Red Is The Color Of Desire

Chapter 13

Jewel watched as the last of the men walked out of the connecting bathroom. They had filled the tube with warm water, and dropped a bar of scented soap into it. She looked behind her and frowned. She hadn't had a bath in so long and she was more than eager to soak in the warm water. But she couldn't help but have a sickening sense of paranoia.

After Emile had offered her a bath he had quickly left to go and get the water. He hadn't returned yet but she still couldn't help looking over her shoulder. He had been angry with her and to suddenly offer her a bath...it was nothing short of suspicious. She looked back down at the tub, the water looking more and more inviting every second. She bit her lip before quickly striping, pulling Emile's oversize clothing off of her.

"I expected you to already be in it."

She gasped, turning around to find Emile standing in the doorway. She wrapped her arms around her breast and took a step back, bumping into the cold metal of the tub behind her. He raised a brow at her modesty. "There's really no reason to be so modest, I've seen every part of your body, mon ange."

She blushed but continued to cover herself. "Why are you in here?"

"I thought I might assist you in cleaning yourself." He said as he began to remove his clothing in front of her.

Her eyes widened and her blush spread, from her cheeks to her neck. "No! I know how to clean myself!"

He shrugged, moving toward her regardless. "Come on, Jewel." He reached for her and she jumped away, sprinting for the door. She didn't get far before he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. And suddenly she was in the water, lying between his legs, her back pressed against his chest.

He picked up the bar of soap and ran it down her neck, slowly moving down her breast and back up again. She inhaled sharply before twisting to her side, trying to avoid the eroticism of his touch.

"Emile!" She snapped as the water sloshed around her wild bucking. He chuckled at her efforts and placed his hands on her hips, sitting her upright.

"You are very stubborn. Have I told you that?"

"And you're an animal! Have I told you that?"

His smile grew, "Yes you have, a countless number of times."

She clawed at his arm but he merely tightened it around her. She groaned, frustration settling in. "Emile, let me go!"

"What if I don't want to let you go?" He asked as he kissed the space behind her ear. Her eyes widened to the size of saucers. Her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach.

"What..."

"I've grown quite fond of you."

"You...you...you can't just keep me...I'm not a stray dog." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"I agree...you're a woman. A woman that I've found great pleasure with."

She twisted in his arms, her breast pressing against his broad chest. "I won't allow it! I'll escape again!"

He raised a brow skeptically. "Do you really think I would let you?"

Rage exploded within her and she raised a hand to slap him. He saw it coming but he did not stop her. He allowed her to slap him not just once but thrice.

"I've done what you've wanted! I've adhered to your deals and I've given myself willingly! You've found pleasure in me! You must keep your word!" Her hand shook as tears welled up in her eyes and threatened to spill down her flushed cheeks.

"I miss my mother and my father! I miss my brothers! You're so damned selfish. The world doesn't revolve around you and what you want...," her breath caught and she raised her hand to slap him again. But she couldn't do it, her hand trembled and she cried.

He tilted her chin up and cupped her face in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. She sniffled and it was almost painful to his ears.

"Enough...no more tears. It was merely a thought." He whispered to her. "I shall take you back to London when my quest is done. I am a man of my word."

Her body shook as she sucked in air, her nose running, her lashes damp with wetness. She looked up at him, an unknown mixture of emotions dancing through her eyes.

She raised a hand to touch his red cheek. Her fingers running over the hand print she had left behind. "You make me so angry..." she whispered. She had never really been the violent sort. Her temper had always been rather moderate as well but Emile evoked nothing but fury from her.

He smiled at her before turning her around. He picked up the soap and continued washing her, this time getting no complaints. She stayed silent as he ran his hands down the sides of her torso, caressing her legs as he went. She stayed silent until she could stay silent no more, a soft whimper flying from her lips.

She grabbed his hand, stopping him in his pursuit to fondle her more. "Don't," she gasped out, her body on fire. "I'm in no mood to challenge you."

He pulled her close, locking his arms around her damp torso.

"Then don't... Just let me hold you, Jewel. No challenge needed."

He peppered passionate kisses across her cheek and her neck. Tasting her skin on his tongue. She began to writhe against him, her breath coming fast and labored. She wiggled uncontrollably as warmth spread throughout her.

And when he could take no more he pulled her head back and smashed his lips onto hers. She fell back against his chest and kissed him back, her lips parting as his tongue tentatively slid home.

She turned in his tight embrace, her palms in the space between them. He groaned against her lips. Need, raw and unadulterated coursing through him. He ran his hands through her hair and down her back. Kissing her with unrestrained passion.

He pulled away, cupping her face in his hands. And suddenly he growled, snapping her out of her trance. He dropped his hands and pulled himself from the tub, leaving her to stare after him with a surprised look on her face.

She wrapped a hand around her mouth before flinching. Her mouth felt raw. It was a sensation that was familiar to her. Stubble burn. She blushed crimson as she realized that she hadn't acknowledged the new prickly patch of stumble growing on his chin and cheeks. She blushed even redder as she realized that she had been much too enthralled in their kiss to react to it.

Emile quickly returned with a small leather pouch, he opened it and pulled out a razor. With extreme concentration and determination shinning in his eyes, he stood in front of the vanity mirror and began to remove his facial hair.

Jewel's eyes widened and she just stared at him from where she sat, glued inside the tub, watching him as he shaved. It seemed somewhat implausible and so unlike an evil man to stop making love to her to shave. Would an evil man have stopped his pursuit of her to get rid of the stubble that reddened her sensitive skin? Would an evil man have even taken her comfort into consideration?

She pulled herself from the tub, water hitting the floor beneath her feet. She refused to acknowledge that he wasn't the villain she originally assumed him to be. Because she knew if she began to see him in a new light... she would have to admit she wanted him too.

Just as quickly as he had begun he had also finished, throwing his razor back into it's pouch and facing her.

Her heart flipped in her chest as he pulled her into his arms and lavished her with soft kisses. And she let him. Her body seemed to turn to mush in his expert hands. A soft moan escaped her lips, then she was in his arms being placed gently onto the bed.

As his tongue and hands caressed every inch of her she whimpered helplessly, bucking wildly underneath him. And as he drove into her all she felt was pleasure and a hungry need for more. She wrapped her arms around his waist as he took her, bringing her closer and closer to that high, bright place that seemed to be reaching out for her.

He kissed her then, long and hard, groaning into her mouth as she spasmed against him. Finally flying higher and higher, clinging to Emile with abandon as he found his own release.

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