She didn’t rush into Rashid’s arms, if that was what he wanted. She turned cool and ever so slightly aloof, keeping him off-balance she hoped. Instead, she sauntered to just within arm’s reach. Even from there, she could smell the forbidden bourbon on his breath. That might just make things easier. He was celebrating tonight and in a good mood. Easy to manipulate.
Regina gave Rashid a big smile. “I’m glad you called me up here, sir. I was so bored down there talking to Nijah. She’s so immature.”
Rashid chuckled and waved off the mention of Nijah. “The women of my country are not as worldly as you.”
Regina stepped closer. She watched his eyes widen and prepared to dodge out of his reach again. “But you will change that once you’re on the throne. And your son after you.”
His smile was close to a sneer. “Of course. I will increase their rights. But only as much as they can handle. I don’t want to overwhelm them and lead them to worldly temptations.”
“Of course not.” She stepped closer. “They will be grateful to you for watching out for them. You will be a wonderful leader.”
Rashid smiled and fixed her with a smoldering gaze. She imagined it had worked on countless women before her. He really had the alpha male thing down. At least on the outside.
“I would be even more so with you at my side,” he purred.
She fluttered her eyelashes as she looked down and thought of the most embarrassing thing she could to bring the red to her cheeks.
Regina pitched her voice high and breathy. “I’m so young.” She briefly glanced up through those lashes then back down.
Rashid laughed and this time he did reach for her. He pulled her against his chest.Dear God, could his cologne get any stronger or his hands grabbier? Regina thought as Rashid squeezed her ass practically to a pulp.
“Don’t play coy, little queen. You are not nearly so innocent as you are pretending to be right now.” He bent his head and nosed into her hair. “I’m thinking of the look in your eyes the last time we spoke. There was nothing innocent there.” His head lowered until his lips rested against the bare skin behind her ear. She shivered and hoped he’d read it as desire.
“You weren’t innocent at all,” he continued, pressing his lips against her skin, “when you asked to hear more about Issam.”
Yes, Issam, one of Rashid’s brothers and his greatest rival. He had disappeared two years ago after attempting a quiet coup against his father’s choice of successors. Issam was popular among the people, seen as far less excessive in his personal spending. He had only one wife as opposed to the king’s five and Rashid’s three and the love poetry he’d written about her won fans throughout the Arabic-speaking world. Issam disappeared with the same excuse Rashid used for Sana—he was praying in quiet solitude in reflection of his past wrongdoings and fully supported Crown Prince Rashid.
No one really believed it, especially his niece, Sana, who led protests to free her uncle. She disappeared a year after he did, right after she’d supported her aunt’s escape to Europe where she petitioned daily for his release. Regina had coaxed the bit of intel about Sana out of Nijah, who was far from boring once she felt safe enough to speak.
“Issam deserves every bit of what you give him,” Gina hissed as she turned in Rashid’s arms. She let her hatred for this man disguise itself as contempt for Issam. “He betrayed you, his own brother. His selfishness knows no bounds.” She licked her lips. “He’s a sinner worthy only of punishment.”
While she spoke, she watched the cold light in Rashid’s eyes grow brighter as her words excited him. She needed to be careful, to stoke those fires just right or she’d find herself carried off to his bedchambers—or maybe just a convenient closet.
Regina tried to look away but Rashid caught her chin roughly and held it. He kissed her forcefully while his other hand found her ass and squeezed hard enough to leave bruises. Gina returned his kiss as long as she could stand then pulled her head back. This might be her only chance.
“I hate him,” she panted. “I hate anyone who opposes you. Cowards afraid of your strength. So many men are soft. They let women rule them. But not you.” She ran a finger down his cheek. “I was excited to hear about Sana as well. About how you punish her.”
“You were, weren’t you?” Rashid was panting now too.
“If I met her, I would spit in her ungrateful face.”
“Would you?” Rashid kissed Regina’s throat.
“Yes. She deserves it. She doesn’t honor her father.” Regina paused. Now it was time to twist things around to her advantage. “Or, maybe I wouldn’t spit on her or hit her,” she pretended to muse.
“No?” Rashid squeezed her other ass cheek. She’d probably have matching bruises. Again.
“No, I’d do something worse.”
Rashid pulled away from her neck and looked into her eyes. “What?” he breathed his bourbon-laced breath into her face.
“I’d give her hope.”
“Hope?” Rashid raised an eyebrow.
“Yes. I’d have her brought in front of me on her knees. Then I’d lift her up and offer her tea.” She giggled. “Tea andcookies.”
Regina’s mind whirled, creating a plan even as she spoke. “I’d talk to her like she was human until she thought I was her friend. Then I’d laugh in her face and tell her that I was her father’s new lover and she didn’t deserve him. Then I’d send her back to wherever she came from knowing that she had no friends, no one on her side.” Regina let a cruel smile creep over her lips. “I’d send her off with one of the cookies as a memento. But instead of sweet, it would be something sour and bitter.”
