Prince of Spies - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,12

a bit. First she wanted to clean herself. Then she’d wash the dress. Riki grabbed handfuls of the scrubweed blades and wound them into hand-sized pads. Sweeping the slightly abrasive plant fibers over her skin had never felt so good. The warm water, the soothing green scent of the scrubweed and the heady feeling of freedom combined into a sparkling moment of happiness.

Riki giggled as she washed herself, giddy as a child.

“Sounds like you’re having fun.” Nico’s voice floated to her as he sat on a rock, facing away from her. He was being quite the gentleman and she was touched by his chivalry.

“I haven’t taken a bath in so long. And not in warm water since I was very young.”

“Sometimes it’s handy to have a dragon around.” His tone teased.

“I suppose it is.” Riki started to work on her dress, cleaning it as best she could. It would be soaking wet when she put it back on, but it couldn’t be helped. Unless…

“Nico, can you produce just enough heat to dry my dress without burning it?” Her words were hesitant and shy, but also curious.

“Throw it over here and I’ll see what I can do.” His wry chuckle sounded as she rolled the thin dress into a ball and took aim.

Unfortunately, she smacked him right in the head with the wad of sopping fabric, but he only laughed as he unwound the mess from his neck and laid it out over the rock he’d been sitting on. He touched the rock with both hands, and within moments, steam started to rise from the wet material.

“That’s amazing.”

Nico looked over at her and winked. Riki was glad she was still immersed in the water, but the look in his eyes was teasing, not predatory. Still, she was relieved when he turned back around so he couldn’t see her. After a few more moments, he lifted the dress by the shoulders and it looked mostly dry.

“I think that’s about as good as I can get it.” He tilted his head as if considering the simple dress, then squared his shoulders. “I’m turning around now.”

Riki gasped as he turned, his gaze traveling over what he could see of her naked body beneath the water. She crossed her arms over her breasts, though Nico didn’t seem threatening. No, his hot gaze was more admiring than dangerous. Still, there was fire in his eyes, heat in the way he stalked closer to her, holding her dress out before him.

“It will do you no good to have a dry dress if you put it on over wet skin.” His voice was a sultry rumble. “Come out of there, sweetheart, and let me dry you.”

Gathering her courage, Riki tried to decide what to do. This man was tempting in the extreme. He’d saved her, he’d taken care of her to this point, but could she trust him not to try to take more from her than she was willing to give? If she lost her virginity, she lost everything—her power, her safety, and most probably her life if Lucan ever found her. But this man was temptation itself.

Handsome, thoughtful, kind and incredibly strong, he was appealing on every level. He’d suffered Lucan’s torture with a dignity she’d never seen before and a courage that put her to shame. He was such a noble, brave being, and such a magical one. She had to keep reminding herself Nico was half dragon. It was incredible. Even after riding on his strong back for hours in the inky night sky, she could hardly believe it was all real.

“Come on, sweetheart. You know I’d never harm you. It would kill me to see you hurt in any way.” He shook the dress invitingly, his dark, hazel eyes watching her reactions carefully.

Riki couldn’t deny him. Tucking away her self-doubts and her fear, she rose hesitantly from the cooling water to stand before the man who had quite literally saved her life. Without him, she would still be back in Lucan’s palace. She owed him so much, yet he treated her as if she were precious. The thought humbled her. Nico was proving himself to be a man of honor in every way. She just hoped she could resist his charm enough to retain her virginity and with it, her power. Without that, she was too vulnerable. It was the only thing of value she had and it would be suicide to allow it to be lost.

Yet something inside her yearned for this