The Prince’s Forbidden Lover(5)

“Ramzi, this doesn’t…,” Rais looked up from the file he’d been reading and stopped cold in the middle of the hallway. The words he’d been about to speak were gone from his mind as he took in the beautiful woman standing in front of him. She was looking up at him with eyes that changed from hazel to green while he watched and her pale skin turn the most becoming shade of pink.

She wasn’t very tall, he thought. Just a little shorter than Shantra but whereas his sister was barely contained energy, this woman looked like a calm breath of fresh air. Not completely calming, he thought as his body responded to those oddly colored eyes and the rosebud lips that softened as they stared at each other. She was beautiful in a soft, innocent sort of way that made his body harden with a flash of desire so strong, he actually had to clench his fists to keep himself from lifting the gorgeous woman into his arms and carrying her away so that he could gaze upon her in private.

Her dark hair was pulled back at her nape, but the soft locks were smoothed down over her shoulder, the ends tantalizing him as they rested against her full breasts.

Who was this lovely creature he wondered? He tried to jump start his mind, but those lips! They were moving, softening, as if she too were anticipating their first kiss, the taste that he knew would be better than the most precious nectar.

“You promised!” someone hissed.

The sound was disturbing, like a gnat that he needed to swat away. But he didn’t want to pull his eyes from the disturbingly beautiful woman to find out what or who was making that sound. This woman, with those tender eyes and the blushing skin…she was going to be his, he thought with absolute conviction.

“Stop it, Rais. You promised to be nice!”

Rais was finally able to tear his gaze away and he looked down at his sister who was glaring at him angrily. “What are you talking about?” he asked her, not sure what he’d come in here to discuss, or even what day it was, actually. In fact, the only thing on his mind was finding out the name of this beautiful angel and taking her back to his suite so that he could find out what color those eyes changed to when she was writhing underneath him, naked and hot and bothered.

“You promised not to be intimidating!”

He looked at his sister, then to the woman. Things were finally starting to click. This was her friend? “You’re…?”

“This is Joline Caldwell,” Shantra explained to her brother, indicating his angel woman.

Rais looked down into her lovely eyes, which had turned back to hazel and he realized that the woman had the longest, darkest lashes he’d ever seen. Astounding, he thought.

Realizing that he was being remiss in his duties, he extended his hand, eager to feel her soft hand in his. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Caldwell,” he said and stepped closer, taking her hand. He noticed that her fingers were cold and her body seemed to be trembling. He stepped even closer, trying to reassure her that he was no threat, but he couldn’t really tell her that truthfully. Because he was a threat. He was more than ready to toss her over his shoulder and carry her off to a place where his annoying sister and his obnoxious brother wouldn’t bother him. Or her.

Joline, he repeated in his mind. A perfect name for his angel.



“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness,” Joline replied, slipping her leg behind her and trying very hard to balance while performing another curtsy. But this man, with those dark, terrifying eyes that were looking at her as if he was ready to gobble her up, pulled her whole body off balance. If he hadn’t been holding her hand, she would have fallen at his feet in an inelegant mess!

She felt his hand tighten on hers as he gently lifted her back up and she tried to smile her gratitude, but Joline wasn’t sure she managed that smile, too nervous with this man touching her hand.

“And this is Keith Vargas,” Shantra said.

Joline continued to stare up into his eyes, captured and unable to sever that invisible but unbreakable hold. Her mind was telling her that he would have to look over at Keith at some point, but a large part of her heart was begging him not to. She wanted him to stay with her and hold that connection.

When she realized what she was doing, she tried to snatch her hand away, stunned that she would actually want this man’s attention. This wasn’t her! She wasn’t this kind of female! She was distant, reserved! She preferred to stay in the background!

But he wasn’t releasing her hand. Not just yet and she couldn’t break the hold he had on her gaze either. She felt her heartbeat accelerate and her mind saw only this man, his touch and the unrecognizable sensations coursing through her.