her suitcases in the bedroom. If that had been merely wishful thinking, she would borrow something from her host, but she was never going to slip one toe into the clothes on the bathroom floor ever again.
Climbing into the tub, she drew the shower curtain and turned on the water. As the hot water cascaded over her, she was certain nothing had ever felt this good. Her legs were still weak and when she bent over to pick up the bottle of shampoo on the side of the tub, dizziness threatened to send her reeling. Sitting down under the flow of the water, she waited until the sensation had subsided, then lathered her hair.
Luxury. Absolute luxury. She issued a sigh of pure pleasure as she rinsed the suds out of her hair, then soaped her body.
Standing by the door, fresh towel in hand, listening for any sign of trouble from inside, Lance frowned more darkly at himself. If she required help, he needed to be there in an instant. Time to bite the bullet.
Opening the door, he entered the room. The shower curtain prevented him from seeing her, but the remembered feel of her in his arms gave his imagination fodder and he found himself visualizing her nude body, wet and sudsy. Fire ignited within him. Erase that thought! he ordered himself.
“Are you all right?” he demanded.
Startled by his voice, she scooted to the back of the tub and peered around the curtain. “What are you doing in here?”
Lance had never seen a woman look more desirable. It took a great deal of effort, but outwardly he maintained a cool, indifferent facade. “I figured that if you fainted, I wouldn’t be much help in the hall,” he said with staid formality, while inwardly he fought a bout of lust more powerful than any he’d ever experienced.
She let the shower curtain fall between them again, seemed to take a moment to rinse thoroughly, then reached her arm around the curtain. “May I have a towel?”
Lance placed the towel in her hand. In his mind’s eye he visualized her first drying her hair, then rubbing down her body. His imagination was definitely working overtime. Anger that he was having so much trouble keeping his mind on the business at hand raged through him. This was not like him at all. Even in situations where he could not control all of the elements, he was always in total control of himself. Victoria Rockford was having a very disquieting effect on him.
“I’m certain I can make it back to the bedroom on my own,” she said through the curtain.
Lance would have liked nothing better than to obey the dismissal in her voice. But he couldn’t. “I’ll just stick around and make sure you don’t need a helping hand.”
The towel securely in place, Victoria pulled back the curtain.
Lance felt numb. She was even sexier than he’d imagined. Duty, man. Remember your duty, he ordered himself. Stepping back, he gave her room to step out of the tub. When she teetered slightly, he caught her by the elbow. The contact sent a charged current of heat racing through him.
Acutely aware of his touch, Victoria was startled to realize that she had no desire to pull away. Instead, she liked the feel of his hand…it made her feel secure, safe. He’s allowed you to see him. If he’s one of the bad guys, he’s probably planning to kill you eventually! she reminded herself and the safe feeling vanished.
When he released her quickly after they’d reached the hall, Victoria recognized that he’d held on to her for only as long as was absolutely necessary for her to regain her balance. Glancing toward him covertly, she saw his shuttered expression and her fear increased. On one hand, he was taking very good care of her. But on the other, his cold, impersonal behavior indicated that he did not consider her someone he wanted to befriend.
Able to make it back to the bedroom on her own, she entered and closed the door. Curiously, she missed her stoic companion’s presence. You really are muddled, she mocked herself. She didn’t even know if he was friend or foe. And right now, her money was on foe.
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