After retiring, she’d fallen asleep right away but bolted awake hours later, her brain obsessing over the tarot reading and its possible implications. Afraid she would toss and turn, she slipped out of bed so she didn’t disturb Falkor.
Outside on the balcony, the delicate perfume of night lilies, a flower that bloomed in darkness, scented the balmy air. Moonlight reflected off the midnight-blue pond nestled among leafy plants, and she recalled Falkor’s story of how he used to skinny-dip.
She kicked off her mules, afraid they could trip her, and tested the trellis with a hard shake. Nimbly, she climbed down and dropped onto a cushion of velvet-soft moss.
Padding to the pool, she dipped her foot in the water. Cool, but not cold. How deep was it? Glancing at the shrouded windows, she pulled her nightgown over her head.
She waded into cool, placid water. A couple of meters in, the sandy-sloped bottom took a sudden drop-off, and she found herself shoulder-deep. Rolling onto her back, she floated for a while, staring at the stars and moon, before shifting andswimming laps across the pool. That was when she heard her name.
She felt bold and naughty as she issued her invitation. She didn’t know if he’d accept or not. The prince had turned out to be much more responsible, sensible, and serious than he’d first seemed. She suspected much reported about him was outright false—and what was true was misunderstood.
To her delight, he swung his leg over the balcony railing and descended the trellis. In a few steps, he stood at the water’s edge. Moonlight played on his handsome face and danced off his shoulders.Good Goddess, he’s attractive.Her heart fluttered. His eyes were unreadable, his blue hair appearing as black as ebony.
Cupping her hand, she splashed a little in his direction. “What are you waiting for? Dive in—well, don’t dive. The water’s shallow where you are.”
He undid the tie of his robe and let the garment slide off his shoulders revealing his satiny, boxer-like dark sleep shorts. The moon spotlighted his masculine, muscular physique. The prince was built! She’d previously caught glimpses before he doused the lights and jumped into bed. She waited with bated breath for him to drop trou, but he waded into the water with his shorts on.
He stopped in front of her. Water lapped at his six-pack abdomen. “It’s nice.”
“Very nice,” she agreed, not talking about the water.
“You shouldn’t have climbed down here. It’s dangerous.”
“You did it.”
“I’m an old pro.” He looked away. “Besides, I’m expendable.”
“You’re not expendable. Not to me.”
His eyes blazed with heat, and suddenly she was warm, very warm despite the coolness of the water. “I woke up, and you were gone. I couldn’t believe it when I saw you in the pond. Promise if you get a hankering for a nighttime swim, you’ll wakeme, and we can come down together. Then I can catch you if you fall.”
I’m falling right now.Cupid’s arrow went zinging through her heart.
Such irony, she thought, recalling her initial dislike. He’d mistaken her for a maid, and she’d dubbed him a spoiled, entitled prince-boy.
Tongue-tied and awkward now, she defaulted to emergency protocol—brazenness. “You can catch me anytime,” she said, imitating Mae West’s voice, and then went weak at the knees at the yearning on his face.
And then his lips covered hers, and his tongue swept inside her mouth, and she went up in flames, hot desire coursing through her. She clung to him and kissed him back hard.
“Gods of Kaldor, you’re naked,” he muttered against her throat.
Goddess,hewas rock-hard, his erection pressing against her belly.
“You can’t skinny-dip with clothes on,” she said.
He let out an agonized chuckle. “You’re going to kill me.”
“No…no. I have other plans for you.” She tugged his head down to kiss him again.
He hesitated. “Are you sure about this?”
Only about this. She’d figure out the rest later. “Why not? We’re married, aren’t we?” she quipped, and then her heart clenched.Please don’t say, we’re married in name only. Please.
Instead, he smiled. “That, we are.” He ducked his head and kissed her with all the fervor she longed for.
His sodden sleep shorts hooked on his erection when she tried to pull them down. She giggled. Then he fell over and went under, coming up sputtering and laughing, but the shorts were gone. She gazed at him shamelessly, then humor faded, replaced by an aching yearning.
I need this. I need him.
