“I was summoned,” she explained to the aide sitting outside of the man’s office, trying very hard to keep the sarcasm out of her tone. But by the look on the aide’s features, she suspected that she’d failed miserably.
She felt Rais’ presence almost immediately and turned to face him, bracing herself as if he were an enemy combatant. “I sent that note a while ago,” Rais stated, suddenly towering over Joline. “This way,” he ordered and led the way into his office.
Joline considered not entering that room. She was nervous enough with him standing there waiting for her. She knew that it would be a thousand times worse if she walked into his office and he closed the door.
When she remained standing in front of the aide’s desk, Rais’ dark eyebrow went up, as if daring her to follow him.
With a deep sigh of resignation, she followed, stepping into the dragon’s lair with trepidation.
Rais could sense her nervousness and chuckled. “I’m not going to bite you,” he teased. “At least that wasn’t my current plan.”
Joline gasped and swung around, just as the door to his office closed with a snip. The sound seemed to echo between them and she stared up at him with wide, worried eyes. “Why did you ask to see me?”
Rais looked down into her beautiful eyes and all thoughts of business evaporated from his mind. “I’m going to kiss you, Joline.” He hadn’t planned on saying that, or even doing that. But then again, the idea of having this woman in his bed, at his mercy as he explored every delectable inch of her figure hadn’t left his mind since he’d been introduced to her.
Joline jerked backwards. “No!”
He took a step towards her, smiling when she backed up. He calculated how many steps she could take before she was pressed up against his desk. Three…two…one.
He leaned forward, bracing his hands against the top of his desk, forcing her backwards.
“Why do I make you so nervous?”
Joline thought about denying that she was nervous, but she suspected that it was pretty obvious. “Because you’re a prince. That’s a bit intimidating.”
He smiled slightly at her lie. “I don’t think it has anything to do with my title. More likely, it is because I’m a man and you’re drawn to me, just as I’m drawn to you.”
“I’m not!” she tried to assert. “I’m just nervous being around a prince. You’re a bit out of my ordinary, day-to-day experiences.”
“And you’re a beautiful woman. I’m going to kiss you now,” he told her.
“No!” Joline gasped, trying to slip out from under him, but his arms were much stronger than she’d anticipated and they both wrapped around her waist. A moment later, his mouth covered hers and she was lost. Completely lost!
His lips were demanding, forceful but still teasing her, encouraging her to participate in the kiss. At first, she was too stunned, but as his hands pulled her closer, molding her against his hard body, she shivered at the shock. When his tongue slid against her lips, she had no choice but to open for him, allowing him entry.
When she felt his tongue invade her mouth, her mind exploded with need. This man, this touch, the way he was kissing her, made her need something she’d never experienced before. She wanted…more. She needed this man to touch her in other places. She needed to touch him!
Sliding her hands up his muscular arms, she was shocked when he deepened the kiss. Tilting her head back, she stood up on her toes, demanding more from him and thrilling when he gave it to her.
Lifting his head, he looked down into her eyes, startled by the instant heat. He was struggling to keep himself from making love to her right here on his desk! He’d never been this out of control before.
Pulling back even more, he almost groaned at the separation. “Come to my suite,” he told her, kissing her neck, nibbling on the sensitive skin and smiling when he felt her body shiver. “We can be alone and take our time.”
Joline sighed, not wanting him to stop. Shouldn’t she tell him to stop? She opened her mouth to speak the words, but then his mouth found a place behind her ear and she made the most undignified sound!
“Come on,” he commanded, taking her hand and helping her slide off of his desk. He didn’t even remember doing that to her which only proved how out of control this entire episode had gotten.
Still in a daze, Joline let him take her hand and pull her behind him. They were almost to the door of his office by the time the fuzz cleared from her head enough for her to think clearly. “Where are we going?” she asked, pulling slightly on his hand.