Who was she kidding? Sleeping with him and getting to walk away afterwards was a very naughty, very exciting fantasy… and it would have the enormous silver lining of getting her out of a bind. Hadn’t she come to Fasiya wanting to add a little spice and heat to her life? Was there anything spicier or hotter than this gorgeous Sheikh? As for relegating her failed relationship with Andrew to the recesses of her mind, she suspected a single kiss from Radiz would obliterate any memories she had of her ex-fiance.
She bit down on her lip. “So one night and then I’m free to go?”
“No.” He crossed to her and put his hands possessively on her waist. Her core seemed to fill with moist anticipation. “I’m afraid I was raised to have rather high standards of those who serve me.”
“Serve you?” She spat, a spark of fury at war with the flood of desire. “I will notserveyou.”
“Of course you will. As I will serve you.” He lifted a hand and clipped his fingers around her zip. “It is the way of lovers.”
“Lovers.” She shook her head from side to side. What she wanted to say died on her tongue as he began to slide the zip of her dress down. Very, very deliberately; so slowly that she ached to reach around and grab a hold of it herself.
“You will be mine until I release you,” he promised. “Mine to have day or night, to please and be pleased by. This relationship will be fulfilling for you, and for me. And at the end of it, you will leave.”
Her heart was hammering against her chest, racing with fear and desire and lust and courage. “It is tempting,” she prevaricated intentionally, earning a sceptical raise of abrow.
“What else?”
“The jewels,” she said, almost unable to believe her own daring. Only what she owed to Steph made her courageous enough to bring up the very crux of her crime .
“Impossible.” He barked a short laugh, and ran a hand over his stubbled chin. “They are family heirlooms and not available.” He lowered his head and pressed his mouth to the base of her neck. She jumped in surprise, as his tongue ran along the sensitive skin. “However, as compensation for your wrongful arrest, I am certain I would be able to arrange something in their place. A dollar amount, perhaps, to equal the worth of the jewels.”
That was all she needed. Her body was limp with so many feelings.
“You know,” he said slowly, finally released the zip and letting the dress pool at her feet. “I almost felt sorry for you. I was just about to leave you alone for the night, after your impassioned speech about your exhaustion.”
“Were you?” She whispered, aware that she was near-naked and barely able to care.
“Mmm,” he agreed, reaching around and unclasping her bra with one hand. Her breasts spilled out and he caught them in his palms, as though they were his to hold. “But then you reminded me of the jewels, and I decided your sentence should commence immediately.”
Miranda didn’t think, for a moment, of disagreeing. Every single fibre of her being was desperate to be possessed by this man. Though she considered herself a staunch feminist, the ability to think rationally seemed to have leaped out of the window the moment he had floated his outrageous proposition.
“And if I object?” She heard herself ask quietly. “Might you need to restrain me?”
Radiz wondered if he’d died and gone to heaven. For this woman who had been delivered to him was awakening sensations in him that he hadn’t even known existed.
“I think restraint will be essential,” he nodded, looking around the room they were in. It was not a bedroom, but it had a sofa, an armchair, and a table. It would suffice. He moved to the chair and sat down, his robes draped to the floor. She watched, uncertain suddenly, as the distance yawned between them.
“Take off your underwear,” he commanded, propping his chin with his hand.
Miranda looked down at the black knickers she wore. She wished, desperately, that she was wearing something sexier. “Um… Okay.” She slid her fingers into the waistband and removed them from her body. She stood before him, completely naked.
“Good.” He crooked one finger towards her, his starlight eyes heavy on her face. “Come here.”
She moved towards him with a natural grace that was distorted only by her nervousness. When she was in front of the chair, he put his hands on her hips and pulled her downwards, so that she straddled him. Immediately, she felt his erection between her legs, but his regal outfit was a barrier between them. “I am going to touch you,” he said. He slowly ran his fingers over her body. Her flat stomach, the gentle swell of her hips, the firmness of her buttocks. He ran his fingers between the cheeks, teasing her, making her hold her breath in surprise and anticipation. He traced his hands higher, to her breasts, and higher still, to her shoulders, and neck..
“I want you to undress me,” he said quietly. “This is something that is considered an honor in my country.”
“Ah,” she said with an slow grin. “Then I will attempt to behave honourably.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to point out the impossibility of that, given the situation. But he didn’t want to hurt her. Not with words that weren’t necessary.
“How do I…?” She asked, looking at the robes with confusion. He stood, carrying her with him and easing her to the ground.
“Here.” He lifted one piece of fabric. She followed suit, and realised that they sort of wrapped around him. With a few twists and turns, she worked it out, and managed to gather all of the fabric into a bundle. “What do I do with this?”
“Put it on the table. I have ideas for that later.” He promised. “Now. Finish.”
She looked at him. Near naked, he was just as beautiful as she had envisaged. Impossibly muscled, as though he spent all day working out, which she knew was not the case. She recalled her first impression of him as a Minotaur, and was reminded even more strongly of that now. Only his briefs remained. She grabbed for the waistband and began to slide them down but he shook his head. “Slowly,” he murmured, “and on your knees. I want your eyes and your mouth close to me.”
