She looked up then, to discover that he had removed everything but his slacks and the fly was open on them, revealing black silk boxers tented over his hardness. He should have looked vulnerable like that, only half-dressed and asking her if she wanted to go back in the hot tub with him. But he didn’t. He looked as commanding as always.
And really, he hadn’t asked about the spa, had he? He’d simply stated what he wanted.
“Is that a request, or an order?”
“What do you want it to be?”
Her heart started trip-hammering. “I…”
He moved until he was standing right in front of her and cupped her cheek. “Do you want me to take charge, princess?”
“Is that what your sex partners usually ask for?” she inquired breathlessly.
“There is no room for what others do or do not like here, Lina.” His hand trailed down her neck and rested on the side of her , not moving, but his thumb a hairsbreadth from touching her .
“I want…”
“Yes, baby, what do you want?”
“I like the hot tub.”
He smiled. “That’s good, but that’s not what I asked.”
She swallowed, feeling nervous and yet conversely powerful. He’d asked what she wanted, hadn’t tried to convince her one way or another. Despite everything, something inside her craved the chance to trust in this man. “What I choose…does it last the whole three days?”
“Let’s just make it for the time while we’re in this room.”
“Okay.”
“Okay, what?”
“I want you to take charge.” Her heart was nervous…her mind wasn’t so sure…but her body knew with a primal instinct she could not dismiss that they both needed this.
The tiny flicker of relief in his gray eyes confirmed it.
His thumb covered the tiny distance to make contact with her . Despite the two layers of cloth between her skin and his, she felt the touch like an electric jolt that reached not only that one spot, but her other tingled as well and she felt an intense pulse of pleasure between her legs.
“Are you sure, princess?” And something in his expression said he was asking about more than him being in control.
She sucked her lower lip between her teeth and looked deeply into his eyes. Along with that subtle message, all she saw was desire, pure and honest sexual need. “You won’t try to deny your sexual need for me anymore?”
“No.”
“Or hide behind a man who has no claim on my life?”
“No.” This was practically growled and the flash of anger that darkened his features surprised her.
So, Sebastian didn’t like the idea of her with her father’s chosen, either.
“For three days…seventy-two hours…there is only room for you and me.” Which was a far cry from acknowledging that she had no obligation where Amir was concerned, but it was better than nothing.
On some level Sebastian had to realize the sheikh had no legitimate claim on her. If he hadn’t, Sebastian would not be touching her right now. His sense of personal honor was too great, no matter how strong his sexual interest in her.
She would have to be content with reading the message into some things that simply were not going to be said.
“Then, I am sure.”
His lips tilted in one of his rare smiles. “Good.”
She appreciated the fact that he had not asked her if she was certain she wanted him to be her first lover. Again, his actions spoke more eloquently than his words. His lack of belaboring the point of her ity told her that he respected her enough to accept that she knew her own mind.
She would not deny that a small part of her wished this was happening on her wedding night, but she accepted that if she could not get over Sebastian, chances were she would never have one of those. She certainly had no intention of sharing such a thing with Sheikh Amir.
Sebastian leaned down to kiss her. It was barely a brush of lips, but it somehow sealed their deal. Both the three days and her ertion she wanted him to take charge right now.
He grasped the hem of her T-shirt. “I’m going to take this off.”
She nodded, raising her arms so that he could remove it easily.
She had worn a swimsuit in front of him on several occasions, but she felt more exposed as her top got dropped to the floor and the suit was revealed this time.
His gaze traveled over her, making contact like a touch and she trembled. “You are so beautiful.”
“Am I?” It was not something she thought of herself.
“Yes.” He reached out to trail his fingertips from her temples down her body until he reached her . Then he stopped. “You are the most alluring woman I have ever met or seen.”
The praise was over the top, but she had no doubts of his sincerity. Sebastian was not the type of man given to empty flattery.
Her tummy fluttered. “I’m glad you see me that way.”
“And I’m glad you want me anything near like I want you.”
Finally he had admitted it out loud. She had no idea how much she’d needed to hear the words until they came out of his mouth and her knees gave way in relief.
His hold on her tightened and he pulled her closer to him. “You okay, princess?”
“More than,” she admitted, feeling his honesty deserved her own.
“I’m going to kiss you then I’m going to take off your swimsuit top. And I’m going to look at you like I wanted to do eight years ago.”
“Yes,” she said on a breath of sound.
He made good on his words, closing the distance between their mouths with slow inevitability that had her entire body straining for the kiss by the time their lips met. Her body melted into his as she tasted the flavor that had haunted her dreams for too long. His tongue dipped into her mouth and then retreated. She whimpered a protest, but he just nipped at her lower lip.
“Sebastian.”
“Be patient, for me. I’m going to make this so good for you, but I need you to cooperate.” He didn’t give her a chance to respond, but renewed their lip-lock.
It was so good. His lips molded hers, moving and sending waves of pleasure through her. Needing an anchor in the swirling fog of her senses, she reached up to grab his shoulders and touched hot, silky skin over rigid, bulging muscle. Her eyes flew open to find his had never closed. He was staring down at her with dark, piercing ardor.
She moved her hands down his chest, asking with her gaze if it was all right to touch. His answer was another flick of his tongue against her lips. She took that as approval and she explored the hair roughened contours of his chest.
So strong…so hot…he was such a perfect example of masculine power. Her fingertips slid over his s. They were hard. She’d read that for most men, they were erogenous zones. She played a little, circling, lightly scraping her nails over the pointed nubs.
He groaned and stepped back, grabbing her wrists so she could no longer touch him.
She looked at him questioningly.
“You know what comes next.”
She remembered what he’d said and her heart fluttered. “Yes,” she whispered.
He smiled, approval shining in his gunmetal gaze.
She took a deep breath and let it out as he released her wrists. Then, he reached behind her to unhook first the bottom, then the top strap of her bikini top. It fell away from her body, dropping to the floor and making a small wet plop as it landed. Neither of them looked down to see, though.
Her eyes were glued to his and his look was set on her newly revealed flesh with tactile strength.
“How do you do that?” she asked, perplexed.
“What?”
“Touch me with your eyes.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. I only know that watching you is like a feast for my senses.”
“Don’t you want to touch?” she dared to ask.
“Oh, I definitely plan on touching you, princess, but right now I want to look.”
“That’s all?” she asked, her voice catching.
“For the moment.”
She said nothing, did not know what she should say if she did speak. She had told him he could be in control and the truth was, it was exciting her beyond anything she would have believed possible to have relinquished the power of decision-making to him. She really did need this.
Her body kept telling her that no matter what had happened with him in the past, or what might happen in the future, she could trust him. It wasn’t logical, but at present, she didn’t care a penny for logic.
She just wanted to keep feeling what she was experiencing right this moment in time.
She did not know how long she stood under his burning surveillance. Time became elastic, seconds could have been minutes and vice versa. Nothing existed for her but his eyes on her. Her gaze flicked over him, noting the changes watching her elicited in him.