He had the sudden feeling that it was going to be a long night.
“Pretty nightgown,” she mused behind the screen. “And modest, too.”
He was grateful for that, although in his current state of mind he knew he’d be aroused by her even if she was covered from head to toe. Turning away, he pulled off his djellaba, leaving his chest bare, wearing only his lightweight, loose-fitting pants. “Just so you know,” he said, “I generally sleep in the nude.”#p#分页标题#e#
He heard her gulp.
“But not tonight,” he said quickly.
“Good.” She breathed an audible sigh of relief. “I’ve never seen a naked man before, and tonight doesn’t seem like the time to start.”
He couldn’t even disguise the hoarseness of his voice this time. “Never?”
Lifting on her tiptoes, she peeked over the screen, looking at him over the painted wooden panels. Her eyes lingered over his bare chest as she purred, “Never.”
Kasimir didn’t breathe till she ducked back behind the screen. Her arms lifted as she pulled the nightgown over her head. The loose fit of his pants had never felt so uncomfortably tight before.
“Is it safe to come out?” she called.
“Safe as it will ever be,” he muttered.
Josie came around the screen in a silver silk nightgown, bias-cut in a retro style, which went to her ankles, but left her arms bare. “Thanks for this. It’s very retro. Nineteen forties.”
“I told my staff to ransack the vintage shops, and avoid designer boutiques. Warned them not to get all ‘fancy.’”
“I love this.” She stroked the silk over her belly. “It’s...soft.”
His fingers itched to discover that for himself. He didn’t let himself move. “Glad you approve.”
Their eyes met. His forehead broke out into a sweat. At the same moment, they both abruptly turned towards the water basin, causing their hands to brush.
Josie ripped back her hand as if he’d burned her. “You go ahead.”
“No, be my guest.”
“All right.” Keeping a safe distance, she quickly washed her face and brushed her teeth, then walked a semi-circle around him towards the bed. She was afraid to touch him, which meant she felt the same electricity, after all. Knowing she wanted him made this all the harder.
Or maybe it was just him.
As he brushed his teeth, out of the corner of his eye he watched her climb into bed, watched the silk of her nightgown move as sensuously as water over her curves. Putting down his toothbrush, he splashed cold water on his face, wishing he could drench his whole body with it.
Josie hesitated, biting her lip prettily as she glanced at him. “Do you care which side—”
“No,” he ground out.
She frowned. “You don’t have to be so rude...”
He looked at her, and something in his face made her close her mouth with a snap. Without another word, she jumped into bed and pulled the covers all the way up to her chin.
“Ready.” Her voice was muffled.
He put out the flickering lantern light. Stretching his tight shoulders, he climbed in beside her. They each took opposite sides of the bed in the darkness, neither of them moving as the wind howled against the canvas roof.
“Kasimir?” her soft voice came from the darkness a moment later. “What will you do...when all this is over?”
“You mean our marriage?”
“Yes.”
He leaned his head back against the pillow, folding his arms beneath his head. “I’ll have everything I ever wanted.”
“You mean the land?”
He exhaled with a flare of nostril. “Among other things.”
“But you’re not planning to live in Alaska, are you?”
Live at the old homestead? He inhaled, remembering nights sharing the cold attic room with his brother. Remembering the constant love of his hardworking parents, and how he’d bounded up eagerly each morning to start his chores.
As a boy, Kasimir had felt so certain of what mattered in the world. Home. Family. Loyalty.
“No, I won’t go back,” he said quietly.
“Then why do you want it so badly? Just because of your promise to your father?”
“It was a deathbed vow...” He stopped. He’d told himself that same lie for years, but here in the darkness, lying in bed beside her, he couldn’t tell it again. “Because I don’t want Vladimir to have it. He doesn’t deserve a home. Or a brother.”
“What about you?” Josie said softly. “What do you deserve?”
Kasimir looked away from her, towards his briefcase, which looked distinctly out of place in the corner of the tent. “Exactly what I will get,” he said. Retribution against his brother and the Mata Hari who’d caused their rift. Total ownership of both Xendzov Mining and Southern Cross. That would make him happy. Give him peace.