Jane’s mouth went dry.
Byron was bare-chested, and his hair was wet. His arms were spread wide on the porcelain rim as he leaned back against the edge. Steam curled from the surface of the water, giving him a hazy, dream-like appearance.
Well, he’d been right about taking her mind off the problem. At the moment, he was having trouble thinking at all.
“Come on in, darlin’, the water’s fine.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“See? That’s where you’re goin’ wrong. Good and bad are nothin’ but abstracts.”
The water looked so inviting—hot and steamy. Or maybe it was just the man himself she was drawn to.
Jane licked her parched lips.
“All you’re sayin’ ‘yes’ to is a bath.”
She recognized a persuasion when she heard one. Using baby steps with a jury to cajole them into agreeing was an old attorney tactic.
“Would it help if I said nothin’ will be inserted without your permission?” His leer was downright naughty.
And now she was going red in the face. She could feel her cheeks burning.
“Fine, I’ll get in the tub—for a soak and nothing more.”
He grinned in triumph.
“Turn around.” She motioned with a finger.
“No can do, darlin’. If I can’t touch, you can at least let me look. After all, fair’s fair. You’ve seen me in all my glory.”
“I didn’t ask to see you naked.”
“Don’t change the fact that you have.”
If it were possible, he was even more argumentative than she was. It was maddening, yet thrilling—this dance they did. It was like finding the perfect chess competitor or the best tennis partner. Somehow, they had a flawless rhythm all their own, a back and forth Jane was growing addicted to.
“Well?”
Once again, Jane reminded herself she wasn’t a prude. She’d been naked in front of men before, and the human body was nothing to be ashamed of.
Jane methodically unfastened the buttons on her suit jacket.
Byron swam to the other side of the tub, presumably so he could get a better view. Unruffled, Jane slipped the jacket off and then worked on her blouse.
Until his hungry gaze made the hair stand up on her arms.
“Go slower.”
Jane should tell him to go to hell, but the words never came. Instead, her movements become unhurried, more sensual. This was less about audacity and more of a strip tease.
Jane parted the edges of her blouse to reveal a lacy white bra beneath it.
Byron groaned.
She slid the shirt off and hung it on the back of a nearby chair, next to her jacket. Then she worked the buttons on her trousers to reveal the matching white panties. While Jane wasn’t a lingerie aficionado, she had a compulsion to match her clothing. Dressing in mismatched items drove her crazy.
While he watched every single movement, Jane disengaged the hooks and eyes on her bra and slipped it off her shoulders.
He rimmed his mouth with his tongue. In answer, her nipples puckered as though preparing to be sucked. They felt heavier, as though they’d somehow swelled for him.
Heat suffused her belly and then dipped down between her thighs. She slid the chaste white panties down and then walked over to the tub.
Byron watched her every step of the way.
Jane slipped into the water and sat on the opposite side.
“You’re awfully far away.” His voice was a gruff rumble, and her knees clamped together in response.
His presence was overwhelming, even a foot away. Like he’d somehow filled all the space in the room, sucked out all the air. And the water was hot, saturating her body with a languid sort of warmth. The scent of the water enfolded her, made her unwind a bit. As silly as it sounded, it was like she’d been caught in a carnal sort of haze, a spell Byron had cast.
And she couldn’t catch her breath.
Before she could protest, Byron towed her into his arms and placed her on his lap, her back to his front, bracketing her body with his own.
“There, that’s much better.”
His skin was slick and supple beneath her fingertips as she tried to scramble away, but he held her with one arm wrapped around her torso.
“Easy, Jane, I’ve got you. Nothin’s gonna happen you don’t like.”
That was the problem. Jane liked all of this a bit too much.
“But—“
“Shh, Legal Eagle.”
Jane relaxed the tiniest bit, enjoying the feel of his big strong arms around her, the sturdy grip he had on her body. As always, his embrace soothed her. They fit together neatly like two puzzle pieces.
Byron leaned back, using his own body as her chair. He gave her a moment or two to adjust to the new position, and then a sponge appeared in his hand.