Free Skyfall by Catherine Asaro Page A

bone structure. Did his feet also bend that way, with four instead of five toes? She imagined pulling off his boots and trousers to find out, and heat spread from her face down her body.
    “Do you wish to wash before you sleep?” he asked as they walked up the stairs. “Chaniece can bring you water. I will have her boil it.”
    She gave him a mellow smile. “Just make warm. No need boil. Only what I drink.” Her voice slurred. “I clean myself with blue water.”
    He leaned closer to her. “I will help.”
    Roca waggled her finger at him. “Behave.”
    “But life would be so boring then.”
    Roca slanted him an admonishing look, but it had a different effect from what she intended, making his gaze turn sultry. He didn’t look the least admonished. It occurred to her that as tipsy as she was right now, she might be letting him know more of what she felt than was wise.
    They had reached the landing at the top of the stairs. Roca gazed over the hall below. It enchanted her, bathed in golden light, crowded with people in rustic clothes, the furniture glowing in deep glasswood hues.
    Roca sighed. “So beautiful.”
    “Yes,” Eldri murmured. “It is.”
    She turned to find him watching her instead of the hall. His violet eyes mesmerized. Everyone here had eyes like that, but on him they looked different. She wondered why she had ever considered brooding men attractive. Right now, Eldri was gorgeous. His desire flowed over her, stirring reactions that should have stayed dormant.
    “I go to my room now,” she said unsteadily.
    “Certainly.” He opened the door on the landing and ushered her into a stone hall. After a short walk, they reached an arch with a curtain strung from tiny iridescent bubbles. The beads jingled as he pushed aside the strings. He escorted her into an antechamber with a cushioned bench running around its wall.
    “This is where people wait who come to see me,” he explained.
    Roca peered at him. “I thought we go to my room.”
    “Well, maybe you could say that.”
    She stopped and folded her arms. “I not sleep with you.”
    “You could come in for just a moment,” he coaxed. “We can learn each other’s culture. Garlin always says I must do that with your people.”
    “Men,” Roca grumbled. “You are same everywhere. I not go in there with you.”
    “Why not?” His mischief flashed. “Do you fear you can’t control yourself around me?”
    “Hah. You have ego as big as this mountain. I have no worry about me.”
    Eldri leaned closer to her. “I think you should prove it.”
    She poked her finger against his chest. “That trick is old as this castle. Almost as old as getting girl drunk.”
    “Just come in to talk. I won’t grab.”
    “Pah.”
    “Really.”
    It was hard to resist when he looked at her with those big eyes of his. She cleared her throat, wishing she could clear her brain as easily. “Eldri, you have no interest in talk.”
    “Yes I do.”
    “Pah.”
    “Come in just for a few minutes.”
    “Famous words.”
    “Famous?”
    “We go in, you say ‘just a few more minutes’ every few minutes.” Her finger was still against his chest, so she ran it around in a circle, aware of the muscles under his shirt. “Many ‘few minutes’ later, woman is in bed.”
    He smirked. “You think about only one thing, Roca.”
    “Me! Never.”
    He grasped her finger, which she suddenly realized had been rubbing his chest, more slowly now, like a caress. “Always.”
    She pulled her hand away. “Never.”
    “Come on, Roca,” he murmured.
    So tempting…maybe she shouldn’t have drunk so much wine. “I don’t believe you just talk a few minutes.”
    “I promise.”
    She meant to refuse, but somehow instead she said, “ One minute. We see how well you keep promise.”
    He grinned at her. “Come on.” Then he led her across the foyer to a purple glasswood door. It let them into a bedroom with stone walls, floor, and ceiling. Across the room, flames leapt in a