She watched him as if she did not trust his image. “You followed me,” she said, glaring. Then she dropped her sword to her side.
The large trees had receded near the edge of the water. Rock took the place of dirt. Smooth stones that had bathed in the springs for centuries housed the steaming pools, while larger rocks created divisions and cascades within them. Philippe folded his arms. “These are the Springs of Aliette. You can’t think you are the only one who knows of their existence,” he teased. He sat down on a boulder behind him and put his hands on his knees, waiting for her reply.
“No, of course not,” she admitted, clearly flustered. “But Iamone of the few people who knows how to find them.”
“I am the son of the Duke,” he said, enjoying the chance to taunt her. “Don’t imply you know my territory so much better than me.”
“Okay then,” she said, pushing her hair back out of her face. “You found these springs all on your own. And arrived at the same moment as me.”
“Strange,” he said, still grinning.
“So what do you suppose we do?” She folded her arms in front of her, signaling that she wasn’t quite ready to play like he was.
“What do you mean?” he asked innocently.
“We can’t go in together,” she balked, disbelief in her expression.
“Why not?” he countered. Then he reached down and began unlacing his boot.
“No. No. Nope.” She put her hand out to halt his actions. “Do not take that off.”
“Do you now claim to own the springs,Mademoiselle?” He pulled his boot off and tossed it to the side.
“You’re right,” she said, sarcasm clinging to her tone. “You are the lord,and you know everything and own everything. I shall leave.” She dropped her sword into its sheath and began fastening it around her waist.
“Wait a second,” he said. “There is no reason twofriendscan’t go in the springs at the same time.” He paused, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. “We are friends, right?”
“Yeah,” she said dismissively, not looking up. She secured her belt and relaced the undone part of her corset.
“Then what is the problem?” he pressed, hoping to push her over the edge.
She rolled her eyes at him and cinched her waist.
“Stop,” he said. He couldn’t help laughing at her rush. “Hear me out. It is a beautiful evening. We both—independently—had this idea to go to the springs. Wearefriends, as you stated the other day, so why should one of us miss out on this lovely adventure for the pleasure of the other?” He stopped to gauge her reaction. She had stalled, holding the edges of the laces. She didn’t look convinced. If he could just push it a little further… “Unless, of course,” he began, “you fear you won’t be able to control yourself when I strip down to my underclothes.” He let that sizzle in the air.
She started in without hesitation. “I won’t be able to control myself? Really? That’s what you think?” She squared her shoulders and put her hands on her hips.
“I can’t see any other reason,” he said with a shrug. “If we are friends and nothing more, then there shouldn’t be any problem.”
She scoffed. “Alright then,friend,” she said. She tipped her chin up to him. “You first.”
He hadn’t really expected that to work, but he wasn’t going to wait for her to change her mind. He made quick work of his other boot, stockings, and the rest of the trappings he wore around him. Her arms were folded in front of her now, and she wore a half-amused, half-scornful look. She watched him with the pride of a king, daring him to become shy at this game.
But he had nothing to be shy about. He knew the effect his body had on women, and better yet, he knew how to exploit it. She was the one who had never played this game before, and he felt a shiver go across his skin at the idea of having her as a willing student once again. He reached back and yanked his shirt over his head, careful to expose each muscle as he let it dropfrom his arms. Her expression remained constant, and she stared at him without flinching, but her lips parted, and her breath quickened. He didn’t want to push her too far. But hedidwant to push her.
He moved his hands to his pants and undid the clasp. He stared smugly at her, enjoying the slow breakdown of her façade. He was in control now. He looked at his hands deliberately, attempting to draw her eyes further down. It worked. And he saw she was now appraising the most intimate part of him. He moved his breeches down until he wore just the fitted fabric of his undergarment. He tossed his pants across the rocks. When he looked at her again, she was staring back with stormy eyes. Then, with nerve that belied her sex, she ran her eyes down his bare body and up again. He stood before her, feeling his power over her, not wanting to stop teasing her. He put both thumbs behind the tie of the last material that covered him and began to push it down…
“Wait,” she croaked, her voice broken and weak. She cleared her throat and held up her hand. “That’s plenty.”
He laughed and removed his thumbs, holding his hands up in surrender. She was right. He’d already crossed the line he had promised he wouldn’t, but he felt drugged watching her in the steamy clearing. Why had he been trying so hard to mask his attraction? He could hardly remember. He could only think that the second part of this game was still to come. He folded his solid arms across his chest, proud and tall. “Well then,” he said. “It’s your turn,amie.” His voice rumbled with the challenge.
Alex cleared her throat, took a deep breath and blew it out like a kiss. She unlatched her sword belt and placed it on the rocky ledge behind her. She followed the same pattern he had shown her, taking a moment to undo her boots and remove her stockings. She did it all while watching him. Those big, innocent eyes were wide and filled with moonlight. His breath caught as he suddenly realized he was standing in only an undergarment with nothing to hide him if he couldn’t control his body’s reaction to her form. He reminded himself that he wasn’t thirteen and the mere sight of a woman wasn’t enough to make him crumble. But then she unlaced the corset that held her shirt close to her body, and the fabric billowed around her in waves. He felt the urge to reach under it and discover the feel of her against his hands. Before he could linger on the thought, she pulled the shirt over her head, leaving only the thin, clingingchemise to cover her, and then there wasn’t a single, rational thought in his head.
His control, where had it gone? He felt his whole body change. A throbbing beat out of his chest and radiated through his limbs. His own breath quickened. His muscles tensed and the smile he’d worn a second ago dropped from his face. His arms fell to his sides, and his hands pulsed open and closed with each breath, searching in vain for a phantom connection to her. He was no longer a lord. He was nothing more than a dumb beast.
She seemed to sense this change in him, and now it seemed to be her turn to tease him. She bit her lip through a smile and drew a finger down between her breasts, letting her head fall back and mouth fall open as she did. She undid the tie of her pants as she looked at him with those dark eyes, now not so innocent. She knew what she was doing. She had known all along, he thought, feeling foolish but absolutely aroused at the same time. Her hands slipped over her hips, past undergarments similar to his but far more revealing, exposing her bare legs to him inch by devilish inch. Her smile was sweet—no, he thought,inviting—and in that instant, he knew that she had won. She had won the game and he couldn’t even remember how it began. Standing there, in the last shred of fabric that kept him from knowing her fully, she was a melody that made him ache. Her body was strong but also remarkably delicate as the stars shimmered above her. He would have done anything to explore her soft skin with his fingertips, his lips, his tongue.
He stood rooted to the ground, unable to look away, unable to speak. The truth was, she had wrecked him. He had no power, he had no control, only a deep well of desire. Alex held her posture, more coquettish and playful than he had ever seen her before. Then she turned and glided over to the water.
