The Royal Wager

by Kristi Gold

  They started down the walkway once more, passing a shop where a gold lamp showcased behind glass caught Raina’s eye. She stepped into the small store where a gray-bearded man stood behind the counter.

  In Arabic, she inquired about the price of the incense burner and the shopkeeper informed her it was pure gold, and very pricey. Resigned that it wouldn’t be in her budget, she turned away and nearly ran into Dharr head on.

  “Do you want it?” he asked her in a sinfully deep voice.

  She wanted him, even more than the lamp. “I can live without it.”

  “You should not have to live without it if it is what your heart desires.”

  Without waiting for her response, Dharr stepped up to the counter and requested it be wrapped up for Raina without even asking the price. However, she wasn’t sure the man could even answer considering his shocked expression and his apparent need to bow several times to his prince.

  Raina tugged on Dharr’s sleeve to get his attention. “It’s gold and I imagine very expensive.”

  “I can afford it.”

  “I know that, but you really don’t have to do it.”

  “I could tell by your eyes that it captured your fancy.”

  “Maybe I should rub it and see if a genie pops out. Then it might be worth the price.”

  He leaned over once more and whispered, “I prefer to rub the other lamp you have in your possession.”

  While Raina fought a strong case of the shivers over the sensual suggestion, Dharr took the package from the man and handed it to her. “It is now yours,” he said, then told the shopkeeper to send him the bill personally.

  And just like that, Raina was holding a priceless lamp and a desperate longing for the prince who had presented it to her. But as they started away once more, she began to realize the extent of Dharr’s true worth when he continued to pause now and then to acknowledge his people, taking careworn hands into his, patting the heads of children, as if he were as common as the rest. In reality, he was quite uncommon to Raina—a man who truly cared about something beyond finding a new way to get a quick rush. A man who didn’t take his responsibility lightly.

  Dharr stopped and turned his attention to the commons when a drum began to beat, announcing the Razha, a celebratory dance performed by men sporting swords and spouting poetry. Raina stood by him and took in the wonderful spectacle she remembered from her youth. The moderate wind continued to blow, but that didn’t relieve the heat when Dharr twined his fingers through hers. The gesture surprised her even though he held their joined hands close to his body, the robes providing some measure of concealment.

  Several fires dotted the area, illuminating the performers in an almost surreal haze. The strong scent of sandalwood bokhur wafted over the area from the incense shop behind them. The drumbeats picked up in tempo as the men began to leap in a frenzied free-for-all.

  When Dharr stroked his thumb over her wrist, Raina experienced a bout of dizziness. She felt drunk even though not a drop of alcohol had touched her lips. Totally intoxicated by Dharr’s touch alone. If only she could step in front of him, lean back against him, have his arms wrapped around her, then that would make the night almost perfect. Almost. She could think of one other thing that would definitely involve perfection—making love with Dharr.

  When Raina swayed toward him, Dharr clasped his arm around her waist and held her to his side. “Are you not feeling well?”

  “I’m just a little light-headed.” Her voice was so soft he barely heard her.

  He told her, “Wait here,” took the flower and package from her then approached his most trusted guard. After handing him the items, Dharr voiced his concerns in English so as not to be understood by most of the onlookers, requesting a place he could take Miss Kahlil for a time until he discerned if they would need to leave sooner than planned.

  After Dharr made his way back to Raina’s side, the guard approached the nearby shopkeeper who gestured toward the back of his store. Again Dharr took Raina’s hand and when it appeared no one was looking, he pulled her into the shop’s interior.

  “Where are we going?” she inquired.

  “In here,” he said as he opened the door at the end of the aisle, revealing a small storeroom lined with shelves and boxes.

  Dharr guided Raina to the only open space and positioned her back against the wall. “This has been too much activity for you. I should have insisted you stay at the palace tonight. You should rest a while, and then we will go.”

  She sent him a sultry smile. “I’m having a wonderful time.”

  “You seemed as if you might faint.”

  “Not at all. I feel fine.”

  And she looked incredibly beautiful. The fullness of her mouth, the length of her slender neck, the golden glow of her eyes only served to heighten his arousal. She had totally captivated him from the moment she’d entered her father’s room, and even more so as he’d witnessed the firelight washing over her when he’d accepted the gift from the child. He was still completely captive to her, yet he was also concerned over her health. “Are you certain you are feeling well enough to continue?”

  A long breath drifted from her parted lips. “I admit, I was a little light-headed for a few moments, but I think it was a combination of several things. The fires. The dancers. The incense.” She slipped her hands beneath his robes and rested them on his waist. “Being so close to you.”

  He braced one palm on the wall above her head and kept the other arm at his side to prevent touching her. “This is unwise, Raina.”

  She exhaled a ragged breath, her gaze trained on his. “I want to be with you again, Dharr. I’m tired of pretending that I don’t want you.”

  So was he. “We have only had to maintain that pretense for less than a day.”

  “For me, an hour was too long.”

  “But we said—”

  “I know what we said. And if you tell me now—right now—that you don’t want me as much as I want you, then I’ll keep up the front.”

  The words would not form in his mouth for if he should speak them, he would be telling a grave untruth. Yet instead of a verbal reply, he professed his absolute need for her with a kiss so deep she would have no doubt. With his hands roving up her back beneath her blouse. With a press of his pelvis against hers to remove any question from her mind as to how much he wanted her.

  He slid his palms up her sides then back down to her waist, his knuckles brushing against the sash that with only a tug he could have unbound in a matter of seconds, sending her skirt down her thighs to the cement floor. He could send her underclothes to follow and lower his fly, concealing them with the fullness of his robes, and know how it would feel to finally be inside her.

  No one would disturb them. No one would be the wiser.

  Yet she deserved better than lovemaking against a pitted wall inside a crowded storeroom. She deserved time to reconsider before it was too late.

  When she reached for his fly, Dharr clasped her wrist to halt her. “Again, I have nothing to protect you from pregnancy.”

  She gave him a beseeching look. “I know this sounds crazy, and maybe I am, but I need to touch you now, Dharr. I want you to touch me.”

  He wanted that more than the respect of his people at the moment. “Not now. Not this time.”

  “Then you don’t want me.” Disappointment resounded in her tone.

  To reassure her, he kissed her again before saying the only truth he knew at that moment. “This time, I want to be inside you.”

  Her eyes took on a wildness, exciting Dharr beyond all bounds. “Then do it. Soon.”

  Dharr said goodbye to his wisdom, or perhaps he had done that the moment Raina had walked onto the plane and back into his life. Yet that no longer mattered. Before she left him, he would have her, as long as he knew she understood exactly what she was asking.

  Holding her face in his palms, he studied her eyes, making certain he did not find any hesitation. He did not.

  “I pro
mise you, Raina, I will finish this. Tonight.”

  Yet somehow he knew this would be only the beginning.

  Seven

  In the darkened sedan, Dharr kept a decent space between them. To Raina, it seemed like a hundred miles, and so had their return to the palace.

  He’d remained quiet, not uttering a word on the journey. Of course, she hadn’t said anything, either, because for the life of her, she didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t explain why she had to be with him because she didn’t understand it herself. But she didn’t feel the need to apologize for her behavior because she wasn’t at all sorry. At least not yet.

  She certainly might be sorry should Dharr change his mind and not follow through on his promise. She was beginning to believe that very thing when he failed to look at her, even when she asked, “How much longer?”

  “We are almost to the gates.”

  “Good. I wondered if maybe we were lost.”

  “No. We both know exactly where we are going.”

  Reaching across the seat, Dharr laid her open palm on his thigh, then slowly, slowly, drew it upward until she contacted the unmistakable ridge before he placed her hand back on the seat between them.

  A subtle answer to her question, but very much an answer, and one that made her heartbeat increase at an alarming rate.

  Moments later, the motorcade entered the massive iron gates and pulled up in front of the palace. Dharr left the sedan first, offering his hand to Raina, which she took without a second thought. She had no second thoughts at all, especially when Dharr stroked his thumb over her palm before releasing her once more.

  By the time she walked through the heavy double doors, Raina wanted to sprint up the stairs, shedding her clothes on the way. Not a wonderful idea considering Badya was waiting for them by the black iron banister.

  “Did the sheikh and the princess have a good time tonight?” Badya asked in a pleasant voice.

  “Most certainly,” Dharr said from behind Raina.

  “Is my father still awake?” she asked, feeling somewhat guilty when Badya confirmed that he had been asleep for hours and said he would see Raina in the morning.

  “I’m off to bed then,” Raina said, her tone overly cheerful, something she was sure Badya had noticed.

  “Have a restful sleep,” Badya replied, giving Raina a subtle cautioning look, confirming her suspicions.

  Once she started up the stairs, Raina didn’t dare glance back at Dharr or her former nanny. Anticipation, exhilaration, brought heat to her cheeks that traveled down her throat and spiraled throughout her entire body. Not until they reached the bedroom door did she face Dharr.

  He looked down the hall both ways, then said, “I will retire to my quarters until the final guard passes.”

  “But you’ll be back?” Raina hated how unsure she sounded, and worse, almost desperate.

  “You may depend on it.” He took one more quick glance down the hall, leaned forward and grazed his palm down her bottom before brushing a gentle kiss over her lips. “Be waiting for me.”

  Oh, he didn’t have to worry about that, and Raina would have told him so had he not strode away, tearing the kaffiyeh off as he headed to the end of the hall and his room.

  Raina waited until he completely disappeared before she entered her own room. His room, actually, and she’d been very aware of that fact when she’d seen his clothes hanging next to hers, smelled his sultry scent in the bath suite, investigated all his colognes and shaving supplies like some silly smitten school girl.

  But tonight, the girl wouldn’t be present. The woman would, waiting with great eagerness for a man who could answer every one of her fantasies.

  Quickly she stripped out of all her clothes, took her hair out of the braid, turned down the lights and sheets, then stretched out on her back to wait for Dharr’s arrival. Only minimal illumination filtered into the sheer curtains from the guard lights in the center courtyard. The clock on the far wall ticked down, second by second, minute by minute, while Raina stared at the octagonal recessed ceiling, attempting to count the crisscrossed sky blue tiles overhead though she couldn’t really see them well. She turned her attention to the stone fireplace across the room where Dharr’s favored painting hung above the mantel. Even the priceless nude couldn’t hold her attention for very long.

  The waiting, watching, wanting was excruciating and when more time had passed, Raina wondered if Dharr had changed his mind. Then she heard the door open and close, the click of the lock and the footfalls coming nearer and nearer.

  She turned her head and saw him standing by the bed, powerful and imposing as he meticulously removed his clothes until she wanted to squirm and tell him to hurry. Once he was completely nude, he tossed something onto the nightstand, condoms Raina assumed. At least tonight he was prepared.

  But she wasn’t exactly prepared for the rush that went straight to her head when the mattress gave with his weight. He took her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly, gliding his tongue in an erotic tempo that foretold what he would do to her body. After a time, he feathered kisses along her jaw, down her throat and the valley between her breasts before drawing a nipple into his mouth, circling his tongue round and round until Raina thought she might fall into the realm of full-blown insanity. Yet he didn’t linger long before he skated his lips down her abdomen, bracing her hips in his large palms as if to hold her completely imprisoned.

  Raina couldn’t muster much more than a shaky breath, couldn’t budge other than to rest her palms on his head. She certainly didn’t have enough force to protest, not that she wanted to, even when he kept going until his mouth was firmly planted between her thighs, plying her with the ultimate, intimate kiss.

  Such sweet tyranny, such an absolute possession, as if he were marking his territory with his capable mouth. The building pressure coiled tighter with every sweep of his tongue, every tug of his lips. She tried to delay the inevitable, locking her jaw tight while tuning into every wonderful sensation. Higher and higher he took her as he lifted her hips up to gain full advantage, tearing away any plans she had to prolong the experience. She climaxed with a violent shudder, then another until she feared she might never stop shaking.

  He worked his lips back up her body to her mouth then kissed her lightly once, twice, before leaving her arms. She wanted to groan in protest until she realized what he was doing after she heard the sound of tearing paper. Still, he kept his palm curled between her thighs, teasing her into another frenzy while he tended to the protection.

  Now was probably a good time to tell him he would be her first lover. But if she made the revelation, would he change his mind? He might, and if he did, she would surely die from frustration. For that reason, she opted to go with the flow and explain herself after the fact.

  Once again he came back to her, hovered over her and ran his hands through her hair. “I must ask you again,” he said, his voice a rough whisper. “Are you certain?”

  Now she was truly frustrated. “Dharr, if you stop, I’ll scream.”

  He brushed a kiss over her temple. “I suggest that you might scream before the night ends, but not because I will fail to see this through.” He moved over her, dividing her legs with his muscular thigh. “And hopefully not because I cause you too much pain, although you will experience some this first time.”

  He knew. “I understand that.”

  “Then you have not been with another man.”

  Raina realized he’d been baiting her into the admission. “It’s okay, Dharr. I want this.”

  “As do I, but—”

  She pressed a fingertip against his lips to silence his concerns. “No more questions. No regrets. We’ve come this far, we can’t turn back. I don’t want to turn back.”

  Just when she thought he might reconsider, he eased into her, carefully, methodically, stretching her to accommodate him. He wasn’t a small man by any means and she wasn’t sure how she could take all of him, but he saw that she would with one sharp thrus
t.

  Raina tried to muffle the gasp, without success. He stilled and spoke to her in a voice as soft as the shadows, alternating between English and Arabic, telling her in gentle tones how good she felt surrounding him. How long he had wanted this, wanted her. Lulled by his words, Raina’s body relaxed until he began to move inside her with careful strokes. He kissed her again, first her mouth then her breasts, rubbed against her, creating a delicious friction that had her bordering on another orgasm that threatened to match the first. He clasped her bottom, drawing her closer to him and using his fingertips to explore while he maintained a steady cadence. But soon the act took a frenzied turn as he picked up the pace, harder and faster, until Raina clung to his shoulders and without thought, raked her nails down his back.

  She surrendered to the rippling climax, hung on to him and rode each surge. Dharr’s back went rigid against her palms, his heart pounding against her breast, and an almost feral groan left his lips now resting at her ear. He remained still for a few moments, silent, then muttered a mild oath in Arabic.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, hoping it had nothing to do with her, or what they’d just done, but fearing it did.

  He rolled away from her and settled her against his side, her head resting on his shoulder. “It was over too quickly.”

  Raina relaxed with relief. “I’m not sure I could’ve stood much more.”

  He tensed. “Did I hurt you that badly?”

  She released a soft laugh. “I meant it was almost too good, if you know what I mean.”

  “I suppose I do.”

  Now for the question foremost in her mind. “How did you know I’d never been with anyone?”

  “I was not certain but I did have a few suspicions. Or perhaps it was only wishful thinking.”

  She raised her head and frowned at him. “Oh, so it’s that ‘I’m macho and I want to be the first’ thing.”