“Fine,” she whispered, so quietly that her word was carried away into the night.
Zayn pressed a finger beneath her chin and lifted her face, so that her eyes had to meet his.
“Don’t look like that,” he muttered.
“Like what?”
“Like your world is ending.”
It wasn’t. Julia knew it was all just beginning; that her life until this moment had been a preparation for this. But the knowledge that this man really did own her, body and soul, was making her uncertain. After all, he saw this as a necessary completion of their contract, and she was burning with desire.
And so she tried to remember to be brave, and to keep her feelings secret and safe. “We had a deal, Zayn, and I’m prepared to honor it.”
His eyes flared at her meaning, but there was a kernel of frustration inside of him that just wouldn’t go away. What did he expect? For her to fall into his bed and declare her love for him? She’d never loved him, and she’d certainly found a replacement for him in double quick time, so why did he expect her to fall at his feet now?
She would be screaming his name soon. That had to be enough.
He surprised them both when he scooped down and lifted her against his chest, so that he could carry her to the matrah. As soon as her body connected with his, he felt an instant stirring of need.
“I have waited a long time for you,” he said gruffly as he placed her down. “Longer than I’ve ever waited for anyone.”
Julia’s bobby pins dug into her hair and she lifted a hand t
o pull them loose but Zayn stilled her.
“Allow me,” he said, straddling her and then reaching towards her hair so that he could slowly ease each metal binding from its place. There were several, but eventually he had eased her hair from its confines and arranged it so that it floated like a cloud around her face.
Her hair had always made him ache. It was so dark it was almost like ebony, but silky and smooth, so that he wanted to run his hands through it endlessly.
“You were wrong about me,” she said, and because she needed him to understand her, she put her hands on either side of his face, and rubbed her fingertips along his stubbled jaw.
“How so?”
“I think this is one of the most beautiful rooms I’ve ever seen. If you honestly think I’d prefer luxury to this, then you don’t know me at all.”
Something dangerous sparked inside of him. He resolutely ignored it. He had one objective and one thought. Deliberately, he brushed her comment aside, “Perhaps now. It’s still a novelty. I’m sure you’ll be running for five star comfort before too long.”
She ground her teeth in annoyance. He was obviously resolved to think the worst of her.
Zayn ran his hands along her smooth, shapely legs, until he grazed the flimsy cotton briefs she wore. He slid them down swiftly, not allowing himself time to think, nor to second guess what he was about to do. He had been raised to respect women. He had enjoyed a bachelor’s life, and enjoyed the company of many women in his bed, but he had never forced nor bullied nor contracted any of them. But anger towards Julia and her betrayal of him made him forget all that. He had wanted her for a long time, and waited patiently for his moment. This was it.
She was very still and watchful beneath him, as he eased himself away for just long enough to undress.
Julia gasped when she saw his naked body for the first time. He was stunningly fit; all broad muscles and dark, supple skin. His erection was enormous, and it scared the heck out of her, but she couldn’t look away. Her complete absorption earned a chuckle from Zayn, as he returned to lay on top of her. “That’s positive,” he drawled, “but there will be time for looking later. For now, I want you to feel.”
And he pressed his lips to hers, while his hands worked to free her from her dress. It was not easy, but somehow, he pulled it until she was exposed and naked beneath him. Later, Julia would discover that the dress had been ripped beyond repair but in that moment, she was aware of nothing but the feel of his hands on her skin, as he felt every inch of her. His tongue roamed where his hands had left off, and a fever pitch of need screamed inside her.
“Zayn,” she groaned, as the tip of his penis nudged at her core. She needed him, but she needed him to know that she was not experienced. Not in any way. She tried to focus her mind, but his teeth were grazing her nipple, making any thought or speech impossible. She lay back down against the soft mattress and surrendered to the wave of sensation that was roaring through her.
She wanted him, and he was glad. But he couldn’t get the pictures out of his mind. Photographs of her with her friend Andrew, when she had been committed to him, Zayn. He had sworn to himself that day that he would make her pay, but, in a moment of stark clarity, he realized this was not the way. His feelings were more complex than even he understood, but he knew that making love to her now was unforgivable. If he thought there was a chance that he might ever want a genuine relationship with this woman, he couldn’t expect her to be able to justify what he’d been intending to do.
He couldn’t expect her to forgive him for taking her body when he’d used money to buy it.
With an oath, he pulled away from her. She looked like he’d robbed her of something. Her face was a study of shocked disappointment as she registered that his body was no longer in contact with hers.
“What… what happened?” She asked, her eyes drawn of their own accord to his still taught body.
“I have never paid for sex. I realize now that it doesn’t appeal to me.” He turned away from her and walked across the floor, so that he could stare at the twinkling lights of the city below them.