knew exactly what hid beneath that simple layer. Her eyes fell on the large four-poster bed. The bed where she should have found out exactly what happened between husband and wife two years ago. They had missed out on so much time. Did she truly want to go ahead with her plans for a life without Marcus? Looking back at him, she caught him watching her still, his face unusually soft and relaxed. A swarm of butterflies fluttered in her stomach. There was no denying it. She was still in love with her husband.

Setting the glass back down, he took the steps separating them and lifted his hand to caress the side of her face with his knuckles. "Will you stay here tonight?" he asked. "I won't try anything. I just don't want you to leave."

She smiled. "Are you saying you would not follow me to my room if I left? That you would wake Mr Russell to have him watch over me?"

The hint of a smile played across his lips. "No, I would follow you. I would follow you anywhere, Rain. As long as you wanted me to."

Her lips parted. That was the closest he had ever come to confessing his feelings to her. It wasn't a declaration of love, but it wasn't far from it. The fluttering of wings inside her abdomen was back, and she almost moved a hand to her stomach in a feeble attempt to calm them.

"Marcus..."

He captured her mouth in a searing kiss. Instinctively, her arms wound around his neck, clinging on to him as the kiss instantly reignited her desire. Pulling her close, his hands came down to cup her bottom, squeezing gently.

"Stay with me," he mumbled against her mouth.

He could have meant for the night. He could have meant forever. With nervous excitement filling her, she nodded.