by Opal Carew
But she had.
Kadin crouched in front of her and Angelica stiffened, but he simply released her left ankle, then the right.
He stood up. Her limbs had been freed, but she stood frozen against the wall, unable to pass because he stood in front of her.
"If you have learned your lesson," he said, a half smile tracing his lips, "then I will provide you with something to wear other than the blanket."
"Lesson?"
His smile broadened.
"Will you promise not to tear off the clothing I provide?"
She nodded. "As long as you promise the same thing."
He roared in laughter and stepped aside to let her pass.
"It will be as you wish."
He stretched out his right arm, signaling her to go ahead. She wasn't comfortable knowing he would be behind her, watching her naked butt as she walked, so she hesitated, her gaze downcast. He leaned down and a second later, she felt smooth silk slip over her skin as he wrapped a yellow coverlet around her shoulders. It was from the pile of cushions a few feet from the chains that had held her prisoner. It had covered a thin, flat pad to provide comfort from the hard, wooden floor.
Her fingers clamped around the fabric and pulled it close. He gestured her forward again and this time she went. Once in the other room, she saw another harem costume laid out on one of the couches, this one in lavender and rich purple, with iridescent beads.
"Although I have seen you totally naked, you probably wish that I turn around while you dress, yes?"
"Yes."
Why was he being so cooperative all of a sudden?
He turned and she quickly pulled on the skimpy thong and skirt, then fastened the belt around her hips. When she tried to fasten the bra, however, she ran into problems. She could not manage the strange hooks on the heavily beaded, snug fitting garment. She struggled and struggled.
"Is there some problem?" he asked.
"I … can't seem to … get this … uh … top fastened."
He chuckled. "May I be of assistance?"
"Uh … Maybe one of the women ..."
"Nonsense."
He turned around and she clamped her hands tighter on the bra, which currently hid her breasts but she had an irrational fear that it would fall off. Irrational mostly because he'd already seen all she had.
He stepped toward her. She stared up at him and he stared down at her.
"Well?" His eyebrow arched upward.
"What?"
He made a circular motion with his finger and she realized he wanted her to turn around. Duh. Her brain really had come unhinged.
She turned around and his large, masculine fingers touched her skin and a quivering sensation shimmered down her back. Within two seconds, he had the bra fastened. Then his fingers stroked along the band, lightly, caressing her skin, sending her common sense fleeing as she longed for him to slide his hands around her and cup her breasts. She tugged on the sides of the bra to ensure it was secure and stepped forward, putting an end to the sensuous spell of his touch.
"Now, let me look at you."
"Are you really giving me a choice?"
He touched her shoulder lightly, sending shivers of awareness through her.
"I want your permission."
She hesitated. She could refuse, but where would that get her? On the other hand, if she gave her permission, would he take it as something more?
She sighed and gave a single nod.
His gaze caressed the length of her body, sending heat burning along her skin. As his gaze settled on the curve of her breasts, pushing out the top of the bra, she could barely stand still.
"You've already seen me naked," she snapped.
"Yes, and that was very … arousing, but a garment such as this adds a different level of allure. The way it pushes your bosom up. The way the cascade of beads caresses the delicate skin of your abdomen. The way your long, shapely thighs peek out from the flowing fabric of the skirt.
Her cheeks flushed at his words. They made her feel sexy and attractive, despite embarrassing her. She wasn't used to feeling sexy. As his gaze began to travel again, she realized she wanted him to look at her. Wanted him to find her attractive.
This was crazy. Here she stood, enduring … no, luxuriating … in his perusal and the way it made her feel. Silently, she prayed he would sit down first so she could pick a seat far away from him. Finally, he placed his hand on the small of her back, sending more tremors through her, and guided her forward.
"Sit here, Angelica."
She sat on the couch he indicated, then he sat beside her. He clapped his hands together and an array of servants appeared carrying a multitude of covered dishes. They set up a low table in front of Kadin and her, and one of the servants placed a tall candelabra on the table. The lights dimmed as the woman lit the candles, filling the room with a warm glow. Soon the table was filled with serving platters full of spicy, colorful foods. Angelica didn't recognize any of them, but the lovely aromas set her mouth watering. Someone poured wine from an ornate, glass decanter into tall, crystal goblets. Finally, all the servants left. One covered dish remained and she glanced at him and raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, that," he said. "I wasn't sure if you would enjoy our cuisine so I had this brought in." He lifted the lid and, underneath, was a McDonald's Big Mac, fries, and a milkshake.
It looked so out of place among the elaborate feast he'd set out. She covered her mouth with one hand, stifling a giggle.
"They have such … restaurants … at the airport." He tipped his head and his expression grew taut as he noticed tears escaping her eyes. "Have I displeased you?"
"No." She wiped a tear of suppressed laughter from her eye. She hadn't meant to insult him, but so much had happened to her in the past twelve hours that the thought of some sultan, or whatever he was, buying her fast food at the airport and placing it amongst this scrumptious feast, all while punishing her, had just sent her over the edge.
In fact, she found the gesture rather sweet.
"It was very kind of you, but I would far prefer the other dishes that I'm sure your … staff has spent a lot of time preparing."
There. Maybe that would make up for her potentially insulting behavior.
He nodded his head and smiled. She seemed to have pleased him. Why did she find that thought pleased her?
He smiled. "Good."
Approval lit his charcoal eyes, unnerving her a little. She reached for the goblet of wine and took a sip. Red wine wasn't her favorite, but this one was superb, and it warmed her stomach and relaxed her frazzled nerves. She took another sip.
He helped her select foods, recommending various dishes. She sipped wine and ate, enjoying everything he offered. Finally, her stomach sated, the warmth of the wine talking the edge off her nervousness, she sat back and sighed.
"Ah, but you have left room for something sweet, have you not?"
He smiled and lifted a bunch of red grapes from one of the platters. He pulled one from its stem and lifted it to her mouth. He stroked it across her lips, sending a delicious tingling along the sensitive skin. She parted her lips, and he eased the grape into her mouth. She bit through the skin and the sweet nectar burst into her mouth.
Gently, he grasped her hand, surrounding it in warmth, and guided it toward him. She stiffened, wondering what he was going to do, and relaxed as he placed a grape between her fingers then drew her hand to his mouth. As he guided her to stroke the small globe against his lips, the tip of his tongue slipped out and teased her fingertips for a second before he grasped the grape in his teeth and drew it into his mouth. He freed her hand and plucked another grape, then touched it to his tongue, moistening it. He brought it to her mouth and stroked it across her lips. She imagined it was his mouth touching hers. She flicked out her tongue and touched the grape, wishing she was touching his tongue.
Encouraged, he lifted her hand and grazed his tongue across her palm. She sighed at the exquisite feel of him. He kissed along h
er forearm, then nuzzled the inside of her elbow. She melted back against the cushions. A moment later, he progressed to her shoulder and kissed her neck, sending her senses into a spiraling tornado of need.
She wanted him to kiss her, wanted his lips to ravage hers.
How could she allow this? How could her body want this unreasonable man?
Chapter 6
Kadin paused to sip his wine and watched the lovely Angelica relax against the cushions. The soft swell of her bosom rose and fell with her breathing.
She had to be the sexiest woman in the world. He had barely been able to contain himself when she had been bound against the wall and his women had touched her. He had almost burst at the erotic sight of her in the full glory of orgasm.
She reached for her wine and sipped, watching him. He thought about pressing his lips to the soft swell of her breasts, of freeing those breasts and capturing one enchanting nipple in his mouth. Of licking it, then sucking lightly, and feeling it harden and pebble in his mouth.
"You're going to have to force me, you know?" she said flatly. "If you insist on this punishment of yours."
His gaze darted back to her face and his eyes narrowed. He remembered the books she'd carried in her purse. Clearly, the idea of being captured and forced to submission turned her on. The thought occurred to him that maybe she was suggesting he do just that. Force her. As in, role-playing.
Maybe she wanted him to take on the role of dominating her. He had to admit, playing a game such as this appealed to him.
He beset a fierce expression on his face and dragged her toward him. His lips captured hers with a mastery meant to take her breath away. And it did.
Her soft lips moved delicately under his. His groin clenched and his cock, already in a state of semi-arousal, grew harder. Her delicate breath brushed against his face and he inhaled it, wanting to consume her.
She wanted him to force her, he was sure. He grabbed her wrists and pushed her down onto the couch while he nipped her neck, then kissed down her chest, anticipating the feel of her glorious breasts in his mouth. She made tiny protests, vague whimpers in a gasping voice that merely fueled the fire in his blood.
His lips climbed the mount of her glorious breasts. He shifted her left wrist against her right and held both in one hand, freeing his other to pull back the edge of the fabric of her bra. Fully into the play, she struggled beneath him. Her bared breast shared the secret of her real feelings, however, the nipple standing tall and proud, inviting him to touch it.
He covered it with his mouth, stroked it with his tongue. She was such a delicious, sinfully sexy woman. She began to struggle harder, protesting louder.
"No. Don't."
"But I am your master," he asserted, in a commanding voice. "You must bend to my will."
He freed her other nipple and sucked it deep into his mouth. She moaned, a sound of pure pleasure, in total contradiction to her mock protests.
He needed both hands free, so he decided to bind her. That way she could still struggle. Not wanting to go in search of cuffs, he sat on her hips, pinning her firmly between his legs, and twisted around to grasp the bottom of her skirt and tear off a strip. She gasped.
He tried to grab her wrists but she kept pulling them away.
"No. Let me go."
Finally, he captured them firmly and wrapped them tightly in the silk fabric, then tied the other end to the leg of the heavy marble table beside the couch. She was magnificent as she struggled against the bond, her cheeks flushed, her silky chestnut hair wild like a temptress.
"Please stop."
He would have believed her plaintive cries if her nipples weren't so hard and pebbled and if she didn't have a look of yearning in her eyes. Still, the sounds disturbed him. He didn't want to ruin the mood by asking her to stop so, remaining in character, he tore another strip from her skirt and tied it around her mouth, securing it with a tight knot.
She shook her head wildly back and forth while he reached around behind her and unfastened her bra. In seconds, her breasts sprang free, the lovely mounds bouncing with her movements. He grasped one with both hands, and laved it with his tongue, starting around the edge of the aureole, then spiraling in to the center, until he captured the hard peak of her nipple. He lapped with his tongue, and then sucked hard. She gasped, the fabric of the gag curving into her mouth. He smiled at her, caressed her other breast, then sucked on that quivering nipple.
She arched her hips as though trying to buck him off, surprising him with her strength. He moved down her thighs, pinning them tightly between his knees, and then removed the beaded belt around her hips. He tugged away what was left of the skirt. He'd hated to ruin the enchanting garment, but it was worth it.
Now, she lay before him wearing only the skimpy lavender panties. He admired her body, his gaze gliding from her hips, over her navel, up her stomach to her breath-taking breasts, then came to rest on her face.
Then her cheek. And the single tear streaming down it.
He froze.
"Angelica, you are an excellent actress. You could almost make me believe …"
She shook her head wildly and his chest tightened. Had he made a mistake?
He unfastened the gag and removed it.
"Why are you doing this to me? It's not fair. I didn't do anything wrong!" She sobbed and tears streamed freely from her eyes.
His chest constricted. What had he done?
"Angelica. I didn't mean to …" As he spoke, he reached out to stroke her cheek but she dodged her head back, cringing.
"You're afraid of me?"
"What do you expect? You're attacking me!"
"But this is just a game."
Anger filled her eyes.
"Maybe to you. You have all the power."
He untied her wrists, but annoyance flooded through him. Her body had reacted to him. He knew she'd been enjoying his kisses. His caresses.
"You have wanted me right from the beginning," he retorted.
"Why you arrogant—"
"Then you began the role-playing."
"That's what you thought? Why would you?"
"I read the books in your purse," he responded.
Her jaw dropped open.
"You went through my purse? How dare you?"
He glared at her.
"Silence!"
At his commanding tone, her mouth clamped shut and her eyes widened.
"You were aroused by everything I was just doing."
"I was n—"
"Silence!"
He glared at her until her erratic breathing calmed and he was fairly certain she wouldn't interrupt him again.
"I will not force you to have sex with me, I don't need to force a woman, but you have wronged my family and me and you will have to pay that debt somehow." Angelica stared at the devil-man, her insides twisting. He stood up and stormed toward the doorway, leaving her mostly naked body sprawled on the couch.
The adrenaline pumping through her like rocket fuel at Kadin's aggression had subsided when he'd backed off, but now it flooded her system again as a new fear rocked her.
Would he imprison her after all? Is that what Kadin had in mind for her?
Kadin stormed into his room, and threw himself into a large, upholstered chair, and stared out the window at the night sky, seething. As the stars glittered in the blackness, his anger subsided and guilt pushed through him.
He had frightened the poor, young woman when he had only meant to please her. He pushed himself to his feet and paced, his hands clasped behind his back. What kind of fool was he? He knew nothing of these sorts of games.
The memory of Angelica arching beneath him, her hips pressing up against his groin, set his cock throbbing. It had been very stimulating. Certainly learning would be well worth the effort, but his first attempt had failed miserably.
He had frightened her. His jaw clenched. That thought brought out a fierce protectiveness he had never experienced before. His hands clenched into fists. Damn
it. He wanted to protect her from himself!
What kind of fool had he been to get involved with the woman who had been involved in Dhiya being taken from him?
He approached the open window, and then leaned against the ledge, breathing in the sultry night air, the fragrance of exotic blossoms from the garden below caressing his senses.
Did he really still believe Angelica could be involved in a plot to kidnap his beloved Dhiya? His heart told him 'no,' but was that just because of the profound attraction he felt for Angelica? Was he just convincing himself that the sweetness he saw in her was real, rather than a clever façade executed by an expert actress.
He crossed his arms and stared at the full moon.
Luckily, he didn't have to make that decision now. The team of security people he'd sent in search of Dhiya would find her and bring her back, then the truth would be revealed. For now, he would keep a close eye on Angelica.
He pushed himself to his feet and strode toward the door. In fact, he would not let her out of his sight.
Chapter 7
Once Kadin left, the same woman who had brought Angelica to Kadin's quarters led her back to her own. The woman, who introduced herself as Naja, helped Angelica strip off the costume, frowning the whole time at the torn skirt, and then took the outfit away with her, clearly believing Angelica couldn't be trusted with it.
Angelica slipped on the gown the woman left for her, then climbed under the silk covers of the large, four poster bed, and tried not to think about her ordeal with Kadin, nor her worries about what would happen to her. Once the adrenaline subsided, she fell into a light sleep.