She had to grin because he was really good at selling the pure intentions stuff. “You’ll make a fortune off the patents alone.”
He turned, his smile flashing. “Naturally. I intend to be an innovator, not a fool. There is much money to be made, and I will have it for my people.” He stopped, his expression turning somber. “Please tell me you are you coming to the banquet tonight. We are hosting it for you and your employer, you know.”
“Of course I’ll be there.” As the only representative of Black Oak currently in the country, she didn’t have much choice. With Hannah due soon, Gavin had returned to the States. “Rafe and Kade worked me over.” In fact, they wouldn’t let up. Everywhere she went, one of them was there to escort her. And to make her feel comfortable again. She looked up, and sure enough, Kade was standing at the door to the west wing of the palace. He didn’t approach, just sent her a ridiculously sweet smile that made her blood pound. Before they had played naked games on the airplane, she never would have realized what that smile meant. Now she knew he was thinking about playing around, and in the dirtiest way. But at the moment, he wouldn’t do a thing about it.
“I am sure they have tried to work you over, Piper. They would kill to work you over. I am the one holding them back. My brothers growl every time I walk in a room because they know that if it hadn’t been for me, they would already be in your bed.”
She flushed. She couldn’t get used to how they talked openly about sex, especially between more than two people. Just the day before, she’d met their mother, and the lovely British woman had sighed when she talked about her four husbands. Four. Piper couldn’t figure out where to put three men, much less four. Maybe they tag teamed, like in wrestling. “I don’t think they’re missing much by not being in my bed. I’m sure they told you that I’m not exactly experienced.”
“They told me you were beautiful when you took your pleasure. They told me you were so hot they thought the plane would go up in flames. They told me they’d never wanted a woman the way they wanted you that night.” His dark eyes held her. Of all three brothers, he was the most intense, the most magnetic.
Kade was the one who made her laugh, forced her to take everything less seriously...and made her think wicked thoughts. Rafe, with his sexy sophistication, was the one she could talk to about books and movies and all the sights she wanted to see, as well as the pleasures he yearned to give her.
And Tal? Tal was a mystery. He’d been her crush, but that man had been more down to earth. The Tal she’d known through instant messaging and computer chats had been teasing and playful and so smart, but she’d been able to argue with him. This Tal was intimidating, his features beautiful and slightly cold. And she couldn’t stop looking at him, wondering what was going on in that head of his. He was pulling her in despite her best attempts to stay aloof.
He leaned in, his face softening so that cold edge to his beauty fled, leaving only the man behind. “Piper, you do not have a romantic interest at home, do you?”
She shook her head. She had the feeling he already knew that.
His fingers brushed across her face, skimming against her skin and making her shiver. “Then why won’t you try seeing what could develop between us? Is it still me? I know you like my brothers. How can I convince you I will be good for you as well?”
Piper didn’t know what to say, so she bit her lip and said nothing.
He moved in, invading her space, but she couldn’t seem to move away. He was so close she could feel the heat of his skin. She had to force herself to breathe. It was insanity. She was a virgin. Not particularly by choice, but she’d never honestly cared enough about a man to go to bed with him. And that had been true of her fiancé, too. If she’d learned one thing since coming to Bezakistan, it was that she’d never been in love before. Being around the al Mussad brothers made her realize that because she was pretty sure she was falling head over heels for them.
“I want to kiss you, Piper. Don’t tell me no.” His eyes were right on her lips, looking down at them like he was a starving man and she was a ripe piece of fruit.
“But Kade...” His youngest brother was standing there, waiting for her. It didn’t seem right.
“Oh, my lovely Piper, you don’t understand us at all.” He never turned away, merely kept those gorgeous dark eyes on her, but he spoke to his brother, his voice rising. “Kadir? May I kiss your girl?”
That sexy laugh of Kade’s floated toward her. “Please, brother. Kiss her well. Make her ours.”