Harriet rubbed her temples. Clearly, Leeds was up to something, and that something was meant to drive her insane. “You are trying to provoke me, aren’t you?”
The corner of his lips lifted. “Not at all.”
“You cannot sell this innocent act to me,love.” Harriet’s gaze pulled to his chest before flicking up again. Heat spread all over her. “Even if the servants made a mistake, you have not taken a bath at this time of day before.”
“You’ve noticed my bathing habits?” He sounded intrigued.
“More like the lack thereof.”
“My wife is calling me dirty. How mortifying.”
Harriet harrumphed. Her husband had gone from a charming rogue, to a tempting rogue, to a downright shameless rogue! She pointed to the door. “Get out.”
He arched a brow. “Now?”
“Yes,now.”
“Are you certain that is what you want?”
“Yes!”
“As you wish.” He rose from the tub, water dripping from his sculpted body.Almighty heavenly Lord.
“Sit down!”
“Honestly, love, now I’m not sure what to do.”
Harriet covered her eyes with the palms of her hands. “Lawd, will you get back into the tub already!”
He chuckled, and Harriet peeked between her fingers, watching him lower back into the tub. But it was too late. The vision of his body, and all his manly bits, had been seared into her skull. Burned into every last nerve. So this was the body of a boxer?
She resisted the urge to fan her face. It appeared she was the one who must leave. Why hadn’t she thought about that sooner? It seemed that Leeds had finally succeeded in scrambling her brain.
Harriet turned on her heel and marched toward the door. “Since you cannot leave, I shall be the one do so.”
“You don’t want to join me?”
Her steps halted, and she whirled in astonishment. “I beg your pardon?”
His eyes danced with amusement. “The water is still quite warm.”
Her mouth nearly fell open. “Join you for a bath?” Had he lost his senses? What had happened between breakfast and now to prompt this shocking behavior?
“I’ve already slept in your bed, and we’ve established I’m not going to do anything you don’t wish me to do. Why not join me for a bath?”
“Sleeping next to each other is different than bathing together.” There was the nakedness for one. Also, skin sliding alongside skin.
He reclined back, placing his arms on either side of the tub, the picture of a relaxed male poised for seduction. “We shared the same mattress and the same linen. Is water really that different?”
“Breaking it down to the elements won’t make your request any less absurd.” She fanned her face, freezing at his smirk. Curse it! She yanked her hands behind her back, clasping her fingers together to keep them from acting as they pleased.
“You can join me in your chemise if you feel uncomfortable naked.”
Was there even any difference?The garment would melt into her skin and provide little to no shield. “I’ll pass on that offer, thank you very much.”
“Have it your way.”
Harriet stared as her husband shut his eyes indifferently, as though he had not expected any other outcome. He didn’t think she would do it, did he? In fact, by the look of the man, he had been convinced the entire time that she would not dare. He thought he knew her, did he?
