Her hand is testing the water's warmth when Francis comes in. Even after a couple weeks of marriage she is still almost surprised to see him walk into her rooms, unannounced; his demeanor completely carefree as he walks toward her.
"You may leave now." He says in the direction of the chamber maid, and the girl nods and curtsies before retiring, but Mary's eyes are stuck to Francis, the way he spoke making her senses awaken. He comes to her, pulling her close by her waist. She's wearing only a thin robe and he is still in his traveling attire, and something in that makes her feel almost vulnerable. It makes her blood churn. He mutters a suggestion against her ear that makes her eyes pop open a second before she nods, excitement making her breath race.
"Can I join you?" He'd asked.
She watches him take of his clothes slowly, methodically and when he is finally completely bare before her, he pulls her in, kissing her passionately, his mouth dominating hers. She barely feels him untying her robe and pushing it off her body. The silk grazes her shoulders as it goes down and this feels different somehow, than any of the countless times he's seen her. The room is completely alight with the late afternoon sun and his eyes travel her body like a gentle caress; he admires her like she's a work of art.
"You're so beautiful." He tells her, and something in the way he says it makes her chest feel as if it is going to burst open. He leads her to the bathtub, stepping inside the warm water. He holds his hand out to her and she steps inside, not quite sure on how to arrange herself.
"Turn around…come here." She follows his lead, sitting in front of him, and his arms come around her waist, pulling her close. She relaxes against his chest, the warm water and his hands doing wonders for her tired, travel-weary body. His fingers start to run over her arms, and the lull of the movement and the water make her go slack, pliant … her eyes fall close of their own accord as she leans her head back to rest it on his shoulder.
"I was here once before, some years ago. I'll show you the chateau before dinner, what do you say?"
He asks her, his fingers tracing up and down her shoulder.
"All right." She says softly, sighing with the feeling the movement evokes in her.
"And after dinner, we could finish our walk through the garden. I think it might not be that cold yet. We could watch the sun set…what do you think?" His hand is tracing patterns in her stomach now, each time lower than the last and her heartbeat speeds sup.
"Huh?" She asks him.
"I said, what do you think about watching the sun set tonight?"
"Umm…" She struggles to find words to answer him, when his hands seem to be wondering aimlessly over her body.
"What has you so distracted?" He teasingly asks, as his hand runs over her smooth thigh, up her side and brushes his fingers over her breast.
"Francis." She gasps softly, her eyes opening and her head rising up from his shoulder. He kisses her neck.
"Relax. It was a long journey." He coaxes her to lie against him once more, and his lips return to her neck, biting and sucking at the tender flesh. She can't help the small moan that escapes her lips. He quiets her, his hand running lower and lower.
"Relax." He reiterates softly, his hand dipping between her legs that fall open of their own accord. A moan escapes her lips the fist time he touches her, the water around her creating a completely new feeling.
"What if…ah…someone comes in?" She breathily asks him, her breath speeding up. She remembers their earlier mistake despite herself.
"They won't." He says and she wants to ask him how he's so sure but then his mouth nips at her shoulder and his fingers do wonders to her underneath the water. Relaxing is absolutely ludicrous, as even keeping herself quiet proves to be a struggle, but she manages, although her question is well forgotten by the time they get out.