What kind of a bastard was he that he could lust after his wife when she was nursing their child? And had spent so many agonising hours in labour a scant three months ago?
‘Let me put Amal down,’ he said, needing to do something with his hands. He averted his eyes from the display of soft, tempting flesh as he lifted his daughter from his wife’s arms.
After rubbing Amal’s back until she gave a satisfying belch, he laid her gently in the crib beside her sister’s—amazed all over again at how small and defenceless his children were.
One day they would lead the Kholadi, because they were as smart and brave and strong as their mother—but as the pride rippled through him, so did the panic.
He forced his erratic heartbeat to slow down.
They were not ready to lead the Kholadi yet, or ride horses like his fearless niece Kaliah, thank goodness. He still had a few years at least before he had to worry about diplomatic incidents or broken necks.
‘What time is it?’ Kasia asked from behind him.
‘Just after ten,’ he said, keeping his eyes on his daughters until he could slow the blood flowing into his groin.
‘Are you returning to the Kholadi camp today?’ she asked.
‘No, tomorrow,’ he murmured, listening to the rustle of clothing. Was she undressing? The thought of her naked had a predictable effect, so he strode across the room to stare out of the window at his brother and sister-in-law’s suite of rooms across the courtyard.
Lunch wouldn’t be served for several hours. Perhaps he could interest his brother in a ride? Or maybe he would go alone. He needed to do something to take his mind off sex, and leave Kasia in peace to catch up on the sleep they’d both lost the night before.
‘Wonderful,’ she said. ‘That gives us two whole hours to enjoy ourselves in the bath I had Ahmed draw for us.’
He swung round, shocked at the seductive tone of her voice. His eyebrows launched up his forehead, and his jaw went slack as a punch of lust hit him firmly in the crotch.
She stood virtually naked, her lush body covered only by a diaphanous robe. He could see the dark outline of her erect nipples through the fabric, the curls covering her sex. His shaft stiffened to iron.
‘Kasia, what the hell are you doing?’
‘Seducing my husband. What does it look like?’ Kasia watched her husband’s eyes darken with lust as power, excitement and passion surged through her.
‘But you must sleep,’ he said, his voice a croak of barely suppressed agony.
She knew how he felt. She had recovered from the twins’ birth weeks ago, but he had not touched her since weeks before their birth.
She had acceded to his request that she have her children in the Golden Palace, instead of at their home on Kholadi land. She had even agreed—after much furious debate—to the compromise of staying in Zane and Cat’s home until the twins were four months old, having finally managed to beat him down from six.
She wanted to return to her own home with her children and her husband. But she understood how much the birth had taken out of him. He had been beside himself when she had been in labour, the fear in his eyes tangible. But she refused to avoid this issue any longer.
If she couldn’t return home for another month, she could at least have their sex life back. She was the one who had given birth—not him—and the doctor had given her the all clear a couple of weeks ago. But Raif was scared to touch her. She’d tried to give him time, tried to understand. They were both tired, two beautiful but demanding baby girls didn’t leave much time for them. But surely that was why they needed to seize every moment they could.
She wasn’t tired now, she was hungry. For Raif.
She untied the robe Cat had lent her for this seduction, and let the silky see-through material glide off her shoulders.
His nostrils flared, his eyes narrowing and his breathing ragged. The pounding length in his pants became all the more pronounced.
Holding her shoulders back, she allowed him to look his fill.
Her body had changed. Her stomach wasn’t as flat, her breasts not quite as firm, her hips more rounded—but the shyness deserted her as his eyes met hers, the hunger she could see in the chocolate depths as raw and potent as her own.
‘What’s the matter, Raif? Don’t you like what you see?’ she asked, bold and unashamed.
‘You know I do,’ he said, his voice husky with need.
The passion built, weakening her knees but not her resolve.
‘Then perhaps you would like to join me in the bath,’ she said, turning and walking into the adjoining bathing chamber, being sure to sway her hips to give him the best possible view of her backside. She heard him swear in Kholadi and smiled.