He glared at her. She thought he might be trying to loom over her but she was too upset to notice.
“We are not equal in this circumstance or any other,” he announced. “I am Kardal, Prince of Thieves.”
“That’s hardly news. I’ve been aware of your title practically since we met. And while we’re on the subject of titles, I happen to be a princess, which makes us pretty much the same. And if you dare to get into some macho conversation about you being a man and me merely being a woman, I won’t just scream at you, I will come into your room while you’re sleeping and cut out your heart.”
Thick silence filled the room. He glared down at her and she didn’t even blink. Finally one corner of his mouth turned up.
“With what?”
“A spoon.”
He chuckled. “Ah, Sabrina, don’t fight with me.”
His voice was low and husky as he moved around the table toward her. She recognized the danger signs and took a step back.
“I’m not fighting with you—you’re fighting with me. If you would just listen with an open mind you would see the sense of what I’m s—”
His lips pressed against hers, cutting her off before she could complete her sentence. In the half second before passion claimed her she knew that Kardal would never see anyone’s view but his own on the subject of his father. She could speak for a thousand years, but his mind had long since been decided.
Then she gave herself up to the glory of his body pressing against hers, the feel of his strong arms wrapping around her body, and the sweetness of his mouth claiming hers.
Being with him felt so incredibly right, she thought dreamily as she parted her lips to welcome him home. Fire began, as it always did, heating her breasts before settling between her legs. She longed to feel his strong hands on her body. She was embarrassed to admit—even to herself—that she wanted him to touch her again, the way he had before. She wanted to feel that amazing release and this time she wanted to put her hands on his body. She wanted to know what he would feel like and look like. She wanted him to take her.
Unable to resist the need growing inside of her, she rose on her tiptoes and pressed against him. If only there was a way to crawl inside of him, she might at last feel that she belonged. When his tongue touched hers, she answered with more intensity, following him back, tasting him, circling him, silently begging him never to stop. She ran her hands up and down his back, then boldly pressed her palms against his rear. The action forced his hips forward, thrusting his arousal against her belly.
She might never have seen a fully aroused man before, but she knew exactly what that bulge meant.
“Sabrina,” he growled when he dragged his mouth from hers. His breathing was as heavy as her own. “I want you.”
Unwelcome tears sprang to her eyes and before she could blink them away, they spilled onto her cheeks.
He frowned. “What is wrong? You cannot be shocked by my declaration.”
“I’m not.”
A sharp pain thrust through her chest. She didn’t know what it meant, nor could she state its cause. For some reason his words had stung.
I want you. Not—I love you.
Time froze. Sabrina couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything but stand there as harsh reality sank into her being.
She wanted Kardal to love her. But why? The situation was impossible. They could never be together. She was betrothed to someone else. Her father would never forgive, never understand. Kardal had responsibilities. She should be pleased that his desire was only physical.
But she wasn’t. Because…because…Because she wanted more. She wanted Kardal to long for her heart as much as her body.
“Sabrina?” He touched the tears on her cheeks. “Why do you cry?”
She couldn’t tell him the truth so she searched for something that would satisfy him. “We can’t do this,” she said quickly. “Be together physically. If you take my virginity you’ll be killed, or at the very least, exiled.”
He surprised her by smiling. “How like my little desert bird to worry. But you must let that be my concern.”
“I can’t. I won’t be responsible for something bad happening to you.”
She felt confused. Her words were the truth; she didn’t want him hurt in any way. Even though he didn’t care about her the way she cared about him, she wanted only the best for him. So they couldn’t become lovers.
She was both pleased and dismayed by his recklessness. Would he really risk his life to play in her bed? She thought that he might. Yet he wouldn’t let her touch his heart.
She was confused and afraid.