He kept kissing her. Her mouth opened to him. Her muscles loosened. Her eyes closed. Lucio deftly unsnapped the front closure of her bra. It, too, was gone.

Somewhere in the recesses of her brain, Ginger acknowledged that her transformation had been seamlessin less than a minute she'd gone from silly and awkward to desperate and naked.

How does he do that? Ginger marveled at his skill. It usually took her a while to warm up. Not with Lucio.

He slid his lips off hers, continuing to kiss down her chin, her throat, to her sternum. She braced her hands in his thick hair as he got to his knees, sliding his tongue across her nipples on the way, down the center of her belly, teasing her belly button and the crest of her mound. When he nudged her thighs open, she worried she might fall. She was about to mention this possibility when Lucio gently clamped his teeth onto her outer lips, and gave a delicate pull. The only sound she was able to produce was, Mmmmgggghhh.

Lucio's hands clasped at her bottom, and he pulled her closer to his face. She had a flashback to the lawn at Rick's ranch, the night she'd said out loud that her pussy belonged to Lucio. It was true, she realized. Shockingly, she'd been dead on the money. How had she known? At that point she hadn't even said three words to the man, and it sure wasn't as if she went around saying she belonged to every guy she met. In fact, she'd never felt that way, certainly not with Larry. It occurred to Ginger that with Larry, she'd only allowed him to borrow parts of her body. And that was if he'd jumped through the appropriate hoops. And if she felt like it.

But not here. Not with Lucio. This was something new. It was something very simple and powerful.

She was his, and they both knew it.

After a few moments of licking and juicing her up, Lucio rose from his knees. Holding her hand, he took a step toward the tub and turned off the water. He swished his hand through the bubbles and looked up at her, smiling.

He let go of her hand and sat down on the wide ledge that surrounded the Jacuzzi, stretching out his legs. He leaned his head against the wall, still smiling, and began to study her at his leisure.

Ginger knew what he wanted. She stood completely still, the candlelight on her skin, her mind in a sex stupor, her body parts humming. She displayed herself for him as his eyes consumed her from her toes to her shoulders. His smile began to soften as his eyes grew pensive. Eventually, he sighed and shook his head.

Genevieve, he whispered. You are exquisite.

She sucked in a quick breath.

Lucio's dark eyes returned to her face. You are beautiful, mi amor. You are a queen. You are what every man dreams of. Lucio lowered his chin, and in the light his eyes danced. He looked like a devilish little boy.

Come. He patted the edge of the tub. Come in and relax. Feel the warm water against your skin.

As Ginger approached the tub, Lucio stood, holding her elbow as she climbed in. He steadied her as she lowered herself into the bubbles, the hot water sending an immediate wave of deep relief through her muscles.

There you go, he said, making sure she was safely situated, her back against the curved wall of the deep tub. Lucio bent down and pulled her hair up to the back of her head, gave it a twist, and secured it in place with a clip he must have found in the drawer. Ginger had to laugh. This man didn't miss a thing! Next, he placed a decadent, wet kiss on her lips. When he pulled away, it left her stretching out her neck for more.

I have something for you, guapa, Lucio said, stepping back. It is not perfect, but it is all for you.

With that, he crossed his arms in front of his body and whipped his shirt over his head. He let it fall from his left hand, flicking it atop Ginger's pile of discarded clothing.

How wrong he was, Ginger thought. If that wasn't perfection, nothing on God's earth could qualify as such. Ginger blinked, peering through a thin veil of steam from the bathwater, enjoying a slow visual tour of this beautiful man's body. Her hand unconsciously reached under the bubbles so she could touch herself. She'd seen him naked only once before, and most of that was the view of him as he ran into the dining room, still wearing his shoes and socks, clutching his pants and shirt close.

But now, there was no emergency. There was no reason to stop or hide or rush to get dressed before some door flew open somewhere. It was just the two of them. All alone. Two grown-ups with a very adult game under way. And he was unzipping his jeans, a wicked smile playing on his lips as he pulled them down, a pair of clingy boxer briefs going along for the ride. Lucio stepped out of the pants and used a toe to toss them onto the pile.

Ginger saw smooth olive skin. Dark chest hair that disappeared into a fine line slicing down the center of his torso. Maleness everywhere. Muscles that were long and defined in most places, with hard swells on his upper arms, chest, thighs, calves. And there.

Oh.

Heaven.

Help me.

Ginger's eyes popped wide. Her head fell back against the tub so hard it hurt. She stared. Blinked again. She'd never seen anything like it. Unabashedly, her fingers tweaked her own nipples.

Lucio chuckled. I am not ah, the word circumcised. I am exactly as God made me.

Ginger nearly choked. Remind me to send him a thank-you note, she said.

Lucio laughed. So it is all right with you, yes? Some women have worried it was too large. He shrugged, as if apologizing.

We're good, she said, still staring.

Just as God made me. In Ginger's mind she saw how it must have been, Larry and Lucio in heaven before they were born, waiting in the same line, ready to get God's blessings before they began their earthly stay. Lucio received the Super Deluxe All-Inclusive Adventure Penthouse Package.

Larry got the junior suite.

Lucio's grin widened. So, I will do, yes?

Ginger nodded, and though she was soaking in a tub of water and her pussy was dripping, her mouth had gone completely dry.

Lucio tilted his head, looking quite serious. Whatever you like about me, know that its only purpose is to bring you pleasure. I am for your pleasure.

Ginger tried to smile, but something profoundly sad had just occurred to her. Most men looked self-conscious standing naked in the middle of a room. Larry most certainly had. It was probably because he was always conscious of himselfto the exclusion of everyone else. Including his wife, the woman he claimed to love.

Not Lucio. He was as elegant and comfortable in his bare skin as he'd been in that stylish suit he'd worn at Josie and Rick's wedding. Maybe that was because his focus was outside himself. His focus was on her. He'd just said that whatever she liked about his body was for her.

The timing couldn't have been worse, but Ginger was unable to stop the wave of emotion that hit her. She had been so lonely for so long. Lucio's sweet spiritthe way he created this sensual setting and offered up his body as a giftit was too much for her.

A sob escaped from her mouth. She turned away from him.

He was in the water in seconds, suds and waves splashing everywhere. He inserted himself between her and the wall of the tub, sliding his legs beneath hers. His arms went around her, and his hot whisper melted into her ear.

Ah, Genevieve, he said. You have much to tell me. I want to hear it all.

She sniffed, embarrassed.

Take all the time you need, mi amor.

I wasted a lot of my life on Larry, she whispered.

Nothing is wasted if you find the lesson in it.

I've had so many lessons lately I don't even know where to begin.

Whatever you need to say will come to you when it is supposed to, and you can share it with me if you like. He nuzzled his rough cheek against her neck. Everything comes when it is supposed to.