She crossed the rest of the distance between them the next second
He held out a hand and without waiting for any speech, she took it.
The water took them with a hush. He sat first and drew her down between his knees, her back to his chest.
Heat found the ache and unclenched it by degrees. She let her head fall to his shoulder. One of his hands spread over her stomach; the other cupped water and poured it over her collarbone, her breasts, the places his mouth had been.
Amelia's breath left her in a long, undefended thread.
This was almost worse than the act. No performance left. Just being washed by someone she loved.
"Too warm?"
"No. That's, don't stop." She watched his hand move through the water. "I used to think a man in a room like this only ever meant I should already be leaving. My body is still trying to learn a new sentence."
"Give it the time it wants. They're bad men yes, but no matter what happens I'll be here for you..."
