Aurora wrapped her velvet robe around herself and stepped from the bathroom. A room which was literally used for bathing. She’d never been so privileged before and getting to experience this style of bathing had ratcheted up her excitement. As she padded, in her worn, fuzzy slippers, down the cool stone hallway toward her room, her mind raced. The hall windows were smaller than the main hall’s windows but still cathedral style and they bore no coverings. The unfiltered moonlight cast a beautiful, romantic glow on everything.

It also cast a large amount of shadows, and it was those shadows she blamed for her heart’s brief leap of terror when someone stepped from them and into her path.

“Good evening,” he said.

Aurora’s eyes widened and her mouth went dry with mixed anticipation. It was him. The man she’d glimpsed in the window during dinner. Only, up close, he was so much more impressive.

He stood a good head taller than her, easily over six feet, and her first thought was that he was built like the freaking Rock. The Rock, not a rock. And her fingers itched to reach out and touch those spectacularly bulging muscles. His shirt was dark, black in the moonlight, and pulled tight across his chest. In better lighting she imagined she’d be able to see every ridge of muscle. Those etched muscles disappeared into dark denim and she couldn’t tell whether or not that was a shadow or an actual bulge in his pants.

Oh my … wow… This man was mouthwatering. And the moonlight reflected perfectly off his molten brown eyes as they bore holes into her.

“Ah,” she said awkwardly, “hi.” Great going, Aurora.

His lips twitched and he stepped closer, into her personal space. Somehow the motion cast him even more into shadow. She could barely make out the outline of his strong jaw and it was a moment before she caught a glimpse of his hair. It was straight and black and pulled back behind his shoulders.

“Tell me your name,” he whispered, his voice deep and rumbly. She swore it vibrated straight into her, sparking something warm low in her belly. As he spoke, he reached out and caught a damp strand of her hair between thumb and forefinger. He rubbed them together briefly, leaned forward, and took a long, slow breath. She swore he even hummed.

Swallowing heavily as her body’s irrational reaction continued, she said, “Aurora. I’m Aurora. Who … are you?” Was she really asking for this god’s name? Maybe I should be asking him to take me right here on this floor. Oh, Kayla was right. It had been way too long.

The sexy stranger dropped her hair, letting it slide sensually through his fingers, and he moved around until he stood behind her. So close that she was sure now that had been a bulge in his pants and the knowledge only made her hotter. She had to fight to keep from rubbing her thighs together.

He bowed his head and she felt his nose brush her ear as he reached up and gently parted the top of her robe. Not enough to expose anything more than her shoulder. She didn’t try to stop him. He leaned closer, his other hand landing heavily on her hip, and his hot breath washed over her skin with his exhale.

“Delicious.”