XIV

The door to the bedroom closed behind them with a soft click, the sound echoing through the room like a silent declaration of the inevitable. Marcus held Grace in his arms, his breathing shallow and deep, reflecting the restrained desire. Each step toward the bed was an irrevocable decision. He would take her, make her his, and that act would bind them forever. However, his desire to claim her quickly shifted when he noticed that the servants had prepared a bath for him. A mischievous smile appeared on his lips, while Grace's face remained slightly flushed, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

Marcus gently set her down, his hands still firmly on her waist. He paused for a moment to take her in. The soft candlelight illuminated her face, casting dancing shadows that accentuated the delicacy of her skin. He could feel Grace trembling, a mixture of nervousness and anticipation reflected in the brightness of her eyes.

"She's innocent," Marcus thought, though the control with which she had moved until now made him doubt. He couldn't help but feel captivated by the willingness Grace seemed to offer him, but deep down, something told him there was an innocence behind her apparent confidence.

"Let me undress you," Marcus whispered, his voice low, as he began to slowly unbutton Grace's dress.

His hands moved with deliberate skill, undoing each button with an almost torturous slowness. The silence between them was broken only by the sound of fabric sliding and Grace's occasional soft sighs. Despite her nerves, she didn't move. The skin of her neck became exposed, and Marcus couldn't resist leaning in to brush his lips against the delicate curve of her shoulder.

Grace's breath quickened, though it wasn't just from nervousness. Every touch, every caress ignited a reaction she had never experienced before, awakening her senses in ways unknown. Her parted lips released gentle sighs as Marcus slid the dress down her shoulders, letting it fall gently to the floor. The weight of the fabric brushing against her bare skin made her feel both vulnerable and desired.

Marcus, on the other hand, took his time admiring her, savoring every curve as it was revealed. The soft glow of the light highlighted the gentle sheen of her skin, and with each inhale and exhale, Grace's body seemed to respond more intensely to his touch. Still dressed in only her undergarments, she maintained her composure, though inside, her thoughts were muddled by growing desire.

"You're beautiful," Westlin murmured, his tone more intimate. His hands once again found Grace's body, this time brushing the small of her back, sending a shiver through her.

The warmth of Marcus's touch was impossible to ignore. Initially held back by nerves, something else was now stirring inside her. She knew her objective was to seduce him, but what she hadn't expected was to feel such overwhelming attraction toward him. Unable to stop herself, her hands moved up Marcus's chest, feeling each muscle beneath his shirt.

Marcus's face softened at Grace's touch, and instead of pulling away, he drew her closer. With unexpected tenderness, he unbuttoned his waistcoat and shirt, letting them fall to the floor, allowing their bodies' heat to merge. The air in the room became denser, charged with passion and unspoken promises. Marcus knew the moment had arrived.

"Come," he whispered huskily, offering her his hand to help her into the bath.

Grace took his hand, never breaking eye contact. The connection between them remained unbroken, each gesture and movement like a perfectly timed dance, leading them closer to the inevitable. As she stepped into the bath, the warm water embraced her skin, but the real heat came from the man before her. Despite the tremor in her body, she understood there was no turning back. She was trapped, not by Marcus's control, but by the desire he had awakened in her.

Westlin watched her for a few seconds before starting to undress. Every piece of clothing he removed only heightened the tension between them, and when he was finally fully exposed, Grace's gaze stayed fixed on him. Her body felt strange, as if anticipation was burning her from within, and despite everything, she couldn't help but nervously bite her lip.

Without another word, Marcus stepped into the bath, positioning himself behind her, his hands resting on her shoulders as the water enveloped them both. The warmth of the bath paled in comparison to the heat radiating from the atmosphere. His fingers began to glide over Grace's skin, tracing her neck, shoulders, and slowly down her back.

"Relax," Marcus whispered in her ear, a whisper filled with promises.

Grace closed her eyes, her breath ragged as Marcus's fingers explored her skin with an almost tangible softness. Every caress seemed to set her insides on fire, awakening a desire that shook her to the core. The sound of the water around them became a distant murmur, barely noticeable compared to the intensity of the moment. The true focus was on them, submerged in a heat that seemed to come from both the water and their bodies.

Marcus's hand slowly descended across her abdomen, sending a shiver down her spine. It was the first time someone had touched her like that, in such an intimate way, and every second pulled her further from any sensation she had ever known. The air around them thickened as Marcus's fingers reached the most private part of her body. A moan escaped her lips before she could hold it back.

"Grace," Westlin whispered softly, seductively, "Trust me."

The sound of her name on his lips was enough to completely disarm her. There was something in his tone that promised safety, urging her to surrender fully, to let go of any resistance. He seemed to know every corner of her body, every sensitive spot, and with each movement, the intensity of the sensations increased.

"Don't stop," she murmured, not recognizing her own voice. It was almost a plea, a desperate request to keep going, to continue the wave of pleasure that shook her to her core.

Marcus's fingers moved skillfully, bringing her closer to the edge of what she was about to discover. Her breathing was ragged, punctuated by sighs and soft gasps she could no longer control. Her entire being was focused on every point where he touched her.

"Enjoy this, my love," he whispered, as one finger moved in and out of her while the tip of another circled a spot she had never known.

And she surrendered completely to the ecstasy...

Grace felt her body responding, every muscle tightening, every cell vibrating to the rhythm of Marcus's caresses. The world around her had disappeared; there was nothing left but the two of them, enveloped in the intensity of the moment, surrounded by a shared mantle of heat and desire. The water around them seemed to pulse in time with their breaths, amplifying the feeling that everything was connected, as if the entire universe had been reduced to that single instant.

"This is only the beginning," he whispered, his voice filled with admiration, while his fingers continued, increasing the pressure right where it mattered most.

Then she cried out, having reached the peak of ecstasy...

"Just like that, my love," he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

Grace reclined against Westlin and closed her eyes. She needed to regain control over what was happening. She couldn't allow her plan to dissolve, lost to the lust he stirred within her.

"As I said, this is only the beginning," Westlin repeated.

Marcus bent down, gently lifting Grace out of the water with a tenderness that contrasted with the obvious tension in his muscles. Droplets of water trailed down his chest and abdomen, following the chiseled lines of his body as he held her close, feeling the warmth of her wet skin against him. Every touch intensified the desire between them.

The second part of their encounter was about to begin...