The Prince’s Forbidden Lover(28)

He chuckled. “Another admirable character trait,” he commented softly. “I like loyalty. Very rare to see it.”

She huffed. “You’re a cynic,” she said and moved away from the railing. It was getting colder and she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to fend off the chill in the spring air. She suddenly felt a heavy warmth fall over her shoulders and looked up. His suit jacket was covering her. She was surprised, but not sure why she should be. Rais was the ultimate gentleman and seemed to see everything, so it was no surprise that he’d notice her chill. “Thank you,” she whispered, feeling a strange sensation sweep over her at his chivalrous gesture.

“I’m not a cynic. I just have been around a bit longer than you have and I know people’s nature.”

“You don’t know your sister very well,” she told him with conviction.

He wasn’t going to disagree with her. “So the two of you shared confidences. I understand that. You might know certain parts of her, but I’ve lived with the brat since she was born.” He grunted when her elbow poked his ribs but she hadn’t hurt him at all. In fact, he laughed, once again amazed that she would dare. And she had good aim! “I get it,” he said as he rubbed his ribs. “You’re her biggest cheerleader.”

“She’s been a good friend over the years. And I respect her a lot.”

“You’re moving off the subject,” he told her. “So you didn’t date men at school because you were focused on studying. And you’ve ignored men since then because you were waiting for me to show up.” He ignored her spurt of disagreement. “So why are you ignoring the attraction between us now? What is holding you back from being with me?” He stopped their walking and turned so that she was facing him again. “Tell me what obstacles I need to eliminate so that we can enjoy each other.”

She almost laughed at the idea of him eliminating her mother’s ridiculous need to marry a man who could support her extravagant lifestyle. “I don’t think it is possible.”

He shook his head. “I won’t accept that answer.” His hand reached out to cup her cheek. “I don’t think you truly want that option either.”

Joline had trouble breathing when he looked at her like that, so forceful and yet, still a surge of kindness behind his touch. And passion. Always that crazy, erotic passion that was never far away when they were together.

“I have secrets,” she told him, thinking about protecting Shantra as a business partner as well as her mother’s indiscretions. “It would be too difficult to be with you and maintain my secrets.”

“So tell me your secrets. I’m very discrete, I promise.”

She laughed despite the strange sensations he stirred within her. “I can’t. But I appreciate the offer.”

He smiled slightly. “We’re going to be together, Joline.” And he kissed her.

She knew she should back away, avoid his kiss. But the way he made her feel circumvented any kind of rejection of his touch. When his tongue touched hers, she moaned and pressed against him, her body unconsciously needing his touch everywhere. His strong hands pulled her even closer, lifting her onto her toes as he deepened the kiss.

Joline felt the world spinning out of control and she knew there was nothing she could do to stop it. All she knew was his kiss, the way his mouth moved against hers and that she didn’t want him to stop.

Rais looked around and almost roared with frustration that she was once again clinging to him, her body begging him to make love to her and they were not in an environment conducive to continuing.

“Joline…”

At that moment, his driver pulled up next to him and he mentally thought to give the man a raise. But he didn’t have time to do more than think the thought before he was pulling Joline into the back of the vehicle. Her eyes were clouded and her body still straining towards him. He loved the way she looked right now and wanted to see that look when he entered her for the first time.

When the limousine was once again pulling away from the curb, heading towards his penthouse, he pulled back, wanting Joline to understand and make the decision to be with him without the cloudiness of desire to muddy her choice.

“Joline, I’m taking you back to my place,” he told her. He watched carefully, saw her hazel eyes in the dim light of the interior but couldn’t see if the color changed to green again. “Do you understand what that means?” he asked her.

Joline heard his words. She pulled back, not sure what to think. On the one hand, this man was everything she might want in a lover, even though they could never have a long term relationship. He was royalty and she was…well, the daughter of a woman who basically sold her body to the highest bidder. She was also the business partner to his sister, a sister that he was extremely protective of but had no idea was in business.