like the cups we used a moment ago better,” she said, raising the glass to her lips and looking up at Eric through lowered lids. She was flirting. She was playing. She tried to control her grin, but didn’t succeed. “Oh God,” she said, “I’m so happy.”
“And a bit drunk?”
“Just enough.”
Once a few inches of water had drained from the tub Eric replaced the stopper. “Our bath awaits.” He pulled off his shirt, pants and shorts, kicked off his shoes and stepped into the bubbles.
Jessica saw only his back, smooth and firm with tight buttocks and well-muscled legs. He had just a little extra weight, enough to make him look soft and inviting. He kept his back to her, fussing with a few more candles.
Now she had to undress. Can I do this? Can I take off my clothes in front of a man I’ve known for less than a week? Quickly, while his back was turned, she pulled off her clothes, stepped into the water and sat down, covering herself with bubbles. This makes no sense, she thought. I’ve made a decision, I’ve licked wine from his palm and nibbled on his fingers. Why now am I afraid of his seeing me naked?
“Can I turn around now?” Eric asked.
“You knew?”
“Jessica, my sweet, your mixed emotions are written all over your lovely face.” He turned, settled into the warm water, took her hand and held it. “I want this to be your decision all the way. I want you to want me and want my lovemaking. And I want you to explore all the things that give you pleasure. I will never knowingly embarrass you, although it might happen without my realizing it, I’m afraid.”
“Thank you for understanding my confusion.”
“I want you to promise me something. Some things we do will make you want to laugh. Silly stuff. And if you want to laugh, do it. I want this to be fun. Some things we might try will make you a bit uncomfortable and some discomfort is very exciting. But if we ever do anything that makes you want to stop, you must say so. Immediately. Just say ‘Eric, stop’ and I will. Promise me.”
“I promise.”
Eric placed a palm on each side of Jessica’s face and gazed into her eyes. “If I can be sure that you will tell me to stop, I can do so many things we might enjoy.”
“I do promise, Eric.”
They were facing each other in the giant tub of warm, bubbly water. Holding her face in his palms, he caressed her with his gaze, softly sweeping from her sea-green eyes to her lips to the sensual line of her throat. “So lovely,” he whispered, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. “Half of me wants to grab you by that gorgeous red hair of yours, throw you down on the floor, and fuck you until we’re both exhausted, the other half wants to savor this and make our loving last all night.”
She remained silent, enjoying the warm, sensual web he was spinning around her. Slowly all worries about how briefly she’d known Eric ebbed. She wanted him to make love to her. It was that simple. She picked up a cake of soap and lathered her hands. She placed her palms on his shoulders and made lathery circles on his biceps. She felt him lower his hands into the water as she spread lather onto his upper chest. Smooth, tight skin covered his well-developed muscles.
As she slid her slippery hands up the sides of Eric’s neck, she watched his head fall slowly backward, exposing his throat to her caress. There was something so intimate about the motion that she smiled and rubbed her thumbs along the line of his jaw. She closed her eyes and her hands returned to his chest, swirling through the soapy lather. “Mmmm. You feel so hard and smooth.” Rob has curly chest hair, she thought, then pushed the thought aside.
She opened her eyes and found Eric looking at her. “I told you before that your face tells all. Were you thinking about your ex-husband?”
Without stilling her hands, she said, “Yes. But he’s gone now.”
“No he’s not,” Eric said, “and that’s okay. He’s the only man you’ve ever been with and it’s natural that you should think of him right now. I don’t mind.”
“He’s a fool.”
“That may be true, but he’s your only measuring device.” Eric reached under the bubbles and cupped her breasts in his hands. “I, on the other hand, have had enough experience to know that you will be a sensual delight.” He rubbed his thumbs over her nipples and felt them contract until they were tight under his fingers. “We will learn to share so many pleasures.” He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Jessica’s lips. Then he soaped his hands and rubbed the lightly scented lavender soap over her shoulders and upper arms. “Your skin is so soft.” He increased the size of the soapy circles until his hands slipped under the water and caressed her breasts.
Jessica let her head fall back, soaking in Eric’s touches as she soaked in the water. Her ribs, her underarms, her neck and arms, she felt Eric stroke them all. Then he lifted one of her hands out of the water and carefully soaped each finger, sliding his fingers between hers. Then he dipped the hand into the water and sucked the tip. “You taste soapy,” he said. He picked up his wine glass and poured a bit of the cold, clear liquid over her fingers, then drew each, in turn, into his mouth. “Delicious,” he whispered. He repeated the ablutions with her other hand.
“I’d like to make love to you right here,” he said, “but we need to shower off first.”
Puzzled, Jessica looked at him. “They always do it in hot tubs in movies.”
“In movies, the actors aren’t really covered with soap, that might irritate your tender body. In addition, let me show you something about hot water.” He stood up, water and bubbles pouring from his slight belly.
Jessica couldn’t help gazing at his penis, small and flaccid. I am a failure, she told herself. Rob was right. I am frigid.
Laughing, Eric said, “Hot water and too much wine. Not you, my love.” He lifted her into a standing position and sluiced water and soap from her body with the flats of his hands. “Definitely not you.” He caught the drop of soapy water at the tip of one breast with the tip of his tongue.
Jessica shuddered, not sure whether Eric was lying to save her from embarrassment. She watched Eric pull a shower curtain across the open side of the alcove, release the tub’s drain, and reach for the shower controls. Suddenly the alcove was filled with soft, warm spray, coming from shower heads in each corner at once. “It’s like a soft summer rain,” she said.
“There are several settings, but this one is designed for moments like this.” As water drained from the tub, warm water poured over their bodies and Jessica turned her face to the spray, rinsing off all traces of soap. “Done?” Eric asked.
“Ummm,” she purred.
Eric turned off the water, opened the curtain and wrapped Jessica in a thick, thirsty bath sheet. As she rubbed her hair, Eric, a towel around his waist, walked out through the connecting door. Slowly, as she watched, candlelight began to dance on the walls of the bedroom.
Without giving Jessica time to think, Eric returned, swept her into his arms, and carried her to the bed. He spread a dry towel on the satin spread, laid her on it and stepped back, feasting on her naked body. “God, you’re lovely.” He nipped her toes and kissed his way up her shin.
Jessica looked at
