Touch Me

spirit, Mr. Cooper.”

“Yes, in the morning or afternoon. Or even the early evening. At midnight, however, it is merely an aggravation.” He scowled at his pet who’d already fallen asleep, then shifted his attention back to Genevieve. “Would you like a dog?”

She laughed at his disgruntled tone. “No, thank you. If I brought home a puppy, I’m certain Sophia would be most displeased.”

“Would you like to trade pets?”

“I’m almost tempted to agree just to call your bluff. You adore that puppy and you know it.”

“Now I do. She’s an angel when she’s sleeping.”

“What happened to the man who enjoyed a challenge?”

“He’s right here-out of breath from all the running he’s done after that mischievous beast…and looking at you.” He moved to the edge of the spring and crouched down, resting his forearms on his knees. “And what an exquisite view it is. Now it’s your turn. What are you doing here?”

“Surely that is obvious. I’m taking the waters.”

“At this time of night?” He looked around. “Alone?”

“I often take the waters at night. It helps me to sleep. And I was alone-until you and Beauty crashed into the clearing.”

He lowered one arm and dipped his fingertips into the water. “Baxter isn’t nearby to protect you?”

“No.”

“As protective as he is of you, I can only assume he doesn’t know you’re here.”

“No, he doesn’t. Not that it’s any of his concern. Or yours. I have my pistol for protection. But this isn’t London, Mr. Cooper. There aren’t footpads lurking in the shadows. Indeed, this is the first time I’ve ever encountered anyone on one of my nocturnal visits.”

“So you do this often-come here at night?”

She pulled her gaze away from the oddly arousing sight of his long fingers slowly circling the surface of the water and hiked up her chin another notch. “As a matter of fact I do, yes.”

“And you came tonight because you couldn’t sleep.” His soft, husky words were a statement rather than a question.

“Yes. That and the fact that the weather is perfect for a brisk walk and a soak.”

“Why couldn’t you sleep?”

Because I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Imagining you touching me. Kissing me. Making love to me. Because the desire I feel for you is so overwhelming, I can barely think properly. “No particular reason. I just have a great deal on my mind.”

“Something we have in common. I couldn’t sleep either. That is why I thought to take Beauty for a walk-to tire us both out.”

She arched a glance toward the sleeping dog. “It worked very well for Beauty.”

“Yes. Not so well for me.”

Silence swelled between them. His eyes glittered and his hand kept drawing those slow, hypnotic circles in the water. Genevieve had to fight to keep her breathing slow and steady under his unwavering regard. Her better judgment coughed to life, demanding she tell him to leave. Immediately. But she couldn’t seem to force the words from her suddenly dry throat. Indeed, all she could do was stare back at him. And wonder if he was experiencing this same stifling tension and profound attraction that was all but suffocating her.

His gaze flicked to his circling hand. “The water feels good. Warm.”

She nodded and forced out the only word she could manage. “Yes.”

His gaze burned into hers. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I couldn’t sleep?”

She had to swallow twice to locate her voice, and even then it only came out in a whisper. “Why couldn’t you sleep?”

“Because of you.” He sat down on the ledge and yanked off one of his low boots. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” He tossed the boot aside, peeled off his stocking, then applied himself to his other boot.

She gaped at his bare foot. She opened her mouth to speak-only to discover that her jaw was hanging open. “Wh-what are you doing?”

“Telling you why I couldn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, all I saw was your face. Your smile. Your eyes. Do you have any idea how extraordinary your eyes are?”

“No-”

“They’re the most gorgeous shade of blue I’ve ever seen. Like a cloudless sky on a summer day. And those gold flecks in them…stunning. And so expressive.” He tossed aside the second boot and stocking. “But they’re not always. Sometimes they’re frustratingly difficult to read-”

“No, I meant what are you doing with your boots.”

“Oh. I’m removing them.”

“Yes, I see that. But why?”

“They’re old favorites and I’d prefer not to ruin them.” He rose and shrugged his jacket from his shoulders. Then began untying his cravat.

“Now what are you doing?”

“Removing my cravat.”

“Again, I must ask why.”

“Because I cannot remove my shirt without doing so. You did say the water felt nice.”

“It does, but…”

Her words died when he pulled his shirt from his snug breeches and yanked the garment over his head.

Oh, my. Simon Cooper might not like to exercise at midnight, but his body gave testament to the fact that he partook of physical activities at other times. Her stupefied gaze traveled over his broad chest, thick and well-defined with muscle and covered with a shading of crisp ebony hair that tapered into a thin ribbon and bisected his ridged abdomen, a fascinating trail that her avid gaze followed until it was obscured by the waistband of his breeches. The impressive bulge pressing against the front of the snug black material gave proof that she wasn’t alone in her desires.

Before she could pull a breath into her stalled lungs, he moved to the edge of the spring.

“Wh-what are you doing now?”

He slipped into the water. “I’m joining you.”

9

HIS WORDS sucked the oxygen from Genevieve’s lungs. She stared transfixed as Mr. Cooper, with his gaze steady on hers and bubbles foaming around his ribcage, slowly swished his arms through the water. The play of muscles in his powerful shoulders flexed with the movement, lulling her into a trance, rendering her incapable of doing anything save stare. Surely she should say something, demand he stop, but the only words rushing into her throat were Oh, my, you are magnificent. Indeed, she had to press her lips together to prevent herself from saying them out loud.

“You’re right,” he said, his husky voice rippling a heated tremor through her. “It does feel good.”

Oh. Dear. God. She pressed her spine against the rock ledge to hold herself upright lest she slither beneath the surface of the water from a combination of surprise, apprehension and desire so strong it threatened to choke her. She yanked herself from the stupor into which she’d fallen and lifted to chin. “That was merely a statement of fact, Mr. Cooper. Not an invitation.”

“Wasn’t it?” He moved slowly toward her and she shrank farther into the shadows. “I think it was. Because there’s something between us. Something I’ve felt since the first moment I saw you. A desire so strong I can barely think properly.”

His words, which so precisely mirrored her own thoughts just moments ago, halted her breath. All she could think was, Thank God, it’s not just me.

He stopped directly in front of her, then braced his hands on the stone ledge on either side of her, caging her in.