Henry's mouth went dry as he watched her subtle movements, the slight rise and fall of her hips against his hand. The sight of her, powerful and in control even now, sent a current of heat through his body that made his trousers feel impossibly tight.
She was toying with him, and they both knew it. That was their dance; she led, he followed, and only when she permitted it could he take what he so desperately wanted.
Henry's jaw clenched. Outside these walls, he commanded the respect of nations. Here, he knelt before a woman who reduced him to a trembling mess with nothing but a look. And God help him, he loved every moment of it.
"No," he managed, his voice rougher than intended. "Allow me."
His fingers moved with renewed purpose, searching for the rhythm she craved. Two fingers slipped inside her, curling upward as his thumb found the sensitive bundle of nerves above. The taste of her on his tongue had been all he could think about for days since their last encounter.
He pressed his forehead against her thigh. The scent of her arousal filled his senses, driving him to the edge of his restraint. Her fingers touched him gently, not pushing, but not pulling away either. She was giving him permission without surrendering control entirely.
That was what made this so perfect. They never truly gave up their power to each other; they simply exchanged it, back and forth like a dangerous game.
Henry took that small victory and ran with it, lifting her with ease and backed her against the wall, her skirt riding higher with each movement. "We’ve both had a rather trying day," he said, voice dropping to that low register. "And we deserve relaxation."
He punctuated his words with a kiss to the hollow of her throat, tasting the salt of her skin as his hands moved to cup her bottom, supporting her weight against him.
"And you understand that I have worried over you, missed you," he continued, lips trailing along her collarbone, "that I require a bit of... distraction with you now."
His mouth found her breast through the thin material of her gown, teeth grazing the sensitive peak with enough pressure to make her gasp. The sound was like a match to tinder for him. In the outside world, he was restrained, measured. Here, with her, those restraints dissolved like sugar in hot tea.
Henry kept his eyes locked with hers as he slowly untied the belt of her bathrobe.The silk parted beneath his fingers, revealing the pale expanse of her skin inch by tantalising inch.
"Gorgeous," he murmured, his voice thick with desire as his gaze traveled down her body. He kept their eyes connected, refusing to break that intimate tether between them. It was a power play; she'd shown him how powerful she was, and now he would demonstrate his control, his patience, his devotion to her pleasure.
The robe fell open completely now, revealing her in all her glory. Henry stepped back, his hands moving to his own clothing. He took his time, watching her watching him. The contrast between them was stark; her nakedness, his still-clothed body, the anticipation building between them like a physical presence.
