It was only fair, Shaozu reasoned. He did not doubt for an instant that she had looked at him while he was undressed, no matter what she said. He hadn't actually seen it, but he knew. Surely it was the whole reason she had brought the block of ice in the first place.

And he would have been lying if he'd said he didn't want to see her, too. Ever since that first day when he had spied her in the bath, the vision of her had returned to him again and again, unbidden, filling his dreams with pale eyes and dark, supple flesh -- that is, those that weren't already plagued with yellow-gold and ivory skin, but he wasn't going to think about that right now.

No, all he needed to think about now was Kaguya, her glossy hair and her smooth shoulders, her firm breasts and her rounded hips. He waited until her last garments were cast aside before reaching up to catch her wrist and tug her down to the futon, and then he lay on his side next to her, running one hand over her body while he kissed her full, soft lips.