by Maya Blake
She strained against him as Zak freed her mouth to explore the newly discovered erogenous zone beneath one ear. She shivered and gasped, clung tighter as he trailed his lips down her throat to her collarbone, then lower to one hard nipple.
His mouth surrounded the peak, taking flesh and cotton in one powerful pull. One hand slipped beneath the hem of her shorts to boldly cup her naked bottom.
Flames lit up her veins, pooling in a torrent between her legs. She gasped as, keeping their gazes locked, he moved his hand purposefully between her thighs, his fingers intent on one destination.
He absorbed her reaction, hungrily devoured her every shiver. With it came a speculative gleam in his eyes as he traced the heat suffusing her face.
‘No bra, and no panties. I’m not sure whether to spank your naughty little bottom for exhibiting yourself like this or accept this gift you seem intent on giving me,’ he growled against her lips.
Violet cried out as his fingers caressed her damp heat, breached her outer lips to rest against the soaked entrance of her womanhood. The hot brand of his own arousal jerked against her stomach as he absorbed her reaction, hungrily devoured her every shiver.
‘Is it my touch that excites you like this, Violet, or the thought of being spanked, I wonder?’ he rasped in a low, deep voice that strummed and deepened her need.
Frankly, Violet suspected it was both. And the more the thought seeped into her consciousness, the shorter her already compromised breathing grew.
Dear God, was she kinky on top of all her unwelcome woes?
Zak laughed beneath his breath, clearly witnessing her freaked-out expression. But slowly his laughter died, leaving a deeper carnal intent on his face. ‘Is there something you wish to tell me, Violet?’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ she gasped.
‘Don’t you? You react too strongly to such an ordinary pleasure.’ He squeezed her bottom again, kneading her flesh while boldly holding her gaze. ‘You’re all but hovering on the brink of orgasm from just this simple touch alone.’
He slanted his lips over hers once more, his tongue brazen, positively possessive as it slid against hers, determined to draw an even more potent reaction from her. Reaction she was helpless to deny as hunger clawed through her, wrenching her onto tiptoe again so she could taste more, drown more, feel more.
But that dim light of warning at the back of her head brightened, steadily but surely, slowing her reaction enough for her to pull back. A little too late she recalled what had happened the last time she’d allowed herself to give in to this sensation. He’d rejected her.
Nothing had changed.
Except this time she would reject him first. The last thing she wanted was to spend the next few weeks drowning in humiliation if he repeated the experience.
So, gathering the dregs of her composure, she bunched her fists against his shoulders. And pushed.
He growled beneath his breath for a second before he allowed her to break the kiss. ‘Violet—’
‘I don’t care what you think. I don’t want this.’
‘Define this,’ he insisted, narrowed gaze fixed on her wet lips for a tight moment before it rose to spear hers.
‘Any...all of it. I’m not interested in scratching whatever itch you may have. Now or ever.’
‘Such dire, sweeping pronouncements. Are you certain it won’t come back to bite you?’
She took a step back, then another since one wasn’t enough. His gaze dropped to her chest, landed precisely on one beaded nipple before switching to the other. And stayed.
Violet wished she could halt her agitated breathing. Wished she could stop her flesh from reacting to the ravenous hunger in his eyes. But he’d rejected her once and become entrenched in whatever dire opinions he had of her and her family ever since.
Falling into his bed would be as good as confirming everything he’d accused her of. And she wouldn’t be jeopardising just her body but the career she’d set her heart on.
‘Yes. I’m one hundred per cent certain I don’t want you to touch me.’
Dark rebellion glinted in his eyes but his words were smooth and immediate. ‘Very well. You have my word I will not touch you until you ask...no, until you beg me to.’
Alarm strangled her lungs.
Why did that feel very much like a challenge?
And as she watched him walk into the shower without a backward glance, why did she feel like he was simply biding his time until he won?
What the hell had he been thinking, making that prediction?
Five days had passed since their torrid little encounter by his shower. Five days of hell when either she plotted to drive him out of his mind or the little witch cast a spell on him.
Zak swiped an arm across his sweaty forehead and stepped back to survey another excellent day’s result. They’d shaved a whole day off their target, building two eco lodges in five days instead of six.
He didn’t apologise for being a harsh taskmaster when the occasion demanded, and the high fives happening behind him suggested the team didn’t mind, either.
Violet’s husky laugh made his stomach clench tight.
He didn’t want to turn around. Didn’t want to be drawn to her attention-absorbing face, her supple, curvy body or those control-wrecking legs she insisted on displaying in the bottom-moulding shorts she favoured.
As for her work ethic...
Contrary to his dim prognosis, she’d delved into every task with wholehearted enthusiasm, more often than not going over and above expectations. Not once had she protested.
Of course, he still had his reservations that she could sustain it in the long run—
A choking cough shattered his thoughts and intentions. He turned and found Violet doubled over, the subject of the team’s humour as she spluttered.
‘A little warning next time, please?’ She laughed through the coughing.
Zak’s gaze narrowed at the volunteer holding the suspicious-looking bottle as he approached, unable to take his eyes off Violet’s legs and plump, shapely behind as she bent over to cough again. The reason for her state became apparent when he caught the scent.
Pombe, the local alcoholic brew, was lethal to the unschooled. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ he demanded.
Everyone froze, their gazes avoiding his.
‘We’re celebrating. What does it look like?’ Violet responded, the humour dying from her eyes.
‘Perhaps you should consider celebrating with something a little less...potent?’ he suggested.
While the rest of the team sent him wary glances, Violet shot him a challenge-filled glare. All week she’d treated him to those defiant little looks. Having grown up in a Royal household where most people fell over themselves in deference and yearned to please, Zak found her attitude...uniquely interesting. Perhaps a little too much? Was that why he couldn’t resist needling her whenever the opportunity arose?
He shoved the suggestion away when her chin lifted.
‘Where’s the fun in that?’ she taunted, her eyes still shiny from her coughing episode.
Perhaps it was frustration. Perhaps it was disgruntlement that she wouldn’t fit into the mould he’d cast for her. Before he could stop himself, his fingers were wrapping around her forearm. ‘For those of you who prefer it, I’ve had champagne delivered to the tent to celebrate finishing early. Feel free to go and help yourselves,’ he said to the group.
Predictably, his announcement was met with a chorus of cheers and the team dispersed quickly.
‘Would you please stop manhandling me?’ she sniped as soon as they were alone.
He released her but planted himself in front of her. ‘How much of that did you drink?’
‘Policing my activities yet again?’
‘Only in the sense that you’re inviting a hell of a hang
over by indulging in that stuff.’
She swiped the back of her hand across her lips, dragging his attention back to the full, luscious mouth he’d tasted. The mouth he couldn’t get out of his head. ‘Thanks for your concern but that’s my problem, surely? Have I done anything so far to compromise my work?’
He pursed his lips. ‘Not yet, but there’s always a first time.’
A flash of emotion, possibly hurt, darted across her face. ‘And you’re, what, positioning yourself as my champion? To save me from myself? Why?’
‘Because we’re leaving tomorrow. And I’d prefer you to be at your best, not hung over and jet-lagged when we return to New York.’
Her alluring eyes widened, right before she frowned. ‘We’re leaving? But we’ve only been here a week.’
Considering the words spilling from his lips were a surprise to him as well, he absorbed the astonishment well, he thought. Congratulated himself on the inspired thinking, even. ‘Do you think there’s something more you can learn by remaining here?’ he countered.
She bit her lip. ‘No, I’m sure I can put together an eco-lodge in my sleep now. But I thought we...that I was staying to see this project through.’
‘I’ve changed my mind. Why waste more time here when you can gain more experience on the next project?’
He could tell she was torn between the need to argue and the need to accept the carrot he was dangling. ‘Where are we going next?’
Zak shrugged. ‘I have to return to Montegova at the end of the month. Until then, my itinerary is fluid but it doesn’t lack requests for my presence at various projects. Who knows, perhaps I’ll let you pick the next destination.’
She turned away, casting a longing look over the site and the surrounding landscape. ‘This is a beautiful place. I was looking forward to my half-day off tomorrow to explore.’
Another spur-of-the-moment thought hit him. ‘You’ll have to make do with a visit to the phase two site, provided you can be ready to go immediately?’
She faced him again, surprise reflected in her eyes. ‘I... Of course.’ She looked down at her stained and work-worn clothes. ‘Give me a few minutes to change and clean up and I’ll join you.’
He shook his head, a stab of impatience driving him harder. ‘You’re not attending a red carpet event, Violet. You’re fine as you are. You can shower when we get back. Or, if you insist, there’s a lake you can use to wash up when we get to the site.’
Mutiny rose in her eyes and Zak’s muscles tightened, anticipation flowing through him at the thought of tussling further with her. But she tossed her head and with a shrug waved a hand at him. ‘Fine. Let’s go.’
She headed towards the area where the vehicles were parked. Zak let her go while he issued quick instructions to his bodyguard. The guard nodded and sprinted into action.
‘How long is the drive?’ she asked when he reached her.
‘Normally an hour, but we’re not driving. We’re taking the chopper. Come.’
The pregnant chef had been evacuated two days previously at the first signs of her labour, reducing the likelihood that the aircraft would be needed in the next few hours.
When they reached it, he held the door open for her, unable to resist glancing at her smooth bare legs as she slid into the seat. Her eyes widened when he took the pilot’s seat, leaving three of his bodyguards in the main cabin.
‘You’re flying this thing?’ she asked, tentatively taking the headset from him.
He didn’t miss her scepticism. ‘Courtesy of a full licence from the air force, I’m quite capable of it, Violet. No need to be afraid.’
He was gratified to see the scepticism melt from her eyes, although he wasn’t quite sure how long his groin would sustain the pressure at the sight of her breasts outlined by the dissection of the seat belt.
He was still debating the wisdom of this tour when he lifted off and headed east.
Through the mic attached to the headset, Zak heard her soft gasp as he set down ten minutes later on the flat landscape near the edge of Lake Lengai. Once again Tanzania was showing off its jaw-dropping beauty with another stunning sunset but this time against the backdrop of a cascading waterfall thundering into a shallow pool that fed into the lake below.
He’d chosen this spot for phase two primarily for the ready fresh-water source, but watching Violet dart from the chopper, unabashed joy on her face as she raced towards the waterfall, Zak took a reluctant beat to see the land through her eyes, to appreciate the beauty of his surroundings.
When he joined her, she was straightening from leaning down to run her fingers through the clear water. ‘It’s...beyond spectacular,’ she said a touch reverently, a lot mournfully.
‘Your tone suggests differently.’
‘Because the pool is shallow and wildlife-free. I would’ve brought a swimsuit with me if I’d known.’
Immediately, his brain supplied him with a vivid picture of her clad in a bikini. He shifted, almost growling at his body’s eager response.
His shrug was a masterclass in fabricated calm. ‘We’re both adults, Violet. Unless you’re once again naked beneath those shorts and T-shirt, you can improvise.’
In the fading light, colour washed her cheeks, strumming an elusive thought that faded before he could grasp it. ‘That’s none of your business. Shall we get on with the tour?’
The tour took fifteen minutes, and again she asked pertinent questions, her thoughtful observations backing her conduct on the project so far.
It didn’t prove anything, he told himself.
Her mother was equally as passionate about landing a fat cat for her daughter, preferably one with a title and bottomless wallet. All this...passion could be a carefully orchestrated plan.
Just like the general’s nearly successful strategy in those crucial and terrifying days after his father’s death. Just like the restless factions whose motives and whereabouts were still proving elusive to pinpoint in his homeland.
The reminder restored a little more calm, reasserting his sense and control. Enabled him to summon up appropriate dispassion when they returned to the edge of the lake, where his bodyguards, following his instructions, had set up their evening meal.
He walked past a frozen Violet to their picnic blanket. ‘Are you going to just stand there all night or join me?’
Suspicion filled her eyes as she ventured closer. ‘I... You set this up?’
‘I thought we could kill two birds with one stone. The likelihood that there’ll be anything left to eat when we return is slim. Sit down, Violet.’
Four solar lamps were positioned on each corner of the picnic blanket, providing ambient light as darkness fell.
He watched her sink down, fold her long, shapely legs beneath her before plucking a grape from a bowl. ‘You’re a prince. Isn’t it the done thing to summon a chef to prepare a meal from scratch if the fancy takes you?’
‘Of course, just as it’s this easy to arrange a picnic by a lake because I wish it.’
She’d fully expected him to deny her veiled insult, and he watched, amused, as she blushed again. He reached for the champagne bottle set in the ice bucket and worked the cork free, aware her gaze lingered on him.
‘Something on your mind, Violet?’
‘You mentioned your pilot’s licence from the air force. Why did you leave the service?’
Because the man he’d been dying to impress, the man he’d looked up to and called Father, had died unexpectedly, shattering a secret dream and leaving a nightmare in his wake. Not only had his father not been the man he’d thought him to be, his weaknesses had left the kingdom he should’ve been safeguarding in jeopardy. Only by strengthening their foundations in the eyes of the world had they kept from toppling over into the abyss the King had left by his death.
Not a subject he was in the mood to revisit right now. �
�I served my time until I realised I could better serve my kingdom in another role.’
‘But, from that meeting with the minister, it looks like you’re still in charge?’
‘Some matters of national security will always fall within my remit, yes,’ he said, aware his voice was clipped. He ended her questioning by popping the cork. She flinched but accepted the glass he passed her.
‘You were in a celebratory mood earlier. No reason why you can’t raise a toast to your achievements this week.’
‘You say that with a straight face, yet your dry tone mocks the very thing I’m supposed to be celebrating.’
‘Let’s leave the analysis for now, Violet.’
‘Because you don’t like hearing the truth?’
‘Because I’m famished and don’t wish to invite indigestion.’
For the rest of the meal they ate in silence that drew far too much of his attention to her face, her body, the movement of her throat when she swallowed.
The moment they were done, she rose.
‘Where are you going?’
She threw him another defiant glare as she walked away. ‘To take a better look at the lake, after all. At the moment it’s a little more appealing than the company.’
CHAPTER FIVE
HE GAVE HER five minutes while the remains of their picnic were tidied away. Then Zak approached the water.
Flames leapt in his bloodstream when he saw that she’d more than just taken a look. Her T-shirt and shorts were neatly folded on the grass near the water’s edge and Violet was submerged up to her neck, her body turned from him as she performed unhurried breaststroke.
Without stopping to debate the wisdom of it, Zak tugged off his clothes and slipped into the water. The fresh water did nothing to cool the pounding in his groin as she sent him another glare over her shoulder, then purposefully increased the distance between them.
He wanted to breach it, wanted to truly explore why this woman got beneath his skin so effortlessly when every woman before her had failed to even crack his veneer.
