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‘Yes, you should look wary,’ he murmured. ‘Right now I want to put my hands on you and I’m not sure if I want to make it pleasurable or painful.’
Regan jumped away from him, her insides jittery. ‘We were talking about my brother,’ she reminded him huskily.
‘The whole reason you’re here.’
He slowly prowled towards her, crowding her to the point where all she could think about was him. How tall he was. How big. How the stubble on his jaw would feel beneath her fingertips.
‘Stop thinking of our betrothal in the romantic sense,’ he advised. ‘It’s a business arrangement and it’s temporary.’
‘Two things you’re obviously exceptionally good at.’
His jaw hardened and his gaze dropped to her mouth. ‘I’m good at a lot of things, Regan, and if you’re not careful you’ll find out which of those things I’m particularly good at.’
Regan’s mouth went dry at the sensual threat and once more she was acutely aware that he still hadn’t buttoned his shirt.
He shook his head. ‘Your desperation not to marry me serves you well, but it only reinforces that this is the right thing to do. My personal aide has been insisting for years that I need a partner at these major events, and having you by my side will mitigate any potential fallout from your ill-timed photo—’
‘My ill-timed photo?’
‘—And stop any untoward gossip from developing about the Western woman residing in my palace.’
‘Residing?’ She huffed out an astonished breath. ‘You mean imprisoned.’
‘If you were imprisoned you’d be in jail.’
‘But this is all one-way. This is all about you and what you want. But what about what I want?’
‘You’re not in any position to make demands.’
‘Actually, I am.’ She threw back her head and stared at him. ‘If you want my co-operation this weekend then I want something too.’
His body went preternaturally still and Regan got the distinct impression he thought she was going to ask him for money or jewels or something. ‘You must have really dated some shallow women if the look of dread that just crossed your face is anything to go by.’
His eyes flashed blue sparks at her. ‘Don’t keep me waiting, Miss James; what is it you want?’
‘A deal.’
?
?Excuse me?’
‘Since deals are the only thing you seem to understand, I’ll make one with you. I’ll agree to be your escort, or rather, your partner this weekend if you let Chad go when he returns.’
‘Absolutely not.’ He swung away from her and then back. ‘Your brother has my sister. That will not go unpunished.’
‘But you don’t really know what’s happened or why they’re together.’
‘I will. And when I do your brother will be in serious trouble.’
‘Fine; then you’ll have to pull out your little black book and explain why you’ve locked me up some other way.’
He stalked over to the window and dug his hands into his pockets. Regan did her best not to notice the way the fabric of his trousers pulled tight across his well-defined glutes.
They’re just muscles, she told herself, just like the ones in his arms, his chest, his thighs...
‘Deal.’
What?
