The Purest of Diamonds(25)

                ‘There is no one else,’ Raffa repeated, staring her straight in the eyes.

                ‘And I’m in control.’

                ‘Absolutely,’ Raffa confirmed as she did battle with his belt.

                The leather was like butter and she freed the tine in seconds. Whipping the belt from its loops, she was left with a classy horn button and a zipper to tangle with...

                ‘Giving up so easily?’ Raffa mocked when she pulled back.

                ‘Just taking a moment.’

                In control? Her shaking voice gave her away. She was losing courage with every second that passed. Raffa was so experienced. And she wasn’t even a bit experienced where this was concerned.

                ‘Take as long as you want,’ he suggested. ‘It all adds to the suspense.’

                It might take rather longer for the pay-off than he imagined.

                ‘Or would you rather be seduced than be the seducer?’

                Thankfully, Raffa didn’t wait for her answer. Swinging her into his arms, he carried her into his bedroom, where he laid her down on his enormous bed, his laughing eyes smiling into hers as he kissed her neck...

                * * *

                It was even better when he pinned her wrists above her head. Leave it all to him? She was more than happy to do so.

                It wasn’t so much a case of seducing Leila, but more of holding her back. His lightest touch sent her over the edge. She was so aroused he had to curb his intentions and go as slowly as he could, which wasn’t as easy when Leila Skavanga was the most desirable woman he’d ever known. Her hunger added to her seductive lure and fired his appetite, so that what had begun as an intriguing encounter was transformed into a challenging exercise in restraint for him. His only regret was that there wasn’t enough time for them to enjoy each other for as long as he would like.

                ‘Don’t stop! Don’t you dare stop,’ Leila warned him when he drew back. Guiding his hand, she was quite open about what she wanted. He could feel the heat of her need without exploring, and he had to tell her to slow down as he felt around for his jacket.

                ‘I said, don’t stop,’ she complained, grabbing on to him impatiently.

                ‘And I say we need to take a minute.’

                He kissed her into compliance, but he was lost too. He wanted this woman—and not just for easy sex. His hunger defied reason. Wanting Leila had hit him like a freight train. He had never felt this with any woman. And he wanted Leila to want him as he wanted her. He wanted to ride her into Hades and back as he watched pleasure unfold on her face and felt her body bloom beneath him. He wanted to burn his brand into her mind, so there could never be anyone else—

                ‘And I’m bad?’ he murmured, when, finally losing patience with him taking so much time to protect them both, Leila grabbed hold of his hand to urge him on.

                ‘You make me bad.’

                ‘Weak argument,’ he countered, feeling dangerous heat rush through him as Leila laced her hands around his neck, trusting him with that one small gesture.

                ‘We make each other bad,’ she amended, smiling as he drew her into his arms.

                Now that he wouldn’t argue with. There was something between them he couldn’t explain, a fire like nothing he’d ever experienced before. He’d barely touched her before she flew screaming over the edge again, forcing him to hold her firmly in place as, lost to pleasure, she bucked mindlessly beneath him. When she’d calmed down, he smiled. ‘This could be a long night, Señorita Skavanga.’