Drawing a hand through the hanging folds of couture clothes, I gave her a steady look. “I take it you’ve been told how to dress, how to behave, how to keep your mouth shut your entire life.”
Her plump red lips thinned, and I knew I’d hit the mark dead on.
“You don’t know everything about me,” she snapped.
I quirked a head at her. “Well, that’s true. But I look forward to finding out.”
Moving over to a dresser after noting a piece of bright lace tumbling from one of the drawers, I pulled on a crystal knob.
My eyes widened, my gaze landing on a vast amount of fragile undergarments, but then Roya slammed the drawer shut.
“Gentlemen don’t rummage through a woman’s private belongings.”
“I’m about the farthest thing from a gentleman you could get.”
She visibly swallowed.
Being so close to her along with the profuse evidence of her naughty, naughty lingerie made me even more curious about the hot spring of untapped sensuality that flowed through her.
My cock was very fucking interested in delving into the sexuality that was just bursting to come to the surface.
But I backed up, giving her some space.
I flicked through a book and inspected the half-drained bottle of champagne and located a curiously locked drawer in the bedside table.
Did my sexy princess have a collection of adult toys in there?
I thought not, but you never knew.
“So”—I turned to her—“how do you pay for this? I know your daddy doesn’t exactly bankroll your nightlife.”
Her jet-black eyes became glassy, and I’d made another direct hit.
“Well? You can tell me, Roya. I know how to keep a secret.”
“I have one of the drivers sell pieces of my jewelry when I need cash.”
“Very clever.”
And it was. She’d gained my grudging admiration. Oh, I was sure she chose pieces that wouldn’t be missed, older jewelry that hopefully wouldn’t be traced back to her.
Beside the bed, I found two totes, designer pieces monogrammed with her initials. Perhaps she wasn’t as discreet as I thought after all.
I placed both pieces of luggage on the bed. “Pack up. You’re going to need more than the clothes on your back.”
“I can’t stay with you.”
“I’m not giving you an option.” Just to inject a little urgency into the proceedings, I tapped my fingers on the butt of my gun to draw her attention to the sidearm. “Don’t worry. I’ll be covering the bill for the room from now on. But you won’t be using it without my say-so.”
“You what?” Her high heels snapped across the floor until she positioned herself in front of me. “I will not become some kept concubine. Especially not to someone like you.”
I yanked her to me, getting her off balance in the skirt and the heels. Then I heaved her onto the bed where she landed in disarray, her hair a shiny, black halo.
While she blinked at me in shock, I stayed right where I was, staring dispassionately at her. Hell, I hadn’t even broken a sweat with her yet.
“You’ll do what I want unless you want me to sell you off to your uncle myself.”
As she started to slide from the bed, I gave her a hand. Surprisingly, she accepted the help. I suspected the compliant behavior wouldn’t last long.
She was too fucking intriguing for my own good.
I’d keep her just long enough to get what I wanted, and if that meant I also got to sample the luscious goods . . . well, I couldn’t wait.
With angry, jerky movements, Roya dutifully packed her bags.
I paid special attention when she started in on the drawer of lingerie.
She held up something with sheer panels in pale yellow, maybe forgetting I watched as she nearly caressed the fine material. Then she shook her head and began placing the garment back in the dresser.
“Oh, definitely bring that,” I ordered in a guttural tone.
Her eyes flew to me, and she crushed the racy item to her chest. “I don’t actually wear . . .”
I came closer, and her fingers convulsed nervously. “You mean you’re not supposed to.”
She gave a curt shake of her head and wouldn’t meet my gaze.
I said nothing more because I sensed that would be pushing her too hard against everything that had been ingrained in her since birth.
That she was to do as she was told, and there would be consequences for going against the confines of her status.
“Bring it,” I told her more gently. “No one’s going to tell on you.”