Her words bubbled through me, stirring something that felt a lot like hope.
Amalie’s gaze turned inward. “To live is to adapt. We’re constantly reinventing ourselves. Don’t be afraid of failure or change, loves; it means you’re alive.”
Unwittingly, my thoughts moved to Lucian, and my heart clenched. Because I knew Amalie was thinking of him just then and worrying. I didn’t want to worry about Lucian, too, but I did. He was hiding from life, even more than I was. From the glimpses he’d let me see of the real him, I knew that if any man needed to live life to the fullest, it was him. More unsettling was the fact that I wanted to be there when he did. Because Lucian living completely in the moment made me feel utterly alive as well.
For the rest of the evening, they delighted me with old stories and funny observations. Tina calmed down enough not to stare at me every few seconds and proceeded to beat me soundly in poker. And though I laughed and relaxed, Lucian was there, in the back of my mind, nudging along my spine.
Which was why, despite all my best intentions, I found myself putting on my bikini and heading for the pool in the dark of night.
I was no better than a teen sneaking out in hopes that my crush would hear me and show up. I knew this and berated myself for it, and still I toed off my sandals and undid my bathing wrap. My hands actually shook with nerves when I set my things on a lounger.
The pool house was dark, the french doors closed up tight. Maybe he was asleep. Maybe he’d left the property. But the pool light was on, producing a soft glow.
With as much grace as possible, I dove into the water. It was warm enough to soothe my skin, and despite my original mission, I started to swim, getting into the rhythm of the exercise.
On my fifth lap, as I reached the end of the pool, the sound of Édith Piaf caught my attention. La Vie en Rose. Heart skipping a beat, I stopped and turned around. Lucian stood at the other end, the wavering light of the pool casting shadows over his face. I shouldn’t have been surprised; I’d wanted him to show up, after all. But a surge of adrenaline hit me like a drug, and my dreary night sparked with promise.
I was so gone on this man. It wasn’t even funny.
His lips tilted in a small smile. “Thought you should get the full effect and listen to Édith while you swim.”
“Shouldn’t I be naked if I want the full effect of night swimming with Édith?” Yes, I was shameless.
His narrowed gaze said as much. But he didn’t bolt. No, he stared me down with those stern eyes. “I’m certainly not going to stop you. But be forewarned, Brommy and Anton are out here somewhere.”
Clever Lucian. Now, if I followed through with my teasing threat, I would be saying that I didn’t mind anyone seeing me. If I didn’t, I was making it clear that I wanted only him to see me that way.
Resting my elbows on the edge of the pool, I slowly treaded water with my legs. “Why don’t you join me?”
“I’m not skinny-dipping with you, Snoopy.” His smile was brief but wide. “Like I said, Brommy and Anton are out and about.”
“And you don’t want them seeing you naked,” I said, as if this made perfect sense.
“I’m very shy.”
“Sure you are.” I kicked my foot, sending ripples his way. “But I meant regular swimming.”
He was wearing a threadbare T-shirt of indeterminable color and athletic shorts that hung low and loose on his trim hips.
I eyed him up and down, enjoying the way he tried so hard not to fidget. “Stop dithering, and get in.”
Lucian scowled. “Bossy.” But he stripped off his shirt, which was every bit as hot as the last time he’d done it—more, really, because now I got to witness it up close and in full detail.
Quirking a straight brow at me as if to say “You asked for it,” he dove in the deep end.
My belly tightened as he arrowed under the water, heading my way. He broke through the surface a few feet from me, wet and gorgeous and smiling with his eyes. If I wasn’t already in water, I would have melted into a puddle of lust just looking at him.
Lucian combed his dripping hair back with his fingers as he treaded water before me. “Any reason you’re swimming, Em?”
“Should there be?” I let go of the edge and headed his way.
Lucian immediately jerked back, keeping the distance equal between us. “Didn’t take you for a night swimmer.”
I moved forward again slowly. “You made it look so good; I thought I’d try.”
It was too dark to tell, but I could have sworn he blushed. But then his eyes narrowed. “You’re flirting.”
“Am I?” I totally was. I couldn’t help it; Lucian was kind of adorable when he reacted to my blatant attempts as though confused but intrigued. So often, he unbalanced me with his cool authority. It was satisfying to return the favor.
Competitor at heart, Lucian rallied. He planted his feet; he was tall enough to stand without dipping underwater. “You know you are.” Lucian’s gaze moved over me carefully, as though he was attempting to read my mind. “You’re not trying to make me feel better about myself, are you?”
I paused, floating there, my heart squeezing tight. “I’m flirting with you because I enjoy it. I never know what you’ll say, and it usually makes me laugh.”
“Ah. I’m to play the role of jester.”
“Are you deliberately trying to tick me off? Do you want me to go?”
His eyes glinted. “I don’t want you to go.”
“So you’re trying to annoy me.”
His chuckle was warm and sent little flutters of pleasure through my insides. “Just keeping you on your toes, Em.”
That I could work with. I shot forward, ready to swim, and he darted aside like he thought I might jump him. I rolled my eyes, swimming around him in a lazy circle. “You’re kind of twitchy tonight.”
“Twitchy.” He apparently didn’t like the sound of that.
“Mmm. Like you don’t know whether or not to flee.”
“You got that right. This line of conversation is tempting me to run right about now.”
Funny.
I continued to circle, but he followed, keeping me in his sights.
“Is it because we’ve seen each other naked?” I asked.
Lucian jerked so hard he splashed himself. “Jesus, Em.”
I fought a grin. “What? It’s true. You told me you watched Dark Castle.”
“Anya wasn’t fully nude—”
“As good as. Aside from showing that little V of hair—”
“God . . . ,” he moaned expansively.
“I was basically naked.”
“You’re trying to kill me. That’s it, isn’t it?”
The thick rasp of his voice had me smiling.
“Don’t be such a prude.”
“If you knew what was running through my mind, you’d never accuse me of being a prude.”
My heart skipped another beat, and I found myself treading water again. “Do tell.”
“Never you mind.” Somehow, he’d drifted closer, edging me into a corner. “Now cut it out. There’s a huge difference between seeing Princess Anya half-undressed on a TV screen and seeing you naked.”