Eye of the Beholder

deep into her snug body. She lifted herself, straining against him. He found the swollen nub between her legs again, this time with his thumb.
    The waters of the spa bubbled, lapped, and surged around them.
    He sank deeper into Alexa. She cried out, shivered, and climaxed beneath him. He tried to hold himself back long enough to savor her response, but the delicious demands of her body proved irresistible.
    Somewhere in the shimmering void a bell rang, warning him about the risk of getting caught up in the fantasy.
    He ignored it. He would worry later about climbing back out of the illusion.

    * * *
    Alexa sat up on the edge of the lounger and pulled the oversized bath sheet more closely around her breasts. She glanced around surreptitiously, part of her still half-convinced that she might have hallucinated the entire experience. But the steamy atmosphere, the frothy fountains, and the gleaming tiles were definitely real.
    This wasn't her. It couldn't be her. She didn't do things like this.
    Wild woman had struck, big time. But now the real Alexa had to deal with the aftermath.
    She watched Trask walk back toward her through the mist. He wore a toweling robe that he had found in one of the changing rooms. He carried a second robe in his hand.
    She studied the veiled expression in his eyes as he drew closer. Had he planned to seduce her tonight? Or had he been as caught up in the heat of the moment as herself? Was he already regretting the interlude? Or did he think he could control her with passion?
    Dr. Ormiston , if you could only see me now. Risk city.
    Trask halted near the fountain to scoop up their sodden clothing and her small evening bag. Then he walked over to the lounger and handed her the extra robe.
    "You can wear this home," he said.
    She got to her feet, still clutching the bath sheet around herself with one hand. She took the robe from him.
    "Okay." She wondered why she suddenly felt uncomfortably warm. To her chagrin, she realized that she was blushing.
    This was ridiculous. She had to pull herself together or she would collapse from humiliation.
    She gave him what she hoped was a bright, sophisticated sort of smile. Be cool, Alexa. Risk-takers are nothing if not really, really cool.
    "It's going to be a little awkward explaining to your staff why we're not wearing the clothes we had on earlier, isn't it?" she said.
    "No big deal. We'll say we took an unanticipated swim in one of the spa pools. Don't worry, a good hotel staff knows better than to ask questions." His mouth curved at one corner. "Especially of the boss."
    "That won't stop people from speculating about us. As you have so frequently pointed out, this is a small town."
    "If it will make you feel more comfortable, I'll take you out the back way."
    She pursed her lips while she considered that. Then she shook her head. "That might make things even worse."
    "You're really sweating this out, aren't you?"
    "It just occurred to me that the repercussions could be a bit awkward, that's all." The bath sheet slipped precariously as she fumbled to hold it in place while she put on the robe. "For both of us."
    "I'm not going to worry about it," he said. "Are you?"
    "Heavens no." Sheesh . Her voice was much too high. She fought to bring it down to a more normal level as she struggled with the robe. "What's to worry about? We're consenting adults. I mean, it's not as if this sort of thing is any big deal these days." Damn. She'd missed the sleeve. It flapped uselessly. She readjusted her grip on the bath sheet and tried again.
    "Here. Let me help you." Trask took the robe from her and held it ready.
    Alexa turned her back to him and froze, both hands clutching the bath sheet to her breasts.
    "You're going to have to let go of that bath sheet if you want to put on the robe," he said.
    "I know that."
    She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, released her death grip on the bath sheet, and plunged both arms into the sleeves of the robe.
    To her everlasting relief, she made it on the first attempt. She seized the dangling ends of the sash and tied them swiftly.
    Be cool, wild woman. You can do this.
    She opened her eyes and saw that Trask was watching her with grave amusement.
    "I may be able to find a comb for your hair," he said.
    Her hair. She raised a hand to the damp tangle. She could feel bits and pieces sticking out at crazy angles.
    "I've got one in my purse." She yanked the bag from his hand, jerked it open, and snatched out the comb. She tried to