Free DeButy & the Beast by Linda Jones Page A

a good wife. Truly, Julian." She knelt beside the tub and whisked the washcloth from the water.
    She was tempted to look blatantly, reach beneath the water, and arouse him. But Julian was not affected by such open advances. Physically he would respond, but his bloody brain always interfered. No one had ever taught her subtlety, when it came to seduction, but she was certain she could learn.
    "Lean forward," she said, scooting to the side so she could take the washcloth to his back. Oh, and a fine back it was; muscled and lean, hard and shapely, the way a man's back should be. She gently worked the washcloth up and down his back, and eventually Julian relaxed.
    "Soap," she said simply, offering one hand. He complied, depositing the bar of soap on her palm. She worked up a nice lather and continued. Sometimes she ran the cloth all the way up to his neck, adding a touch of lather to the ends of his hair. Then she would wash down his spine, allowing her hand to dip beneath the water.
    "You are my favorite teacher," she said softly. "You teach me new things without making me feel stupid."
    "You are many things, Anya," he said lowly, "but stupid is not one of them."
    She gave a half-smile to his back. "I have felt stupid often since coming here. The other tutors, they despaired of ever teaching me anything. Grandmother never said I was stupid, but I see that look in her eyes, sometimes. That look that tells me she is disappointed that I am not more like Valerie."
    "You have your own attributes, Anya," he said kindly. "I'm sure your grandmother does not compare you to Valerie."
    She raised the washcloth to his neck and made small circles with her fingers, watching the lather build on his skin and creep into his dark hair. "What attributes?" she asked lowly.
    Julian hesitated. Had he been lying? Perhaps she had no attributes at all. But then he cleared his throat. "You're intelligent, I can see that well. No wonder your other tutors failed. They probably tried to treat you like a child."
    "They did," she said, glad he admired her intelligence, but not particularly satisfied.
    "And you have... a spark."
    "A spark? I do not understand."
    "You have such a wonderful vivaciousness within you. It needs to be tamed," he added quickly. "But not erased."
    She smiled. Vivaciousness was good.
    "And you are..." He stopped, as if he had choked on a word.
    "I am what?" she prodded.
    "Beautiful," he confessed in a low voice. "Quite beautiful."
    Pleased with his answer, Anya worked the soapy washcloth across Julian's back. "You have many fine attributes yourself."
    "There's no need..." he began.
    "You have a kind heart," she interrupted. "I knew that when I first met you. Truly kind hearts are rare, and should be treasured."
    He mumbled something that might be "thank you," but she couldn't be sure.
    "And as I said you are a marvelous teacher. The finest I have ever known." Her hands worked deeper into the water than it had before, her washcloth covered fingers barely brushing his backside.
    "I'm sure my back is clean, Anya," Julian said testily.
    "And you are beautiful," she whispered. "Julian, the Beauty."
    "Men are not supposed to be beautiful," he protested.
    "But you are." She was so tempted to continue her exploration beneath the water, to touch her lips against Julian's wet neck and back, to snake her arms around his wet body and push him a little further. But enough was enough. She tossed him the washcloth and stood. "There now. Your back is wonderfully clean."
    Again he muttered something unintelligible.
    "Good night," she said sweetly.
    * * *
    Julian stood at the top of the stairs and stared at the unimpressive swirl of gold chain and the small attached ornament that sat on the palm of his hand. It was a silly idea, really. Anya had more jewels than any woman he knew, and many of them were quite elegant. Grand, even. This trinket would be nothing to a woman like Anya.
    He was about to stuff the necklace in his pocket when she came up behind