Devil's Daughter (Devil 2)

She felt pleasure course through her, but the ache was lower, pounding at her, making her move against him for relief. He slipped his thigh between her legs and pressed upward. She cried out, unable to help herself. She moved against him wildly, so beyond herself that she wasn’t aware that he was pulling off her shirt until she felt the cool air on her breasts. She felt the heat from his body and wanted him naked against her. Desperately she fumbled with his belt. She felt dazed and helpless and frantic. She was tugging at his clothes, vaguely aware that his body was quivering.

Kamal released her, closing his eyes an instant to get control of himself. Quickly he pulled off her men’s clothes, and the sight of her, naked, trembling, ready for him, nearly undid him. He jerked her up into his arms and carried her to the pile of soft furs that was his bed. He gently laid her upon her back, but she wouldn’t release him. She was arching up to him, her hands tugging at his neck to pull him down to her.

“Just a moment, love.”

“I cannot bear it. Please—”

When he was naked, he held himself back, lying beside her but not yet touching her.

“You are so beautiful,” he said.

He moved on top of her. He balanced himself on his elbows, arching his back so that he was hard and demanding between her legs.

“Tell me you want me, Arabella.”

“I want—” Her words stuck in her throat.

“Wrap your legs around me.” She felt as though she were merging with him, becoming a part of him, and the image was as blinding as the sun. He felt her final cry, the immense shuddering of her body, and released the hold he had on himself.

“I can feel you.”

Kamal felt as though his very soul had been torn from his body. He fell on top of her, and she took his full weight, clutching at his back to bring him even closer. He raised his head and looked into her eyes. “You are mine, Arabella,” he said. He pushed back damp hair from her forehead. “Now and always. You are mine.”

His words floated gently over her mind, and she smiled and closed her eyes.

Kamal pulled away from her, his eyes never leaving her face. Nothing was decided, save that he could not let her go. He closed his eyes a moment, unwilling to admit to the vagaries of fate that had brought him a woman he could not have. He remembered her back and gently turned her onto her stomach. The welts had faded, leaving faint red lines. His fingers slowly traced over the marks, as if willing them to disappear. What in God’s name was he to do?

Slowly, careful not to awaken her, Kamal turned her toward him and gathered her in his arms. He felt her stir and press more closely against him. He pulled a soft wool cover over them, wondering as he did so if when she awoke she would pull away from him and deny what had happened be

tween them.

Arabella awoke slowly. She was lying on her side, one leg bent upward, the other straight. She felt his hands stroking her hips. She caught her breath when she felt him press closer, easing slowly into her.

His hands were gently kneading her belly, drawing her downward to take more of him into her. “No.” She was fully awake now.

“Hush, love.” His hands moved upward to fondle her, and as always with him, she felt her resistance fading. Without conscious thought, she moved to draw him deeper. But even as her passion mounted, she was aware of what she was doing, aware that he was robbing her of her will. Tears stung her eyes.

Kamal eased out of her and gently turned her onto her back. He entered her once again. He felt her muscles tighten around him and he gave a low animal moan and thrust deep. He sought out her mouth. He tasted her salty tears, and jerked back as if she had struck him.

“Arabella,” he said. He touched his fingertips to her wet cheek and she opened her eyes. “Why are you crying?”

“Please, let me go. Please don’t do this to me.”

“I am not hurting you, cara, I am giving you pleasure. There is no place for your tears between us.”

“I don’t want you to make me feel this way.”

She felt his shuddering over her, felt him deep inside her. “Arabella, hold still, or I will leave you, and I have no wish to.” She turned her face away, wondering blankly how she could cry at the same time her body was ready to explode with pleasure.

She felt his lips on the line of her jaw. “I am doing nothing to you but what you wish. I will leave you if you do not want me.”

She swallowed. “I don’t want you. I hate you—I hate myself.”

In the next instant she was cold and bare to the cool dawn air. She jerked upright and stared at him. He was lying on his back, his arms pillowing his head. She scrambled to the edge of the thick furs.

“We will talk,” he said quietly. He could see her trying to gain control of herself.

Kamal’s thick brows drew together.