Dark One Rising(100)

He reached over again and touched her cheek. “I’m not upset in the least. Don’t feel guilt for pointing out, what up to now, was fact. I’ve been a cad for more years than I want to admit, and I have, up to now, not cared about anything deep in my life, anything with meaning. I was in a daze and am only now realizing that I have many years to make up for. I’m glad that it’s you that has brought me out of my darkness and shown me how many things in life can bring light.”

She was stunned and was only able to stare. His pale blue eyes glowed in the sunlight, and she wanted to get lost inside them. He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.

She didn’t want him to slip into a melancholy mood, so she changed her tune and decided to dare him to try something invigorating, and a bit naughty. The effects from the wine was causing her senses to be dulled, and she was feeling giddy. She knew that she shouldn’t even suggest what she wanted to do, but she was inebriated, and when she was drunk, she tended to be more wild than normal. If Kevaan found out, or Alek for that matter, they’d be quite distraught. But she wanted to be free, and at this moment when she had him here, alone, her rebellious nature and impropriety went south. The alcohol only deepened the feelings she already had but was afraid to admit, that she wanted him and didn’t care how she got him.

She stood up from the soft grass where they were lying, grabbed his hand, and pulled him up to his feet. She batted her eyes at him and smiled devilishly. “I think I’m in the mood for a swim.”

“What? Now?”

“Yes. A dip in the cool pond will feel good.”

“You can’t swim in that dress.”

“Who said I was going to swim in my clothes?”

He stared at her now, then smiled awkwardly, clearing his throat. “I can’t go swimming in the pond. How would that look if anyone saw us?”

“Since when do you care what people think about you? You said it yourself, it’s too late to save your reputation.”

“Yes, well, I didn’t say I had any plans on tarnishing it further. Alek would have my head.”

“Alek isn’t here.” She pulled him further toward the water.

“If you would like to refresh yourself, I won’t stop you. I will turn my back, and you can splash around all you want. I’ll stand watch.”

“It’s no fun going alone. Come on. Kevaan used to do this with me all the time.”

“Yes, well, Kevaan is your brother, and I would gather that you were probably ten years old at the time. In case you haven’t noticed, you’re no longer ten years old. I, on the other hand, have noticed.”

“Please.”

“It wouldn’t be right. Besides,” he cleared his throat again which all of a sudden seemed dry, and looked at her, suddenly dreaming of her pale soft skin wet in the water. “I couldn’t continue to be a gentleman if I gave in to this tempting and dangerous whim. I promised myself, and you, that I would remain a gentleman while you were under my roof. It would be unfair of you to put me in a situation where I would most definitely go back on my word.”

She smiled at him and decided that her teasing should stop. She was taunting him and it wasn’t right. He’d been nothing but a gentleman, and she was falling for him because of it. She decided she shouldn’t do anything to change that. He deserved more.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I got carried away. You’ve been a gentleman, and for that I’m grateful. I guess I have just gotten so comfortable with us that I forgot my place.”

“I’m very glad you’re comfortable with me. I’ve tried hard to make you trust me and I’m glad we can talk about things without inhibitions. I probably deserve a test once in awhile, if nothing else than to make sure my resolve is strong. I can say that I’ll change, but without tests to prove it, it really does mean nothing.”

He suspected that most of her behavior this afternoon was caused from too much ale, and even though he had been surprised, he didn’t think too much more about it. For that reason especially, he wouldn’t do anything she would remember today but would most probably regret tomorrow. He smiled at her and tapped her on the nose. “I think maybe it’s time we go back to the Keep.”

“I’m not ready to go yet.”

“You’ve had a bit too much to drink today, something I suspect is not usual for you. Sleeping it off is probably best, before you do something you might really regret.”

She stood on her toes and leaned in, kissing him on the mouth, her hands resting on his bare chest. He felt the warmth of them on his breeze cooled skin.