AN: Hi everyone! You asked for it, so here it is...The steamy epilogue.

Chapter 26—The Epilogue Chapter

Warning: Strong sexual content

Within minutes of dropping off his youngest son and kissing his other children and his mom good night, Derek was heading to the suite he shared with his wife. He'd been picturing in his head on that short walk exactly how she was going to look—all steamy, pink and white skin, blonde curls, and luscious bubbles—and he couldn't wait to get into the tub with her.

He'd already unbuttoned his shirt completely by the time he'd reached the doorway, and his jeans were unzipped once he'd reached the bathroom door. Unable to stop himself from smiling in anticipation, he opened the door and stepped inside the humid room...and his breath caught in his throat.

Imagination paled to reality when it came to his wife. He'd been right about those curls and that skin, but the impact was far more than he could've ever imagined. She looked like an angel, a decadent, fallen angel come to Earth just for him. Penelope had lit candles in the room, adding to the romantic ambiance, that gave a nearly ethereal glow to her, gleaming on her damp shoulders and the top curves of her breasts. She was sitting up, her long, smooth legs curled slightly under her, like a mermaid waiting for her sailor lover.

"What took you so long?" she purred, her voice a touch deeper, a touch more erotic and enticing than it normally was.

Derek swallowed past his suddenly dry mouth and licked his lips. "I came as fast as I could."

"Oh, angelfish." She clicked her tongue just slightly. "That's not something a woman wants to hear."

Derek chuckled as he took in the double entendre and the wicked little smile that played across her lips.

"You, princess, are a naughty girl," he said as he divested himself of his jeans and boxers.

"Gonna punish me?" she asked with faux innocence as he slid into the space she'd left in the tub in front of her.

Derek sucked in his breath as he sat. Damn, the water was hot! Penelope liked to poach herself in the bath, so it took a moment to let the temperature adjust. He was rigid—in more ways than one—not wanting to splash that steaming water on his skin, but then the water began to do its magic, and he relaxed, his muscles loosening as he stretched out.

Penelope scootched back a little farther in the tub to give him room. As she moved, she brought her hand up. She was holding a mesh sponge that was currently dripping frothy bubbles onto her chest. Watching her with that sponge gave him lots of lovely, sexy ideas.

"I believe I will punish you, my sweet, willing bath concubine," he answered. "You should work for your keep."

"I should?" she asked.

"Of course." Turning just slightly so his back was facing her, he commanded, "Wash my back."

He heard her slight intake of breath and then felt the water rush as she knelt behind him. "Yes, Master."

The warmth of the water sluicing from the sponge and the slickness of the bubbles onto his back felt wonderful as she began to wash him. Penelope, overachieving woman that she was, did an excellent job, washing, massaging, and cleaning his back. As she scrubbed his shoulders, the tips of her breasts tickled his skin, tracing invisible patterns of their own. It felt so wonderful, he had to stifle a groan.

"How were the kids?" she asked, almost absentmindedly, sliding her body against his as she moved up to his neck. It didn't surprise Derek; they hadn't had a chance to discuss them before they'd begun their playtime.

"They were sleeping," he answered gently and honestly. "I kissed them for us both."

She kissed his neck. "Thank you, Hot Stuff."

He laughed. "Boiling Stuff, with how hot this water is!"

"Silly boy." Penelope gave a low chuckle and slid her hands under the water to cup his bare butt. "The water has nothing to do with how hot you are."

Derek smiled to himself. Now she was ready to party!

Turning his head, he gave her a quick peck. "Saucy wench. Get to work."

"Do I only get to bathe your back, Master?" she asked, sliding back into a sitting position and wrapping her legs around him. "Can I bathe other areas, too...like this?" She moved her hands forward to his chest, slipping her fingers over his flat nipples and then down his ribcage and abdomen.

"Yes," he growled gruffly.

At that point, he was willing to let her do anything she wanted. He was putty in her hands as she touched his taut belly, dipping her fingertip into his navel and then moving lower. She pressed her body against him harder as she tried to reach farther on his body. Her breasts were flattened against his back, and the curls between her legs was tickling the top of his ass as she squirmed and stretched.

"I think," he said with a chuckle, "this might help." He turned, scooped her under her arms, and turned her around in the tub with a whoosh of water that overflowed the boundaries and splashed on the floor.

She giggled as she faced him now, sitting between his knees. "We made a mess."

As he watched her, naked and luscious, sitting in front of him, he drew her closer into his arms. "It'll dry."

Penelope was watching him, her eyes darkening and mirroring what he was feeling. She looped her arms around his neck, her body plastered against his. "Unless we make it wetter..."

Derek smirked and moved his hands to her legs so that she straddled him. "Hell, yes."

All thought ended as he kissed her, taking her mouth like a man that meant it, devouring her lips, the minty taste of the toothpaste she favored and her own special essence a feast for his senses. Derek loved to kiss, as did Penelope; they could spend hours trading kisses and touches. He slid his tongue into her mouth, and she readily tangled her tongue with his, opening her mouth wider and allowing him to pillage and plunge deeper.

The hot, scalding wetness of the water was nothing in comparison to the heat of her mouth and the dampness between her legs that was cradling his prominent bulge which in turn swelling even more by the second. She played with him, both instinctively and provocatively, rocking her hips against him, insinuating his rod between the cleft of her lower lips.

As his erection surged, he groaned. He had a lot more planned for her tonight; he needed to stop this before he couldn't.

Penelope seemed to have other ideas. When he broke the kiss, she moaned, arching up in the water so that she could kiss him more. When she lowered, she tilted her hips, and he began the ascent into the tight, velvety soft cove that felt like heaven to him. She gasped, pulling her mouth from his, stiffening slightly. Penelope opened her eyes, and then her molten, gaze, glazed with desire, held his as she continued moving down slowly until they were fully joined.

"I love you," she whispered, passion and honesty in her eyes, her flesh squeezing him, her lips swollen from his kisses. She'd never looked more beautiful to him.

He'd never needed anyone like he needed her. He wondered if she knew how precious she truly was, how she'd always been his solace. The stress of the day, the panic and worry and the pleasure and the joy that could've overwhelmed him was lost in her, in their lovemaking, in the sanctuary of her arms.

His throat caught with emotion, making words impossible, so he kissed her again, deeply, tenderly. She rode him, the movements smooth and sure as he helped, gripping her hips, sliding her with the movements.

Soon, he became frantic, wanting to possess her, to feel that completion and surrender and release he only felt with her. Derek reached for the drainage valve on the tub, pulled it quickly, and then turned her over in the tub with another splash of water that coated the floor. He was on fire for her; he wanted her so bad, he couldn't focus. A few heady strokes, and he felt her spasm, stiffen, coming apart in her own completion. Two more thrusts, and he was there, his entire body grinding into hers.

"I love you," he said, showering her face with kisses. He felt weak. "I love you."

He felt her arms wrap around him, and she answered with a hug. A warm, sweet, loving, giving hug, like she'd given him for the past thirteen years.

He smiled to himself. Yeah. She knew how precious she was. He'd continue to tell her, too...every day of his life.

She wiggled under him. "Hot Stuff...this tub is getting cold."

"Sorry, baby." Immediately, he stood and then scooped her up in to his arms, giving her a similarly faux innocent look that she'd given him earlier. "Do I deserve punishment?"

"Oh, I'll forgive you," she said, a devilish glint in her eyes. "My willing bedroom concubine..."

The End

Dear Readers:

Thank you so much for reading. Nothing makes an author happier than knowing there is an audience who appreciates their stories. It means more to me than you will ever know.

Lots of love and see you next story! Kricket