Thank heavens.Thinking quickly, she cast a look at the roaring hearth.
“Itisrather warm in here,” she said brightly.
“I don’t think that is the kind of heat you’re responding to.”
Uh oh.In that instant, she knew she’d been snared. Her breath came faster as he cupped her jaw, his eyes holding her fast.
“I know this blush because I see it spread like a sunrise over your beautiful skin when I make love to you. When you’re aroused and hot and all you can think about is how empty your pussy feels. How much you want my cock to fill you, to take you, to make you come.”
Held captive by his words, by her own clamoring desire, she couldn’t speak. Need spiked, her pussy clenching on emptiness just like he said. Wanting him…just like he said.
“Let’s try this again,” he said silkily. “What are you thinking about, Gabriella?”
“I was thinking that you remind me of a sultan,” she blurted.
His eyes flickered, his expression unreadable. When he said nothing more, she realized that he was waiting for her to explain what she meant. Now that the horses had bolted, there was no use closing the barn door, was there?
She swallowed. “You’re going to think I’m silly.”
“Let me be the judge. Go on.”
Since it wasn’t really a request, she sighed and gave him what he wanted.
“When I first met you, I happened to be readingArabian Nights’ Entertainments. Not the, um, modified version the children are reading. The original translation which has the sultan marrying a new virgin bride every day and killing them after one night so that they couldn’t betray him as his first queen had done.” Squirming under his scrutiny, she said, “You reminded me of him. Of how I pictured him in my mind, that is.”
His eyebrows drew together. “I reminded you of a wife-murdering lunatic?”
“No, not that part. See? I knew this would be difficult to explain.”
“Try anyway, pet.”
Her hands twisting the ends of her shawl, she said, “It was your power, your absolute command of yourself and the world around you that made me draw the comparison. You have a confidence, an animal magnetism that is ever so compelling. Whenever you looked at me, I felt…special. As if I were being seen for the first time.” She lowered her gaze to his chest; it was too difficult to say the rest to his face. “I wanted to be granted an audience with you. Wanted to do anything to please you. To win your love and be your cherished queen.”
His finger curled under her chin, tipping her gaze up to meet his.
“A fitting fantasy,” he said softly, “since you remind me of Scheherazade.”
“Because I talk so much?”
His lips twitched. “I like the way you talk. It’s charming and unique, just like you. But that is not the only way you resemble Scheherazade. Like her, you have strength and courage that might be easily overlooked, that have helped you survive hurt and pain without ever losing your smile. Like the queen who married a tyrant to prevent the murder of more innocents, you are kind and caring…too often putting the needs of others before your own. Not to mention, you’re as beautiful, loyal, and intelligent as the heroine of legend.”
Her heart felt full to bursting. “Oh, Adam, that’s so—”
“If you saykind, I may throttle you.”
“I was going to say beautiful. Wonderful,” she said ardently. “The mostromanticthing anyone has ever said to me.”
“I should hope no other man has spoken to you in that way.”
His stern tone gave her a pleasant shiver. “Of course not.”
“And no other man ever will because you’remine, Gabby. My wife, the mother of my children, the woman I love. Which means you can trust me.”
“I do trust you—”
“Then why did you lie? Why didn’t you tell me what you were thinking?”
“Because, well, it was…embarrassing.”
