The heat from the packed earth outside the umber colored stone of the desert palace rolled over her in waves. The smell of the desert scorched her lungs. She wanted to get out of the sun, into the shade and gardens that lay within. But she didn’t dare back down.
“Of course not.”
“Then what?”
“There are… there are plenty of other things in the world to buy besides clothes.”
“Name them. Because I know for a fact, you’ve been living in one room at an Oxford University college since you left Gharb Havilah. And that came with the job. A bedsit, I believe?”
“It’s convenient.”
“Believe me. A luxury penthouse with maids is far more convenient.”
“Maids,” she scoffed. “What would I do with maids?”
“Indeed. You were always uncomfortable with them around.” His face softened a little. “I recall you were always giving them days off.”
She couldn’t help but be seduced by the memory. “And I recall you were annoyed because they had work to do.”
He paused. “Only for a while. You soon made me forget them.”
The air thickened with memories, as the sunlight shimmered around them. Sweat beaded her forehead. He frowned.
Her chest tightened as her breathing came more rapidly. He seemed to be closer to her now. He cupped her cheek with the palm of his hand. It felt rough against her skin, prickling it and rousing it as he briefly caressed her cheek. She tried to shake her head, but he brought the other hand up to her other cheek, and she was trapped. And then she didn’t want to escape anymore. The world was hushed as if waiting for his next move. Like the world, her senses were heightened and fixed only on him. He shook his head, and for a horrible moment, she thought he might step away. Instead, he moved closer to her. Her world darkened to the rich, inviting pools of his eyes as his lips touched hers. It was barely a kiss, a mere soft brush, and yet it had the most devastating effect. Her body reacted as if by an elastic memory, knowing at some deep level that this was her man. And then, as quickly as it had happened, he dropped his hands by his sides, as the cavalcade of security cars swept into the compound.
“Come, we can continue this inside the castle.”
As his staff took themselves off to their quarters, she followed him inside the doors and into the cavernous main hall, which was the main reception room of the castle. She sat down on the nearest chair, and he closed the doors behind them. There were only the two of them in the ancient room—full of shadows and memories.
What had she just done? She’d shown him that she was his for the taking. She pushed her fingers through her hair, back from her face, focusing on taking calming breaths to quieten her raging body. Heat and moisture pulsed at the core of her, wanting him where he used to give her so much pleasure. She raised her palm to her cheek, where she could still feel that touch, not believing that her reactions could be so predictable.
He twisted around. “I apologize. I did not bring you here to kiss you.”
She shook her head. “Then why did you bring me here?” To her irritation, her voice was husky with desire, betraying her need.
He sucked in a long breath as if to counteract the effect her voice had on him. “Because I want to hear it from you.”
“Hear what?” What was he talking about? Hear that she was still attracted to him? That her body still sung to the tune he played? That much must surely have been obvious.
He gripped the back of the chair. “I want to hear from you why you took my father’s bribe. If it wasn’t for what the money could do for your lifestyle, then why take it?”
She’d almost forgotten what they’d been talking about. All thoughts swept away by his devastating touch. “Because I… Because it’s my business. Not yours.”
Her response swept away the last remnants of their kiss, and he tilted his head back, his eyes narrowed as they shot a different kind of heat at her. “Really, Gabrielle?Notmy business? Is that the best you can come up with? I suppose it is, because anything else and you’d have to reveal the truth.”
“You seem to know so much. Perhapsyoushould tellmewhy I took the money.”
He nodded, and she instantly regretted her words. “Because you wanted me to believe you could be bribed to leave me. That way you knew that I wouldn’t come after you.”
She closed her eyes briefly under the onslaught of bare truth. She shouldn’t have done, because when she opened her eyes, she saw a light flash in his eyes as he realized his assertion was correct.
“Who’s being too complex now?” she asked, trying to backtrack, trying to regain some element of control he was intent on robbing her of. “Money is money. Everyone needs it to survive.”
“But not you, Gabrielle. You survive in that beautiful head of yours. Your material needs are minimal.
She bit her lip. “People change.”
“Not you. I can see it in your eyes.”