Garden of May - Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Vanessa finally managed to open her eyes as they reached a steaming bath. River Ross, effortlessly supporting her with one arm, tested the water with his free hand. Then, he slowly lowered her into the large wooden tub, still wrapped in the damp sheet.
“Hnh…”
Vanessa gasped, a sharp intake of breath. The hot water stung her bruised and bitten skin. She tried to sit up, but her hands, gripping the edge of the tub, were too weak, and she slipped back.
“Try to be patient.” His indifferent gaze was infuriating. He acted as if he had nothing to do with her current state.
Unlike Vanessa, who was practically in pieces, River Ross seemed strangely energized. He’d even managed to clean himself up while she was unconscious. The scent of good soap clung to him.
“I’m done… I want to get out.” Her voice was a raspy croak. River Ross raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“I’m so tired I could die. Can’t we finish this later?”
“Just ten more minutes. If you still don’t want to continue after that, you can get out.”
His voice was gentle, as if soothing a child. His expression, too, seemed softer than usual. As she stared at him, mesmerized, he brushed her cheek with a wet hand.
He carefully wiped away the dried fluids from her cheek and neck, his touch tender, almost… loving. As if they were lovers. The thought was unhelpful. Vanessa turned her head away, scooping water with her own hand to rinse her neck.
The initial sting subsided, and the hot water began to relax her stiff muscles. River Ross’s hand, which had been massaging her knotted shoulder, slid down into the water.
“Wait.”
He soothed her instinctively recoiling body with a hand on her back, then peeled away the wet sheet. His large hands moved smoothly through the water.
He placed his palm on her flat stomach, pressing gently. Vanessa exhaled a shaky breath. His hand moved lower, probing between her legs, parting her lips. Just as her body went limp, his fingers slipped inside her.
“Ah…”
His long, thick fingers curled, stroking her inner walls. The accumulated fluids coated his fingers, trickling down. With each movement, she could see the cloudy liquid swirling beneath the rippling surface of the water.
Vanessa instinctively clenched her muscles, biting her lip. Heat flooded through her.
“Hnh…uhn…”
“Almost done.”
“Your…voice…how…ah…”
Vanessa bit down hard on her lip, drawing blood. River Ross gently cupped her chin, his thumb parting her lips. He silenced her moans with his own mouth, his tongue expertly tangling with hers. Hot, panting breaths mingled in the space between them.
Her mind was blank. While she leaned against him, panting, River Ross continued his ministrations with practiced ease. He thoroughly cleansed her, removing every trace of sem*n, then gently bathed her again as fresh fluids leaked out.
His palm, slick with her wetness, moved slowly upwards, caressing her smooth abdomen, her stomach, her waist, then gliding up her spine. He kneaded her knotted muscles with surprising sensitivity for a soldier. Or perhaps, because he was a soldier, he knew exactly where to apply pressure.
Vanessa surrendered to the languid sensation, her body and lips pliant beneath his touch. River Ross’s fingers were long and strong, the pressure of his hands against her tingling back and waist perfectly calibrated. Even submerged in the warm water, his body heat felt scorching.
He suddenly squeezed her bre*st, and Vanessa cried out, gripping the edge of the tub.
“Ah!” The unexpected cl*max caused her muscles to clench. Beads of sweat, or perhaps condensation, trickled down her chin and splashed into the water. He released her trembling lips with a sigh.
