Dark Peril Page 0,101

It matters little to me where we are."

She inhaled sharply. Now she wished she could see his face more clearly. "Are you saying we could live anywhere in the world that I wanted?"

"You have only to wish it."

There was no way to hide the shock on her face, and she knew he saw it by his sigh.

"Do you think yourself less than me?"

"No!" She absolutely didn't but . . .

He nodded his head. "I see. You thought I would think you were less than me."

She was ashamed. "I'm sorry." She sensed his disappointment in her for her lack of faith in him, and that hurt more than if he'd yelled at her. Dominic had never given her reason to think that he would ever think her less. "I think most men . . ." She trailed off when he lifted his hand to stop her.

"There is only one man in your life, Solange. You have only to worry yourself with what I think and feel, not other men."

His voice, as always, was utterly calm, but she sensed the edge to it and she pulled her knees to her and wrapped her arms around them, under the water where she felt warm and safe.

"Do you understand?"

She nodded her head. He waited.

"Yes," she said aloud, almost stammering. "I really didn't mean to accuse you of . . ." What had she been accusing him of? What was wrong with her? Why did it matter so much that she might have hurt him?

"You thought I would dictate to you," he finished for her. "We are partners--equal, Solange, in every sense of the word. As your lifemate, your happiness and health matter more to me than my own, but lifemates are in one another's mind. I know what you need. I think some things are difficult for you to see or admit about yourself, and it is my job to make certain you get all that you need."

She lowered her eyes. "What about your needs?"

"We will see to them in time. I have waited centuries to find you. In that time I have learned patience. Before anything else, I need your trust. Your absolute trust in me--and in yourself. You have to know you are the only woman I will ever want or need. You have to know that it is in you to meet my every desire, just as I will meet yours."

"What if I'm no good at sex?" She voiced the question most on her mind and blushed a deep crimson while she did. Her body went hot and she was very grateful for the steamy water that helped to disguise her embarrassment.

"Then your teacher will have failed and we will begin again."

She swallowed hard. "Is that what you're doing? Teaching me about sex?"

His white teeth flashed briefly in the flickering candlelight and then he was completely in the shadows. "We have not yet begun your instruction on sex."

"Oh." Her heart jumped and then beat wildly in her chest.

"Lift your leg out of the water for me."

Her gaze widened as he stood up and glided over to the edge of the basin. His movements were so fluid she knew there was no other way to describe him. He loomed over her, his shoulders wide and his dark hair flowing. She hesitated, uncertain what he wanted of her. If she scooted close to the edge so her leg would be out of the water, she'd have to lean back and she'd probably go underwater. He said nothing at all, simply waited.

Solange scooted forward as far as she could and took a deep breath, leaning back as she obediently lifted her leg out of the water. To her shock, her back and head were instantly supported.

Dominic took her ankle in his hands, his touch gentle. He smiled at her. "That's my kessake. Your trust in me is growing."

She wasn't certain it was her trust in him so much as her desire to please him. She wanted that smile and the look of approval in his eyes.

She couldn't look away from him, aware of how she must appear, only the steaming water for a cover. The water lapped at her breasts, teasing at the soft, feminine curves. One leg was bent, her foot on the floor of the basin while his hands shackled the ankle of the other. He moved his palms up her calf to her knee, a long, slow, very even stroke. Her body felt the touch deep inside. If it was possible