She was very fiery, he thought with a sudden longing. And what else do you know about me, Rose Thomas? he mused.
Briefly she considered affecting total ignorance. This was a man with an ego, that was for sure! Yet how often did people speak their minds to a man with his power and his presence?
I know that you are the heir to a mountain kingdom
Maraban, he elaborated softly, and his voice deepened with affectionate pride.
Something imprecise shimmered over her skin at the way he said that single word and a sense of hazy recognition made her shiver. Maraban, she repeated wonderingly, until she realised that she was in danger of sounding starstruck again.
What else? he prompted, intrigued by that dreamy look which had softened her features when she had said the name of the land of his birth. And then his mouth hardened. Maraban was an oil-rich countryand didnt fabulous wealth always produce enthusiasm in the greedy hearts of most Westerners?
She wondered what had caused the fleetingly judgemental look which had hardened his face into a stern mask. She snapped out of her reverie to deliver a few home truths.
Ive heard that you have something of a reputation where women are concerned, she told him crisply.
A reputation? It sounded too close to unaccustomed criticism for Khalim not to experience a sudden flicker of irritation. Do elaborate, Rose.
Do I need to? You like women, dont you?
His smile grew cynical. And is it wrong to enjoy the many pleasures which the opposite sex can offer?
His words were accompanied by the splaying of his fingers over her back, and Rose found herself wondering what it would be like if her skin were bare. And hisShe swallowed. You make women sound like an amusement arcade!
He smiled. It is an interesting analogy, he remarked, and resisted the urge to move his fingertips to lie just below the jut of her breasts. He wanted her, and he never had to try very hard, not where women were concerned. There had only ever been one woman who had turned him down, and that had been Sabrina.
He moved his head slightly as the bride and groom passed by, and saw Sabrina gazing up into the face of her new husband. Khalim had instantly forgiven and understood her rejection, because she had been in love with his best friend.
Resisting the urge to explore Roses breasts, he kept his hands right where they were. For while his seduction of Rose Thomas was a certainty, he suspected that he would have to take things slowly
So, he said huskily. You are at an advantage, are you not? Since you know something of me, while I know nothing of you, Roseother than the fact that you are the most beautiful woman in the room.
So you said earlier, answered Rose sweetly, pleased to see the fleeting look of irritation which hardened the dark face. She teased him a little morejust for the hell of it. I cant see why women fall for your charms if you keep coming out with the same old compliment!
Oh, cant you? he questioned silkily, and with a fluid movement of grace caught her closer still, so that their bodies melded together with shocking intimacy. He noted with satisfaction the instant darkening of her eyes, the two high spots of colour to her cheeks. Through the thin layers of silk which covered him, and her, he could feel the tiny tight buds of her breasts as they flowered against his chest and he felt another sharp pull of desire.
D-dont, protested Rose weakly, shaken by a sweet flood of need, stronger and more powerful than anything she had ever experienced before.
Triumphantly, Khalim felt her tremble against him and pressed his lips close to where the bright, flaxen hair gleamed against her ear. Dont what? he whispered.
Dont. But her voice shook so that the word was unrecognisable and she had to try again. Dont stand so close to me.
With the instinctive mastery of the conqueror, he did exactly as she asked, moving a little away from her, and he heard her unmistakable little of gasp of protest. Is that better? he questioned silkily.
Better? Rose felt as bereft as if someone had just shorn off her long hair and left her neck bare and cold. She found herself wanting to beg him to pull her back into that warm, enticing circle, until common sense began to reassert itself. She was not the kind of woman to beg a man to do anything. Much better, she agreed levelly.
He didnt believe her for a moment. Khalim smiled, acknowledging what he knew to be a universal truththat the chase was often the most exciting part of the conquest. So why dont you tell me something about yourself? he murmured.
She turned her face upwards, her eyes sparking a challenge. What would you like to know?
Everything. Absolutely everything.
Roses mouth curved into a smile. Youll have to be a little more specific than that, Im afraid!
He wondered what she would say if he told her the only thing he really wanted to know was what her naked body would look like. Stretched out in rapturous abandon on the slippery-soft sheets of his enormous bed. So tell me what you do, he murmured.
You mean, work-wise?
He nodded, thinking that she had no need at all to work. She could easily be a rich mans mistress, he thought. His. Why had he never met her before? Or shall I guess what kind of work you do, Rose?
You can try!
Simple. A model? he mused.
Im not tall enough, she objected, hating herself for the warm glow which his compliment produced. Or thin enough.
Irresistibly, his eyes were drawn to the luscious swell of breast and hip. You are perfect, he said huskily. Quite perfect.
Within the circle of his arms, Rose shivered. She wasnt used to men saying things like that, and certainly not within minutes of meeting her! Mostly, she mixed with lofty intellectuals who might occasionally pay her a clever-clever compliment. Not men who made no attempt to hide a primitive and compelling kind of desire. Thats outrageous flattery! she protested.
Flattery, yes. Outrageous, no! He turned her round in time with the music, admiring her natural and subtle grace.
He really was the most wonderful dancer, thought Rose. She rarely danced properly like thisand never with a prince! It was heavenly to glide around the dance-floor in the arms of a man. Instead of everyone jigging about doing their own thing and usually managing to connect with her on the way!
He was staring down at her in a thoughtful way, and she immediately wiped the look of dreamy bliss off her face. So youve given up, have you? Youre not very good at guessing, are you? she challenged.
Maybe not, but there are many things I am extremely good at, Rose, he boasted silkily, and chose just that moment to move a silken thigh between hers, immediately losing himself in an erotic dream of making love to her.
In time with the sexual boast, Rose felt the pressure of his leg, and the unmistakable iron of the steely muscle which lay beneath the delicate fabric. An unfamiliar hunger shot through her as she felt her heart-rate soar and something deep inside her began to slowly dissolve. She had to stop this. Now.
Im a head-hunter, she said quickly.
Khalims dream was shattered by her words. Head-hunter? he questioned, and frowned, his mind firing up with savage imagery.
Yes, you knowI find people for jobs!
Yes, you knowI find people for jobs!
I know what a head-hunter is! And you are successful in your line of work?
Yes, I am.
Then, you must be a very intuitive woman, Rose. The tip of his finger rippled slowly over the curve of her waist and he felt her shiver in response. Ve-ry intuitive.
Warning bells began ringing in her mind. I-I think Ive had enough dancing, she said breathlessly, feeling ridiculously disappointed when he took her at her word and let her go.
I agree. The tug of desire had become persistent and uncomfortable. It made him want to take her. ToKhalim found himself having to fight for the rigid self-control which had been a fundamental part of his upbringing. And it was many years since he had had to fight for anything. He took a step backwards, steadying his suddenly shallow breathing.
Missing the feel of silk and the scent of sandalwood, Rose placed her hands over her flushed cheeks and could feel pulses fluttering absolutely everywhere. And it was only then she noticed that the floor was completely empty and that everyone was standing watching them.
Oh, my God! she moaned. Look!
It seems that we have inadvertently been providing the floor show, said Khalim, in some amusement, as he followed the direction of her gaze.
Roses distress grew even more intense, especially as Guy had chosen that moment to approach them and had clearly overheard Khalims remark.
A very erotic floor show, he teased.
Rose suppressed a groan. They had been acting like a couple of irresponsible teenagers!
We were simply dancing. Khalim shrugged, his black eyes sending out a conspiratorial gleam to Rose.
Is that what you call it? joked Guy. Anyway, Sabrina and I are planning to leave now. His grey eyes crinkled as he looked at his best man. And thanks for the honeymoon, Khalim.
Silken shoulders were raised in a careless shrug. It is nothing other than my pleasure to give, he drawled.
Sabrina told me the destination was a secret, said Rose.
The two men exchanged glances.
And so it is. Traditionally, a secret shared between the groom and best man. But do not fear, I will tell you later, beautiful Rose, promised Khalim softly.
Later? she asked, with a quick glance at her wrist-watch. Who had said anything about later?
But of course. You and I are going for a drink together afterwards.
Guy smiled. Are you?
Rose saw the black eyes being levelled at her consideringly, saw the arrogant expectation that she would simply fall in with his regal wishes! And who really could blame him, after her shameless display on the dance-floor?
But you told me you rarely drink, Khalim, she reminded him innocently. So wouldnt that be an awful waste of your time?
He opened his mouth to object, and then shut it again. Somewhere deep in his groin, Khalim felt a pulse begin to beat with slow insistence. He felt the sweet, sharp tang of desire and yet he instantly recognised her determination to oppose him. It flashed in sapphire sparks from her beautiful blue eyes. No matter what he said, Rose Thomas was not planning on going anywhere with him tonight. You dont want to?
The note of incredulity in his voice was unmistakable, and Rose was very tempted to smile. But something in the cold glitter of his gaze made her decide that smiling maybe wasnt the best idea. Its been a long day, she told him apologetically. And Im bushed! Some other time, perhaps?
Khalims face grew distant; indeed, he barely noticed Guy slipping away to find Sabrina. I never issue an invitation more than once, he told her coldly.
Rose was aware of a lurching sense of regret. Youve missed your chance, girl, she thoughteven while the sane part of her rejoiced. This man was different, she recognised. Different and dangerous. He had the power to make her vulnerable, and he was the last person she wanted to be vulnerable around. Why, a man like that would chew her up and spit her out in little pieces!
What a pity, she said lightly.
His black eyes lingered on the lushness of her lips, the creaminess of her skin. A pity indeed, he agreed, briefly bowing his dark head before sweeping away from her across the ballroom.
And she watched him go with a thundering heart.
Theyre leaving! called someone, and Rose looked across the room to see that Sabrina had changed out of her bridal gown into a silvery-blue suit and was carrying her bouquet, Guy in an impressive dark suit at her side.
Everyone began to surge out of the ballroom to wave them off, but Rose hung back. She could see Khalim talking to Guy and she found herself unwilling to face him, aware of a dull sense of an opportunity lost, an opportunity never to be repeated.
She saw Sabrina turn and teasingly hold her bouquet of lilies above her head while every female present lifted their arms in hope of catching it. Even Rose eagerly raised her arms to catch the waxy blooms as they came flying in her direction, but the redhead beside her was more eager still.
Gotcha! she shouted as she leapt into the air and pounced triumphantly on the bouquet.
Its only a tradition, Rose told herself dully as she watched the girl ecstatically smelling the flowers. Why would catching a bunch of flowers guarantee that you would be the next to be married? And it wasnt as if she even wanted to get married, was it? These days lots and lots of women in their late twenties were electing to stay single.
But when she looked up again, it was to find herself caught in the lancing gaze of a pair of glittering black eyes.
I have to get out of here, she thought, with a sudden sense of panic.
CHAPTER TWO
IN A daze, Rose left the Granchester and found herself a taxi, but afterwards she couldnt recollect a single moment of the journey. Not until the cab drew up outside the flat she shared in Notting Hill did reality begin to seep back into her consciousness as she tried to rid herself of the memory of the dark prince, with his proud, sensual face.
She let herself in through the front door and put her handbag on the hall table, relieved to be home. And safe.
She loved her flatit was her very first property and occupied the first floor of a grand old high-ceilinged house. But it was an ambitious project for a first-time buyer and the repayments on her loan were high, which was why she had taken on a flatmateLara.
Lara was a struggling actress who described herself as Roses lodger, but Rose never did. Equality was something she strove for in every area of her life. No, were flatmates, she always insisted.
It was a typical bachelor girls homefull of colour in the shared areas and rather a lot of chaos in Laras bedroombecause, much as she nagged, there didnt seem to be anything Rose could do to change Laras chronic untidiness. So now she had given up trying.
There were brightly coloured scarves floating from a coat-stand in the hall, and vases of cheap flowers from the market dotted around the sitting room. And the bathroom was so well stocked with various lotions and potions that it resembled the cosmetics counter of a large department store!
Anyone at home? she called.
Im in the kitchen! came the muffled reply, and Rose walked into the kitchen to find Lara busy crunching a chocolate biscuit and pouring coffee into a mug. Her staple diet and my coffee, thought Rose ruefully as Lara looked up with a smile and held a second mug up. Coffee?