He was coming closer.
And we were both completely exposed to each other. Naked. Alone.
“What are you doing?” I whispered. Even in the darkness, the intimacy of this moment didn’t escape me.
He took one step closer, then another. A low sound like a growl rumbled through him as the water rippled around us. The air seemed to become even thicker as we stood in the water with only a few feet between us.
I had never appreciated the barrier that clothing had provided until this moment. Perhaps this was the purpose of those ridiculous Ithenmyrian fashions for females. To stop them from finding themselves alone in a heated pool with a naked male.
A small voice in my head chose this moment to speak up.
You want this. To be alone with him. To take this further.
Further. What, exactly, would that mean?
I’d lied to Xander before. I’d never been with a male. If someone had so much as touched me, I was certain King Edgar would have had both of us executed at once. But I knew the logistics of two people joining as one. As part of my “education” as the prince’s betrothed, I’d been subjected to an explanation of what, exactly, would be expected of me as the prince’s wife.
I knew what sex was. I knew how to act. The directions I’d been given had been clear enough. I’d even been forewarned that the joining would hurt, but it was necessary for the prince to place his seed within me.
To be honest, I wasn’t exactly sure what the big deal was. Sex, as it had been described to me, sounded horrible.
But if it was so horrible, why did I feel all tangled up inside when Xander was naked near me? Why was I spending hours on the horse daydreaming about what it would feel like if he touched me? Ran his hand down my shoulder, my breasts, my stomach, and lower…
I sucked in a deep breath. Warmth pooled deep in my core and I shifted as a realization struck me.
I wanted that. I wantedhim.
“Aileana,” he whispered. My name was a prayer and a plea on his lips. That warmth in my core tightened even further as the sound of his voice betrayed his closeness.
“Yes, Xander?” I murmured. My own voice was deep, husky, and it betrayed the thoughts swirling around in my mind.
He stepped closer to me, and my stomach coiled. The warm water lapped at my breasts as I knelt, and I sucked in a deep breath.
“Give me your hand,” he murmured.
I kept my hands at my sides.
He growled my name. It had never sounded so much like a warning as it did at that moment.
I knew he was staring at me. But I wasn’t upset. In fact, I was the very opposite of upset. I was… intrigued.
Here we were, naked and alone. Very alone. Based on the deepness of his voice, I was fairly certain he was acutely aware of that fact.
Keeping my eyes where I thought his gaze was, I smiled. “One moment,” I said.
He snarled something inaudible, a splash coming from his direction, as I dunked down in the water. I waited until my hair was soaked before pushing myself to my feet. Water sluiced off me as I stood tall, my long hair falling to cover my chest as the water lapped just above my hips.
Heat coursed through me as I remained standing, my breath coming heavier as the night insects chirped all around us. An owl hooted, and somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled.
Seconds ticked by as we stood, mere feet from each other, with only the forest animals as our witnesses. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for… something. The sound of breathing was loud, and my skin felt too tight as we stared at each other.
“Sunshine,” he repeated. His voice was deeper than before, his words barely more than a rumble.
“Hmm?” I blinked, trying to clear my head. What was wrong with me?
“Please give me your hand.”
This time, I complied instantly, raising my right hand out of the water. He stepped forward, coming close enough that I could make out the distinct shape of his very male chest as he stood less than two feet from me. Some would probably describe his chest as sculpted. My breath caught in my throat, my lungs tightening as I felt lightheaded.