“Was there something you needed? Some clothing?” She glanced toward the shelf where his clean clothes were stacked.
He let his gaze wander down her body, half hidden in the sudsy water. A slim waist that flared into rounded hips. Soft white thighs pressed together but not completely hiding the triangle of dark hair. His groin swelled thicker.
When his gaze returned to her face he didn’t hide the hunger he was feeling. “I need my wife.”
Her mouth parted with a quick breath that made her breasts rise. And his cock grow harder.
Slowly he straightened and handed a towel to Gabriella. “Help her out of the tub. No need to dress her. Then you are dismissed for the night.”
“Yes, my lord.” The maid took the towel and gave Ana a worried look.
Leo strode back into the bedchamber and paced in front of the fire. Could he touch her? Soon he would know.
He heard a door closing, the maid’s door. Then the dressing room door opened and Ana appeared in the doorway, her long hair loose and wet about her shoulders, her hands fisted around the towel to keep it wrapped around her. She hesitated, biting her lip.
“Come in.” He cleared his throat, for his voice had sounded harsh.
She stepped closer. “You look like you took a bath, too. Would you like something to eat?”
“Later.” He reached out a gloved hand to touch a strand of her wet hair. She looked wary, but not in pain. He touched her bare shoulder. “You’re all right?”
“Yes.” She bit her lip. “I should finish dressing.”
“No.” He removed his gloves.
She stiffened, her eyes widening. “Leo, what are you doing?”
“Trust me.” He reached a hand forward, and she turned her head, squeezing her eyes shut as if she was expecting a shock. By the Light, he hoped she wasn’t right.
His fingers touched her hair. She remained still, her eyes tightly shut. She hadn’t run away or stopped him. Even though she was clearly afraid, she’d let him touch her. Hell, she’d just risked death for him.
A surge of emotion nearly bowled him over. “Ana, I love you.”
With a gasp, her eyes flew open.
“Look.” His fingers glided down her hair. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”
“No.” She watched his hand and gasped again when he touched her forearm. Slowly he grazed his fingers up her arm to her shoulder.
“Leo.” Her skin prickled with goose bumps.
“I can touch you.” His groin grew harder as his fingers skimmed along her collarbone. “I can kiss you.”
He let his fingertips descend to the edge of the towel that was wrapped around her, that she still held in place with a clenched fist between her breasts.
“Say yes.” He curled his fingers around the edge of the towel.
Her breasts pushed against his hand as her breathing grew more labored.
“Say yes.”
Her gaze met his, her eyes glittering with emotion. He wasn’t sure if it was fear, worry, or desire, but as long as she said yes—
“Yes.”
With a victorious growl, he ripped the towel off her and pulled her into his arms.
Chapter Thirty
There was something hard in his breeches again. And it was growing, pressing against her lower belly, easy to feel since she was naked. Completely naked. Luciana buried her face in his shirt. Good goddesses, she’d never felt so exposed before.
Her mind reeled with a thousand thoughts. How was Leo able to touch her? How come he was fully dressed when she was fully naked? Did married couples actually do this sort of thing in daylight? What shocking thing was he planning to do next? Right now, his hands were skimming up and down her back—her bare back because she was totally naked!
Don’t panic! She clutched his shirt with her fists. You survived the catacombs and your worst fear. You can do this. Thank the goddesses her mother had vanished with Tatiana before Leo had whisked off her towel. Apparently her mother had known what was coming next.
But I don’t! Luciana had said yes, but she wasn’t quite sure what she’d agreed to.
“Ana.”
She stiffened. “Yes?”
“Relax. You’re breathing as fast as a frightened rabbit. There’s nothing to worry about. We’ve already established that I can touch you without hurting you.”
She ventured a glance up at him. “How can that be?”
“I don’t know.” He brushed her wet hair back from her face. “And right now, I don’t care. I’ve wanted you since the minute I first saw you.” He smiled, his green eyes twinkling with warmth. “I knew you would be beautiful. And you’re softer than I ever imagined.”
Heat invaded her cheeks. Maybe being naked wasn’t so bad after all. It had probably been ages since the poor man had been able to touch anyone. She bit her lip. Were they able to touch because they were both Embraced? Or did it have something to do with her mother being struck by lightning? Had she somehow become immune to lightning?
“You’re frowning.” With his thumb, he stroked the skin between her eyebrows. “Why not be happy that we don’t have to wait for a drought?”
“I was trying to figure out why—”
“No.” He smoothed his fingers over her brow and down the curve of her face. “No more thinking. For the rest of the night, you should do nothing but feel.”
“But I have a theory—” She stopped when he placed a finger on her lips.