‘It’s not my back that hurts.’ He interrupted her nonsense.
Taking the hint, her gaze dipped to his lap. The blood pounded into his groin. He was as aroused now as he’d been during the depths of his nightmares.
She lifted her head.
Her pupils dilated, obliterating the rich amber of her irises. She was as aroused as him.
‘I…I see what you mean,’ she stuttered, desire colouring her skin.
‘We have had enough foreplay,’ he said.
He preferred to be open and honest with women about his appetites. When it came to sex, he never played games.
‘If you want me as much as I want you, we can take this ache away.’ He touched her cheek, not able to keep his hands off any longer, the heat rising at the way her breath hitched. ‘If you don’t, I will escort you back to the palace.’ He let his hand drop. He wasn’t usually so abrupt with women, but something about her made it hard for him to be subtle about his needs. ‘What is your choice?’
CHAPTER FIVE
I CHOOSE YOU.
‘I…I…’ Kasia stuttered, the heat in her cheeks nothing compared to the liquid tug in her sex.
Prince Kasim’s bold offer seemed to be genuine. With no ands, ifs or buts, just like the man himself.
The tug turned into a yank.
Not Prince Kasim… Raif. She corrected herself. Because he was the furthest thing from a prince at the moment. Even a desert prince.
He had no airs or graces, no polite manners, no etiquette. His desire was basic and unashamed, and so much more compelling because of that. His need was arrogantly displayed by the tension in his jaw, the direct gaze and the thick erection.
‘I don’t know what to say,’ she blurted out. Disconcerted by her own driving need.
She’d flirted with men before, even kissed a few. But she’d never been subjected to such a focused assault on her senses by a man like him—who was so bold and unambiguous.
Why did that seem refreshing, and yet disturbing?
‘It is a simple question, Kasia.’
Was it simple? Maybe it was to him. Because he had so much more experience. But she could hardly tell him she had never slept with a man before. It felt too revealing.
His lips quirked beneath the beard. ‘Let me make it simpler. Do you want me, Kasia? For I dreamed of having you last night.’
The raw declaration tugged at her romantic heart.
He cupped her cheek, and her breath seized, the rasp of his callused skin sending heat spiralling into her tender sex.
His thumb traced her cheekbone, then slid down her neck into the well of her collarbone. The rabbit punches of her pulse echoed in the sweet spot between her thighs.
‘I want to make you sob with pleasure.’ His thumb circled her breast through her T-shirt and bra. ‘To make your nipples ripen and swell beneath my tongue.’
Her nipples squeezed into peaks, as if already being subjected to the promised caress. She panted, unable to catch her breath under his intense gaze.
He chuckled, the sound arrogant, and so unbelievably hot she felt burned.
‘Tell me you want me, Kasia, and we can feed this hunger.’
‘Yes.’ The word popped out before she could stop it. ‘I want you.’
Surely this didn’t have to be wrong? They’d survived a sandstorm. They were young and alive. Their worlds might be miles apart, but here and now she wanted to feed the hunger, too. A hunger that had tantalised her all through the night.