Kadin held her close, stroking her hair. She fell asleep in his arms.
Shock still cascaded through him at the realization she'd given him her innocence.
"Angelica, what have you done?" he murmured.
Chapter Eight
Angelica opened her eyes to see Kadin's face inches from her own, sunlight streaming across his handsome features. She felt aches in places she'd never felt aches before. She longed to reach out and stroke his cheek, but a sick feeling quivered through her stomach as she realized what she'd done last night.
She'd thrown herself at a virtual stranger, giving up what she'd so jealously guarded for years. To a man who had intimidated her and threatened to punish her for a debt she did not owe.
She rolled away from him, fighting back tears.
* * *
Kadin opened his eyes to the bright, morning sunshine. He smiled as he gazed at Angelica, only inches away, her long, flowing hair draped across the sapphire-blue pillowcase.
Maybe there could be something lasting between them. He pushed himself up on his elbow and gazed at her sweet profile. He reached out to touch a wisp of hair that lay across her forehead, then stroked it away. Her eyes opened and she tilted her head to focus on him. No joy lit her beautiful, emerald eyes.
"Have I paid my debt yet?"
He froze as her voice, flat and emotionless, cut through him.
So, during the hours of closeness they had shared, for her it had been merely something to get through. A paying of a debt he'd demanded.
Anger scoured through him. That didn't excuse her tricking him.
"Why didn't you tell me you were a virgin?"
She arched her eyebrow.
"You didn't ask."
His teeth gnashed together.
"I never meant to take something of such value from you."
"You said it was a woman's only value," she shot back
He clenched his fists. "I didn't mean your virginity. The value of that is far greater than you should have paid."
Angelica pushed herself to a sitting position.
"Are you saying, had you known, you wouldn't have demanded the payment you did?"
And it was payment, Angelica reminded herself. Damn, how the cold light of day could change one's perspective.
He glared at her, holding his silence.
Damn him. He had tricked her into doing things she would never ordinarily have done, and now he seemed to think he had the right to be angry at her. And that made her even angrier.
"It's just as well. Now that I've jumped into the water, so to speak, I might as well take up swimming."
He tensed. "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean. Before, I was always looking for that someone extra-special. There was that sense of saving something special just for him. Now... well, let's just say I've lost that psychological barrier."
She didn't know why she'd said it, just that she wanted to strike out at him and, somehow, she knew it would get to him.
Kadin's gut clenched at the thought of any other man touching her. A consuming need drove him to pull her into his arms and capture her lips with his. The suddenness of his movement triggered a startled gasp from her lips, and he drew in her breath, letting it fill him with her sweetness.
The only man who should ever be allowed to touch her was him. The man she had saved herself for, that someone extra-special, should have been him.
It had been him.
She could not take that away from him.
She should not be allowed to share that special gift with any other man. Ever.
He released her lips, then leaped to his feet and strode from the room, slamming the door behind him.
* * *
Naja arrived with one of the other women who'd helped dress Angelica yesterday. Naja introduced her as Jazlyn. They fussed over Angelica, urging her into a warm bath, then washing her hair with the sweet, jasmine scented shampoo.
Afterward, dressed in a cool, pastel pink, gauze gown, she enjoyed a simple breakfast of pastries and coffee, then sat on the balcony and enjoyed the morning breeze.
Naja had returned Angelica's purse, so she pulled out one of her novels. As she read the part where the hero ravaged the young woman he'd kidnapped. Angelica couldn't get Kadin, and the arousing feel of his hands on her body, out of her mind.
She closed the book and slumped back in the lounge chair, cursing herself. Why had she been such a fool? She'd been so afraid that the morning would shatter the magic she'd found in his arms last night, so sure what they'd done had meant nothing to him, other than a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am, that she'd come out fighting instead of waiting to gauge his mood.
She fidgeted with the book and tossed it on the table beside her chair. She had purposely hidden her virginal status from him, specifically because she selfishly wanted him to make love to her and feared he might have stopped.
It seemed she'd been right about that. He would have stopped.
In a way, she was just as guilty of using him as he was of using her. Maybe more.
Now, she realized she'd boxed him into a corner. He would not approach her again. He was struggling with a matter of honor.
She longed to see the unguarded Kadin of last night once again. The sweet lover who had laughed with her, who had given her the sweetest pleasure she had ever experienced.
Her body longed for his touch. He would probably send her away now, presuming his original purpose, to have her repay a debt—even though she now suspected that had been a ruse—was complete. He seemed to consider it overpaid.
She wanted to experience him again as a lover. She wanted to see if there could be more between them.
She had to find a way to draw him back to her bed.
* * *
"It is hot. Too hot for you, I think."
Angelica turned at the sound of a Jazlyn's voice.
She was right about the heat. Angelica's light gown was drenched with sweat and the air felt like a giant weight pressing down on her.
"There is a pool. Cool water. You come?"
"That's a wonderful idea." Angelica stood and followed Jazlyn inside.
They crossed the bedroom, then out the door to the wide hallway leading to other parts of the palace. The cool marble floor felt good on her bare feet.
A few moments later, she followed Jazlyn into a private courtyard, filled with flowers. They walked past the fragrant garden towards a large pool with soft, curved edges. What captured her attention, however, were the women. At least twenty of them, all totally naked, lounged around and in the pool.
Jazlyn stripped off her gown and glanced at Angelica expectantly. At first, she hesitated, then decided there was no point in being shy. Kadin would not come out here. He wanted to stay away from Angelica, she was sure. And the women wouldn't care about her nudity.
She tugged the gown over her head and Jazlyn plucked it from her hands and laid it in a heap with her own. As they stepped toward the pool, Angelica couldn't help staring at all the beautiful, naked woman-flesh. There were small breasted and large breasted women, petite to voluptuous. All happily relaxed with their nudity. Angelica leaned over the pool and splashed a little water on the hot stone edging to cool it off, then sat and dangled her legs in the water.
"Oh, miss, you must be careful of your fair skin. The sun will burn it crisp."
Jazlyn sat beside her and pulled a jar from a bag she'd carried with her.
Naja appeared beside Angelica.
"Good afternoon." Naja plucked a brush from the bag and brushed Angelica's hair with long, soothing strokes, then twisted it and clipped it at the back of her head.
Jazlyn opened the jar and started spreading cream on Angelica's shoulders. Finished with her hair, Naja began spreading cream, too.
"It will protect your lovely skin from the sun," she said.
While Jazlyn's hands caressed down Angelica's back, Naja's hands proceeded down Angelica's chest, then below her breast.
"I ..
. uh ... can handle that," Angelica said.
"Nonsense," Naja said, as her hand slid up and over Angelica's breast. "It is relaxing to have someone else do this. And I know how much cream you need. It is different than what you use in your country."
The feel of the woman's hand stroking over her breast sent Angelica's head into a spin. She'd been reliving last night's lovemaking with Kadin all morning, leaving her body hot and needy. The woman's sensual attention mesmerized her.
Done with Angelica's back, Jazlyn pulled on Angelica's shoulders, easing her into a reclining position. Now, she lay stretched out on the side of the pool. A couple of other women joined them. She felt soft hands stroke her calves, then glide up her thighs. Naja continued to rub the cream onto her breast. The nipple rose into her palm. She drew more cream from the jar and lovingly caressed it onto Angelica's other breast. One bold woman stroked along the top of Angelica's thigh, lightly brushing her pussy.
Oh, God, she wanted to open her legs and allow the woman entrance.
A sweet aroma aroused her senses.
"What is that smell?" she asked.
Naja held the jar to her nose. "The cream is scented with the nectar of apricots."
"It smells delicious."
"It is made of natural ingredients," Naja responded. "It is even safe to eat."
She smiled and, as if to prove her point, leaned forward and licked Angelica's breast.
She knew she should push the woman away. Angelica wasn't tied up this time. She had no excuse to allow this. Except it felt wonderful.
Naja sucked on Angelica's nipple and Jazlyn lapped at Angelica's other breast.
Angelica glanced at the palace, suddenly feeling as though someone were watching.
"How private is this courtyard?" she asked.
"Totally private," Naja answered.
"No one can see in here? From the palace maybe?"
"Only Kadin. No other man would risk the punishment Kadin would inflict if caught."
"Does Kadin watch the women in the pool?"
"Of course. He is probably watching now, since he knows you are here."
Ah, so he planned this. He wouldn't approach her, but he would watch her from a distance.
She relaxed and allowed the women the freedom of her body. Why not torture him a little?
Naja and Jazlyn sucked on Angelica's nipples, and a petite, sexy woman with large eyes kissed Angelica's navel. Other hands stroked her inner thighs, then several fingers sweetly invaded her pussy. The petite woman dipped down and licked Angelica's slit, then lapped at her clit. Angelica moaned softly.
A moment later, responding to a rapidly flickering tongue, she tensed and arched. The teasing mouth sucked on her clit, as fingers stroked inside her. A tension built within her until she thought she'd explode. Aside from her clit being expertly stimulated, one of the women had found a sweet spot inside her vagina. Probably the G-spot. Liquid flooded from inside her as she catapulted into an explosive orgasm.
As she lay gasping, the women stroked and soothed her body, relaxing her. Spoiling her. Finally, she smiled and thanked them, then slipped into the water to swim.
* * *
Kadin's gaze remained riveted on Angelica as she arched and moaned by the pool. He glanced through the binoculars, watching her face contort in the flush of orgasm.
He wanted to dash down there right now and take her, claiming her as his own. He wanted her so badly he ached with it. He drew out his throbbing cock and stroked it, caressing the crown, then squeezing and stroking with steady, accelerating strokes. It took only seconds to climax, watching his sweet Angelica take her pleasure.
* * *
Angelica pushed herself onto the side of the pool, leaving her legs dangling in the water.
"I think you wanted him to see." Naja sat down beside her.
"Hmm?"
"Kadin. You wanted to make him want you more."
Angelica swished her hands through the water. Could she enlist this woman as an ally?
At this point, she had nothing to lose.
"You're right," Angelica confirmed.
"He will be a wild-man when he comes to your bed tonight."
"He won't come to me again. After he ... last night, he found out I was a virgin."
Naja's eyes widened. "He could not have known that. He would never have—"
"He didn't know."
"Why didn't you tell him?"
Angelica stared at two birds dancing and flitting in a nearby tree.
"He said he wanted to punish me. I didn't think it would matter."
"Of course it would matter."
Angelica sighed.
"I was afraid. I didn't know what he would do to me. And ..."
"Yes?"
"Well, once we got started. When he kissed me ... touched me ... I wanted it to happen. I was afraid if I told him then ... he would stop. And I didn't want him to."
Naja nodded. "He would have stopped. He is a good man."
Angelica locked gazes with the other woman.
"I want to experience his touch again before he sends me away." She rested her hand on Naja's arm. "Will you help me?"
"How?"
"I thought I would seduce him somehow." She remembered how the women he'd sent to seduce her had belly danced. "I know how to dance a little. Maybe if I had a sexy outfit like the one you tried to have me wear yesterday ... if you could sneak me into his room ..."
Naja grinned and waved at one of the other women. After some whispered words in their own language, Naja smiled and took Angelica's hand.
"Follow me."
Chapter Nine
Kadin finished his meal and leaned back in his chair. Rasha poured more wine in his goblet and took away his plate. He lifted the goblet to his lips. He would rather be dining with Angelica, relaxing in the warmth of her company, touching the soft sweep of her hair as it tumbled over her shoulders, leaning toward her and caressing her full lips with his own.
His gut clenched. But he had dishonored her and she would never forgive him. He might never forgive himself.
"Master?"
Naja stood before him, her head bowed.
"Yes, Naja. What is it?"
"If you would allow it, I have brought you some special entertainment."
His eyebrows raised and he nodded his assent. She crossed to his sound system and slipped a CD in the player. The pulsing sound of drums filled the room and a figure entered.
Angelica! Wrapped in the same blue coverlet she wore the first evening she was brought to him, but this time it flowed over her head rather than just around her shoulders. Moving to the music, she glided into the room, her hips swaying beneath the covering. Her right arm flowed outward and the cover parted a little, revealing a glimpse of color. She spun around and the coverlet slid from her fingers, careening across the floor. Shimmering veils in shades of pink swirled around her.
His breath locked in his lungs as he realized she had come to dance for him. As she traveled around the room, her left hand freed the veil from her hip and spun it around her body. It swirled in the air, following her in a fluid spiral.
But his gaze locked on her pulsing hips and the beaded fringe and coins quivering at her movement. She discarded the veil and spun, then danced toward him, her hips shimmying wildly, a delicate jingling sound cascading around her.
The music slowed as she stopped a meter from him and her arms and shoulders undulated in a sensuous, fluid movement, along with her velvet-and-sequin-clad breasts, the beads and coins suspended from them quivering. She leaned forward, doing a shoulder shimmy, and his groin tightened as the soft mounds of flesh quivered wildly.
Her arms undulated in front of her as she leaned back at the waist, her breasts arching upward, then she curved forward again and took his hand, drawing him from the chair. She gestured toward the pillows on the floor and he sat down, then watched as she lowered herself to her knees in front of him, then arched backward. Her bare belly undulated. He longed to cup her
generous breasts as they swayed from side to side as she shimmied again. She moved her upper torso in a large, sweeping circle, then traveled forward on her knees, her arms moving fluidly at her sides.
Only a foot in front of him, she turned.
"I would appreciate some assistance." She lifted her long hair, presenting her back to him.
His breathing grew heavy as he realized her intent. He released the hook and the back of the bra parted. She turned, holding the jeweled bra to her body then, slowly, drew it forward, slowly revealing her large, round breasts. When her large, dusty rose nipples peered out, hard and pebbled, he sucked in his breath.
She arched her knee over his extended legs as she moved closer, then she shimmied. Her naked breasts quivered and his cock jumped to attention. She lowered herself onto his hips. Her crotch cradled him as his erection pushed outward. She shimmied her hips, her pussy quivering against him. His cock expanded even more.
She stroked her hands over his naked chest and smiled seductively, then plucked at his nipples. He wanted to lean forward and suck one of her nipples deep into his mouth, to stroke the pebbly surface with his tongue.
She arched her body, then thrust her left hip toward him and shimmied, then her right. Her hips swayed from side to side. In a fluid, rolling movement, she shifted around, now over his pelvis with her back to him. She eased backward from the hips.
Her long hair caressed his chest and teased his nipples. She lowered all the way down, resting her shoulder blades on his chest, her cheek brushing his as her naked breasts rose and fell before him. Keeping to the beat of the music, she stroked his cheeks with fluid movements of her hands.
He could not resist. He kissed her soft cheek as he reached out and cupped her breasts. Her hard nipples pushed into his palms. She rocked her hips and his cock ached painfully, wanting to find her warmth and thrust inside.
"Oh, yes. Touch me," she murmured.
She undulated her chest from side to side, alternately pushing each breast deeper into his hands. She ground her body against his cock and he groaned. She shimmied her hips, shifting up and down, torturing his confined cock. Then she slid backwards, easing him onto his back, her delightful ass moving closer to his face, until she rested on his chest.
Seduction in the Sun: Adult Romance Box Set (9 Sizzling Tales with BBW, Billionaires, Bad Boys, and Alpha Males) Page 34
