Just as she was thinking how nice it was to see him at ease, his body as relaxed as a lion lazily sunning himself, he smiled back, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Oooh! Stop that. When you smile at me I want all of it.”

“What?” He looked confused.

Chloe slid her hands to his ribs, wondering if such a strong, disciplined man might be ticklish. He was, and it delighted her to discover that in some small way he was as helpless and as human as the rest of the world. She tickled mercilessly until, laughing, he captured her hands in his.

“I punish wenches who tickle me,” he purred, stretching her arms above her head.

“How?” she asked breathlessly.

He ducked his dark head and caught one nipple in his mouth, suckling gently before releasing it and dragging his tongue over her breasts to capture the other. “You have perfect breasts, lass,” he growled huskily. “As to the punishing, I’ll need to think on that,” he purred against her skin. “None has e’er tickled me before.”

“Gee, I wonder why?” she managed. When he circled a budded nipple with his tongue, her back arched and she inhaled sharply. Her breasts felt swollen, chafed by his shadow beard, and exquisitely sensitive. “Could it be because you’re always so reserved and in control? They were probably afraid to,” she said, gasping.

He released her nipple and looked up at her, startled. “But you’re not, are you, Chloe?”

“Smile,” she panted, not wanting to answer that. Not wanting to admit that some part of her was afraid of the intimidating man who danced between centuries. Not exactly of him, more afraid of the power he had over her because she had such intense feelings for him. With all the scorching, incredibly intimate things he’d done to her, he’d not said any of those words lovers were wont to say, words hinting at a future together. As he’d told her yesterday, he made no excuses and offered no pretty lies. No promises either.

She wouldn’t mind one or two. Or ten.

Taking her cue from him, she’d kept her feelings silent, resolved to be patient; wait and watch, try to catch some of those subtle little signs that were all Dageus ever revealed.

He arched a brow and smiled as she’d requested.

“Oh, that one was much better,” she said, smiling back. It was impossible not to smile back when he truly smiled. When he slid his hands down her arms, over her breasts, then to her hips, she shook her head warily. “Huh-uh. I can’t. Not now.” She deliberately teased him with, “It could be a week before I can again.” She topped it with a demure batting of her lashes.