She felt the slide of the zipper being pulled down in back. Cool evening air tingled against her bare skin. She wore panties, a garter belt and stockings under her dress. Nothing more. The ladies in the boutique had insisted on the latter when they’d seen her dress, telling her that anything else would be a crime under such a beautiful gown. Phoebe hadn’t been sure, but as Mazin pushed her dress off her shoulders and she thought of how she looked underneath, she was glad she had let them convince her.
The dress fell to the floor. She was close enough to him that she wasn’t yet embarrassed about being practically naked. His large, warm hands moved up and down her back, touching her, soothing her, arousing her until she longed for him to do more. Then he slipped lower—to her hips and the garter belt there. And lower, to the high-cut panties, the bare skin of her thigh, then to the tops of the stockings. He froze.
Mazin broke the kiss and stared at her. Fire seemed to radiate from his dark eyes and tension pulled his mouth straight.
“I want you,” he breathed.
There was nothing he could have said that was more perfect. The last of Phoebe’s fears faded. She leaned forward and kissed him. It was the first time she had initiated any contact. She licked his lower lip, then nipped at the full flesh. He grabbed her and pulled her close, deepening the kiss with an intensity that convinced her he was a man in great need of a woman.
She felt something hard pressing against her belly. His arousal, she thought, happy to know that she could affect him so. She wanted to explore her new and wondrous power over him when he moved his hands to her waist.
The feel of them on bare skin was very different than the feel of them through her dress. She leaned back so he could move higher. He didn’t disappoint her. He slipped up to cup her breasts, then touched her nipples with his thumbs.
She hadn’t known there was that much pleasure in the world. Her mind faded to blackness and she could only experience what he was doing to her. She wasn’t even aware of pulling away from the kiss until her head sagged back and she exhaled his name.
Instead of being angry, Mazin laughed softly. He bent forward, took one of her nipples in his mouth and sucked. More fire filled her. She cupped his head, running her fingers through his hair and begging him to never stop. He moved from breast to breast, back and forth, licking, blowing, caressing. Between her legs her panties grew damp. Then without warning her legs gave way.
He caught her as she fell. With an ease that surprised her, he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. Her shoes got lost along the way. After standing her next to the bed, he quickly peeled off her panties, leaving her stockings in place, then eased her onto the bed.
Phoebe had a brief flash of panic, but before it could take hold, he was next to her, holding her, kissing her. He rested his hand on her breast, which made her forget everything bad and think only of how he made her feel.
When he moved his hand lower, he kissed her so deeply, she barely noticed. But at the first brush of his fingers against her damp curls, she found herself very aware of what he was doing.
Questions filled her mind. What was she supposed to do? What would it feel like? Before she could ask, he stroked the inside of her thigh. Without her being aware of doing anything, her legs fell open. He touched her lightly, exploring her, finding wonderful places that made her breathing quicken. He found that most secret place and slipped inside. At the same time he shifted his attention from her mouth to her breasts.
He circled her nipple, licking her sensitive skin. She didn’t know what to think about—his mouth or his fingers. He withdrew from her and rubbed between her curls. Without warning, his mouth closed on her nipple and his fingers found some amazingly sensitive spot.
The combination made her forget to breathe. Not that it mattered, because whatever he was doing was too good for her to live through. She was going to die. No one could survive such pleasure. It terrified her. She never wanted it to stop.
He rubbed her gently, moving faster and faster. Suddenly she was breathing again, or rather gasping. She rolled her head back and forth as pressure built.
“Mazin?”
“Hush, my dove. I am here.”
And then he was kissing her and touching her and the world began to spin. There was a final push within her, a pinnacle of pressure, and then the most glorious release. She clung to him, shaking, trembling, hungry and satisfied, all at the same time.
When it was over, he drew her close, kissing her face and making her feel as if she were the most precious creature on earth.
“I didn’t know,” she whispered. “That’s pretty amazing.”
He stared into her eyes. “There is so much more I long to show you.”
“I’d like that.”
He sat up and pulled off his coat and shirt. Shoes and socks followed, then trousers. When he was naked, she raised herself up on one elbow to study him. The sight of his body pleased her. She watched as he slipped on the condom, then parted her legs for him.
He waited to enter her, first kissing her and touching her everywhere until that unbelievable pleasure built up to the point of nearly exploding. Just when she was about to go over the edge, he pushed inside her.
Her body stretched to take him. The pressure was uncomfortable at first, then eased. He reached between them and touched that one perfect spot. The feel of him inside her while he stroked her sent her higher and higher. She could barely hold on.
He shifted so that he could wrap his arms around her and kiss her. The change in their positions forced his arousal in deeper. She clung to him. Everything was so unfamiliar, yet so right, and she lost herself on the next thrust. She called out his name even as he shuddered and clung to her.
She opened her eyes. Mazin stared at her. Even as her climax washed over her and his ripped through him, they gazed at each other. It was a moment of intimate connection, far beyond anything she’d ever experienced. In that moment, she knew the truth. That no matter how far she traveled from this magical paradise, no matter who she met or what she experienced, she would only ever love one man.
Mazin.
CHAPTER 8
Phoebe awoke just before dawn. An unfamiliar weight draped around her waist and it took her a second to realize it was Mazin’s arm. She smiled and snuggled closer to him.
“Good morning,” he whispered in her ear. He lay behind her, his body warm and welcoming against her own. “How are you feeling?”
“Pretty darned perfect,” she said happily.
Something hard poked into the back of her leg. She giggled. “I didn’t realize that people could make love so often,” she said.
“I assure you that four times in a night is not usual. You inspire me.” He withdrew a little. “However, this is new to you, so I will restrain myself.”
She thought about how one of the times he hadn’t entered her at all. He’d kissed her intimately until she’d been unable to keep from losing herself in the glory of his attentions. He’d then taught her how to pleasure him that way. As he had promised, there was much to explore.
He glanced at the clock and groaned. “I must return home for a short time, my dove. I have breakfast with Dabir each morning and I would not want to explain my absence. But I will return in a few hours and we can make our way to Lucia’s Point.” He leaned over and kissed her. “There in the shadow of the waterfall I will make love with you.”
She melted at the thought.
He rose and quickly dressed, then kissed her again before leaving. “Miss me,” he said. “As I will miss you.”
“Always,” she promised, and knew it was the truth.
* * *
The sound of the waterfall made it nearly impossible to speak. Phoebe stood, transfixed by the sight of so much water tumbling from nearly a hundred feet in the air. A fine mist cooled her bare arms and face. She leaned back in Mazin’s arms.
This was, she thought contentedly, a perfect moment. Last night she had learned what it meant to be loved b
y a man. Over and over Mazin had touched her, kissed her and taken her to paradise. With practice, she would learn to seduce him. She wanted that. She wanted to make him ache with longing. She wanted to make him tremble and hunger so that he couldn’t hold back any longer.
She wanted to make him love her.
Phoebe sighed quietly. Love. Could a man like Mazin ever care about her? She was young and didn’t share his life experiences. He was worldly and wealthy. She hadn’t even been to college. They had very little in common. And yet…in her heart, being with him felt so very right. Now, in his embrace, she knew that she had come home. How could her feelings be so strong without him having the same reaction? Was it possible for her to love so deeply and have him completely unaffected?
“What are you thinking?” he asked, speaking the question directly in her ear.
“That the falls are very beautiful. Are we really going to make love here?”
He turned her in his arms and kissed her. She recognized the passion flaring in his eyes. “Do not doubt my desire for you, my dove,” he said, taking her hand and placing it on his arousal.
He was already hard. She wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, Mazin.”
“Yes. Speak my name,” he murmured against her mouth. “Know only me.”
He undressed her slowly, peeling away layers of clothing until she was naked on the blanket he’d brought with them. Sunlight shone through the leaves overhead, creating changing patterns of shadows on her legs and torso. Mazin undressed himself, then joined her on the ground. As he kissed her deeply and touched her breasts, she felt herself melting inside.
Heat filled her. Dampness signaled her readiness. When he stroked her intimately, she shuddered in preparation of her release.
He took her to the edge and when she would have slipped off into paradise, he drew back enough to ease her on top of him. The unfamiliar position felt awkward at first, but she soon saw the advantages of controlling his rhythm inside her. While she moved up and down on his maleness, he cupped the apex of her thighs and rubbed his thumb against her tiny place of pleasure. Tension made her shudder. Need made her cry out.
She lost control there in the warm sunlight, with the thunder of the falls in the background. The soft call of birds provided romantic music for their lovemaking. He shuddered beneath her, losing himself, as well, calling out her name, making her feel as if she’d finally found her place to belong.
* * *
“We must talk,” he said later, when they were dressed and walking back to his car. “There is something I haven’t told you.”
Phoebe didn’t like the sound of that. She shivered, as if the sun had disappeared behind a cloud. Was he going to tell her that their time together was over?
“I don’t want to talk,” she said quickly. “I’m leaving in a few days. Can’t we keep these happy memories alive until then?”
He sighed. “Phoebe, I do not mean to frighten you. I am not trying to end our relationship—I simply seek to change it. But before I do that, I must tell you the truth about myself.”
She climbed into the car. Where before her flesh had tingled with anticipation, now her skin simply felt cold. She wanted to wrap herself in the blanket Mazin had brought. Except it carried the sweet fragrance of their lovemaking, and if she inhaled that, she would cry. She was determined that regardless of what Mazin said, she would not cry. She would be strong and mature and brave. She owed that to herself, if not to him.
She waited until he slid behind the wheel, then stared straight out the front windshield.
“You’re married.”
He turned to stare at her. “I told you, my wife died six years ago. I have not remarried. For a time I had thought I would take another wife, but finding someone seemed an impossible task. I gave up the idea.”
He started the engine. “I am doing this badly. Perhaps rather than telling you, I should show you. I want—” He hesitated. “Most women would be pleased, but I am not sure of your reaction.”
If he was trying to make her feel better, he was doing a lousy job. Phoebe bit her bottom lip as he drove them toward the coast road, and then headed north. Part of her wanted to hear what he had to say, because if he told her to her face that their relationship was over, then eventually she would be able to stop loving him. At least, that would be her plan. But if she ran away, she might never get over him. Although the thought of disappearing back into her hotel and not coming out until it was time for her flight had a certain appeal.
She was lost in her thoughts and didn’t notice they’d begun to drive up to the top of the island until she recognized the road to the palace. Her throat tightened, making it impossible to swallow.
“Mazin, why are we here?”
He didn’t say anything. Her mind began to race, and not in a good way. Various possibilities occurred to her and she wasn’t sure she liked any one of them.
Instead of stopping in front of the palace, he kept driving down a road that led to a large building. One he’d pointed out to her before. The private residence of the prince.
Her entire world shifted slightly. Her brain froze, her heart stopped beating for a second, then began again but this time at a thunderous pace. And before either of them could speak, a small child broke through a grove and ran toward the car.
Mazin slowed, then pulled to the edge of the road. When he parked, Dabir ran to her side of the car and pulled open her door.
“Did you ask her? Did she say yes?”
“Dabir, we have discussed nothing,” Mazin growled, although his son didn’t seem the least bit impressed by his temper. “We need more time.”
“But you’ve had all morning,” the boy complained. “Did you tell her that I think she’s pretty? Did you tell her about being a princess?”
“Dabir!”
Mazin’s voice echoed through the trees. Dabir squeaked, then grinned. “Say yes, Miss Carson. Please?” he pleaded, then took one look at his father and headed back the way he’d come. The sound of his laughter drifted to them.
Phoebe didn’t know what to say or what to think. She felt as if she’d fallen into an alternative universe. “M-Mazin?”
He sighed. “This is not what I had planned. We are sitting in a car. It is not romantic.” He released his seat belt and angled toward her. “Phoebe, what I have not told you is that I am more than a minister in the Lucia-Serrat government. I am Crown Prince Nasri Mazin. I rule this island. The house before us is my home. My sons are princes.”
She blinked several times. C-crown p-prince Nasri Mazin? Even her thoughts stuttered. “No,” she whispered. “You can’t be.”
He shrugged. “Yet I am.”
She stared at his familiar face, at the dark eyes and firm mouth. The mouth she’d kissed and that had kissed her back in many very intimate places. Heat flared on her cheeks. “But I’ve seen you naked!”
He grinned. “Yes. As I have seen you.”
She didn’t want to think about that. “I don’t understand. If you’re really a prince, why didn’t you tell me? And why did you want to be with me?”
He brushed a strand of hair from her face. “When I met you at the airport, I had recently returned from an extended journey. In the back of my mind had been the thought that I should find a wife. I did not expect to marry for love, but I thought I would find a woman with whom I could enjoy life. But that was not to be. The women I met bored me. I grew tired of them wanting me for my position or my money. I came home weary and discouraged.”
He shrugged. “Then I saw a pretty young woman walk into the duty-free shop. She looked fresh and charming and very unlike the other women I’d been seeing. I followed her on an impulse. That same impulse caused me to speak with her. She had no idea who I was. At first I thought her innocence was a game, but in time I discovered it is as genuine as the young woman herself. I was intrigued.”
She still wasn’t thinking straight. In fact, she wasn’t thinking at all. “But Mazin…” She swallowed. “I mean Prince
Nasri—” She squeezed her eyes shut. This couldn’t be happening to her.
A prince? She’d fallen in love with a prince? Which meant any teeny, tiny hopes she’d had about a happily-ever-after had just disappeared like so much smoke.
“Phoebe, do not look so sad.”
She opened her eyes and stared at him. “I’m not. I feel foolish, which is different. I should have guessed.”
“I went to great pains to see that you did not. I arranged our travels in advance, making sure there wouldn’t be anyone around.”
And here she’d just thought it was the slow season. She’d been a fool. “I guess no one is going to believe me if I try to tell them this when I get back home.”
“Ayanna would have believed,” he said softly.
She nodded. Ayanna would have understood everything, she thought with a sigh. Because the same sort of thing had happened to her aunt. And Ayanna had spent the rest of her life loving the one man she could never have.
Pain tightened her chest, making it difficult to breathe. “You should, ah, probably take me back to the hotel now,” she murmured.
“But I have not answered your second question.”
She wasn’t sure how much longer she could sit there without crying. “Wh-what question is that?”
“You asked to know why I wanted to be with you.”
Oh. She didn’t think she wanted to hear that answer. It couldn’t be good. Or at least not good enough.
He put his hands on her shoulders. “You enchanted me. I do not get the opportunity to meet many people without them knowing I am Prince Nasri of Lucia-Serrat. With you, I could be myself. When you told me about your aunt’s list of places to go, I decided to show them to you. I wanted to spend time with you. To get to know you.”
That wasn’t so bad. She forced herself to smile. “I appreciate all you’ve done. You were very kind.”
He shook her gently. “Do you think kindness was my sole purpose?”
Why was he asking such hard questions? “I thought, maybe, after a while, you might want to seduce me.”
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