To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield by Bronwen Evans

idea—a cooling dip.
    She’d reached waist high water by the time he’d flung off his clothes, eased into the pond, and dived. Now she was within reach… And he was out of breath—
    He kicked up hard, cannoning out of the water beside her, tossing his hair so drops of water sprayed her shocked face.
    Her squeal ripped the air apart, terror suddenly choked off as her mouth filled with water and she sank beneath the pond’s surface.  
    She wouldn’t drown—she swam too well for that—but it was fortunate for Harlow that the water was only waist deep. Fortunate in many ways. When Caitlin finally floundered to the surface and scrambled upright she was too shocked to realize how much of her was exposed. Yes, it was most fortunate indeed.
    Urgent and driving lust arrowed to his groin.
    “What a vision,” he said, soft as a sigh. “A mermaid sent to tempt me into sinning.” He took her unresisting hand and dragged her closer. Sighed at the feel of her small, pert breasts pressed against his chest. “Fancy the proper Lady Southall following me to my favorite pond.”  
    “ My pond,” she corrected, still breathless. “You should let me go.”
    “You don’t want me to, do you?”
    He lifted his gaze from the delicate hand still pressed to the centre of his chest to the fine porcelain features of Caitlin’s face. Her beauty held him spellbound. Desire hit like a lightning bolt, heat igniting in his veins until he was on fire. He could not resist her like this; her black hair plastered to her head, her eyes flared wide as if she’d discovered a present yet to be unwrapped, and her lips plump and glistening in the sun. He swooped down for a taste.
    Her mouth was hot and welcoming. He plundered his bounty sweeping her hesitation aside.  
    When he released her for breath, and she looked up at him from her exotically tipped eyes—so potent a stare—he swore he felt her gaze caress his soul. Tightness travelled down his body in hot waves, settling low in his belly.  
    Mouth drying, pulse quickening, he stared back, his hand fisting beneath the water. Her lips parted.
    He wondered how much of him she could actually see. She could certainly feel all of him. Had she ever encountered a naked man before? Was he her first? The thought thrilled him, increasing the tempo of his pulse considerably.  
    Caitlin continued to study him, her pale-green eyes reflecting everything she was experiencing. She liked what she saw and was affected by his nakedness. He knew she could feel his arousal, yet she did not step out of his embrace. Interestingly, she did not appear afraid of him.
    “Do you like what you see?”
    He waited for her to push away and avert her gaze in embarrassment, but to his chagrin she stayed within his arms and continued her perusal—a straightforward, clinical stare, as though she were assessing a statue. Her hand on his chest moved slowly over his skin, leaving a trail of heat beneath her touch.
    Then a dragonfly buzzed past, and the spell was broken.
    “Stay away.” She pushed against his chest. “Stay away from me.”  
    Immediately he dropped his arms from around her. “I can’t. You’re expecting more strength than I possess if you think I can stay away. You’re so perfect… Your beauty leaves me speechless.”
    She bit her bottom lip but didn’t swim to safety.  
    That was a mistake—an innocent’s mistake—but a mistake, nonetheless.
    He could take her now, and then there would be no turning back. Wager or no wager she would be his. But something held him back. Did he want to win her like this? Force her to become his wife? Force her to his bed? How would she ever respect him if he did? How would he respect himself?
    Honor was damnably inconvenient where a virginal lady was concerned.
    He splashed water at her with his open palm. “Go. You know the outcome if you stay. There are many things I wish you to feel, but anger and regret is not one of them.”
     
    Caitlin could not believe