Tempted by the Prince

by Elizabeth Lennox

  Unfortunately, even after leaving the meeting, they still weren’t alone. There was still the car ride back to the hotel, although sitting in the back seat, Tarin reached over and took her hand. It felt sweet and innocent, although she knew that it wasn’t. Looking up at him, she felt the spark of need in him mirroring her own.

  They were silent during the drive. Neither spoke in the elevator since they were surrounded by his body guards. Outside the suite, she waited for the guard to unlock the door, to check with the guards inside the suite. And then she waited while the guards vacated, finally leaving them alone.

  But the moment the door to the suite closed behind them, it was as if the magnetic forces of their bodies took over. She threw herself at him and he carried her to the bedroom, kissing her as she clung to him. Tumbling onto the bed, they frantically stripped their clothes off, touching each other as skin was revealed.

  When he entered her this time, she froze, feeling the incredible fullness and it was so blissfully prefect, neither of them wanted to move. Looking down at her, Tarin’s hands curved around her head, tangling in her hair. A moment later, he shifted inside of her, filling her up again, only to retreat. Rachel arched her back when he moved away, then wrapped her legs tighter around his waist. Again and again, he drove into her body, pushing their pleasure higher and higher.

  “Tarin!” she whispered, urging him to stop teasing. Unaware she did so, she dug her fingernails into his shoulders and he understood. After being apart for most of the day, there was a driving, demanding need for that blissful finale. He thrust into her, knowing how to move against her to maximize her pleasure.

  Rachel arched against his body, taking his thrusts into her as her body climbed to that peak, and…then she screamed as her body throbbed with a release so intense, she was blinded for several moments. Rachel felt him stiffen and she tried to increase his pleasure, but her body was just too far gone, too far into her own climax to help him.

  When he collapsed against her, Rachel wrapped her arms around his neck, keeping her legs around his waist. She beamed at the beauty of what he could give her every time they came together like this. It was incredible and wonderful. She loved him. After denying her feelings, even to herself, for so long, Rachel reveled in the knowledge that she loved Tarin el Raminar. She hadn’t wanted to fall in love with him, and when this was all over, she knew that she’d be shattered. But for this moment, she loved him with all of her heart and being.

  With that knowledge, she kissed his shoulder. His ear. His neck. Her fingers skimmed up his back to his shoulders, diving into the softness of his hair.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, lifting up onto his elbows.

  Rachel laughed, stretching languidly. “I’m better than okay now,” she told him, lifting her leg so she could rub her inner thigh along his hip.

  “I saw you watching me earlier today,” he growled, rolling over and heading for the bathroom. “I knew exactly what you were thinking,” and he disappeared. She heard the water running and stretched again, pulling the rumpled bedspread higher to cover her nakedness. He might walk around without inhibitions, but Rachel wasn’t so blasé.

  “And I could see the answering desire in your eyes,” she replied, smiling as she grabbed one of the pillows.

  He reappeared and climbed back into bed. “Yeah? So, that means you were thinking something. Care to share?” he asked, tugging the blanket away so that he could admire her nakedness unhindered. He slid his hands over her stomach in a sensuous, lazy pattern. That was one thing about Tarin that she really appreciated. He loved to touch. A lot of the time, it wasn’t even sexual. He just loved touching her. He preferred to have her snuggled against him while they slept. He loved touching her while they ate, maybe tucking her hair behind her ear, or as was the case Sunday night, they’d ordered pizza and ate it curled up together on the bed with one of his arms around her and his back as her pillow.

  She really liked this affectionate side of him. It told her that he liked her not just sexually; he also really liked just being with her. It made her feel all warm and gushy inside, which was a completely new feeling.

  “Are you ready to go home?” he asked as he pulled her into his arms.

  “No,” she sighed, snuggling closer and resting her hand on his ridged stomach, her head on his shoulder.

  He laughed and she felt it all the way down to her toes. “Me neither,” he kissed the top of her head. “Unfortunately, that was the last firm I wanted to talk with, so our preliminary work is done.”

  She contemplated that, wondering what would happen when they returned to Izara.

  “I don’t want this to end when we go back home,” he told her, reading her mind.

  She sat up, gazing into those amazing eyes of his. “You don’t?”

  A strange expression slipped across his face. “You think we’ll have had enough of each other after this?” he asked.

  She bit her lip. “No. I don’t think that will happen. At least, not on my side of this thing.” She didn’t add that she doubted she’d ever get over him, never get enough time with him. But he didn’t want to hear that. Not from her.

  And because she felt so strongly, she needed to show him. Instead of waiting for him to make the first move this time, she shifted, pressing against his chest until he was flat on the bed and threw her leg over his hips. “I don’t want this to end,” she admitted, kissing his chest, letting her hands slide along his muscles, feeling them ripple under her fingertips. “Not yet, anyway.”

  Tarin closed his eyes as her soft, tentative lips kissed his chest, hissing when she licked his nipples. Already, he was hard and ready for her. But this was pretty damn nice too. He loved the way she touched him, as if he were something special. Her fingers smoothed over his skin, sliding and exploring, her mouth following, her tongue darting out to taste him. He loved it. He loved every moment of her attention. Hell, he loved her!

  Tarin didn’t say that. Not yet. She’d run away if he admitted it. In her mind, it was probably too soon for declarations of love. But in his mind, he’d been in love with her forever. At least since that first day she’d walked into his office, asking sweetly for something Talia needed. He’d watched her flowered skirt swish around her legs, so demure and yet, so incredibly sexy!

  He hadn’t known about her love of sexy underwear back then, and never would have guessed. Knowing now, seeing the way other men looked at her, curious, as if they knew that she was more than just another pretty face, but not sure what it was about her that drew their attention, he wanted to laugh and shout with joy because he knew Rachel’s secrets.

  She hid herself underneath those flowered dresses and…he even liked that! He loved knowing her secrets and her desires, loved knowing that she gasped when he did certain things.

  He’d been floating for several moments, enjoying the way her fingers and mouth moved over his stomach. But he hadn’t been paying attention to her other hand…until her fingers wrapped around his shaft!

  He almost bolted upright, but those huge, green eyes looked at him, startled and suddenly unsure. “Yes!” he groaned, trying to give her encouragement. But already, he felt like he was going to explode.

  “What do you like?” she asked nervously, but with an eager look in her eyes.

  “Like this,” he rasped, taking her hand and showing her how to move it over his erection. He wanted her mouth on him too, but…! “Damn it Rachel!” he groaned, falling backwards as he felt her hot, wet mouth close over him. Her hand moved and her mouth surrounded him, her tongue caressing and…he couldn’t hold back!

  “Honey, I can’t…!” he tried to pull away, but her hand tightened on his shaft and she sucked harder and…he lost control. He exploded and he fell backwards, his hands gripping her hair carefully for fear of pressing her down too hard during the throes of a climax that was hard and fast and…mind-blowing!

  When he had his breath back, he opened his eyes to find her straddling him, watching him with that sexy s
mile that he loved so much.

  “Oh, you are so going to pay for that,” he warned a moment before he flipped their positions.

  “But…I thought you enjoyed it,” she protested, laughing when he grabbed her wrists and held them up over her head, guiding her hands to grip the headboard. His hands immediately cupped her breasts, his mouth covering that sensitive tip and sucking. Hard!

  He heard her gasp and didn’t relent, moving from one taut peak to the other, making her cry out and arch her body, which only pressed her breasts deeper into his mouth.

  Moving lower, he kissed and teased, all the while, pressing her legs wider.

  Tarin smiled when she tried to wiggle away from him. She knew what he was about to do. He’d done it to her before. Many times over the past several days. In fact, he loved teasing her core, watching her body come alive to his touch but not letting her reach that release until…until he’d brought her to the edge over and over again.

  “Please,” she sobbed, trying to get away. But as soon as he took his finger away, she grabbed his wrist.

  “You’re going to stay still, Rachel,” he warned, trying to hide his smile.

  “Yes!” she sobbed, pressing her hands against his shoulders until he felt the small pricks of her fingernails. “Yes. I’ll be still.”

  He knew that she wouldn’t be, but it turned him on when she tried…and failed.

  Moving closer, his mouth covered that nub, flicking it with his tongue and she screamed, fighting to remain still. He pulled away and she smacked her fists against the covers of the bed.

  “I won’t do it again!” she vowed.

  He laughed. “Yes, you will. I loved it. And so did you.”

  She lifted her head, glaring at him, and he lifted his eyebrows in question. “Then why are you doing this to me?”

  He slid a finger along the wet, glistening folds. “Because I like it.”

  She gritted her teeth and tried to pull back, sliding away from his mouth.

  He knew all her tricks though and grabbed her hips, pulling her back into position. “You know that’s not going to work, love.”

  “Please! I can’t take much more of this,” she begged, combing her fingers through his hair. He smirked, lowering his head again.

  “I think you can,” and with that warning, he moved closer. But this time, she was too close to the edge and she exploded against his mouth. He loved this, loved feeling her writhe in such an uninhibited way. With his mouth and fingers, he extended her pleasure until she sighed and he pulled back.

  Grabbing a condom, he rolled it down over his shaft, then settled himself over her again. “Tell me that you want me,” he ordered, pressing against her opening, but not entering her.

  She shuddered, wrapping her legs around him. Damn, he loved this woman!

  “I want you,” she whispered, lifting her hips to meet his thrust. “I want you so much!” she gasped as he pressed into her, filling her up until she arched into him, taking him even deeper into her body.

  Then he started thrusting, slowly at first, bringing her back to need. All too soon, she was exploding around him, her inner muscles clamping down on his shaft. Her climax took him right along with her and he filled her up, groaning with his own release.

  Chapter 11

  Over the next two weeks, Rachel fell further in love with Tarin. Every day, they worked together, and not just on the university project. He brought her in on several other major initiatives that he was working on. She felt as if she were part of the team, especially when he asked her for her opinion. Even his other advisors came to her for assistance, asking for feedback and for her organizational capabilities. She analyzed the financials for the various projects, offered her feedback, provided options, and felt more alive than at any other time in her life.

  At night, Tarin took her into his arms and made love to her. She never knew if their lovemaking was going to be wild and frantic, or slow and languorous. Every moment in his company was filled with pleasure of one kind or another.

  And after he’d make love to her, he’d turn on music, pull her into his arms and teach her about dancing. She learned the foxtrot and the two step, swing dancing and, one night, he showed her the tango.

  “It’s a love story,” he explained, guiding her into position.

  “A dance is a love story?” She looked at him with that teasing glint in her eyes.

  “Don’t mock,” he told her sternly. “This is a battle between the sexes, a love story of the ages.” He took her hands and placed one on his shoulder, the other in his own. “It’s all about a battle for control.” He stepped forward and she instinctively moved backwards. “A battle of love and hatred.”

  She laughed, but by now, she could anticipate what he would do merely by the way his hands felt on her skin. “A love story about hatred?”

  “Absolutely,” he replied. “The tango is about the dichotomy between emotions. Hatred and love. Happiness and sadness. Life and death. It’s a back and forth, with each emotion, each person, battling for control.”

  She stumbled a few times, but he merely steadied her against him, causing them to pause as their skin on skin contact aroused them.

  “I push you one way, then you push me back, forcing me to listen to you.” She moved forward, “pushing” him backwards. “And then I confuse you with a twirl,” and he spun her under his arm. She twirled again and again. “But I’m always there to unravel the mysteries,” and he caught her in his arms. “But you don’t want my power,” he explained and pushed her outward, their hands clasping as she extended her arms, “but our love is too strong and we can’t fight the battles of the world without each other.” He spun her back into his arms. “And then we’re back to the dance, again,” he explained, moving her forward, then himself backwards.

  By the time he dipped her at the end of the dance, arching her over his arm, she was breathless and more turned on than she could ever remember.

  “Kiss me, Tarin,” she whispered urgently.

  They didn’t make it to the bed that time and she gasped as he entered her. There was no more foreplay. Just the age old primal dance until they found their release in each other’s arms. As he lifted her up and carried her to bed, she leaned her head against his shoulder.

  “Who won?” she asked sleepily, snuggling up against him as her eyes drifted closed.

  Tarin watched her fade off to sleep, his heart hammering against his chest. “I did,” he murmured, turning off the light and holding her until the early hours of the morning, enjoying her soft breath on his skin as he considered the various ways he might convince her to stay with him. Forever.

  Chapter 12

  Rachel hummed as she walked into her office. She’d been with Tarin for more than a month now and she felt happy. Amazingly happy. She kept trying to find some other word for how she felt, but every time she tried to define her life right now, that word kept popping up. Happy.

  The phone ringing brought her out of her happy haze and she lifted the receiver. “This is Rachel Morris,” she replied.

  “Ms. Morris,” a deep voice replied, “This is Sargent Kingsley at the security office. You have visitors that aren’t on our list.”

  His voice was admonishing and Rachel wondered who would dare to arrive at the palace without an official invitation. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Kingsley, but I didn’t invite anyone. Whoever…?”

  “They identified themselves as your family members. Denise Morris?” He prompted. “And your mother, Pamela Morris and father, Mark Morris.”

  Rachel went cold. “My family?” she whispered blankly. “That’s impossible! They live in Georgia. They aren’t…”

  “Their identification has an Atlanta, Georgia address. Please come to the security office to identify these people.”’ And with that, the man hung up the phone, obviously irritated that someone who worked in the palace hadn’t followed the strict security protocols.

  “Rachel, I don’t think that…” Tarin paused a foot away from
her desk and frowned, trailing off when he saw her expression. “What’s wrong?” he demanded, dropping the file and coming around to pull her into his arms. “What’s happened? Are you hurt?”

  She wound her arms around his waist. “I’m not hurt,” she told him. At least not physically, she added silently.

  “You’re shaking! Tell me what’s wrong!”

  He waved to his bodyguards, three of whom stepped into the office, scanning the room for threats.

  “No!” she gasped, embarrassed. “I’m fine,” she assured him.

  He stepped back to peer down at her, his hands gripping her upper arms gently, but firmly. “You’re not fine. You look like you’ve seen a ghost and you’re shaking like a leaf.”

  She laid a hand on his chest. “I’m sorry. I just…I got a call from the palace security and…,” she closed her eyes. “My family is here. I wasn’t expecting them. I’m so sorry.”

  He looked down at her, not really understanding. “Your family? Here?”

  “Yes,” she replied, her legs going numb. This wasn’t good, she thought. If Tarin saw Denise…he’d be enthralled. Denise had always been the beauty in her family. Denise was lovely and vivacious and wonderful. Denise was the charmer. Rachel always felt like a shadow whenever Denise was around.

  “Go collect your family,” he ordered a guard. “Escort them to my office.”

  “No!” she gasped, pulling away, unaware that she was starting to hyperventilate. “I should go. I’m sorry, I’ll just…!” Rachel wasn’t sure what to do, panic was clouding her thoughts. “I’ll find out why they are here and I’ll get them settled.” She tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to hide her fears.

  “Why not bring them here?” he offered. “They can dine with us at the palace tonight.”

  She shook her head. “No, I don’t want to impose,” she protested, feeling as if she’d suddenly reverted to formal manners, but she couldn’t help it. Her old habits were coming back to her and she couldn’t fight the instinctive need to hide.