"We'll find something warmer." He padded to the hot tub.
Speechless, Darcy watched him walk by. His cotton boxer-style swimsuit would never be classified as sexy, but the wet material had glued itself to his body. As he passed by, she became very aware of how low the swimsuit rested on his narrow hips. The material clung to his rump, clearly outlining each buttock and the muscles that flexed with each step he took.
The waistband was so low, she could see two dimples on his lower back. Oh God, that brought his total dimple count up to four. And made her want to examine every inch of him for more.
He stepped into the hot tub and punched a button on the control panel. With a whirring sound, the water began to swirl about. He smiled at her as he settled on a seat. "Feels great."
Steam rose from the water, promising her warmth and comfort, an end to the chill that had tormented her for four long years.
"Come on, Darcy," he spoke quietly.
Oh, God, he was the devil. He knew just how to tempt her and torture her at the same time. She walked slowly toward him. "If I was judging the contest, you would definitely be the winner. But I'm not, so you're wasting your time."
"I don't give a damn about the contest. And time with you is never wasted. Come in, and I'll show you."
She snorted. "Oh, you're good. But there's no purpose for this." Only heartache for wanting something she couldn't have.
"No purpose?" He frowned at her. "What about friendship?"
She laughed. "You just want to be friends? I've heard that one before."
He grinned. "So have I. But I mean it, Darcy. Don't you need someone to talk to?"
How could she confide in a mortal that she lived among vampires? "I'm sorry." She turned to go.
"Wait." He lunged across the spa, causing a wave of hot water to spill over the edge and warm her bare feet. "I need to tell you something. It's about the anklet I'm supposed to wear."
She turned back to him. "What about it?"
"I - I lost it, somehow. Is it important?"
She swallowed. More than important. It was essential for keeping him safe. "I'll make sure you get another one."
"What exactly is it?" His eyes looked wide with innocence.
"Didn't Laszlo tell you?"
Adam shrugged. "Something about pheromones and how we're attracted to each other by our nose."
"That's true." And Adam always smelled wonderful - warm, healthy, and sexy.
"Come and sit a while." He patted the tile edge of the hot tub. "Soak your feet and relax. It's been a long night."
She found herself smiling. "You don't give up, do you?"
"Not with you." He smiled back. "Look, I'll keep my distance." He floated back to the far side of the tub.
Darcy removed her sparkly jacket and dropped it on a patio chair. "Just for a little while." She sat carefully on the edge making sure she didn't snag the silk sheath on the rough cement. She dangled her feet over the side, but the hot, bubbly water felt so wonderful, she immersed her legs to just below the knees. Her narrow dress rode up to the middle of her thighs.
"Feels good?" he asked softly.
"Yes."
"Did everything go well tonight for the show?"
"Yes."
"Are you sleeping in the pool house?"
What a rascal. "Yes."
"Alone?"
"Yes."
He grinned. "You're very agreeable tonight."
She suppressed a laugh. "Yes." And now, he'd ask to spend the night with her, thinking she would continue to say yes.
"Have you ever been in love?"
She blinked. That had surprised her. "Yes. I suppose." She sighed. "I'm not sure. Maybe I just wanted to be in love."
"Did he love you?"
"He said he did. We were together about a year in college. I thought we were engaged, but - " She shrugged. "Obviously, we disagreed on that."
"He was stupid to let you go."
"I think he was a little too young to commit himself."
Adam snorted. "The guy was stupid."
"That's a bit harsh, don't you think?"
"No. Any man who would let you go has got to be stupid."
"He was just immature."
"That's a nice word for stupid."
Darcy laughed. "Okay, he was stupid." Surprisingly enough, the declaration made her feel great. "So, I guess the big question now is how intelligent are you?"
He smiled slowly, his dimples deepening. "I'm smart enough."
And living in a different world than her, too. She really shouldn't flirt with the poor guy. Unfortunately, he was damned near irresistible. Somehow, she would have to resist.
He moved toward her. His hand curled around the instep of her left foot. "Can I give you a foot massage?"
"N - " The word died in her throat as his strong fingers pressed into the sole of her foot. Oh, boy, was he good. "Yes."
He massaged slow circles down her foot. "Feels good?"
She sighed and closed her eyes. "Yes."
He tugged gently on her toes. "You're doing a great job with the show."
His compliment spread through her like a ray of sunshine. "Thank you."
He switched to her right foot. "Can I tell you a secret?"
She opened her eyes. "Don't tell me you're an axe murderer."
He smiled as he continued to massage her foot. "No, I'm not. Believe it or not, I'm kinda... sensitive for a guy."
She snorted. "You can't be g*y. Not the way you kiss."
His eyes twinkled. "Are you sure? You might need another sample for verification."
She laughed. "You are definitely a lady's man."
"That's true. About my secret..." His hands skimmed up the back of her legs to her calves. He massaged the muscles there.
She lifted her eyebrows. "If you're making a move on me, that's hardly a secret."
He rested a cheek against her knee. "The secret is I can sorta tune in on whatever people are feeling."
"You mean you're good at reading body language?"
"No." He gave her a worried look. "I can just sense it."
She leaned back. "You mean you're empathic?"
"Yeah." He scooted closer 'til his chest was pressed against her legs. "Do you know what I sense from you?"
"Could it be doubt?" She gave him a skeptical look. "Or let me guess. You have this sudden sensation that I want to sleep with you."
He grinned. "You think this is part of a pickup routine?"
She nodded. "But you get points for originality." He kissed her left knee. "Thanks. But seriously, I get the impression that you're trapped somewhere you don't want to be."
She stiffened. Good God, maybe he was empathic. He watched her carefully. "Is that true, Darcy? Do you need some help?" She swallowed hard. "I - no. I'm fine."
"There's nothing you want to tell me?" Her eyes filled with tears. Now, the knight in shining armor comes along? What a damned cruel world. Why couldn't she have met him four years ago? He was everything she wanted. Everything she needed.
He stood in front of her. Hot water dripped off him onto her thighs. She wanted to melt with him. He touched her shoulders. "Let me help you." She stood. She was a foot or so taller since she was standing on the ledge for sitting. She looked down at him and ran her fingers into his hair. "Adam, you're everything I ever wanted, but it's too late."
"No." He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her off the ledge. "It's never too late." He sank into the hot, bubbly water, taking her with him.
And the last of her resistance melted away.
Chapter 12
Austin pulled Darcy onto his lap and covered her face with kisses. He aimed his kisses closer and closer to her mouth. She turned her head to meet him, and the heat flared between them. Their tongues entwined. Their arms wrapped around each other in a tight embrace.
And still, they weren't close enough. He lifted her slightly and pushed up her dress so she could straddle his lap. They held each other tight, her br**sts pressed against his chest. He could feel her erratic breathing as she trembled in his arms.
"Sweetheart." He nuzzled her neck. He'd wanted so badly for her to trust him, but somehow, along the way, that desire had grown into something more powerful. He needed her to love him. He needed to protect her. He needed to keep her forever.