"I've changed my mind." She lifted her chin and managed a lofty look. "I told you I wanted to choose the time and the fact is, I don't think this is a good idea. So, I would like you to leave. I'm tired and Luther and I made plans for tomorrow." She tacked on the lie for good measure.
Instead of stirring, he lifted his hands and stacked them behind his head. "Where's he taking you this time? The park? One of those abominable fast food places?"
Her eyes flashed at his disparagement of the man she thought of as a friend. "Anywhere is fine with me. It's not the place, but the company, something you would not know. Now I'm really tired and not in the mood for an argument."
"Go get changed. Or if you prefer, I'd like the pleasure of taking off your clothes." His eyes wandered over her face and settled disturbingly on her lips.
"Did you hear me?" she demanded, her knees going weak. "I want you to go."
"Then we have a problem, because I'm not going anywhere."
Glaring at him, she whirled and marched into the bathroom, slamming the door and sliding the bolt for good measure.
Walking over to the double marble sink, she braced her hands on the counter and stared at herself in the mirror. What she saw had her laughing a little hysterically. Her eyes were wide and frightened, and she prayed that he had not seen it. Her heart was racing, her palms clammy with sweat.
And her knees were weak. There was a devastatingly handsome man, a naked man, she was certain, under the robe. She had seen the hint of flesh when his robe sagged in the front and the evidence of a broad, hairy chest. That had her fingers itching to explore. He was in her bed, waiting for her. To have sex.
It had been a while for her. Brian had convinced her that they were both too busy to bother. When she had voiced her teasingcomments about him getting it elsewhere, he had vehemently denied it. She should have realized then that he was protesting too much.
Suddenly inspiration struck. Here she was, moping around and there was a man, a very virile man lying on her bed waiting to do all sorts of things to her. Straightening, she studied her image critically. This time she was going in with her eyes wide open. No expectations, no promises. It was the perfect revenge.
She wasn't the prince's type. He was used to petite beauties, but somehow he had chosen her, and it was not a pretense. He desired her. Was pursuing her. She had come back to the palace to find him waiting for her.
She would have a fling, make the most of it. Allow him to do whatever he wanted with her. And enjoy every damn minute of it. There was another man, a very nice guy interested in her as well. She was not attracted to Luther, but he would do. She would see Luther whenever she wanted and sneak around with the prince whenever they had the chance.
She was tired of being the nice girl. She smiled grimly. She had done that for years, only to have her fiancé, a man she thought she was in love with, cheat on her for months. She might even send him a pic of her and the prince. But this time, she was going in with no expectations.
With that epiphany still uppermost in her mind, she selected the appropriate bath oils and went to take a quick shower. The good news was that she had some lingerie stored in a drawer in the bathroom. She was going to choose the sluttiest one and knock his socks off.
*****
He was starting to get annoyed. Here he was, waiting for her like some beggar and she had gone and locked herself inside the bathroom like a bloody frightened virgin. He did not deserve this crap. If she had the idea of staying there, he was going to disabuse her of that notion. He would give her a few minutes and if he had to take the door off the hinges, then that was bloody well what he was going to do.
He waited a few more minutes and was about to get off the bed when the bathroom door opened. At first, he could not see clearly because of the steam rising from the room. But then it cleared and when it did, he could not catch his breath. It was as if she had been transformed.
She was wearing some sort of slinky shift in ruby red. The material was so sheer, he could actually see her generous nipples through it. She had not bothered to dry herself off completely, so the material clung in obvious places.
Her hair, all that luxuriant hair, was brushed to one side of her face and tumbled in sexy curls and waves over her left breast.
His body tightened reflexively, his mouth dry. He had thought the desire he had for her was powerful before, but it could in no way or form compare to what he was feeling now.
"You like?" In just a few minutes, she had become the seductress.
"I- er-" He had to clear his throat several times before he could speak. "I thought you were upset."
"No longer." She stood next to the bed. His eyes riveted on the hand she was using to run over her breast and flat stomach. "We want each other."
"Yes. We do." He nodded and felt like an idiot who had lost the ability to form words.
"So, nothing is wrong with indulging."
"No. I-"
She shook her head, eyes holding his as she continued to caress herself. "You're experienced, so what I don't know you will teach me."
He blinked. "Pardon?"
"The art of making love. I want to learn. I don't see why we should deny ourselves. We will be discreet, of course. The servants gossip among each other, so discretion is required."
