Seemingly lost in thought, he rubbed at the mauve velvet bodice, large fingers disturbing the ivory ribbon ties. “I’ve not seen a gown like this here. Simple, versatile,” he said, as if to himself, “yet still elegantly beautiful.”

“I’m glad you approve, but I’ll be needing it back,” I said with a smile. Though really, I’d have been perfectly happy to remain in the coarse towel that was soaked in his scent.

His lips curved, then parted when his head lifted. “I don’t know,” he said, gaze wandering from my scrunching toes and over my legs, taking its time to reach my own as he drank all of me in, “I think we should make sure it stays in one piece.”

I bit my lips to keep from laughing.

“I see you’ve mended it.” Curiosity lingered in those rough words as he stood and crossed the crimson carpet to the dining table. There, he carefully draped the dress over the back of a chair. “Though not very well.” It was more of an honest observation than an insult.

“It will do.” My heart pattered at the gentle way he adjusted the garment to keep it from further creasing. “Scythe.” I wasn’t sure why it was so hard to say when typically, I had no trouble saying exactly what I felt. Perhaps it was because it wasn’t what I wanted. I didn’t want to leave. “I should…”

He moved within a blink of my eyes, and I felt him behind me, his hands over my hips and his warm breath at my shoulder. A lingering kiss was pressed to my skin, and then he was gone, leaving a hiss and low laugh in his wake as I stood naked in the middle of his apartment.

He’d stolen the towel, giving me little choice but to don my gown.

Water splashed, and the thought of him lathering himself with soap, cleansing me from his body, stilled me before the table.

“Touch that dress, and I’ll treat my claws to it until it falls from you in shredded ribbons.”

I gaped at the bathing room, unable to see him, yet I knew he was wearing a smug smile. “I’ve nothing else to wear, you beast. My undergarments were ruined, and they’ve conveniently disappeared.”

He sounded delighted. “Best be climbing into bed, then.”

“Do you get a thrill out of being so bossy?” That he was a commander for one of his king’s legions should have already warned me of that being true.

My question earned me a rich but sadly too-short laugh. My chest filled at the sound. “Just reminding you of what you want to do, seeing as you still need a little help to commit.”