“How about behind the hedges?” He tosses me the tunic, then turns his back to me. “I promise not to peek.”
I jog beyond the wall of green and swap out my gown for Lincoln’s tunic. I spin about, eyeing the fit. It looks good, but I’m showing a lot of bare leg.
I bite my lower lip. “I’m feeling a bit exposed, Lincoln.” I kick off my heels. The ground chills my bare feet.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.”
I tiptoe past the line of hedges. There I see Lincoln standing in his black leather pants and…Nothing else. They hang low on his hips, showing off the vee of muscle below his stomach. Whoa. Desire zings through my system.
Lincoln eyes me from head to toe, his gaze lingering on my legs. “Now we’re both a bit exposed.”
I gesture to him in a ‘hey you’re not wearing a shirt’ kind of way. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” It’s not like half the thrax aren’t partying nearby.
“Why not? I won’t return to the ball.” True, and I’m probably about to ruin his tunic to boot.
Grinning, Lincoln kicks the pile of chain mail with his bare foot. “Plus, this stuff weighs a ton.” He links his arms across his chest. “And I was promised some trouble, remember?”
That settles it.
I bow slightly. “Alright, you got me. Where to?”
“I have a specific spot in mind.” He laces his fingers with mine. A thrill of connection zings in my palm. “Let’s go.” His mismatched eyes twinkle in the moonlight. My tummy goes all tingly again.
At this point, I’d follow him pretty much anywhere. As we walk along, my heart thumps a mile a minute, my breathing turns low and shallow, and my lust demon definitely wants to come out and play. Lincoln steps into the hedgerow maze, picking his way with uncanny accuracy. We soon reach the fountain at the labyrinth’s center. It’s turned off now, so it looks like one large, still pool of water.
My brows arch in confusion. Out of all the places in the Ryder grounds, why would Lincoln take me here?
The Prince guides me to sit on the lip of the fountain. I hop up onto the edge, feeling the warm stone beneath me, my legs dangling below. Stepping back, Lincoln examines me, his eyes glistening with wonder.
“There.” He hooks his thumbs into the waistband of his leather pants. “That’s how you looked when I first saw you by the lake.”
I nod. That’s right; he found me fighting Doxy demons in the water. “So, that’s why you brought me here?” I scratch my cheek. That’s a little strange.
“Well, I think about that night all the time. Maybe too much.” He shoots me a shy smile. “That sounds kind of crazy, doesn’t it?”
“Depends.” I move my mouth to one side, considering. “What’s the interest?”
He rubs his neck with his hand. “It’s a bit of a story, actually. I was chasing down some Doxy demons at the Ryder stables. I thought you were another thrax, tracking the same pack.”
I mock-frown. “Another guy, of course.”
He sets his hand on his bare chest. “Guilty as charged.” He steps closer, my heart thuds harder in my rib cage. “You disappeared into the water. I thought you’d be drowned, but you came out fighting.” He pauses before me, setting his warm hands on my bare knees. A thrill of heat whirls about my belly. His palms are calloused in all the right ways for a warrior.
With gentle pressure, Lincoln guides my legs apart. My heart rate goes through the roof. “You were fighting like a demon yourself, eyes glowing red in the darkness. And you were laughing.” The Prince presses his firm body against my soft curves. My breath hitches. Damn, that feels good.
Lincoln notices my little gasp and smiles. “I saw you were a woman, a warrior.” He leans in close, his mouth a breath above my own. “A force of nature. From that day on, I’ve thought of you, that night, and the water.”
I inhale deeply, ready to say ‘I never met anyone like you before, either. You make me crazy, too. In a good way.’ I speak, but two words only: “I understand.”
His voice comes out low and husky. “Good.”
Our mouths meet, fierce and rough, every flick of the Prince’s tongue driving more heat between my legs. My arms slide about Lincoln’s bare shoulders, sensing his velvet-soft skin over solid muscle. Suddenly, I want to run my hands over every inch of his body. Lincoln’s fingers press around my thighs, tracing the hem of my tunic. Desire rockets through me.
A thin bolt of lightning strikes the ground a few yards away. Low rolls of thunder shake the air.
My head snaps to the spot of grass where the lightning hit. It’s a smoldering patch of black by the fountain’s edge. “Did you see that?” This is the third time lightning strikes when I feel strong emotions around Lincoln. Even I’m having a hard time pretending it’s a coincidence.
“No.” Lincoln kisses my neck, then gently bites my earlobe. My legs go wobbly beneath me.
“But Lincoln, aren’t you worried about the–”