Their Virgin Concubine(26)

Kade frowned, rising to his feet and circling the bed. He would be the dangerous one. He would charm and cajole. She had to stand her ground against him. “I’m not going anywhere, Piper. You act as if we are rejecting you. We’ve done nothing of the sort.”

She didn’t want to argue semantics with them. She wasn’t stupid. They could put it in a million flowery words and it amounted to the same thing: She was good enough to play with, but not tempting or pretty enough to make love to. She was deeply sure she would eventually discover that their rejection was a “cultural” thing. Well, she was heartily sick of hearing about their culture and all the ways she needed to change.

“I asked you to leave, Kadir. If you don’t, I will. And I can assure you that when I get a chance to talk to the sheikh, I will certainly mention how his brothers treated me.”

“I assure you my brother will be thrilled I managed to leave you intact,” Kade snarled at her, getting into her space with a challenging stare. “He sure as fuck better be. I’m on edge right now, Piper. Denying myself is not something I suffer often or well. It would be best if you did not push me.”

Everything that was female in her rose to his masculine challenge. She wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d started beating his chest. “I think you don’t have much trouble denying yourself, Kade, not when it comes to me. Just go away and find some other fool.”

Kade’s eyes flared, but his brother put a restraining hand on his chest.

“Stop. This can only end one of two ways, and both of them would be very bad for us. You must calm down. You cannot fight or fuck your way out of this. She needs time.”

Rafe’s very calm voice set her on edge. Piper kind of wanted the fight. At least if they fought with her, she could pretend that she roused the same emotions in them that they created in her. “I don’t need time. I understand now. Just…leave.”

She refused to go. Oh, that had been the original plan, but what they’d done was just mean. They’d manipulated her for some reason she couldn’t understand. Maybe it had been a fun game to see just how far she would go. Maybe she would find herself on a plane right back to the States tomorrow because she’d proven to be immoral and not worthy of admission into their precious country. It didn’t matter. Whatever was going to happen would simply happen. There wasn’t a lot she could do about it now. Since they’d stripped her of every bit of her control, she wanted to stand her ground now and make them retreat.

Kade turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Rafe picked up his shirt and shook his head.

“This is not how I would have ended the evening, habibti. Please reconsider. I can call Kade back. Let us hold you. This is all we can offer you now.”

She wished he would just leave. “Please go. I’m tired. I need a shower.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, and she saw plainly that he was forcing himself to walk away. “I will leave for the night, Piper. But do not think for a second that this discussion is over. It has just begun, and the minute the plane sets down, we will be in my country and playing by my rules. I might seem like the softest of my brothers, but never forget that I am a prince. Royalty has taught me to be ruthless, and I get what I want. Sleep well.”

The door closed behind him, and he left Piper alone. With shaking hands, she walked to the shower. As much as she washed, she couldn’t rid herself of the feel of their hands on her. When she finally slept, she dreamed that she was between them, wrapped in their love.





Chapter Five





The wheels of the plane touched down, jarring Kade from his deeply unrestful sleep. He sat up and wondered why he’d even tried to sleep in the uncomfortable as hell chair.

“We’re here, sir. The limo is waiting to take you to the palace. The luggage will follow shortly. His Highness has been in touch with the pilot to make sure the flight went smoothly. He’s expecting you all within the hour.” The very competent hostess handed him a thermos of coffee.

He needed it. His head hurt and his back was going to need a serious adjustment. “Thank you. Is Ms. Glen awake?”

It was a stupid question. She wouldn’t have stayed in bed during landing, but he couldn’t exactly ask if Ms. Glen was still pissed as hell that he and Rafe couldn’t fuck her last night.

The hostess smiled serenely. “She has already had breakfast and is looking lovely and fresh and ready to meet the sheikh.”

The hostess walked away, and Kade sat back as the plane began the long roll down the runway. This airport was private. He didn’t have to worry about paparazzi here. But once away from here, that would change quickly.