Rakanti's Indecent Proposition
Page 22
“If you do not sit down I will make love to you right here,” he promised darkly, hoping she would stay standing.
It was like ice water on her libido. He’d be in for a rather nasty surprise. She collapsed into the chair, her whole body on fire. Did she need to tell him the truth? The actual truth? Or could she pretend she was experienced? Would he notice she was a virgin? She’d read so many conflicting reports she had no idea what to expect.
“Shame,” he said with a tight smile as he took his seat opposite her.
“So? What do I need to know?”
“Before coming to my bed, you will need to be … groomed.”
“Groomed? Are you fu… kidding me?”
“No.” He laughed at her outrage. “It is an ancient ritual of purification, not one of aesthetics. Women who are to make love to the Sheikh of Ishala are to be hairless. It’s an old custom that is supposed to prevent … unwanted complications.”
Her jaw dropped. “Let me get this straight. If I get all plucked like a chicken, that’ll stop me from getting pregnant somehow?” She slapped her palm to her forehead in an exaggerated gesture of mockery. “What a shame the western world doesn’t know this. Birth control stocks would plummet.”
“Very funny.”
She rolled her eyes. “What else?”
“Beyond that, I don’t know. You can tell me tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow night?” She swallowed, nervous suddenly. “You want this to start … so soon?”
His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. “Yes.”
“Oh.” She nodded. “So where do I go for my plucking?”
His lips twitched. “A servant will come to you in the morning.” He stood, and apparently feeling there was no further need for communication, crossed to the door.
“Wait. When do I … what time should I …”
“Nine o’clock,” he said, his hand on the door knob.
“Nine o’clock? What... I don’t even get dinner first?”
He raised his brows. “Do you want to share a meal with me, Jamila?”
Her heart turned over in her chest as she shook her head from side to side.
“Nine it is then.”
MARRYING FOR HIS ROYAL HEIR is available exclusively at Amazon, and can be read for free through Kindle Unlimited.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Clare Connelly grew up in a small country town in Australia. Surrounded by rainforests, and rickety old timber houses, magic was thick in the air, and stories and storytelling were a huge part of her childhood.
From early on in life, Clare realised her favourite books were romance stories, and read voraciously. Anything from Jane Austen to Georgette Heyer, to Mills & Boon and (more recently) 50 Shades, Clare is a romance devotee. She first turned her hand to penning a novel at fifteen (if memory serves, it was something about a glamorous fashion model who fell foul of a high-end designer. Sparks flew, clothes flew faster, and love was born.)
Clare has a small family and a bungalow near the sea. When she isn't chasing after energetic little toddlers, or wiping fingerprints off furniture, she's writing, thinking about writing, or wishing she were writing.
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