Raising her skirts to her knees, she pulled off her boots and stockings, then swung around on the stone bank and lowered her legs up to her calves. Venetia sighed with pleasure. The silken caress of the water felt divine.
“I told you so,” Traherne said with satisfaction. “You would enjoy a full bath even more.”
“Thank you, but I am content where I am.”
A few moments later, he stood upright, his body glistening. He was closer now, near enough that his male attributes were clearly visible beneath the surface. She could see his manhood thrusting hard and proud against his belly.
Venetia felt herself blushing hotly at the sight.
“Your modesty does you credit,” he commented, which made her eyes narrow.
“Are you mocking me?”
“Never.”
“I don’t believe you. You are trying to goad me again.”
“Is it working?”
His mouth twitched into a crooked grin, which ignited a deep need in her to smile back. “Could you please turn around, Traherne?”
He let out an exaggerated sigh but obliged, giving her his muscled back. The change of view was not particularly helpful, however. Venetia couldn’t prevent her gaze from drifting lower. His buttocks looked hard as well, and firm to the touch.
Apparently he wasn’t willing to leave off provoking her, either. “You can see that I am in urgent need of a nurse,” he remarked casually.
“What do you mean?”
“My loins are in a state of acute pain. If you were to fondle me, it would serve to distract me.”
“I offered yesterday morning. You declined.”
“I have changed my mind.”
“Well, so have I.”
Traherne cast a glance over his shoulder. “It is your duty as my wife to succor me.”
“We have only a marriage of convenience,” Venetia retorted. “Duty doesn’t apply.”
“Then take pity on me. I am wounded and weak, as helpless as a babe.”
She laughed outright at that. “You are as helpless as a tiger.”
“Perhaps ‘babe’ is not accurate. But my self-esteem has been sorely damaged by my injury. Employing my skills as a lover will give me the opportunity to prove my manhood. It is the least you could do.”
She had no ready reply, but she was enjoying herself immensely, Venetia realized. Bantering with him was not only exhilarating, it was delicious and tantalizing. If she didn’t take care, it could become addictive.
“You are not luring me into the water, my lord. And I am not falling prey to your charm. No doubt you have enchanted half of England’s female population, but I prefer not to join their ranks.”
“Only half?”
The blatant sensuality in his sultry blue eyes was impossible to ignore. The way he looked at a woman was utterly sinful.
“Three-quarters, then. You cannot count children.” She shook her head. “You are too accustomed to having your own way. I feel I should oppose you on general principal. Besides, I have scruples about surrendering to a shameless libertine.”
Eyeing her reproachfully, he slid back into the water. “I should make allowances for your mistrust. Your antipathy toward men is excusable, given your history.”
“I don’t harbor antipathy toward all men.”