Chapter 97 - Ninety Seven
Eric’s fingers easily caught the woolen blanket, and he pulled it away from his eyes, a playful, challenging grin on his face. "Kill me?" he asked, his voice a low, amused rumble. "Why would you kill me, my dear Duchess?"
He stood up from the bed in one smooth, graceful motion and faced her. The small, rustic room suddenly felt much smaller with him standing so close. "If we are to be living together in such close quarters," he continued, his eyes twinkling with mischief, "then let us just be fair and see each other. It is the most logical solution." He looked at her chest then her figure, her lips and her eyes.
Delia gasped, her cheeks burning a bright red. "Eric Carson! What are you saying?" She instinctively crossed her arms around her chest, a protective gesture to shield herself from his teasing gaze and the scandalous suggestion.
He walked even closer to her, completely closing the small distance between them. He was so tall that he loomed over her, a warm and undeniably male presence. He lowered his head until their foreheads were gently touching. Delia’s breath caught in her throat. She could feel the warmth of his skin, see the flecks of gold light from the candle flame in his dark, intense eyes.
"I will bathe first, then," he whispered, his voice a soft, warm caress against her skin. The gentle command was his way of ending their playful fight, of claiming a small victory. He then walked away towards the bathing alcove. He stopped, then came back, a teasing look on his face.
"Are you sure you’re not going to look?" he asked, his grin widening. "Don’t you want to?"
"No!" Delia replied, flustered. "Why would I want to do that?"
She quickly left the spot where she had been standing, a place that still felt charged with the energy of his closeness, and went to the bed. She pulled the covers up, hiding herself from him, a silent and flustered retreat.
Eric smiled at her reaction. He then walked over to the side of the bathing alcove and took hold of something she hadn’t noticed before. With a soft rustle of heavy fabric, he pulled a thick, sturdy curtain across the opening, completely covering the bathing area from view.
Delia, hearing the sound, turned her head from where she was burrowed in the pillows. "Wait, what?" she said, her voice muffled.
Eric looked at her, his expression one of pure, innocent surprise. "You didn’t know this was here?" he asked.