Chapter 62 - A Bath

"Delaney!" Vincent jumped when he saw her walking towards him, sending water splashing over the sides. He snatched a towel from the stool beside him and plunged it into the water, using it to cover everything from his navel to his mid-thighs.

Delaney bit her lip and smiled as she continued, blushing deeply. She shrugged her robe off, letting it fall to the ground, leaving her only in her underdress. She didn't stop as she walked to the tub and raised one leg, stepping into the steaming water.

Vincent's eyes lit up but he also looked afraid.

"What-What are you..."

His words trailed off as she brought her other foot into the water and sank down into it, sending waves over the sides, soaking the stone floor beneath. With a knee on each side of his hips, she straddled him, careful to keep her underdress and his towel between the two of them.

With sparkling blue-green eyes, Delaney gave him a wicked grin before leaning in to kiss him. She felt him smile against her lips as he kissed her back, one dripping hand rose from the water and slid behind her neck, holding her mouth to his.

Delaney let herself get lost in his kiss and when he reached around her waist and pulled her in against his chest, she didn't resist. Even in the warm water, she was pleased to feel the familiar heat of him against her skin.

A groan escaped him as she slid a hand up his neck and tangled her fingers in the damp black hair on the back of his head. He bent a knee upward, pushing her forward into his chest and pinning her there.

Kissing him with a hunger she didn't understand, Delaney's mind swirled, and she couldn't think of anything but the two of them there in the water.

His mouth moved from her lips to her jaw and then down her neck until they reached the soft spot above her collarbone. She gasped as his hands slid from her waist to her hips then around to cup her backside.

Taking his face in her hands she pulled him up until she could kiss him again. He took her bottom lip lightly between his teeth and pulled on it. Her breath caught in her throat before he let go and his mouth covered hers again.

Delaney sank lower in the water, her hips hovering over his. His strong hands slid down to her thighs and he twisted the thin fabric of her underdress in his fists.

"My lady," he choked out the words then, pulling his mouth away and resting his forehead against hers, "We have to stop now."

"W-why?" she asked in confusion, panting as he was.

"Because if we don't, I don't know that I'll be able to control myself much longer and I'll end up taking you right here in this tub."

Delaney closed her eyes and let his words sink in. She knew she wanted to kiss him... to touch him... but she didn't know if she was ready yet to go farther.

"If you do decide you want to be with me like that I...I don't want it to be like this," he managed, "I want it to be special for you. I want it to be perfect."

"A-alright," she agreed, "I'll leave."

"No wait!" he caught her before she could move away, "Don't leave... We just can't-can't do this."

Delaney giggled and looked into his deep green eyes, "Well what should I do then?"

"I don't know exactly," he smiled bashfully, "Just don't do anything that involves you being away from me."

This time when Delaney kissed him it was slowly and tenderly. When she pulled away he groaned and let his head fall back against the rim of the tub.

"I may go mad because of you," he sighed.

Delaney kissed his exposed neck before moving backward through the water, off of him. He held the towel in place with a hand and she folded her arms over her own chest as she settled against the side of the tub opposite of him.

She closed her eyes and dipped under the water for a moment, letting it clear her head. When she came back up and opened her eyes, he was watching her curiously.

"Why did you come here?" he asked after a while.

Delaney blushed, looking down at the soapy water. "I don't know," she murmured, "I wanted to see you I suppose."

"But you knew I'd be in the bath?"

"Yes."

He considered her thoughtfully, "You're an enchanting, confusing, creature you know?"

She looked up through her long dark lashes and smirked, "If I wasn't do you think you'd like me as much?"

He laughed out loud then, "I suppose the challenge is good for me."

"You're a bit of a challenge yourself you know," Delaney pointed out.

"I can't argue with you on that," he sighed, looking at her fondly.

Delaney sat back and admired the sight of her husband before her. His wet black hair hung down making him look wild. Drops of water clung to his well-muscled chest before sliding down it.

Her eyes followed the path of one of those drops and continued lower still, looking at his abdomen through the rippling water. The towel was still in place, hiding everything below.

For the first time, Delaney wondered about what that towel had hidden beneath it. She'd never seen a man less than fully dressed before besides Vincent and he was never totally naked.

She wondered what it would be like, her first time with Vincent. She wondered if he would really make sure it was perfect for her. Just thinking about it made her nervous and blush. She looked back up quickly and found Vincent watching her curiously.

"We should get out," Delaney suggested then, "Before the water gets cold."

"You're right," he sighed and arched his back, stretching, "Miles's idea for a long nap did sound lovely as well."

Delaney bit her lip and looked around nervously, realizing she hadn't thought through her plan to join him in the tub. How would she get out now? Wet, her underdress would cling to her and leave nothing underneath to the imagination.

As if reading her mind, Vincent grinned, "I'll close my eyes and you can get out. Use my towel and my robe."

Relieved by the suggestion, Delaney gave him a thankful smile before he closed his eyes. She stood and water poured down from her hair and soaked dress. Stepping out of the tub, she grabbed his towel hanging from a chair and wrapped it around her.

"Don't open your eyes," she said seriously as an idea came to her mind. She untied her underdress and it fell off her, landing with a squelching noise in a pile on the stone floor. She put the towel back and took his robe, putting it on.

"Alright," she said at last and Vincent opened his eyes. He looked at her in his robe then at the towel waiting for him on the chair.

"Good plan," he smirked, "Now you close your eyes."

Delaney giggled and walked over to sit on the couch, closing her eyes. After hearing the sloshing of the water in the tub, she couldn't stop herself and eased one eye open.

Vincent stood with his back to her, using the towel to dry his face. She opened both eyes then and took in the sight of him.

He was long and sleek, muscular, and tan. Her eyes drifted over him from head to foot and she bit her lip. This handsome, powerful, thing before her was her husband. He was all hers. The knowledge made her heart leap.

He moved to turn around so she quickly closed her eyes and tried to keep from blushing. A moment later she felt the couch move on either side of her. She opened her eyes to find him looking down at her, one hand on each side of her on the backrest, holding him above her.

Vincent wore only the towel tied around his waist which made Delaney laugh before he leaned down and caught her mouth in a kiss. When he stood he held a hand out to her and helped her to her feet.

Delaney looked at the puncture scar on his chest and noticed now that her mind was clear, that there was something different about it. She reached out and brushed her fingers over it, frowning, but it felt the same.

"What is it?" he asked, immediately nervous with the attention to his scars.

"This one," Delaney answered, "This one looks different."

He craned his neck to look down at his chest. "I don't think so," he answered quickly, and took her hand from it, bring it to his lips for a kiss.

Delaney continued to study it but couldn't put her finger on what the difference was.

"Come to bed with me," he murmured then, taking a step back and tugging her along with him, "We'll go to your bed so they can clear the tub in here and you can put something on."

"What will you wear?" Delaney asked curiously.

Vincent shrugged one shoulder, "Nothing I suppose."

Delaney blushed and covered her mouth, "You'll sleep in my bed naked?"

"I don't have to," he answered quickly, "I just thought you might prefer it to waiting for Harris to bring me something to wear. We won't both be naked anyway."

Delaney studied him for a moment before nodding. She knew he was serious about what he'd said earlier. He wanted their first time together to be special. He wouldn't do anything with her now.

He took her hand and went to the door, pausing to make sure no one was in the hall before hurrying down and ducking into her room. Delaney closed the door behind them and fell back against it, laughing at Vincent's mad dash down the hall.

Vincent chuckled and pulled her towards the bed. "Close your eyes," he commanded and she did so. The towel fell to the ground and he slid beneath her sheets. Delaney then had him close his eyes while she changed into a dry underdress before she joined him in the bed.

Vincent pulled her in to his chest and she curled up against him. He kissed the top of her head lightly.

It wasn't long before he was asleep but it took longer for Delaney. She couldn't help thinking about the fact she was in bed with a naked man. She wondered if next time she would be naked too.