Shock showed in those dark eyes and his hand tightened reflexively around hers. ‘But you weren’t a virgin.’
It was a statement, yet she heard the echo of a question there.
She shook her head. ‘No, but I was in a long-term relationship. I’d planned to marry and in the meantime...’ She shrugged.
There was silence for a moment. ‘So you’ve only been with one man before me?’
Salim looked so serious, so surprised, almost as if he’d never heard of such a thing, that Rosanna fought a smile. ‘What can I say? I’ve always been more interested in finding a man I can love rather than someone for a short fling. It’s not a crime, you know.’
He blinked and sat straighter as if suddenly realising how close he’d leaned towards her. ‘Of course not. I admire you.’
‘But that’s not your experience.’
‘Searching for love? Never. Until now sex without commitment has been enough for me.’
Well, she’d wanted honesty. Rosanna opened her mouth to ask if he expected love to grow in his marriage, then thought better of it.
‘And from your considerable experience, you believe that if we have an affair, this—’ she waved her hand in an encompassing gesture ‘—will burn itself out?’
Perhaps she was naïve but it didn’t feel like something that would disappear fast. But then she was a novice, she had discovered, to such extreme sexual pleasure. She’d have to rely on Salim’s expertise.
‘Definitely.’
He sounded absolutely certain. That was a relief, though a tiny part of her almost regretted it.
‘Good. That’s good to know.’
‘You don’t sound convinced.’
She shrugged and looked away. ‘You’re right that we need to move on. But at the same time I rather liked...’
‘Oh, so did I, Rosanna.’ His voice ground to a rough note that ran through her middle like suede brushing sensitive skin, making her quiver. When he spoke again there was a hint of amusement as well as a definite promise in his tone. ‘But don’t worry. There will be plenty more pleasure before we’re finished, I can absolutely promise that.’
Her head snapped around and their eyes met. What she saw in his expression made her chest grow tight and her body soften.
Rosanna swallowed hard, trying to appear calm despite the heat flushing her cheeks and the suddenly altered atmosphere. Was it a new scent in the air? A thickening weight to the momentary silence? Or the burgeoning excitement through her whole nervous system as she fought not to lean into him and offer her lips to his. She was aware of the air caressing her skin with each breath she took, of the sensitivity in her breasts, belly and lower still that spoke of arousal.
It wasn’t just a kiss she wanted. Sitting half-naked next to Salim was torture. She wanted to touch him. Wanted that powerful body moving with hers, the sound of his breathing hoarse in her ear as he came, and took her with him into ecstasy.
‘You’re doing it again,’ he growled.
‘Doing what?’
‘Looking at me the way you did before. Like you want me to ravish you.’
Yes, please.
But she didn’t say it, because her mouth had turned desert dry at the gleam in his dark eyes.
‘How long will it take?’
‘Sorry?’ He looked startled and she couldn’t blame him. Dragging her mind back to the thread of their conversation was almost impossible.
‘This affair. How long till we can...conquer this?’
‘Ah. The time frame for our affair.’ Did he move closer or did she imagine it? ‘I’d like to say a month but I don’t have much time available. What we need is to be together day and night, sating ourselves. A stolen hour here or there just won’t do it.’
Rosanna took a slow breath and nodded, trying not to look shocked at the prospect ofsating themselves. It sounded decadent and intoxicatingly tempting.