"Hair first." He grabbed the shampoo, then tucked her between his legs and began washing her hair. She closed her eyes and simply enjoyed.
"Rinse time." He reached back, grabbing the flexible hand shower, stretching it to capacity as he turned on the taps. He rinsed her hair clean, then turned off the water and grabbed the conditioner.
He massaged it through her scalp, sending ripples of pleasure reverberating down to her toes.
"You're awfully good at this," she murmured. "Don't tell me—you were a hairdresser at one time, too."
"Three hundred years is a long time to stay in one job, you know. And people tend to get a little suspicious when you show no sign of aging."
"A problem," she agreed. She leaned against his chest, listening to the thunder of his heart.
"I can't massage the back of your head like that."
She smiled. "I don't really care. I'm comfortable."
"Oh really?" He cupped his hands around her breasts, then gently tugged at her nipples, teasing them to full bloom. A shudder ran through her, and deep inside the ache began. "How comfortable is that?"
"Probably as comfortable as you are in those wet jeans." She shifted position and closed her eyes.
Energy shimmered, and his clothes joined hers on the floor. She moved back between his legs.
Michael grabbed the bar of soap and began washing her arms and chest. He took his time, working his way down her stomach, every now and again reaching back up to cup her breasts and tease her nipples.
Eventually, he slipped his hand between her legs, stroking her gently at first, then faster when the tremors began. Her hips surged, thrusting against his hand for several seconds before she went lax and still against him. But ripples of pleasure ran heat through the link, and her sigh was a sound that reverberated though his soul.
"I hope you didn't treat all your customers this well," she murmured.
"Baths weren't really big enough to share with any comfort way back then," he said, reaching for the soap again. "And they were generally only taken on a weekly basis anyway."
She sighed. "This is so much more civilized."
Amusement mixed with love ran through the link, shimmering around him, through him. He knew he should leave the spa, knew that he was risking his resolve to keep her out of his life—but right then, he didn't care. He needed her—emotionally as much as physically—and just this once, he was giving in to that need.
He began washing her again. The last time they'd made love it had been too quick, too rushed—too full of uncertainty and desperation. This time, while they still had time left to them, he would pleasure her more fully.
"Turn around and face me," he said, dropping the soap.
She did. He took her left foot in his hands, gently massaging her toes. Gradually, he worked his way up her leg, watching her amber eyes dilate with anticipation. When he touched her again, she sucked in her breath, squirming against his hand. He slid his fingers inside her, caressing her, feeling her heat, bringing her close to the brink again before pulling away.
Her need filled his mind, his body, and almost shot his control to hell. He slammed the link closed, not ready yet for this to end.
"Tease," she muttered, her breathing hot and hard.
He smiled and made his way down her right leg, then raised her foot and gently sucked on each of her toes. Her moan of pleasure ran like fire across his senses. He lowered her foot and tugged her closer.
She ran a hand down his chest and stomach, and every inch of him trembled in response. He stopped her, raising her fingers to his lips and kissing them. "This night is for you and about you," he said softly.
"Just let me love you as you deserve to be loved."
Tears glimmered in her eyes. She blinked them away, but her smile remained tremulous. "I only want to give you the same."
"I take pleasure in your pleasure. I could stay here forever and just watch you, Nikki. Let me do this."
She sighed. "I'm enjoying this way too much to say no right now."
"Good."
He began his gentle exploration again. Ran his hands down the full length of her lean body, caressed her small breasts, sucking her nipples until she was panting with need, then claimed her mouth, greedy for the taste of her.
Their minds entwined, wildfire ready to explode.
He cupped her again, slid his fingers inside her, bringing her to her climax hot and fast, until the shudders racked her body and left her limp in the water.
"Again," he said, pulling her closer. "This time with me."
"I can't," she moaned. "It's impossible."
"It's not." Nothing was impossible between them. He savaged her mouth, drowning in the heat and urgency of her kiss. Got lost in the wonder of her body, until the ache in his was a fire that burned through the link, wrapping them in heat and passion and love . I could make love to this woman every day for eternity and never tire of her.And he knew with certainty that that's exactly what he had to do.
Somehow, he had to find a way to hold her away from the danger of his work and yet keep her a part of his life. He couldn't walk away. Didn't want to walk away. He'd been a fool to even think he could.
He caught her hair, pulling her head back, kissing the long line of her neck, working his way back up to her mouth. Her breath was hot and quick against his lips. "Say it, Nikki."
"I love you." She moaned and wrapped her arms tight around his neck. "Oh God, I love you."
He plunged himself inside her, then thrust her back against the spa, plunging deep again. "Say it again."
"I love you, I love you." Her softness encased him, muscles contracting against him. He had to grit his teeth to keep from exploding.
"Again," he demanded, thrusting hard, wanting, needing, every ounce from her.
Her litany ran over him, through him, exploding glorious heat through their minds. "And I," he vowed, "will love you for eternity and never leave you."
Her climax sent him spiralling beyond control and into bliss.
"I," she said, sometime later, "have no energy to move. I think I'll sleep right here in these bubbles."
"Your skin will wrinkle like a prune. Not a good look, let me assure you." He climbed out of the spa and quickly dried himself. "Up, woman. Bed is where you belong right now."
"My legs have no bones."
He grinned. "Good loving can do that to you."
"That wasn't good. That was amazing . I've never…" she hesitated and licked her lips. For an instant, she looked like a teenager just discovering the wonders of sex. "Let's just say that it has never been that good for me."
"Then it was a first for us both." He wrapped the towel around his waist, then leaned over the side of the hot tub and grabbed her lax arm, tugging her toward the edge.
She raised her eyebrows and made no move to get out. "I find that hard to believe. In three hundred and eighty years you must have had some good sex."
He forced a note of severity into his voice. "Three hundred and sixty, not three hundred and eighty, thank you very much."
Her grin widened. "What's twenty years when you're that old? And you didn't answer my question."
"I have had good sex. But I've never had sex that could so completely blow my mind as well as my body. Amazing, as you said."
She studied him for a second, her eyes amber slits of contentment. "What about Elizabeth?"
If she at all worried that Elizabeth might yet usurp her position in his heart, then it didn't show—in her voice or her thoughts. Still, he owed her the truth.
He sat down on the edge of the spa and tucked the wet strands of her hair behind her ear. "I gave up life to follow Elizabeth. She was my world—all I wanted at the time, and all I thought I would ever want."