"Ye're a terrible liar, lass."
"And ye're standin’ very close."
"Am I?" But he didn't step back. "Daes it bother ye?"
Yes. Nay.
She didn't know anymore. His bare chest was right there, water still glistening on his skin, muscles moving beneath as he breathed. She'd seen men without shirts before, stable hands, guards during hot summers, but never like this. Never closeenough to see the small scar above his heart, the dark hair that arrowed down his stomach to disappear beneath his waistband.
"Ye're starin’, lass."
Her eyes flew up to his face. "I am nae."
"Aye, ye are." A slow smile curved his lips. "Checkin’ me out, as it were."
"I'm daein’ nay such thing!" But her face burned hot enough to light kindling. "Ye're in the way, and I couldnae help but notice."
"Notice what?"
"Naethin’. I noticed naethin’."
"It's all right tae look, ye ken. We're tae be married tomorrow. Might as well get acquainted." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur.
"We are nae gettin’ acquainted like this!"
"Nay? How would ye prefer tae get acquainted then?"
"I wouldnae! I'd prefer tae be anywhere but here, with anyone but ye, daein’ anythin’ but this!"
"Well then." He stepped back, giving her space to breathe. "Since ye're nae interested in gettin’ acquainted, and ye're nae actually hungry, perhaps ye should return tae yer chamber."
"Perhaps I should."
"I'll escort ye. Wouldnae want ye tae get lost again."
"That's nae necessary."
She wanted to snap back at him, to wipe that knowing smirk off his face. But she'd already revealed too much, shown too clearly that she'd been attempting escape. She turned around to leave.
"Liliane."
She stopped but didn't turn around.
"The guards are doubled on all the exits," he said quietly. "And the walls are sixty feet high with no handholds. Even if ye made it tae the courtyard, ye'd have naewhere tae go."
"Then why tell me? Afraid I might actually succeed?"
"Because I want ye tae understand that fightin’ me will only make both our lives more difficult." He moved to stand behind her, close enough that she could feel his warmth. "I'm nae yer enemy, lass."
"Arenae ye?"
"Nay. But I'll dae whatever is necessary tae keep ye here, and neither of us will enjoy that."
The threat hung in the air between them, all the more effective for being spoken so quietly.
"Is that all?" she asked, her voice tight.
"Fer now."
