Raul walked into the circle of lamplight, stopping only a few feet from the sofa where she sat, unable to move. "Well, Juliet," he murmured tonelessly. "This is something of a surprise." She could only stare at him. In her thoughts during the past months, he had become a nebulous being, almost unreal. Now that he was within touching distance and she had heard the deep timber of his voice again, she was disconcerted by the conflicting emotions rising in her. She had nearly forgotten exactly how tall and muscularly lean he was and how overwhelmingly masculine. Her body traitorously responded to the reality of him, her senses reawakening to the vital aura of male magnetism that had always intrigued her. Though she berated herself for being so aware of him, she couldn't help noticing how his dark vested suit subtly defined broad powerful shoulders, tapered waist and lean hips. The muscular lineation of his long legs was accentuated as he widened his stance, flicked back the sides of his unbuttoned coat, and placed lean brown hands on his hips, his long fingers slipping inside his trouser pockets, as he assumed a posture that was at the very least intimidating, if not downright threatening.
