She marched closer, saying, “We—”
“Uh-uh-uh, Julia.” He leaned forward, clasped her by the hips and lifted her onto the desk directly in front of him. Shadows veiled his features but for a single bar of lamplight that illuminated his eyes. “As I am the teacher, the answer is mine to decide.”
She gave him a sarcastic military-style salute in an effort to hide her sudden bout of tremors. “Yes, sir.”
That earned her a frown. “I will see you walk now.”
“That’s it?” Disappointment and frustration laced her tone. “That’s how you’re going to teach me to flirt? By watching me walk…something you’ve seen me do many times already?”
“Aye. There are many ways to flirt and entice a man, and some of those ways require no words.”
“Oh.” In a strange sort of way, that made sense. “But I just sat down.”
He clasped her hand and tugged, urging her to her feet. “Now you are standing.”
She rolled her eyes. “Very well, then.” Concentrating on every step, she moved in front of the desk and walked in a straight line. Back and forth. Once. Twice. A third time. By the time she finished, he’d moved closer, sitting on the edge of the desk, shaking his head.
“I am not exactly sure if you were walking or marching to the beat of a war drum. Try again. Slower this time, swaying your hips with every forward motion.”
Okay. That was nice, constructive feedback. He was taking this seriously. “All right.” Heeding his instructions, she glided by him, exaggerating and swaying for effect. Only, the heel of one shoe bumped the toe of the other, and Julia pitched forward, face first, landing in a heap on the floor.
Her ankles didn’t survive. Neither did her pride.
Tristan uttered a long-suffering sigh, yet his eyes sparkled with mirth. “Mayhap we will work on your walk later.”
Mortified, she lumbered to her feet and cursed her throbbing ankles. “I may never walk again.”
“Do not be embarrassed. With some more training, we can turn your walk into a seductive mating call no man can resist.”
Excitement bloomed. “Really?”
* * *
“REALLY.” TRISTAN did his best to hide his amusement. Except for the tumble, Julia had strolled like a born seductress. However, he planned to make this lesson last for days, weeks, months if necessary, so he could not, would not tell her of her feminine allure. “For now, we will allow your ankles and knees time to heal.”
“Smart.”
He stood and sauntered to her. Once again he clasped her by the waist and lifted, carrying her to the desk.
“What are you doing?” she gasped, her feet dangling a good three feet from the floor.
He didn’t offer her an explanation. He simply eased her buttocks atop the edge of the desk, exactly where he’d previously leaned. Stacks of papers rained onto the carpet.
“Ready for your demonstration?” He slipped her skirt over her knees, past her thighs, revealing the creamy length of her legs, then gave her a once-over. Stopping his smile proved impossible. “Much better.”
“For you, maybe. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so helpless or vulnerable,” she muttered.
Or aroused?
“Shouldn’t I take notes or something?” she asked.
“Nay. You will remember everything I teach you.” I will make sure of it.
“Ok—”
Lightning quick, he covered her mouth with his hand. “No speaking unless you have first gained my permission. Understand?” He loved giving this strong, capable woman orders.
“Fine,” came her muffled reply, but she could not mask the tinge of excitement.
He thought she might like receiving his orders. “We will begin anew.” With a satisfied nod, he removed his palm. “Flutter your lashes for me.”
“Flutter my lashes? Women don’t actually do that anymore, do they?”
He exaggerated an exasperated sigh. “As I told you before, there is more to enticement than mere words. You must use every part of your body. Now flutter.”
She did as instructed.
He shook his head and tried not to chuckle. “Enough games, draga. How can I teach you if you refuse to cooperate?”
She sputtered, “I’m not playing. That’s the best danged fluttering I can do.”
“Hmm.” He stroked his jaw, as if racking his brain for a solution to her problem. “We have much to do, then.”
She groaned and nibbled her bottom lip. “How long will this take exactly?”
“Many cycles, mayhap,” he said. “Or even an entire season.”
“Many months, perhaps even an entire year, of intense flirting practice with you?” she squeaked.
* * *
CAN MY BODY systems handle so much masculine goodness? Julia wondered. No!
“You really think it’ll take that long?” she asked, breathless.
“Oh, aye. Mayhap even longer.”
Aye? He’d said aye? Crap! She’d just had to work harder to get everything right.
So, Julia spent the next hour—hour!—diligently practicing her eyelash flutter. It would have been an innocent enough lesson if Tristan had kept his fingers off her thighs. But nooo. He continued to trace his fingertips up and down, up and down, driving her mad.
And yet, every time a customer entered, she had to hop to the floor, don a respectable business persona—which meant smoothing her skirt from her waist and dousing the lust in her eyes, both of which only managed to increase her anticipation for the lesson’s continuance—and she missed the madness. She missed Tristan.
The instant they were alone again, she jumped right back on the table, eager to pick up where they’d left off. Roaming hands and all.
Finally he deemed her flutter “acceptable” and moved on to phase two. Or three? Four? Whatever! “Next, we’ll work on your come-hither smile.”
“Excellent.” A seductive smile was something every woman needed in her man-hunting arsenal. How could she attract someone—anyone, even Peter—if she couldn’t grin properly? “What should I do?”
“You must smile, of course.”
Oookay. How helpful. “How’s this?” The corners of her mouth lifted wide.
“No, no, no. Lips closed.” With gentle fingers, he manually fit her lips into a half grin. The heat of his fingertips sent currents of need pulsing along her nerve endings. “Much better. Now, using
