Johara smiled. ‘Remind me never to play if you’re in attendance.’
‘You play piano?’
‘Yes.’ She reached for another grape, but before she could pluck it from the vine he caught it and held it to her mouth instead, his eyes probing hers as he pushed it between her lips. Passion and desire were like flames, licking at the soles of her feet.
‘Strangely, it was one of the things I excelled at.’
‘Your dyslexia didn’t make it difficult for you to read music?’
‘Impossible.’ She laughed. ‘But I hear something and can play it.’
‘I’m impressed.’
‘Don’t be.’
He lifted another grape to her mouth.
‘It’s just the way my brain is wired.’
‘I want to hear you play.’
She leaned closer, pressing a kiss to the tip of his nose. ‘And yet, I just said I won’t play for you.’
‘And what if I ordered you to?’ His voice was mock-demanding.
She laughed. ‘You and what army?’
He moved closer, grabbing her wrists, pinning them above her head as he used his body to press her backwards. ‘Haven’t you heard? I’m King of all I survey.’
‘Including me?’ she asked, breathless, lying on her back with Amir on top of her, the weight of him so pleasing, so addictive.
‘Definitely you.’
‘Ah, but I’m not one of your subjects,’ she reminded him. ‘I’m the enemy.’
He stared at her, his look serious. ‘Not my enemy.’
It was strangely uplifting, but she didn’t want to analyse the meaning behind his statement, because it would surely lead to disappointment. She kept her voice amused.
‘My allegiance has to be earned.’
He smiled lazily, releasing one hand while keeping her wrists pinned easily in the other. He traced a line down her body, over her breasts, finding the peaks of her nipples and circling them before running his hand lower, and lower still, to capture the fabric at the bottom of the long dress she wore.
‘I can think of one way to ensure loyalty.’
‘Oh?’
‘Let me see, first, if you are a lady of honour.’
She laughed. ‘A what?’
‘If you are true to your word.’
‘Oh!’ Heat stained her cheeks. She held her breath as his fingers crept up the satiny skin of her inner thigh and found what he was looking for—nakedness. She had gone without underpants for him. And she’d hoped he’d remembered her parting statement, and that the thought had driven him as wild as it had her.
His answer was everything she’d hoped for.
‘Well?’ she asked huskily.