The Nymph King

then the splash of water. She gulped. Was he naked? Most likely. Steam was probably wafting around him. His skin probably glistened with moisture. He probably resembled an angel floating through the heavens.

In that instant all the reasons she'd rejected him faded from her thoughts. Desire. So much desire. She'd said she wouldn't watch him bathe, but one peek suddenly didn't seem so bad. One peek... Really, there was no harm in that.

Unbidden, she found her feet moving toward the entrance. He couldn't possibly be as exquisite as she was imagining. Could he? She quietly peeled the curtain to the side—but only a little. Valerian's naked back came into view. Muscles rippled under tawny skin as he cupped and poured water over himself.

Steam did indeed waft around him, making him appear nothing more than a dream, a fantasy, a genie visiting from a lamp, come to grant her every wish. His hair was soaked and dripping down his back. She bit her lip. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to be with him once and finally put her body out of its misery. If she guarded her heart, she could use him and be done with him. Right?

He turned to the side and clamped his hand around a sapphire glass bottle. He poured whatever was inside —more of that orchid oil?—into his other hand. Oh, to be that oil, she thought, watching, throat constricted as he rubbed the oil into his chest. The fragrance joined the steam and floated to her.

'You can still join me, you know,' he said, his voice rough.

She yelped and released the curtain. It fell back into place, completely blocking him from view. Her cheeks erupted into flames.

She was saved from having to analyze her thoughts and actions when Brenna burst into the room. The girl was panting; her gaze was wild. Black curls bounced over her face. She stilled when she spotted Shaye and exhaled a huge sigh of relief.

'What's wrong?' Alarmed, Shaye rushed to her side. 'Did something happen?'

Behind her, she heard the splash of water, the pound of footsteps, then Valerian was there, standing in the doorway. He was naked. Mouthwateringly naked. He didn't seem surprised to see Brenna with her, even though the girl had made no real noise. 'Did something happen?' he echoed.

Shaye's mouth fell open at this first, full-frontal glance of him. He was tall and well muscled, but she'd already seen that. What she hadn't seen was his erection. Until now. It was as long and hard as she'd imagined, rising proudly from between his legs. He wasn't modest and didn't reach for any type of covering. Water droplets cascaded from his hair, down his stomach, and onto his—

Dear God.

Brenna's mouth had fallen open, too, and Shaye had to tamp the urge to cover the girl's eyes. 'We're fine.' Shaye gave a jerky point. 'Go back to your bath, Valerian. Please! For God's sake, we're just going to have a little girl talk.'

With a nod, he stalked off. Damn the man, he looked as good from behind as he did from the front.

Only when the drape blocked him was Shaye able to breathe again.

'Big,' Brenna said in that broken voice of hers, her eyes still wide.

Mine, Shaye almost snapped. She frowned. She had no right to him. She'd just turned him down. Again. Concentrate. 'Did someone hurt you, Brenna? Or threaten you?'

Brenna shook her head. 'Problem.'

'What kind? With whom?'

'Joachim.'

Her frown deepened. 'Is he hurt?'

'No.'

'Did he hurt you?'

'No.'

O-kay. Shaye clasped her friend's hand—was Brenna her friend? she wondered. She'd never really had one before. Assistants, yes. Employees, yes. But had she ever really spent quality personal time with someone else? Well, whatever Brenna was, Shaye led her to the couch. 'What's wrong?' she asked again, settling into the cushions.

'Shivawn,' Brenna said.

Her brows furrowed together. 'Is he hurt?'

'No.'

'Did he hurt you?'

'No.'

Had she ever had a more confusing conversation? Shaye pushed out a frustrated exhalation. They were getting nowhere this way. 'You have to help me understand what's going on.'

A rosy blush stained Brenna's cheeks. She bit her bottom lip. 'Want. Them.'

'You... want them?' Shaye blinked. 'As in, sexually?'

The girl's blush intensified, and she looked away. 'Maybe. But... think I really want one when I should want the other. Scared. Confused.'

'That would scare me, too.' She could barely handle her desire for Valerian. She didn't know what she'd do if she should want to be with one of his warriors, instead. 'It's that whole duty versus desire thing, huh? Like we see in the movies?'

Brenna gripped her hands, perhaps willing her to understand. 'Kind of. Maybe. I don't know!'

'I wish I had an answer for you, and if we were on the surface, I might. But these men, these... nymphs. They cast a spell over everything female and screw with our common sense.' Shaye's bitterness seeped through her tone. 'I don't like it.'

'You once mentioned escape.' Brenna mimed the last so Valerian wouldn't hear.

Shaye's body went still; even her heartbeat stopped for several seconds. Escape. What she'd wanted from the beginning. What she wasn't sure she wanted right now, but knew was for the best. You have a home. A job. Employees who count on your revenue.

'I haven't found a way out,' she admitted softly. Not that she'd looked all that hard. 'But there is one sure way. Do you remember the portal?'

Brenna nodded.

'Valerian said I couldn't survive it alone. Together, you and I can swim to the surface. We just have to find it.'

They stood in unison and glanced to the bathing curtain. 'There's no better time than now,' Shaye said, speaking past the sudden lump in her throat. She wished she had time to tell Valerian goodbye, wished she could kiss him once more. 'Are you ready?'

Again Brenna nodded.

As if he'd heard their entire conversation, Valerian called, 'Shaye!'

Her eyes widened, and Brenna gasped. If she didn't leave now, she would lose this opportunity. 'Come on.' They sprinted past the front door and into the hallway.

'Shaye!' A command now. Water splashed.

She plowed into a couple writhing on the floor and tumbled face-first. Frantic, Brenna helped her up. The couple yelped, but didn't stop their naked dance. Shaye's lungs nearly burst from strain as she dared a backward glance. A naked Valerian was closing in on her. How could she want to run to him?

'Move!' she panted. 'Faster. Do you know the way?' All she remembered was that the closer they came to the portal, the barer the walls would become. Fewer jewels. Fewer sconces.

'Yes.'

They encountered a fork, and Brenna swerved right. Shaye followed. God, she hoped this was the right direction. If Valerian caught her... The walls looked the same to her. Doorways branched in every direction. They raced past other women, other warriors. The men regarded them with curiosity, but didn't try to stop them.

Then, suddenly, steal clamps anchored onto her waist and she was thrown into the air. Her arms flailed. She screamed. Brenna ground to a halt and whipped around just as Shaye's legs kicked out, reaching for a solid foundation. As she fell, she screamed again.

Strong arms caught her, wrapping around her and locking her in place. She was panting and didn't allow herself to meet Valerian's angry gaze. Or look down at his wet, aroused body.