‘I... I had no idea!’ Tori’s eyes rounded. ‘Why didn’t you say?’
‘Foolishly, I thought you might feel pressured. As if I were encroaching by wanting to help out if Oliver had teething pains.’
Strange how he missed those night-time sessions, pacing the floor with a fractious baby. But holding his son in his arms, knowing he was building a bond that would last a lifetime, had stirred new and incredibly strong emotions.
Those hours in Tori’s home, watching her feed Oliver, doing what he could to ease the burden, had held an intimacy and significance against which everything else paled. Even his royal responsibilities couldn’t eclipse that.
Tori unwrapped her arms and the towel slid off, revealing her bikini-clad body, but she didn’t notice. She stared as if she’d never seen him before.
‘And I haven’t introduced you to people at court yet because I respect your wish for privacy. You insisted this was a private visit, to test the waters. Youknow—’ his voice ground low ‘—that I want to introduce you as my future bride.’
Ashraf’s lungs tightened again at all her unjust accusations.
‘I am not and never will be ashamed of either you or our son.’ He paused, giving her time to absorb that. ‘Yes, I’ve faced prejudice because of my father’s attitude. No, I don’t want Oliver to suffer anything like that. But I’m notafraidof public opinion.’ He barely restrained his bitter laughter. ‘I’ve lived with scandal so long I’m used to it. Most of the time it’s in the minds of others rather than based on something I’ve actually done.’
Deliberately he moved into her personal space, leaning so close that her evocative scent blurred his senses.
‘I want to marry you to give Oliver the best start in life. Not because I’m scared of tittle-tattle.’
‘Ashraf, I—’
‘And you haven’t received a written invitation to the reception because I wanted to invite you myself. It’s a perfect chance for you to see something of my culture, meet people and enjoy yourself. I wanted to give you time to rest and acclimatise before mentioning it.’
He’d been sure his painfully patient approach would bear fruit. That Tori would see the wisdom of his proposal and accept. It appeared patience wasn’t working.
Tori blinked up at him. Finally she cleared her throat, moistening her lips in an unconsciously provocative movement that, to Ashraf’s annoyance, shot a bolt of lust through him.
Even angry, he wanted this woman. Even after she’d questioned his honour and tested his patience to the limit.
Eyes the colour of a soft spring sky met his. ‘I’m sorry, Ashraf. I got it completely wrong.’
‘You did.’
Indignation still ran like a living current under his skin, heating his blood. This woman drove him crazy. She fought him over things that were, in his opinion, patently obvious, yet at other times was so reasonable it surprised him. Like accepting his need to see Oliver immediately and to be involved in his life.
And it wasn’t just her contrary reasoning that exasperated him. Her ability to ignore the rampant attraction between them was unprecedented and provoking. Whilehe, damn it, was distracted by the sight of those lush breasts rising and falling beneath the skimpy triangles of fabric. And the gleaming abundance of slick, pale skin.
‘I should be thanking you, not accusing you.’
She lifted her hand to his sleeve. Ashraf stilled. Her touch was light, barely there, yet he felt it acutely.
‘It’s no excuse but, nice as it is to relax, I feel dislocated, cut off from work and home. I’ve overreacted. Can you forgive me?’
A huff of laughter escaped Ashraf. ‘I don’t suppose you feel chastened enough to marry me?’
Her eyes widened, as if he’d suggested something shockingly debauched instead of honouring her with a proposal that would make her a queen and the envy of half the women in Za’daq.
The anger that her apology had quenched spiked anew. Impatience surged.
‘Is that a no?’
He turned his hand, capturing hers. His fingers encircled her wrist and he detected the wild pulse hammering there. Was she really so timid? Or was that arousal?
Ashraf was tired of tiptoeing around Tori’s doubts. Tired of waiting. Tired of holding back.
‘In that case, this will have to do.’
He tugged her close and she fell flush against him, her breasts to his torso, her other palm on his chest. To steady herself or to push him away?
Ashraf didn’t wait to find out. In the same instant he roped his other arm around her slick body, lowered his head and kissed her full on the lips.