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aware of every ache and pain in her body. She may be able to handle the cold, but it took a toll on her body.
    Wrapped in the rich, soft robe, she emerged from the bathroom, tucking her key into the robe pocket.
    Lorvik emerged wearing his robe, his feet as elegant as the rest of him.
    It was sad that she noticed, but she took pity on his awkward silence. “Are you ready?” He shook his head. “I have no idea.” Kes laughed and reached for his hand. “Come along. I am looking forward to this.” Down two levels and across three halls, they finally made it to the hot pools.
    Lorvik looked around at the enamelled bathes large enough for ten, and he started to smile. “This is not what I was thinking.”
    She laughed. “I have no idea of what was in your mind. Come on, off with your robe and into the water. The pools are graded by colour. Burgundy is the hottest and that is where I am spending my time.”
    Kescu slipped off her robe, hung it on a peg and walked to the pool. She slipped into the pool and turned to watch to see which pool Lorvik picked.
    He was still staring in her direction. So she cleared her throat. “You are going to be silly standing there when the dawn bathers come in.” Sighing, he removed his robe, and she watched all his golden-green perfection walking to the pool next to hers. He slipped a foot into it and smiled then moved to her pool and tested the waters.
    “You are right, it isn’t too hot.” Kescu watched as he settled with the muscles on his chest flexing as he leaned his arms on the edge of the pool. She sank lower in the water and closed her eyes. “That is what I used to think.”

Chapter Eight
    L orvik looked down at Kescu and thought about how right she looked in his bed. After an hour of the most relaxing bath of his life, Kescu had fallen asleep in the pool, and he had carried her back to his suite.
    He had left a message as to her location and the best time to come storming the suite for Kema Washley. Kescu needed her sleep, and he was determined to make sure she got it.
    Kes turned to her stomach, and her hair flopped sideways.
    Curious, Lorvik removed the pin holding her hair and unwound the mass until it reached her hips. That was a bit of a shock. For a woman who lived in such practical clothing to have such a feminine side was both startling and delightful.
    He sat on the chaise near the bed and watched her while she slept. He did not intend to leave the running of their world to her, but it was very nice to know that he could if he had to. She had strength of character, strength of will, and the attraction he felt for her seemed to be mutual.
    There was only one obstacle, and she was going to arrive at eleven in the morning if she abided by his request.
    Lorvik settled in and watched over his sleeping beauty until his lids grew heavy and the small freckles on her cheeks blurred with his fatigue.
    * * * *
    Kes shot up, worried that she would be late. Cool air on her body brought home the fact that she was not wearing anything and the swish of her hair against her buttocks told her that things were not as they should be.
    Something moved in her peripheral vision, and Lorvik shifted on the chaise before returning to deep slumber.
    Kes looked down. Aside from being naked, she wasn’t wearing any bruises, bites or marks of nocturnal activity. Nothing had happened.
    She found the robe and slipped it on, moving quietly into the other room. In the bathroom, she found a brush, and she worked on her hair, getting the black tangle into an even wave with a lot of wincing. Kes never wore her hair loose. It whipped about in the wind and froze into the ice.
    With her hair smooth, she twisted it up on her head, and she grabbed a tie from her pack.
    The soak had done her good, so she grabbed her spare suit and climbed into it. She had just finished getting dressed when a familiar knock sounded at the door.
    She opened the door. “Come in, Mom. Lorvik is still asleep.”
    Kema came in