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Nadine grabbed the folds of the partially open robe around her. She stood there at a loss for words. The sound of parting water followed as Nadine watched a faint figure emerge from behind the sea god’s tail. His movements were inappropriately calm, considering the circumstances. Slowly, the shadowy figure took on a more distinct shape as he progressed toward the front of the marble structure.
    Loose, glistening, dark curls, heavy with water, clung to a well-formed head that topped a broad chest, matted with curly hair. His movements revealed an animal-like grace, and Nadine had the distinct feeling he could be as virile as any. There was quite a bit of space between them and the lamplight was hampered by the ever-rising steam, preventing her from discerning his facial features.
    Then it hit her, just as the mysterious stranger spoke again, if it were not for the dense vapors about his lower frame, she would be staring at a stark-naked man.
    â€œEven though I have undressed in front of a woman before,” he announced, tauntingly, “unless you want to see something you obviously have not seen in living color, I suggest you close your eyes or do whatever makes you feel most comfortable.” He continued to advance.
    Nadine snatched around like the devil himself had commanded her, facing the lamp she had just lit. She was totally speechless as she listened to the splatter of his wet, bare feet crossing the room in her direction. He stopped not far behind her, and bent over to pick up a towel that was almost beneath her feet. Nadine glanced down and saw his hand retrieve the bundled object. She thought she could feel the heat from his nude body he stood so close.
    â€œDo you always follow directions so well?” he asked, his voice indicating he was enjoying her discomfort.
    â€œOnly when I’m in the room with a naked man I’ve never met before!” was her exasperated reply.
    â€œBut that is not true,” he continued in his mild accent. “We met earlier today in the cave. Or have you forgotten? By the way, you can turn around now.”
    Nadine looked, cautiously, to the side. She could see him folding the towel in around his waist. Feeling more secure now that the stranger was at least half-dressed, and incensed over the fact that he had not announced his presence earlier, she turned to confront him. “Is this the way you usually act, inviting strangers to your employer’s home, then leaving them in the process?” She glared, flustered by the situation. “You probably didn’t tell me you were in here because you don’t have any business here in the first place.”
    But even under the extraordinary circumstances, when Nadine finally stopped talking and looked into his eyes a kind of sinking feeling began in the pit of her stomach. Unspoken chemistry bolted between them and she was stunned by the foreign sensation. Despite her sincere anger Nadine could feel herself being drawn into the inky depths of his eyes. She felt light-headed, and for a moment she feared she might faint.
    Ulysses looked down into the captivating expressions crossing the woman’s face. He guessed she was in her early to mid-twenties, and he realized that rarely, if ever, had he seen such a strange mix of emotions. Fear, anger, anxiousness along with hopeful anticipation. He could smell a fading scent of floral perfume about her, and the single candle flame provided an enticing backdrop for hair and skin whose tones were so much alike, it gave her a surreal appearance. Hazel eyes hauntingly searched his and her petite but bountiful bottom lip became slack, as tiny audible breaths passed from her. Ulysses felt he had no choice but to comply with the woman’s silent bidding.
    Nadine had no idea what was happening to her, but she could not withdraw from the magnetic hold he seemed to have. Their gazes remained locked as his dark head descended slowly. At first she thought she was