Annelise was determined to guess his name. What would happen if she discovered his identity in his absence? She had already found his horse and might have seen his shield with his family’sinsignia.
If she knew his name, she could go to his family and tell them of his fate. If she knew his name, he could not hide from heranywhere.
Nor from the killer the djinn threatened would seek himout.
By sunset, he had chosen his course. He must somehow convince his wife to abandon her determination to know more about him. He did not imagine that battle would be easilywon.
He would certainly have to entreather.
Surely it was only a knowledge of the risk that made his pulse race as he drew near the palace and Annelise, and not the promise of hercompany.
* * *
Rolfe recognizedthe truth as soon as he entered the palace gates. Annelise was in the long pool lined with blue tiles. She was nude and singing to herself, so beautiful that desire halted him in his steps. Rolfe swallowed and stared at hiswife.
Her skin was creamy and smooth, her curves ripe. Water splashed over her breasts and ran over her belly as she emptied an urn over herself. The moonlight made her skin seem to glow, and Rolfe watched the water as it fell overher.
He wantedher.
In that moment, Rolfe realized that he had never wanted Rosalinde the way he wanted Annelise. It was not enough to possess Annelise physically; he wanted to talk to her, to confide in her, to learn every secret that hid within hermind.
This was more than desire, farmore.
Could it belove?
He must have made some slight sound, for Annelise turned abruptly. Her eyes widened when she saw him, though she did not speak. Their gazes locked and held for a potent moment, one during which Rolfe forgot to breathe, then she smiled a welcome that warmed him to histoes.
When she crooked her finger and beckoned to him, Rolfe knew he waslost.
He strode, fully clothed, into the shallow pool, with an uncharacteristic abandon for his boots. He could not help but smile when he finally caught Annelise in hisarms.
“Waiting for someone?” heteased.
She smiled at him, then her arms slipped around his neck. She was pressed against him from chest to knee, his arms were full of her softness, and the fragrance of her skin rose to tease hisnostrils.
“Only you, husband,” she whispered. A twinkle glimmered in her eyes as her fingers locked into the hair at his nape. “I guessed that you would come.” She smiled mischievously. Before Rolfe could respond, she pulled down his head for a demandingkiss.
Her ardor took him by surprise, as it had once before, then her tongue was between his teeth. Her hands were locked in his hair and her leg twined around one of his own. It seemed that she wrapped herself around him, inviting him ever closer. It was astonishing to realize that she could give him so much more passion than she already had. Rolfe was so overwhelmed by her kiss that it was all he could do to remain on his feet while he savoredit.
When she reached beneath his shirt and ran her hands over his skin, he thought the fire she had launched through him might be too much tobear.
Annelise granted him no reprieve, though, for her agile fingers slid into his chausses. Rolfe gasped her name as she caressed him, then met the gleam in hereyes.
“Temptress,” hemurmured.
Annelise laughed. “I give you no more than you have givenme.”
It was all the encouragement Rolfe needed. He caught his wife around the waist and lifted her to her toes. “We shall see,” he whispered in mock threat. Annelise gasped and gripped his shoulders as his fingers slipped between herthighs.
Rolfe watched with delight as Annelise arched her back in pleasure, and he wondered what had possessed him to sacrifice the sight of her in lovemaking. Her skin pinkened with a rosy flush as she approached her crest; her nipples tightened; her lips parted as shemoaned.
Rolfe could not resist her. He kissed her, loving how she responded in kind. He swallowed her moans, savored her trembling, and was enticed by the way she locked her legs abouthim.
It was magical how her arousal fanned the flames of hisown.
Then Annelise tore her lips from his. Her fingers tightened on his shoulders and her blazing golden gaze locked with hisown.
“I want you within me,” she whispered with an urgency that Rolfe could notresist.
