Holding her face between his hands, Emir made her look at him. Gazing into the burning stare of a man who knew so much about her body made it easy to forget her doubts. Her face must have shown this transition, because he brushed her lips with his. And from there it was an easy slide into a passionate embrace that ended with Emir manoeuvring her into a comfortable position on the bench-which just happened to be under him.
'Is there any part of this you don't like?' he said, smiling down at her.
She liked everything-too much-and at what risk to her heart? Right now she didn't care as another part of Britt Skavanga, warrior woman, chipped off and floated away. At one time sex was little more than a normal function for her, like eating or sleeping, but now...
Now that wasn't nearly enough.
But Emir's hands were distracting her, and as he traced the line of her spine she embraced the feelings inside her. They were so strong she could hardly ignore them. She wanted this man. She wanted him so badly. She wanted to be one with him in every way. Unfortunately, Emir's approach to sex was much like hers had used to be, and being on the receiving end of that was very different from doling it out. But then her mind filled with pleasure as his lips caressed her neck. He knew just how to work her hot spots until she softened against him and relaxed. She had always taken the lead in the past-she had been the one who knew what she was doing and where she was going, the one who was completely in control-but with Emir there was no control. She was his.
'I love your body,' he said as she writhed beneath him.
'I love yours too.' How could she not?
Emir was built on a heroic scale. She doubted she had ever met a bigger man. There wasn't a spare inch of unnecessary flesh on his hard, toned body, and each muscle was clearly delineated after his strenuous physical exercise in the lake. He was every bit the soldier, the fighter, the leader, yet he had the most sensitive hands. She groaned as he massaged her scalp with his fingertips.
'What do you want, Britt?' he murmured.
'Do you really need me to answer that?'
'I like you to tell me,' he said.
Emir's voice had the power to arouse her almost as much as the man himself. Raising her chin, she took a deep breath and then told him what she wanted.
'So open your legs wider,' he said.
Her first thought was, No. I can't do that-not while you're looking down at me.
'Wider,' he said.
She wanted this. He excited her-
'Wider still...'
'I can't-you're merciless-'
'Yes, I am,' he agreed in the same soft tone.
'Enough,' she begged him, reaching out. She needed human contact. She needed closeness more than anything. She needed a kiss-a tender kiss. She still longed for the illusion that they were close in every way, Britt realised, feeling a pang of regret for what could never be.
He had never seen anything more beautiful than Britt at this moment, when every part of her was glowing and aroused. His desire to be joined to her was overwhelming, but something as special as this could not be rushed. It must be appreciated and savoured. One of the so-called erotic secrets of Kareshi was nothing more than this lingering over pleasure. Making time for pleasure was a so much a national pursuit he had been forced to persuade the Kareshi people to balance their country's business needs against it, but he would never wish these old traditions to die out. In fact, he had every intention of fostering them, and as Britt reached for him he took her wrists in a firm grip. 'Not yet,' he whispered.
'Don't you want me?' she said, arching her back as she displayed her breasts to best advantage.
She had no idea how much.
He held her locked in his stare as she sat up. He even allowed her to lace her fingers through his hair, binding him to her. Britt was easy to read. She was already on the edge. Intuition had always helped him in the past-in all sorts of situations, and now this. With Britt he mastered his own desires by channelling his thoughts into all the things that intrigued him about her.
'How can you bear to wait?' she complained.
'I bear it because I know what's best for you,' he said. 'I know what you need and I know the best way to give it to you.'
'How do you know?' she said, writhing with impatience.
On the sexual front that was all too obvious, but knowing Britt wasn't so hard. She was the oldest child, always trying to do her best, the lab-rat for her sisters, the one who would have been given the strictest upbringing by her parents. Britt was used to bearing the weight of responsibility on her shoulders, and with duties at home and then duties in the business she hadn't had much time to explore life, let alone discover the nuances of sex and how very good it could be.
'So, how did you like our Nordic traditions?' she murmured against his mouth.
Distracted, he brushed a kiss against her lips. 'I like them a lot. I'd like to know more. I'd like to know more about you-'
The look of surprise on her face almost broke the erotic spell for him, and then she said with touching honesty, 'I'd like to know more about you and your country.'
'Maybe you will.'
Closing his eyes, he inhaled her wildflower scent, and realised then that the thought of never smelling it again was unthinkable. He was still on guard, of course. There was still a business deal to do and it would be unwise to underestimate Britt Skavanga. She was everything he had been warned to expect...and so much more.
* * *
When Emir kissed her she was glad of his arms supporting her, because he didn't just kiss her breath away, he kissed her thoughts away too. It felt so good to drop her guard and lose herself in sensation, shut out the business robot she had become. It was good to feel sensation spreading in tiny rivers of fire through her veins, and even better to feel Emir's erection resting heavily against her thigh, because that said he wanted her as much as she wanted him. She groaned with anticipation when he nudged her thighs apart. Moving between them, he started teasing her with delicate touches until she thought she would go mad for him.
'Wrap your legs around me,' he instructed, staring deep into her eyes.
'Don't make me wait,' she warned, but in a way she was glad when he soothed her with kisses and caresses first. She cried out and urged him on. There were no certainties other than the fact that she was being drawn deeper into a dangerous liaison with him.
As if sensing her unease, he took her face in his big, warm hands and drugged her with kisses. Gentle to begin with, they grew deeper and firmer as the embers inside her sparked and flared. She loved it when he took possession of her mouth, and loved it even more when he took possession of her body. She loved being held so firmly. She loved the powerful emotions inside her.
'Have you changed your mind?' he said as she tried to rein them in.
She denied this, and then he did something so amazing she couldn't have stopped him if she had tried. A shaking cry escaped her throat as he sank slowly deep inside her. She could never be fully prepared for Emir. The sheer size of him stole the breath from her lungs. He was such an intuitive lover. He understood every part of her and how she responded. He knew her limits and never stepped over them, while his hands and mouth worked magic. Today he was using the seductive language of Kareshi-soft and guttural, husky and persuasive-to both encourage and excite her. It must have succeeded because she found herself pressing her legs wide for him with the heel of her palms against her thighs.
'Good,' he approved, thrusting even deeper.
She cried out his name repeatedly as he moved rhythmically and reliably towards the inevitable conclusion. But suddenly some madness overcame them, and control was no longer possible as they fought their way to release.
She was still shuddering with aftershocks minutes later. Her internal muscles closed around him gratefully, to an indescribably delicious beat.
Neither of them spoke for quite a while. They had both experienced the same thing-something out of the ordinary, she thought as Emir stared down at her. At last his eyes were full of everything she had longed to see.
'I take it you enjoyed that?' he murmured, and, withdrawing gently, he helped her to sit up.
'And you?' she said, resting her cheek against his chest.
'I have one suggestion-'
She glanced up.
'Next time we try a bed.'
His grin infected her. 'Now there's a novel thought,' she agreed, but after she had rested on him for a moment or two harsh reality intruded and she remembered who she was, who he was, and the parts they played in this drama.
Lifting her chin, she put on the old confident face. 'Don't get ahead of yourself, mister. I sleep alone.'