Liar.
He grimaced. She made him feel like a god. Or, more accurately, a selfish, greedy devil. He wanted more than he deserved. But couldn’t he have it just this once? For over a decade now he’d been the perfectly behaved Prince, dutifully fulfilling his destiny, maintaining everything as it ought to be maintained... He’d not set a foot across the line of being discreet and controlled.
Until Kassie. Within two minutes of meeting her he’d crossed the line to inappropriate and then full-on outrageous. But it went both ways. Whatever chemistry was between them, it was strong. He shouldn’t have agreed to her request, but it felt right to get rid of the attraction between them. And the only way to do that was by sleeping together. Ignoring it would only make it worsen and he’d always wonder what if?
He had enough regrets to live with already. And he truly did want to help her—she thought she was damaged, that she wasn’t normal, and she wanted to feel things. He wanted that for her too—he wanted nothing more than to see her flushed and screaming with pleasure. And sated. Her honesty and her courage in what she’d asked had floored him.
He tried again to focus on the meeting preparation. He had wanted to prove he could resist his desperate urge to tumble her into bed there and then. Hell, he’d wanted to. But he had to be able to take it or leave it as he chose. And, more importantly, he needed to give her the space and time to change her mind.
If she didn’t, then they’d have their moment. He’d take her slowly and savour every second, make sure she was right there with him every step of the way. He was determined to make it the best for her. He almost couldn’t cope with the prospect of burying himself deep in her lush, tight body—of showing her just what she was built for. His mouth dried and his muscles bunched.
Ignoring the meeting notes, he sent a message to his secretary, requesting dressing assistance for Kassie—because the bargain had been struck and she’d want to maintain her end of the deal. She had pride—he understood that about her. And he respected her for it.
He didn’t return until nightfall, semi-pleased with the way his day had gone—with his ability to concentrate on the meeting. He could keep everything under control with Kassie.
But within two minutes of him getting back to the house trouble hit. She was there. She was beautiful. And she had that teasing, disarming smile on her face as she looked up from where she lounged on his sofa. The sofa where he’d made her scream her release last night.
‘How’d it go?’ she asked.
For a moment Giorgos didn’t know what she meant as she looked at him with warmth and expectation in her gorgeous eyes. Was she asking him about his meeting?
‘Fine,’ he answered awkwardly.
‘They didn’t give you a hard time?’
She really wanted to know. No one ever asked him how his day had gone. Because usually no one was waiting for him to return home. His sister had always been at the classes he’d arranged for her, and his assistants had been busy fulfilling his requests. He’d always turned his focus to the next meeting, the next event, the next decision.
He rubbed his hair as he realised she was still sitting there, waiting for a reply, her eyebrows slowly lifting.
‘A hard time?’ He shook his head. ‘Not to my face. They wouldn’t dare.’ He sighed. ‘Most of those at the meeting today know to hold their tongue.’
No one had ever loitered, waiting for him to return, to ask him how his day had gone. That Kassie was dong so now touched him. He grimaced at his newfound neediness. If he told her that he liked it she’d probably call him out for being sexist or something—expecting to have a woman waiting for him at home. Truth was he didn’t ever expect to have that. He couldn’t ask someone for that. But all the same it was nice...just this once.
‘Because they’re afraid of you?’ she asked.
‘I hope not. I think they just know it’s pointless. We have work to be getting on with, we can’t be wasting time on...that stuff.’
‘So you just keep going with the “to do” list?’
‘Because the “to do” list is important.’
‘So is taking a break—you told me that yourself. Maybe this is a good time to take a break.’
He rather liked the contrary mix of subtle ribbing underpinned by gentle concern. It could be reciprocated.
‘How was your day?’ he asked, but he had to cough away the huskiness. Was he this unused to enquiring after someone? How socially inept was he in this level of simple intimacy?
‘It was good.’ Her smile was shy.
Well, that wasn’t enough of an answer. ‘What did you do?’
‘I went for a swim. I raided your library. I watched a movie.’ She listed them all off.
It still wasn’t enough. He wanted to know whether she’d truly had a nice afternoon. He wished he’d been here to see for himself.
‘A movie?’ He sat on the sofa arm and tugged off his tie. ‘What movies do you like?’
‘Action.’
He glanced at her keenly. There’d been a distinct sensual purr to that reply. ‘And now you want action of your own?’
‘Don’t you think you’ve kept me waiting long enough?’ She leaned closer with a confidential whisper, even as that blush swept across her beautiful face. ‘I’m ready to progress from the holding hands phase.’
He took her hand in his and felt the jolt of electricity. His entire body stiffened in anticipation. ‘Are you, now? What if I’m not?’
‘You’re the experienced one here—why do you need to prolong this? We don’t have all that much time.’
‘And you want to make the most of it?’
‘Do you blame me?’
She was going to kill him. She was so sweet, so eager, and so damn inexperienced. He released her hand to slide off the elastic tie securing her braid and slowly began to release the sleek twists of her hair.
‘Well, then, I should prepare you. We’re not going all the way tonight, Kassie.’
Her pout appeared. ‘Why not?’
Because that was what he’d decided. For her benefit and to prove his own self-control.
‘There are other things to take pleasure in first.’ He skimmed his hands down her arms.
Those bewitching deep brown eyes widened farther still, until they dominated her beautiful face.
His gut tightened. ‘Let me show you what I mean.’
He’d been longing to do this for days. To kiss every inch of her soft body. If she could put herself entirely into his hands now, then they’d find the ultimate pleasure when he finally claimed her completely.
He tried to take his time, to savour his first full taste of her, knowing that this was her initiation into this deliciously intimate delight. He tried to stay gentle. But the scent and sweet warmth of her, the unguarded, untutored response of her, made it impossible. As he finally peeled her panties to the side he glanced up, catching wariness and embarrassment, but also determination. And trust.
He vowed again, deep within himself, to help her conquer the instinctive resistance that she sought to overcome with soft kisses, firm hands and patience.
‘I have you, Kassie,’ he murmured as she shivered and squirmed beneath his touch. ‘I won’t hurt you.’ He wanted only to bring her pleasure. Suddenly it seemed to be his most important mission in life. ‘You can let me do anything.’
The softest sigh escaped her and those slender, long legs parted. He tasted the heated acceptance of her body with its slick welcome for his tongue. He kissed her, sucking softly on that small, sensitive bud. She stiffened and he heard her catch back her cry.
‘There’s no one to hear you but me,’ he muttered hungrily. ‘Don’t hold anything back.’
And then, to his intense satisfaction, she didn’t.
* * *
‘Kassie,’ he said softly. ‘Look at me.’
Panting, she obeyed, opening her eyes to look straight into his. That feeling was still spreading though her body, honeyed bliss seeping into every cell. Her smile blossomed and a laugh bubbled out of her. The exquisite feelings of lightness and happiness were uncontainable.
He brushed her hair back from her face and his expression softened. ‘Not so bad?’
Little aftershocks ricocheted around her body and she knew he felt them. He was holding her loosely. Carefully. Talking gently and ensuring she was centred. For just this moment—just this once—she fully appreciated the strength of his protectiveness.
‘What about you?’ She paused, realising he hadn’t had the same release she had. He was still aroused and unfulfilled. ‘Your...partners...they reciprocate in the same way?’
‘I don’t expect you to.’
That jarred. She didn’t want him treating her as anything less or anything more than his other ‘companions’. She sat up, realising that the King was on his knees on the floor in front of her. ‘What if I want to?’
Something flickered in his eyes and he slowly shook his head.
‘Consider this part of the exploration of my needs. I’m curious.’ She glanced down his body, still hidden in one of those damned perfect suits. ‘I want to understand how this works for you too.’ She wanted to know how he looked, how he felt, in that ultimately vulnerable moment. She didn’t want him to hold that back from her. ‘It’s only fair.’
‘You have a fixation with fairness.’
‘I want to explore everything about this attraction. All senses.’ Suddenly she was angry and embarrassed by his denial. ‘I don’t want you martyring yourself for me,’ she said harshly. ‘Making this all about my pleasure only—as if you getting me off somehow makes you a better person. Just because you’ve helped a poor frigid girl get to orgasm. I want you to want me. To have me the way you want to. To have the pleasure that I have. The way you want it.’
He stared at her, colour deepening in his face. ‘Kassie...’
‘I told you already,’ she whispered fiercely. ‘I haven’t got anything to lose here. I want what I want and how I want it. If you don’t want me the same way I want you, then walk away. I’m not going to be your charity case.’
He moved so quickly she sucked in a shocked breath. He savagely strained forward, pushing her back against the sofa, grinding his hips against hers.
‘Does this feel like I don’t want you?’
The rigid length of his erection dug into her stomach. Her toes curled. How was it that it took only this? Only a few words and a simple touch for her to be so aroused when she’d never been turned on before in all her life?
She trembled and gripped his hips as he lifted away from her. She wriggled beneath him, sliding lower until she slipped right off the sofa and was sitting on the floor, while he was up on his knees before her. She heard his muffled swearing and tilted her head so she could see up into his face.
‘Teach me,’ she said simply. ‘What do you want me to do? How can I please you?’
‘You only have to look at me like that and you’re halfway there.’ He looked into her eyes. ‘Kiss me,’ he muttered rapidly. ‘Touch me. I ache for you to touch me.’
She fumbled, butter-fingered, with his belt and zipper. Half-laughing, half-cursing, he helped her until his manhood jutted free. Her jaw dropped at the sight of him—the size. She licked her dried lips.
He groaned harshly. ‘Just touch me.’
His skin was flushed and she realised how near to the edge he was. And so she touched him. Gently at first, then with greater pressure as she felt him press against her. With one hand, then two. And then with her tongue.
Could she make such a strong and powerful man tremble? Power sluiced through her veins as she gained knowledge of him. She used her mouth, kissing him hard, sucking and stroking, taking him in as deeply as she possibly could.
‘Stop, Kassie.’ His fingers tightened painfully on her shoulders and he pulled her away. ‘Stop.’
‘Why?’ she demanded plaintively, desperately wanting to continue. Because that had felt good to her too. That had felt exciting. ‘Did I do it wrong?’
‘No.’ He shook his head, his breath shuddering.
‘But you didn’t...’
‘Not this first time.’
‘I’m not scared. I want to—’
‘Kassie.’ He hauled her up to sit on the sofa, so he could stare into her eyes. ‘I know what you want—and you’ll have it. But I have wants too. And I don’t want my release until I’m tight inside you. I want to lose myself in you. Right inside you.’ He rested his forehead on hers. His gaze was close and searching. ‘Kassie?’
‘Okay.’ Kassie’s pulse slowly settled and a poignant longing trickled into the lingering warmth. She wanted that too. She wanted that more than she’d ever wanted anything. ‘But why have you stopped?’
‘Because I told you before we started that we weren’t going all the way tonight. This is enough for now.’
‘No, it isn’t.’ Why on earth would he possibly think that this was enough? ‘I’m not going to regret this. I want you. I want this.’
‘Not tonight, Kassie.’
She stood up, a streak of coldness entering her bloodstream. ‘You think I’m going to change my mind.’
He too stood, and reached for her wrist, holding her close while keeping her away from him at the same time. ‘I’m giving you a chance. One last chance.’
She looked at him seriously. ‘I don’t need you to protect me in this way.’
‘Perhaps I’m protecting myself.’
She shook her head. He wasn’t. He was being the King—the decision-maker, the protector. The dominator. But she would forgive him this once, because she wanted what she knew he would give her in the end.
It wasn’t easy for him to walk away from her now. His chest rose and fell rapidly as she stepped away from him. His lips twisted, as if he were regretting her obedience. She wanted to tease him for that, in the same way that he’d teased her. The remnants of that languid feeling made her movements relaxed and assured. Confidence in her body soared. In their chemistry.
She suddenly turned back and strolled towards him. He didn’t move as she reached up and kissed him the way she’d learned from him—with all her aggression and desire—until she felt his tension snap and he jerked back from her with an audible gasp. The fire in his eyes should have alarmed her. Instead she sent him a soft smile of pure satisfaction.
‘Get to your room,’ he ordered huskily. ‘And lock the damn door.’
‘If I don’t?’ she murmured back. ‘Will you tie me to the bed?’
He stepped after her again, gripping her wrists and twisting her arms to pin them tight behind her back, pushing her body hard into his.
He retaliated just as she’d desired—kissing her with complete carnal dominance until she was breathing hard and begging. But he just stood there, his feet planted wide, his hands exerting such control—holding her fast even as he tormented her, reducing her to nothing more than a mass of need and pleasure just by using his mouth.
‘Go to bed, Kassie,’ he growled, and released her. He strode to the door, opening it and waiting for her to walk through it. ‘Go now.’
‘Why do you have to be so controlling?’ she whispered in reproof as she stalked past him. ‘You know I’m no threat to you.’
CHAPTER SIX
SHE WAS AN absolute threat. He needed to prove to himself that not all his control was gone. But in the smallest hours he lay wide awake. He was fooling himself. He had zero control left—and he was reduced to fantasising about how he’d make it the best for her, imagining all different scenarios and tying himself in knots.
What she’d asked of him was so personal, and it was a privilege that he refused to abuse. While it was a delight for him too, this was about her. Perhaps he
could even think of it as one little redress in the balance of guilt he carried.
Conceited jerk.
He threw back the sheet and stalked to get a fresh glass of water. As if he were doing her a favour! This was all for him. He wanted her in every way and he’d manipulated her into being here. Into staying. Into asking him to take her virginity. He’d done everything he could to get her in his grasp. Hell, he’d effectively kidnapped her from the hospital. The ‘pause’ he’d insisted on tonight was nothing more than a lame attempt to ease his conscience over yet another moment of guilt...
But it was buying her some time to ensure she truly wanted this, right? He figured nothing would make that decision clearer for her than being presented with it in the cold light of day. So he’d suffer through the agony of lust through the long, slow night. That was the least penance he could do.
* * *
Kassie woke late again, but she didn’t feel as rested; she felt hot and niggly. Needy. She wanted to confront him and provoke him into finishing what they’d started last night. She just didn’t quite know how. No doubt he’d be working already, anyway, and she’d have to wait through another whole torturous day.
He was high-handed. Arrogant. Honourable. Which was utterly annoying. Why did he have to be so protective? Why wouldn’t he throw caution to the wind and take this risk? What was it that had caused him to have such little trust in people?
Bothered, she got out of bed and picked a strawberry from the breakfast tray that had been delivered to her private lounge. She bit into the fruit and felt her body eagerly absorb the fuel, but those edgy fires still smouldered within her.
She slipped on the simple white bikini she’d borrowed from the collection in the pool room the previous day. It was the only one decent enough to cover her curves. She walked down the cool corridor to the cave that had been incorporated into the building. There she discovered that Giorgos wasn’t working. He was swimming lengths in the sheltered end of the crystalline pool. His movements were powerful and strong and, if her eyes weren’t deceiving her, he was swimming naked.
The King's Captive Virgin Page 10
