But the sight of him was even more breathtaking.
There in the golden light, Pharis was the most magnificent thing I’d ever seen.
I should have turned away and hurried back around the bend to give him his privacy.
Shouldwas apparently not happening today. I couldn’t seem to look away. Or move.
Lean and perfectly formed in every way, Pharis’ body was a natural wonder in itself. The mounds and valleys of his muscles were highlighted by the shine of the water on his skin.
His wet hair hung down his back, nearly touching the water that gently lapped the tops of his hips.
Though I’d seen him shirtless several times before, it still stunned me. I doubted I couldeverget enough of looking at this man.
Either my breathing was loud or my thoughts were leaking again, because Pharis turned his head suddenly and caught me watching him.
His turquoise eyes against the water’s matching color made him look like some kind of magical sea creature.
And the front view of his body was even more mind-blowing than the back. Standing in the pool as he was, only his lower half was submerged.
My eyes involuntarily traced the whirlwind shape of his Gleaner tattoo, following its narrowing funnel down over his distinctly segmented abdominal muscles to where it ended in athin line of black hair beneath his naval that disappeared below the waterline.
Heart racing, I dropped my head and looked at my feet as I resumed walking, trying to pretend I hadn’t seen him.
I wished I hadn’t—my mind was permanently etched with the stunning image of his wet, masculine body, the steam rising all around him.
“Raewyn, stop.”
My feet halted mid-stride. My heart was pounding so hard I feared he’d be able to hear it.
“Come here please,” Pharis said.
Fighting to breathe normally, I turned back to face him.
Mercifully, he’d sunk lower into the water. Only his head, shoulders, and chest were visible above it now.
I was still embarrassed. HeknewI’d been looking at him.
Hopefully he didn’t know what I’d been thinking.
All I wanted to do was walk—no, run—away, but I felt my legs moving, carrying mecloserto the pool instead.
My eyes felt incapable of looking away from Pharis.
Lifting an arm, he gestured toward the sunset behind him.
“Lovely evening. Enjoying the view?” he asked with twinkling eyes and a laugh in his voice.
Shaded stars.
His self-satisfied expression told me he knew I’d been far more interested in the view of his body than the spectacular sky serving as a backdrop.
“I’ve seen better,” I answered defiantly.
Pharis gave me a roguish grin. “Really? Perhaps you’re having trouble seeing clearly from that distance. Come a little closer.”
While his irritating arrogance made me want to turn and storm off, my feet began moving in his direction again, taking me to the very edge of the pool this time.
“Wait a minute,” I said, horror dawning on me. “Are you using your Sway on me? Stop it, Pharis. Stop it this instant.”
