I'd been surprisingly cool, calm and collected after dropping the robe in front of Holt. But once the bedroom door snapped shut, and Holt's heavy footsteps landed on the floor behind me, I squealed and picked up my pace. I climbed into the hot tub and cloak of bubbles with such haste, I spilled a good amount on the floor.

I turned off the water and sank down to hide my nakedness in the bubbles.

Holt dropped a towel on the floor to sop up the spilled water and give him a dry place to sit. "I'm thinking this might be fun to watch."

I pushed the bubbles in a mound in front of my breasts. After building a respectable, soapy barrier, Holt leaned forward and blew gently. The bubbles parted, exposing my breasts to his gaze.

"That's better."

I could have spent the next few minutes gathering the bubbles again, or if I had any sense, I could have asked him to leave while I finished my bath. But then I had been the one to start it by dropping my robe in front of him. And if I gave it a good long thought, I didn't want him to leave. The heavy duty flirting was the most fun I'd had with a man in a long time.

Holt lifted his hand over the edge of the tub. With a sly grin, he reached for the dragonfly tattoo I had running along the side of my breast. I held my breath as his fingertip traced the ink. "This is nice. Good detail." His deep voice rolled off the bathroom tile.

I found myself instinctively lifting my breasts higher, inviting him to touch me. Which he did. His thumb swept around my nipple. It puckered beneath his touch.

"Beautiful," he said quietly as he lifted his gaze to my face. His thumb continued to draw circles around my nipple. It was the only place of contact, the only place where he touched me, yet I could feel that tiny touch through my entire body. My pussy tingled with the feel of it.

He reached for the lavender bar of soap sitting on a dish at the end of the tub, but then stopped. "Guess I'm going to have to do something about these sleeves if I'm going to help you with your bath."

He stood up and looked extra tall standing over the tub. His shadow dimmed the light in the bathroom, and it seemed to pop another idea in his head. He walked to the shelves that held the towels and sundries and pulled out two candles and a book of matches. He set the candles on the counter, but before lighting them, he stopped to roll up his sleeves. Again, he stopped halfway through the task. Instead of rolling up his sleeves, he reached behind his neck and took hold of the sweater. It came off, right along with the t-shirt beneath.

I grabbed the edge of the tub to steady myself as I gawked at the unbelievable man standing just five feet from me. Every line of muscle was cut perfectly as if he was a drawing or . . . an artist's rendition . . . of the ideal male physique. Just like Ziggy Holt, the character.

"I'm still trying to decide if you're real." I finally loosened my grip on the tub.

"Huh, I'm still trying to decide the same thing about you." He lit the candles and turned off the light. Flickering light wavered across the tile and chrome fixtures, bathing the room in shadows.

A shirtless Holt stepped through the unsteady glow. He knelt down by the tub and picked up the soap. I couldn't stop myself. I had to touch him. I had to assure myself that this was happening. My fingers trailed over his tattoo covered pecs and along the ripples on his abdomen. It seemed he was enjoying it. I was definitely enjoying it.

"You are real, but you're also unreal, if that makes sense." I lowered my hand back into the water, deciding I'd blathered on long enough.

"I like the way you reason things, snow angel. Now, close your eyes, sit back and relax."

I closed my eyes but then opened one, curious to see what he was up to.

He lifted a brow in a silent reprimand. I shut both eyes again, and after a long deep breath, I allowed myself to relax back against the tub. I was cradled in hot water as I lost myself in the luxury of the bubbles and in the erotic feeling of knowing that Holt was sitting there, right next to the tub, watching me.

The cool air in the bathroom circled my wet breasts as they rose and fell with each breath. I could feel and hear Holt submerge the soap in the water.

I pointed without opening my eyes. "There's a washcloth draped over that end of the tub."

"Why the hell would I want a washcloth between my hands and your naked body?"

"Good point." I lifted my arms to rest on the edge of the tub and leaned my head back. I'd knotted my long hair in a bun on top of my head to keep it from getting wet, but it was slowly unraveling. I could feel long tendrils curling against my wet shoulders.

The water moved and before I could take my next breath, a large soapy hand smoothed over my belly and up to my breasts. I nearly melted right down into the water with the luxurious feel of his hands soaping up my skin.

"You are a puzzle," my voice drifted up with the steam. "All that power in those arms and yet you know how to be gentle."

"I like to find a balance between the two when it comes to women." His hand smoothed back over my belly and headed for my pussy. "Spread your legs, Jen. I want to be thorough."

"Uh huh," I sighed. I parted my legs as much as the tub would allow. Holt's hand slipped down between my thighs, and his fingers drew first along the folds of my pussy, before dipping inside of me.

I clutched the edges of the tub. My soft moans circled the small room. My head was light with the hot water, the perfumed air and the thick long fingers dancing inside of me. His other hand smoothed over my breasts and teased my nipples while the one between my legs flicked over my clit and impaled me with deep, long strokes.

"Holt," I mewled.

"That's it, Jen. I want to watch you come."

I braced my feet against the end of the tub and pushed against the pressure of his hand. It had been so long, too long, since I'd been with a man who knew exactly what he was doing that I easily slipped over into an orgasm.

Water lapped against the side of the tub as the waves of pleasure rolled through my body. I relaxed in the warmth and allowed my bathtub fantasy a few more moments of tranquil quiet before opening my eyes. Holt removed his hands from the water and pushed to his feet. It was more than evident that the last few minutes had been just as exhilarating for him. He made no attempt to hide the erection pushing at the fly of his pants. It might have been the angle that I was looking at it, but something told me, his cock went with the rest of him, big, beautiful and breathtaking.

I watched the muscles in his back and shoulders flex as he turned around and plucked a towel off the shelf. He dried off his arms and held up the towel. "I think Coco has made lasagna. Are you hungry or are you going to keep soaking?"

I ran my hands over the flat tufts of bubbles that now looked more like froth than bubbles. "When I was a kid, I used to get out as soon as the bubbles flat-lined. I'd say it's that time."

Holt opened the towel. I pushed to my feet and stepped into the waiting towel. He rubbed his hands over the lush terry cloth to dry me as I leaned back against his chest.

"Every bath after this is going to be a complete and utter disappointment."

His laugh was cool and low like his voice. "That's not good. Guess I'll have to make sure I'm there if you bathe again."

"You have my permission."

He spun me around in his arms. The instant I peered up at him, he covered my mouth with a kiss. I melted against him and parted my lips. His tongue traced a sensual trail around my lips and his kiss deepened. My head was light with it all when he lifted his mouth from mine.

The candles still flickered and gave off the sweet smell of melted wax as the fragrant steam found its way to the cold surface of the mirror and settled there in a haze, a haze like the one in my head.

"I'm going to let you get dressed. I'll meet you out in the hallway in twenty minutes."