The Sheik & the Virgin Princess

The two sisters looked at each other. Cleo’s smile faded. “Oh, no. We can’t be twins. If that’s the dress you want to wear, I’ll find something else.”

“Are you kidding?” Zara tugged at her loose bodice. “Even with padding, I’ll never do this dress justice. There’s another one I like just as well. I’ll wear that.”

“Are you sure?”

Zara managed a smile. “Cleo, you have to wear that. You look so fabulous that no one will notice me, which is exactly how I want things.”

“Okay. Great.”

Cleo saw him and gave a little wave. “You’re taking this protecting thing a little too seriously, aren’t you, Rafe?”

“Just here to give my opinion.”

“Sure.”

Her expression turned knowing, making him wonder if she’d figured out that Zara got to him.

Cleo sashayed out the door, closing it behind her. Zara covered her face in her hands.

“Did you see her?” she asked. “I can’t believe it. She has the most incredible body and I’m left with all the appeal of a green bean.”

“That’s not true.”

She lowered her hands. “You’re being nice and I appreciate it, but we both know the truth. All the padding in the world isn’t going to disguise my shortcomings.”

Without thinking, he rose to his feet and crossed the room to stand in front of her. “There’s nothing wrong with you.” He turned her so that they were both facing the mirror. “What would you change?”

“Everything.”

“I wouldn’t.”

Without considering the intelligence of the move—or the potential consequences—he spun her toward him, pulled her close and kissed her.

Chapter 7

Rafe couldn’t possibly be kissing her, Zara told herself, trying to stay calm. But even as the thought formed, his arms came around her body and pulled her close while his mouth settled on hers. It really felt like a kiss.

His lips were firm and warm, yet so tender she wanted to melt. His height allowed her to feel delicate and feminine as she snuggled in his embrace. She placed her hands on his shoulders, savoring the tense muscles shifting against her fingertips. Then he moved his mouth, and she couldn’t think anymore. Not when sweet sparks exploded in her chest, making her want with an intensity she’d never felt before.

His tongue swept against her bottom lip. Instinctively she parted for him, then waited expectantly for the first, intimate touch. He didn’t disappoint her. After tracing the inside of her lower lip, making her shiver, he moved closer and swept inside.

The first brush of his tongue nearly made her faint. Hot pleasure filled her body, starting in her chest, then moving lower. Her skin seemed to tighten and become more sensitized. She was aware of his hands on her body—one at the small of her back, one higher, on bare skin.

His fingers moved in time with his tongue, back and forth, around and around. Initially she’d touched him because they were kissing and she could, but now she clung to him. That whole bone-dissolve thing had started up again, and she knew she was in danger of falling.

Then there was the matter of her breasts. As small as they might be, they were exquisitely sensitive. As the passion grew, Zara felt her nipples tighten. When Rafe shifted, grinding his chest against her modest curves, she gasped from the contact. The combination of pleasure and tension was more than she was used to. She desperately wanted him to jerk down the zipper in the back of her dress and cover her breasts with his hands. At that moment she didn’t even care that they were small and unimpressive—she simply wanted him to touch them…to touch her…all of her.

Instead of reading her mind, he cupped her face, as if he needed to keep her from running while they kissed. The swirl of tongues, the press of bodies, was nearly more than she could stand. The room tilted slightly, but Zara found she didn’t care about things like staying conscious. What did that matter when compared with the glory of Rafe’s kiss?

She slipped her hands down to his side, then slid around to his back. He was so strong, so muscled. She wanted to see him without clothes; she wanted to touch him everywhere. She wanted—