were alone.
Even though she dared not face him, the hairs on the back of her neck tickled with anticipation…and fear. Her courage abandoned her. She was being a fool!
She sat upright in the tub, hugging her knees to her chest to hide her nakedness the best she could. Pretending her presence was a mistake, she said, “I did not expect you to come to bed so soon. Please give me a moment’s more privacy and I’ll leave.”
Her words sounded stupid to her own ears—but Aidan should do the gentlemanly thing and allow her a graceful exit.
He didn’t. Booted footsteps crossed the stone floor to her. A heartbeat later, he sat in the chair by the tub.
Anne couldn’t meet his gaze. She concentrated on the fire in the grate. “My towel, please.”
Instead, he captured her hand in his and ran his thumb along the sensitive skin inside her wrist. It tickled, and yet she didn’t laugh. She could barely breathe.
He lowered his head. She turned then and watched as he pressed his lips where his thumb had touched, right on the pulse spot. Suddenly, the room grew warm. Hot, even. His tongue brushed her skin and the fingers of her other hand moved to stroke his blue-black hair.
He raised his head. His gaze followed the curve of her breasts pressed against her knees, up the line of her neck to her face, lingering a moment on her lips before meeting her eyes. “You do like me, even a little?”
I love you. “Perhaps a little.”
“A little is enough.” He laced her fingers with his and started to rise.
Anne panicked. What had she been thinking? She wasn’t ready to be naked in front of him. Her stomach coiled with anxiety. She grabbed the other side of the tub with her free hand. “It was a mistake. I meant to be gone before you came to bed.”
He chuckled softly, not believing her excuse. “For the past four days you’ve managed to avoid me very well.” He kissed the hand he held. “Trust me.”
“What are you going to do?”
He reached for the towel. “Dry you off. Will you let me?”
Anne had never heard a more scandalous suggestion in her life—or a more tempting one. “I’m afraid.”
“I know. You needn’t be. I won’t do anything you wouldn’t wish.”
“I know.” But it still didn’t make this step into the unknown easier.
Aidan didn’t move, but waited patiently.
She released her grip on the tub and let him help her to her feet. Water dripped and ran in rivulets off her. The chill in the night air made her wet skin tighten. Her nipples puckered. Her instinct was to cover herself with arms and hands, but she wouldn’t. No more hiding.
For one wild second, her arm floundered in the air and then she dropped it to her side. “I suppose there will be no secrets between us now,” she said weakly, in an attempt to hide her embarrassment.
Aidan hadn’t known what he’d expected, but it hadn’t been this curvaceous, sensual creature who had risen from his tub. Her high-waisted gowns had effectively disguised what was beneath.
In reality, she was a sea nymph come to life with cautious gray eyes and silky hair down to a waist that was narrow enough that he could measure the distance with his hands. The curving flare of her hips gave way to long, long legs. The kind that could wrap themselves around a man and hold him tight.
But what really captured his attention were her breasts. Anne had plump, beautiful breasts with dark brown aureoles that aroused something vitally primal inside him. The tightened nipples begged for his touch.
He leaned forward, wanting to capture those impudent little nubs with his mouth. To taste their texture and warm them—
She jumped out of the tub and he kissed air. “I’m growing cold.”
Only then did he come to his senses and remember his promise to dry her off—a promise he intended to keep. He slid his arm around her waist. “Let me warm you.”
She was still skittish, her eyes ready to swallow her face. He started with her arms, relaxing the tension in them…but he couldn’t help but move to her breasts next. He weighed them in his towel-covered hand. “You are beautiful.”
She’d been studying a point in the corner of the room. Her gaze now shifted to him. “Do you mean those words?”
The doubt in her tone surprised him. “Anne, I’ve always thought you lovely, from the first moment we met.”
“You couldn’t have. My clothes were