Page 68 of Earl

“I have heard of her- “She plopped her hands on her hips. “And I also know that you slept with her. Did she try out the tub?”

“No. Of course not. But does it matter?”

“Okay mister, why don’t you ask me that question when I invite you home and have you in the bed where I had sex with Marcus.”

His expression changed. “Who the hell is Marcus?”

‘See.” She pointed an accusing finger at his bare chest. “That is exactly what I am talking about. And before you continue filling that tub, answer my question.”

“It was just a one-time thing and we both regretted it after and no, we did not do it in the tub.”

“Where then?”

“Cathy…”

“Where?”

“In one of the guest rooms. The place was being refurbished and this was not yet habitable. Satisfied?”

“I will let you know.”

“You are so adorable when you are jealous.” He grinned as she glared at him.

Stretching out a hand, he pulled her towards him and removed the blanket from around her breasts. Getting rid of his pants, he stepped into the frothy water and guided her down in front of him. When she leaned against him, he felt as if he was at home. Nothing had ever felt so wonderful.

“I never saw them hold hands or touch.” He murmured after a few minutes of contented silence.

“That is understandable. It sounds like they could not stand each other.” She did not have to ask what he was talking about and was happy that he could share it with her.

“They never touched us.” Moving tendrils of her hair, he passed the sponge over her neck. “I told myself that I had toughened up and did not need them to hold me.”

“But you did!” She turned to look at him, her eyes blazing with love. “It is natural for a child to want to feel that tangibility. I told myself that I did not care about mine. That they didn’t want me, so I didn’t want them back. But I was lying.

Even when I found the woman who gave birth to me, I wanted her to tell me that because of circumstances beyond her control, she had to give me up. When she told me she never wanted a kid, I wanted to die.”

Dropping the sponge, he cupped her face gently.

“That’s something neither of us ever have to face again.” He promised. “You will always know that I love and need you and I do Cathy. Darling, I need you so much that it scares me. I am tempted to lock you inside my bedroom and never let you out.”

“Earl.” She whispered achingly.

“When you look at me like that, say my name in that sultry and sexy voice of yours, it does something funny to my insides.” He stroked her cheek. “The first time I heard your voice, I got hard. It was damn embarrassing.” He gave her a pained look when she started laughing.

“It is not funny. I went through periods of constant pain and unable to go to sleep.”

“You mean like now?” She had turned sideways, the water sloshing over the lip of the tub and was cupping his sex.

“Oh Christ.” He whispered. “What are you doing?”

“Exercising my power.” She stroked him until he was standing at full attention.

Wrapping his fingers around the single braid she had put her hair in, he hauled her face up to his. The kiss was hot and sizzling. Everything fell away at once, nothing else mattered except the feelings tumbling around inside their bodies.

Their lips fused together, tongues tangling. Her nipples rubbed against his chest, causing incredible friction. Her arms came around his neck as she sank against his chest.

Dragging his lips from hers, he captured the suds on her cheek, before sucking on the skin of her neck. A sigh escaped her as her head drifted back, giving him full access to her skin. Removing the suds that had formed on her large nipples, he raised her up so that he could lavish them with his mouth.

Heat shimmered inside her and settled into her core until she was aching, her sensitive flesh swollen with need. As if she had transmitted it to him, he reached into the water and rubbed a slippery hand over the nubbin.