Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 118860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Tomas had always been the leader in accepting new ideas. He was a conservationist. An environmentalist. He wanted to preserve the animals and their habitats for future generations. He believed that there were many lifesaving and disease-altering plants in the rainforest as yet to be discovered.
So he was going to learn every ritual his woman enjoyed, and he’d do his best to make it even more enjoyable. He filled the deep tub with hot water and laid out the products Sarika liked to use. The flames on the candles he set around the room flickered and jumped, and fragrance filled the room.
He found the thick bath towels folded neatly on a shelf. He studied them, ensuring he would know how to manufacture them for his lifemate each time she wanted to take a bath. He hoped they would establish their own ritual.
“Sarika.” He walked out onto the porch and held out his hand to her. “I’ve run your bath.”
Her face lit up. That alone was worth the time he’d spent deciding her bathing ritual would be a good idea to share. She slipped her hand into his, and his heart clenched. It was such a simple gesture. One he’d never considered. Like most ancients, he’d observed a multitude of relationships down through the ages, but he didn’t understand until that moment why that simple connection was so important.
Tomas drew her against his side, her smaller hand in his, the feeling of intimacy nearly overwhelming. He liked being with her. No matter the circumstance, when they were together, a sense of peace stole over him. Not just peace, belonging.
“I know you aren’t aware of it, Sarika, but you’ve given me so much already.” He led her into the dim bathroom, lit only by the flames of the candles.
She looked around her and then tilted her face up to his. “Thank you, this was so thoughtful of you. I use the bathtub to relax. Sometimes my mind is very chaotic, trying to piece together puzzles, and I have to shut it down. This is the only way I’ve found to do it.”
He found himself smiling down at her as he reached for the hem of her shirt. “Let me consider other ways that might help you relax. In the meantime, I’d like to wash your hair and give you a massage. It will be a first for me. You’ve given me quite a few already, but this is important to me.”
She let him pull her shirt over her head. Next, she kicked off her shoes and dropped her hands to the cargo pants she was wearing.
“Let me.” He nudged her hands aside gently and found the waistband of the cargo pants.
“You want to undress me?”
It wasn’t exactly a protest, but there was trepidation in her voice.
“Yes. I would like that privilege. I want to savor every single thing about your bath ritual and share it with you. If this is something you love, we will need to incorporate it into our daily life. Just preparing the room and bath for you gave me tremendous and unexpected pleasure. Undressing you would be a gift.”
“But you can take off clothes with just a thought, can’t you?”
“Yes, but I am discovering that your ways have value. This is one of those times when I believe it is important for me to experience every aspect of this ritual, including taking your clothes off. It is a powerful aphrodisiac even thinking about it, let alone doing it.” He made the confession sincerely, hoping she understood she was safe with him. That this meant a great deal to him.
She studied him from under her lashes, her expression thoughtful, and then she nodded slowly. He bent his head to brush a kiss along her temple before he pushed the cargo pants over her hips. His fingers trailed over her bare skin, lingering. Taking her into his mind, absorbing the way all that soft skin felt under his palm, the pads of his fingers, he knew he would never forget this first time.
He felt the small tremor that went through her as he removed her bra. “You’re safe with me, Sarika. I’m not going to push you any faster than you want to go.”
He led her to the tub and helped her step in. The water was deep and steaming. Because the room was lit with candles, the surface took on a glow, but beneath that layer, there was a purple effect, much like the color of midnight.
Sarika made a small sound of content. “This is heaven.”
He picked up the handheld sprayer, checked the temperature of the water and instructed her to lie back against the wall of the tub. He thoroughly rinsed her hair before pouring a small amount of the shampoo into his hands so he could massage it into her hair.