XV

The door to the bedroom closed behind them with a soft click, the echo of its closure reverberating in the room like a silent declaration of the inevitable. Marcus still held Grace in his arms, his breathing shallow and deep, reflecting the pent-up desire within him. Each step toward the bed was an irrevocable decision. He would take her, make her his, and this would bind them forever. However, his desire to possess her swiftly shifted when he noticed that the servants had prepared a bath for him. A mischievous smile crept across his lips, while Grace's face remained slightly flushed, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

Marcus gently placed her on the floor, his hands still firm on her waist. He paused for a moment to admire her. The flickering candlelight illuminated her face, casting dancing shadows that highlighted the softness of her skin. He could feel the tremor in Grace's body, a mix of nervousness and anticipation that reflected in the glimmer of her eyes.

"She's innocent," Marcus thought, though the control she had displayed until now made him doubt. He couldn't help but be captivated by the surrender Grace seemed ready 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 and husky, as he began to slowly unbutton Grace's dress.

His hands worked with measured skill, undoing each button with a patience that felt almost torturous. The silence between them was broken only by the sound of fabric sliding and the occasional sigh from Grace, who, despite her nerves, remained still. As more of her neck became exposed, Marcus couldn't resist leaning in to brush his lips along the delicate curve of her shoulder.

Grace's breath hitched, though it wasn't just the nervousness. Every touch, every caress, ignited sensations she had never felt before. Her lips parted, releasing soft sighs as Marcus slid the dress from her shoulders, letting it fall gently to the floor. The weight of the fabric against her bare skin made her feel vulnerable but also intensely desired.

Marcus took his time, letting his gaze linger on each curve revealed to him. The soft candlelight accentuated the glow of her skin, and with each breath she took, her body seemed to respond even more to his touch. Still clad in her undergarments, Grace maintained her composure, though internally, her thoughts were growing more clouded by the rising desire.

" You're beautiful, " Westlin murmured intimately. His hands found her again, this time gliding down the small of her back, making her shiver.

The heat from Marcus's skin was impossible to ignore, and although her initial nerves had kept her restrained, something more was stirring within her now. She knew her goal was to seduce him, but what she hadn't expected was to feel an overwhelming attraction toward him. Without thinking, her hands slid up Marcus's chest, exploring the hard muscles beneath his shirt.

The marquis's expression softened at her touch, and instead of pulling away, he drew her closer. With unexpected gentleness, he unbuttoned his vest and shirt, letting them fall to the ground, allowing the warmth of their bodies to mingle. The air in the room became thick with passion and a promise left unspoken. Marcus knew the moment had come.

" Come, " he whispered in a husky voice, offering his hand to help her into the bath.

Grace took his hand, never breaking eye contact. The connection between them remained unbroken, and each gesture, every movement, felt like a perfectly choreographed dance leading them to the next step. As she stepped into the bath, the warm water enveloped her skin, though the true heat came from the man in front of her. Despite the trembling of her body, she understood there was no turning back. She was trapped, not by Marcus's control but by the desire that had ignited within her.

Westlin paused to admire her for a few seconds before beginning to undress. Each piece of clothing he removed seemed to increase the tension between them, and when he was finally exposed, Grace's gaze locked onto him. Her body felt foreign, as if the anticipation was burning her from within, and yet she couldn't help but bite her lip nervously.

Without saying another word, Marcus stepped into the bath, positioning himself behind her. His hands rested on her shoulders as the water covered both their bodies. The warmth of the bath was a mere shadow compared to the heat that now filled the room. His fingers began to glide over Grace's skin, tracing the curve of her neck, her shoulders, slowly down her back.

" Relax, " Marcus whispered in her ear, his voice thick with promises.

Grace closed her eyes, her breathing erratic as Marcus's fingers explored her skin with an almost palpable tenderness. Every caress seemed to set her on fire, awakening a desire that shook her to her core. The sound of the water around them was a distant whisper, barely noticeable against the intensity of the moment. The real world had shrunk to just the two of them, submerged in a heat that seemed to come from both the water and their bodies.

Marcus's hand slowly descended across her belly, sending a shiver down her spine. It was the first time anyone had touched her this intimately, and each second pulled her further from anything she had ever known. The air around them grew heavier when Marcus's fingers reached the most private part of her. A moan escaped her lips before she could stop it.

Grace's moans were soft at first, but as Marcus quickened his pace, her breathing became ragged, and her body instinctively responded to each thrust. Her hands gripped his arms tightly, nails digging into his skin as she tried to endure the intensity of what was happening. Marcus, completely consumed by his desire for her, gave in to the moment. His thrusts grew deeper and faster, each movement reflecting the desperation he felt to possess her completely.

Sweat covered their bodies, their skin gleaming under the candlelight, cheeks flushed from both exertion and pleasure. Their gasps filled the room, syncing their bodies in an unstoppable rhythm. Westlin leaned forward, capturing a nipple between his lips as he continued moving inside her. Grace arched her back, responding to every sensation with louder moans, until finally, Marcus pulled out of her.

Before Grace could catch her breath, Marcus swiftly turned her over, positioning her on her back. With one hand on her waist, he lifted her hips, preparing to take her from behind. The young woman had no time to react before Marcus entered her again, this time with even more force. The new position intensified every thrust, and her moans turned into cries of ecstasy.

" Marcus… " she moaned between gasps, her mind too clouded to think.

Marcus's thrusts were relentless, each one stronger than the last. His control was beginning to falter, and Grace felt as though she might pass out from the overwhelming pleasure. Westlin's muscles tensed, and just as he felt himself nearing his climax, he pulled out once more, turning her again to face him.

Grace, her eyes half-closed in ecstasy, looked at him as he entered her again, this time with a more restrained, yet no less intense, rhythm. He gazed directly into her eyes, reveling in the gleam in her gaze, the way her lips were swollen from his kisses, and how her body responded to every movement. The flush of her cheeks and the marks he'd left on her skin drove him wild with desire.

The room was filled with the sound of their bodies moving in sync, and when Marcus finally felt his climax approaching, Grace cried out his name once more, pushing him over the edge. That sound was enough to make Westlin completely lose himself, thrusting one final time before spilling into her.

The climax was explosive, his body tensing as his breathing became erratic. For a few seconds that felt like an eternity, he surrendered to the wave of pleasure that washed over him from head to toe. Both of them were left gasping, drenched in sweat, feeling the warmth of their bodies and the shared satisfaction envelop them.

Marcus gently collapsed beside Grace, still caught in the moment. As they tried to catch their breath, they lay in silence, their bodies trembling from the intensity of the encounter they had just shared.

" Come here, " Marcus whispered in a hoarse voice, extending a hand to pull her toward him, wrapping an arm around her waist and pressing her softly against his chest.

Grace, still in a daze, smiled weakly as she stroked the arm that held her. Her fingers traced small circles on Marcus's skin, savoring the warmth they shared in that moment.

" Are you okay? " he asked, his voice tired but full of satisfaction.

" More than okay… " Grace murmured. She was exhausted, but she also felt a fulfillment she had never experienced before.

" Let's sleep for a bit, " Westlin suggested, adjusting his body to hold her closer. " This is only the beginning, my dear. "

Grace closed her eyes, letting Marcus's final words float through her mind as exhaustion finally pulled her into a deep sleep.