Chapter Twenty-Five

T he Right Honorable Bernice Natham

Heaven. I was in pure heaven and I didn’t wish to move from the frothy hot water. The bathroom was covered with white tiles and smelled of bath salts. What had started out as a stressful introduction culminated in the best experience of my life. The door creaked open, and Moran entered. He wore a navy robe that covered his lean body. I itched to touch him again.

“Do you mind if I join you?” Moran asked in a husky rasp that further incited my dormant passions. He looked a bit uncomfortable, which pricked my curiosity. We had just exchanged intimacies and his discomfort seemed out of place, given all the things we had done to each other.

“No.” Earlier he had joined his body with mine. The feel of him inside me had been different but very appealing. The slight pain I experienced had faded, and the pleasure had taken over. No matter what happened after this, I would never forget him, nor how he made me feel.

Moran lifted his brow in question, an amused lift to his mouth. “Is that a no you don’t mind, or no you don’t want me to join you?”

I slid my hand through the bubbles, my nipples responding to his avid regard. The luxury of a bath was something I hadn’t experienced since living on Mount Street. It seemed forever ago, and I’d learned to make do with tepid water in a pitcher in my room. This was a luxury I hadn’t realized I missed as much as I did.

“I meant no, I don’t mind. If you are a fan of baths, it would be mean of me to deny you such a pleasure.” Why had that come out so seductive? I stifled the giggle.

“Indeed, I agree wholeheartedly.” Removing the robe, Moran sauntered to the tub, his footsteps light. He walked with grace, seemingly unaware of his nudity. Not that he should be ashamed of his body in any way. My obnoxious neighbor had never looked like Moran, or Ash, for that matter. Both men were very appealing to the eye and very appealing to the body. The things Ash had done to me made me blush, even when thinking about them, and made me eager for a repeat.

The tub was large, but I wasn’t exactly sure how it would accommodate both of us.

“Can you scoot up so I can get in behind you?”

“Of course.” I pushed my knees up to my chest and moved as he put his leg over the side of the tub, holding on to the porcelain lip. He slipped behind me, his legs moving to either side of my hips.

Nervousness, along with need, shot through me. “I have been trying to discern what scent the salts are. I catch a hint of cinnamon, and is that clove?”

“It is whatever Elizabeth ordered for me.” He slipped his arm around my waist, drawing me back into him. With our bodies displacing it, some of the water sloshed over the side. My head came to rest against his hard frame.

“You were engaged to her, correct?” I’d tried not to pry too deeply into his personal life, but I had ears. Ash’s mother, Connie, mentioned Elizabeth when she came to the office to drop off some lunch for Moran. I liked Connie. She had raised a giving son. He had become a good friend, and I wasn’t sure if I was in love with him, but I cared about him. Moran was a different story.

“Yes, for a time. She married a military man. Said I worked too much.” With a shrug, he pressed a kiss to my shoulder. While he said the words matter of fact enough, bitterness rested beneath the statement.

“You do work too much.” I, too, would be working much more once my business took off.

“It is a labor of love. She didn’t understand that. Mrs. Engel does. She owns a dress shop. A very busy shop, from my understanding.”

“Mrs. Engel?” I stared straight ahead, forcing myself not to react, except my heart jumped at the sound of another woman’s name.

“I had lunch with her today. Connie insisted I meet her.” His chest lifted and fell with each breath, clearly relaxed.

My own enjoyment of the bath lessened, and my mood soured somewhat. I had no hold on him, yet jealousy tore at my core. I twisted around to catch his eye, trying to keep my voice casual as I answered, “Connie is a lovely woman. She cares about you.”

His mouth turned up at the corners. “She is like a mother to me. She has no idea about my relationship with Ash.”

“I daresay she would never guess in a million years.” My imagination went wild contemplating her reaction to such an unorthodox relationship. However, given her fierce protection of her children and Moran, I sensed she would never disown her son, no matter his preferences.

“And yet you guessed, and you are as astute as she.” He cupped my jaw and brushed his lips against mine. The beat of his heart increased under my elbow, speaking of his rising passion. His cock rested against my back, a reminder of what we had done earlier.

“Are you saying I remind you of Ash’s mother?” This was moving from bad to worse. First, he told me he didn’t desire me. Then he admitted he did. Now, he was comparing me to a woman twice my age.

“I am merely pointing out that you figured it out. What was it that made you think he and I had queer relations?” He lifted his lashes, his gaze locked with mine. “Most women—hell, most people—have no idea men like us even exist.”

His question threw me for a moment, and I rolled my answers around in my mind. “As I told you, you’re relationship seemed flirtatious, for lack of a better word, and now I discover you are lovers. Thus my instincts were spot on.”

“Lovers imply we are in love. We simply seek each other out for satisfaction. We are friends. I am not in love with Ash, nor is he in love with me in a romantic sense. I suppose we do love each other since we are friends.” Strong fingers drifted up to the underside of my breasts.

“It sounds very complicated,” I murmured. Perhaps he was convinced of his claim. I was not. Men and women of my station often saw things differently, I suppose. Men were expected to take mistresses and be promiscuous while women were supposed to be married before having any kind of relations. “Thus I shall defer to you on that score.”

“It is rather simple, actually. Lust is lust. We all slaked our lust tonight. Some twice,” he said with a grin.

My cheeks warmed from his teasing. With my body in a heightened state, I had reaped the rewards from their combined attentions. “Actually it was more like four times. Some were more intense than others, but all very pleasant.”

“From what you disclosed, your husband was very traditional.” One hand cupping my breast, Moran fingered my cleft, drawing the tip across the enflamed nub. I found myself sinking deeper in the water, my body relaxing at his ministrations.

“He was an accountant.” I tried to be honest without being honest, the guilt still heavy on my mind. Moran was the man I’d given my virginity to and I hadn’t wished to tell him. No doubt, he’d be furious if he discovered the truth. However, I was pleased it was him who claimed it. I couldn’t have asked for more attentive paramours than Moran and Ash. No, not lovers, by Moran’s definition.

“Ash said you are still in love with him. Did you say that to dissuade Ash, or is that truly the case?”

Once again, I would be forced to lie to cover up a multitude of lies. “I have no intention of marrying.” That was the truth. Granted it wasn’t because of my fictitious dead husband, but because I wanted something more from life than just being a wife and mother. Yet if Moran asked me to marry him, would I say yes? I tucked the thought away. He was courting Mrs. Engel. I was simply a distraction.

“Even accountants should please their wives. I would like to tup you again. May I?” His husky voice drew on my own desires and I nodded.

I felt the hard length of his cock against my buttock. By the way he pleasured me, he had seduction on his mind. He had made his position clear on lust and I could either deny his overt invitation, or take the same stance. I wanted to feel him inside me again. If I was to live in a man’s world, I would have to adopt their ethics. “Yes.”

“Let me up for a moment. I need to grab the condom,” he said.

“I will be anxiously waiting.” With a nod, I tried to keep the blush from creeping up my neck. The water was warm, thus my face had to be flushed already. Pretending to be what I wasn’t, was difficult. Or would a widow truly be that experienced if her husband was unadventurous? I didn’t have time to ponder the question.

“Anxious or eager? You are a student of grammar. Which is it?” Moran put on the condom, the smile he cast in my direction making him appear even more handsome.

“Anxious that it might take too long. Eager for our coupling to start. Does that answer your question?” Anticipation dampened my core and I could hardly wait for a repeat. Although I had felt some discomfort, it hadn’t been enough to call a halt to our play.

“It does.” He slipped in front of me, and gliding his arms around my back, pulled me onto his lap, causing more waves. My knees rested on either side of his hips, my core flush to his cock. “You need no longer be anxious.”

“I am very eager.” Up close, the black flecks in his amber eyes drew me in. I slid my arm around his shoulders, allowing him to pull me tight to his wet chest. He dipped his head, his mouth dancing over mine. Every kiss incited more than need. I tried to distance my emotions from the physical desires.

Moran lifted my bottom, his cock breaching my channel, touching every nerve along the way. I caught my breath, enjoying the pull and sense of fullness his penetration provoked. With a boldness that I would never have anticipated a week prior, I swept my tongue into his mouth, aching to taste him. All of my senses were tuned to him. Capable fingers circled the nub at my cleft and I began to rock my hips into his, setting the pace for both of us. The water rippled around us, each moan from his lips a carnal pull.

Needing to catch my breath, I ended the kiss and gripped the side of the tub, giving him free rein to knead my breast while he continued to pleasure me. A tiny current exploded from within and I ground my hips into his hand, absorbing it.

“Number five?” he asked on a husky laugh, never stopping the seduction with his hands. His face turned a rosy hue, the tendons on his neck and chest standing out in his need. He truly was a beautiful man, one I didn’t want to love.

“Four and a half.” The metal rim cut into my palm, each bite grounding me and pulling my mind from places it shouldn’t go. I had to compartmentalize my emotions like Moran. Pleasure waited for me and I wanted to find it.

“Let’s make it five and a half.” He pulled me up to latch onto my nipple, his hips rising and falling with mine. The water continued to hit the floor with muted splashes, our desire taking over any practicality.

A surge of something magical erupted from deep inside me. I threw my head back and a tiny scream tore from my throat at my release, the sound echoing off the rafters. My heart and pussy beat in the same rhythm. Moran continued to pump into me and a second wave eclipsed the first, my scream more robust this time.

With a hearty laugh of approval, he forced my hips down with one hand. He slipped his fingers into my hair, shuddering beneath me in his own gratification. I slumped over him, unable to move if I needed to.

“I heard screams. Do I need to come in there and rescue someone?” Ash called from far away.

“Wanker,” Moran whispered, his chest heaving from our coupling. He caressed the back of my neck with his thumb, holding me in his arms while we caught our breath.

I wanted to stay like this forever. That wasn’t possible. He was courting another woman and I was a faux widow with a need for independence. If it were possible for the two to meld into one, I would reconsider my position. Men like Ash and Moran were rare. If I were of a mind, I would take Ash up on his offer. However, they were friends, and seeing Moran would be too painful, not to mention unfair to Ash. He deserved someone who loved him. Suzette was a fool, and apparently I was too for falling in love with Moran.

Maybe it was time to rethink my strategy and look for another position. Everything inside screamed no. The chance to become a copy editor was rare and Moran had offered me a rare gift. I couldn’t throw it away because of a silly infatuation. I had to persevere.