Their Virgin Concubine(20)

She shook her head. Sex had definitely overtaken her brain.

Piper stepped out of her shoes, reveling in the plush carpet beneath her feet. Someone had laid a pretty white negligee across the champagne-colored duvet. The garment was her size. A silky eye mask sat on the nightstand, along with a small bag of her toiletries. Tooth brush, toothpaste, a moisturizer that hadn’t been bought at the drugstore on clearance. She touched the beautifully constructed bottle. Designer. No doubt, the product was the top of the line.

The al Mussads knew how to take care of their charge. They would know how to take care of a woman, too. She just had to choose one and enjoy.

“Do you like it? Kade picked it out for you. He might not care about your office attire, but he certainly likes selecting lingerie.” Rafe stood in the doorway, leaning his strong body against the portal. He’d loosened his tie and a bit of sun-kissed throat peeked through. His midnight black hair was slightly messy, making him look less like a prince and more like an everyday man. Almost approachable, even. She longed to touch his hair to see if it was as soft and lush as it looked. Rafe kept his hair ruthlessly short and under control, so she appreciated this look at the moment. Kade’s was longer, brushing his earlobes, but always looked soft.

She was alone with Rafe. He had kissed her first. Maybe…

Her heart rate tripled as she met his stare. “It’s beautiful. In fact, everything you’ve bought for me is. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

He stepped forward, invading her space. “Do not concern yourself with repayment. Would you wish to insult me? I enjoy giving you nice things.”

“Thank you,” she said softly. “I want you to know I appreciate them.”

“I am glad.” Rafe smiled faintly. “Piper, Kade and I would like to talk to you.”

She didn’t want to talk just now. He stood so close. The last thing she wanted was another kindly lecture on what to expect in Bezakistan. And though she loved the fact that Rafe could talk about books and culture with her, she didn’t want an intellectual discussion. She rose up on her toes, her lips meeting his for a long moment. Gosh, his lips were sinfully soft.

“Piper?” He pulled back slightly, his expression somewhere between concerned and confused.

She moved forward, her body softening against his. Without the heels, she felt so tiny against his tall, muscular frame. She had to stay on her toes to position her lips beneath his. “Rafe, I want you.”

“Oh, Piper…” A shudder went through his body. “Those are such sweet words, habibti.”

No, he was sweet. She nuzzled his neck, loving the way he smelled so spicy, exotic, and masculine. His skin was warm, and she wondered what it would be like to sleep against him, his body cradling hers. A deep longing went through her. One night. It was all she would have with him, but she would know how it felt to be held and wanted.

She caressed her way down to his waist, trying to pull his crisp white dress shirt from the waistband of his designer trousers so she could touch more skin.

“Piper,” his voice was soft, but firm. “Wait, habibti. You must stop.”

She kissed his jaw, trying to reach his lips. He stepped back, his hands warding her off rather than pulling her in.

Shock slapped her suddenly. She was making an idiot of herself.

Piper took an awkward step back, tripping over her own feet and landing on her backside. Humiliation swept through her, stinging her veins. She felt a hot flush race up her face.

“Habibti, let me help you.” Rafe reached down to assist her, a graceful god taking pity on the mortal.

Piper shook her head, scooting further away, unwilling to look at him. “I’m fine. I’m really sorry. That was wrong of me.”

It had been stupid. So dumb. Tears threatened. Of course he didn’t want her. Johnny had told her that she wasn’t sexy. She simply hadn’t listened. Instead, she’d wanted. Craved. Taken his sweet kiss earlier to mean something more. She needed to be realistic. Wealthy, smart, royal… A man like Rafe would only look at her with charity in his eyes.

She needed to get him out of here, or better yet, she needed to go. She didn’t belong in this room.

“What happened?” Kade walked in and bent to her, completing the perfect picture of horror. “Piper, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

She put her hands up, holding the men at bay, still refusing to meet their gazes. “I’m fine. I’m just going to grab my things and find a smaller room to bed down.”

She would do that. Grab her things, rather than all the gorgeous trappings the brothers had bought for her. The romantic bed and lacy nightie had danced through her head, creating the mirage that she was beautiful and Rafe might want her. But she wasn’t beautiful. Sexy high heels didn’t make her a sexy girl, just a walking disaster waiting to happen. When she got to her new place, she would find the Bezakistani equivalent of a mall and buy some sensible shoes. Flats. Shoes that didn’t make her believe she’d become some femme fatale.