He gave a slow nod. “Go on.”
Josie looked down at her linen trousers and plain cotton blouse that had felt so good, but now seemed dowdy and dumpy. “She’s very glamorous. She wears tight red dresses and six-inch stiletto heels.” She ran a hand over her ponytail. “She has her hair styled every single day in a top salon.” She pressed her bare lips together. “And she wears makeup. Black eyeliner and red lipstick.”
He gave her a crooked smile. “Yes. Even when I wake up beside her in bed, her lipstick is perfectly applied.”
“What, you mean when you wake up in the morning?” Josie blinked, pulled out of her reverie. “How is that even possible? Do magic makeup fairies put lipstick on her in the middle of the night or something?”
He lifted a dark eyebrow. “Obviously, she gets up early, to freshen up her makeup and hair before I wake up.”
Josie dropped her fork with a clang against her plate. “Sheesh! What a waste of time!” She thought of how much she loved sleeping in on mornings she didn’t have to work. And if she happened to be sharing a bed with a man—a man like Kasimir—there surely would be better ways to wake up. Not that she would know. Her cheeks flared with heat as she pushed away the thought. She scowled, folding her arms. “You would never know the flaws of a woman like that. So long as she’s wearing lots of lipstick and a tight red dress, you don’t really know her at all.”
Kasimir stared at her in the moonlight.
“You’re right,” he said softly. “And that’s why I want you.”
Josie dropped her folded arms. “What?”
“More than I’ve ever wanted any woman.” He sat forward in his chair, his eyes intense. “I know your flaws. They’re part of what makes you so beautiful.”
She swallowed, looking down as she mumbled, “I’m dowdy and frumpy.”
“You don’t need sexy clothes for your natural, effortless beauty.”
“I’m a klutz.” She looked down at her empty plate, feeling depressed. “And I eat too much.”
“You eat the exact right amount for your perfect body.”
“My what?” She gasped out a laugh, even as her throat ached with pain. “You don’t have to sugarcoat it. I’m chubby.”
“Chubby?” He shook his head. “You drove me insane in your wedding dress. You taunted me in that sliver of white lace, teasing me with little flashes of your breasts and thighs until I thought I’d go mad.” Standing up, he walked around the table. “You have the type of figure that men dream about,” he said quietly. “And if you haven’t noticed, I’m a man.”
Kasimir stood over her now, so close their bodies almost touched. Her body sizzled as her lips parted.
“But I’m plain,” she whispered. “I’m naive and silly. I blurt out things no one cares about.”
He knelt beside her chair. “Your beauty doesn’t come from a jar.” He took her hand gently in his own. “It comes from your heart.”
His palm and fingertips were warm and rough against hers. And Josie suddenly realized that he wasn’t just being courteous. He wasn’t trying to give compliments to an honored guest. He wasn’t even flirting, not really.
He actually believed what he was saying to her.
A lump rose in her throat. How she’d longed to hear those words from someone, anyone, let alone a devastatingly handsome man like Kasimir....
But she couldn’t let herself fall for it. Couldn’t. She swallowed. Her voice was hoarse as she said, “I’m nothing special.”
“Are you joking?” His hand tightened over hers. “How many women would have spent their last money to cross an ocean—and agree to marry a man like me—just to save an older sister who’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself?”
Josie’s whole body was shaking. With an intake of breath, she pulled away. “Anyone would have—”
“You’re wrong.” He cut her off. “And that is what’s different about you. You’re not just brave. Not just strong. You don’t even know your own power. You are—” he kissed the back of her hand, causing a flash of heat across her body as he whispered “—an elemental force.”
Her body felt as if it was on fire. A breeze blew through the desert night, cooling her skin. Her heart pounded in her chest. She looked up at him.
The wind caught at his black hair, blowing it against his tanned skin, against his high cheekbones that looked chiseled out of marble in the silver moonlight and flickering glow of the lanterns.
“Now do you understand? Now do you believe?” he said softly. “I want you, Josie. Only you.”
He reached out to stroke her cheek, and the sensuality of that simple touch caused her whole body to shake. Against her will, her gaze dropped to his mouth. Could she...? Did she dare to...?
Kasimir’s hand dropped.
“But I will be true to my word. And I am almost glad you bound me by it.” He gave her a small, wistful smile. “Because we both know that you are far too good for a heartless man like me.”
Searching his gaze, she swallowed. “Kasimir—”
His expression shuttered. “You are tired.” Rising to his feet, he held out his hand. “I will take you back to the tent.”
But Josie didn’t feel tired. Every sense and nerve in her body was aware of the stars, the night, the desert. From a distance, she could hear the call of night birds. She breathed in the exotic scent of spice on the soft warm wind. She’d never felt so alive before. So awake.
Because of him.
Kasimir’s handsome face was frosted by moonlight, giving his black hair and high cheekbones a hard edge of silver. He looked like a prince—or a pirate—from a far-off time. Euphoria sang through her body, through her blood. Like an elemental force.
As if in a trance, Josie reached for his hand. Without a word, he led her down the sand dune towards the encampment. She was distracted by the feel of his hand against hers, by the closeness of his powerful body. Her feet were somehow as sure-footed as his as they walked lightly over the sand, down past the flickering torches blazing through the night, illuminating their path.
Kasimir led her into his private tent. They faced each other, and as they stood beside the enormous four-poster bed, which suddenly seemed to dominate the luxurious tent, Josie’s knees felt weak. Her lips felt dry, her heart was pounding.
He looked down at her with smoldering eyes, as if only a hair’s breadth kept him from pushing her back against the bed and covering her body with his own. As if some part of him were waiting—praying for her to say the magic words: Kasimir, I release you from your promise.
Josie clenched her hands into fists at her sides. And, in a supreme act of will, stepped back from him.
“Well,” she choked out. “Good night.”
He tilted his head, frowning. “Good night?”
“Yes,” she stammered. “I mean, thank you for our wedding night. I mean, our wedding feast. It was delicious. I’ll never forget how you tasted—I mean, how the tajine tasted.” Oh, for heaven’s sake. Squaring her shoulders, she cried out, “But good night!”
“Ah.” His sensual mouth curved at the edges. He took a step towards her. Josie almost lifted her arms to push him away. That was surely the reason she yearned to put her hands against his chest, to touch the powerful plane of his muscles through his djellaba and see if they could possibly be as hard as they looked. “Josie,” he murmured, “I don’t think you understand.” He leaned his head down towards her with a gleam in his eye. “This is my private tent.”
She licked her lips. “And you’re giving it to me as your guest? No.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t possibly accept. I’m not kicking you out of your bed.”
“Thank you.” His eyebrow lifted as he said evenly, “And I’m not going to allow you to run away.”
“What?” She jumped, flushed with guilt. “What makes you think I’m planning to run away?”
He put his hand over his heart in an old-fashioned gesture, even as his eyes burned through her. “If you run out into the desert alone, you will die in the sand.”
She swallowed nervously. “I would never...”
“Then give me your word.” In the dim light of the tent, lit by only a single lantern, his gaze seemed to see straight through her soul. He put his hand on her cheek.
“My word?” she echoed softly.
“As I gave you mine. Not just a promise. But your sacred word of honor—” his eyes met hers “—that you won’t try to leave.”
She sucked in her breath, knowing what a word of honor meant—to both of them. Her cheeks were burning as she licked her lips. “What would be the point? Do you really think I’m that much of an idiot to—”