His Wicked Embrace novel Chapter 24

Lawrence's arms tightened around her, and he closed his eyes, his lips pressed in a firm line. "If I ever have the fortune of meeting this man, I will kill him."

She gasped, cupping his chin and forcing him to look at her. "No! You must never say that. He's a brutal man without honor. He would kill you for simply being in the same room as me." She wanted to warn him that Al-Zahrani was still looking for her, but if she told Lawrence this, she feared he would move heaven and earth to find the man and try to kill him. She couldn't have him put his life at risk.

"I never want you to fear that man again. But he's not here. You're far away from him. You're safe," Lawrence promised.

If only it were true... But she feared the demon-hearted man was walking the streets of London right now and Lawrence didn't know, couldn't know. She tucked her hand against his chest and closed her eyes, focusing on the beating of his heart.

"My mother once said that when you lie with a man, you grow close in body and mind, close enough to share each other's dreams." She drew a fingertip between his pectoral muscles, imagining her mind and body connecting to his. "Do you think that is possible?"

Lawrence moved one of his hands up and down her lower back in a gentle motion, one that would lull her into a deep sleep if she let it.

"Possible, I suppose. I've never really spent much time sleeping with other women. I suppose I shouldn't admit that, the part about other women..." His voice trailed off, and she chuckled.

"You are allowed to have a past, Lawrence, as am I. I do not judge you for the women you have loved before me."

"I cannot say I loved them," he said, his voice distant. "It was always for a bit of fun, you know, scratching the old proverbial itch."

She giggled. "More silly words." She lifted her head to rest her chin on his chest and watched him, grinning at his obvious discomfort at their discussion.

His eyes narrowed as if he didn't believe her. "You really don't mind, about the other women?"

"No. Those other women made you the wonderful lover you are today. I benefit from their guidance."

With a soft laugh, he gave her bottom a little pat. "Indeed. They taught me many things..." Then he slid his fingers between the cleft of her bottom and down to her folds, pushing his fingers into her lightly. She moaned at his touch, feeling the sensitive nerves spring back to life. He played with her for a long moment, making sure she was wet and hungry for him, then lifted one of her legs over his hip and brought her closer. He pushed into her slower this time, gently, their bodies rocking as they lay on their sides, facing one another. It was somehow more intimate than before, more tender and sweet, even as he possessed her in every possible way.

I belong to him. I will always belong to this sweet, seductive man...

"Your chemise should be dry by now." He walked over to the fire, completely naked. She had a chance to admire his firm buttocks and the lean lines of his muscled legs. Her body was exhausted, but she still burned with arousal. He removed the delicate chemise from the fire grating and walked back to her.

Lawrence held it out to her and she accepted it, loving the way the fire's heat clung to the fabric. She pressed it to her bare chest for a moment, sighing in pleasure before she slipped it over her head and sat back on the bed while he dressed.

"Stay right where you are," he ordered with a wink before he stepped outside.

Zehra chuckled and lay back in bed. She was a little tender, but it felt good in a strange sort of way. She'd passed into a new state of womanhood. The mysteries she'd heard about in whispers had answers now, and none of the texts she'd read had compared to the reality of being with a man.

Zehra snuggled deeper into the bed and closed her eyes. She saw Lawrence's face, felt his kiss, and sensed his hands on her body, and his weight atop hers. Even though she was more than two thousand miles away from her parents' palace, she felt like she was home. And it was all because she was falling in love with the man who would soon be forced to send her away. Tears pooled in her closed eyes.

Don't think about leaving. I have a few days yet before I have to say goodbye.