Page 148 of Claimed By the Maharaja
As soon as she spoke, his mouth crashed onto hers with none of his usual control.
His lips devoured hers, his tongue sliding against hers in a way that made her moan and grip his hair to pull him closer.
Then just as abruptly, he pulled away, his chest heaving. She gasped at the sudden loss of contact. Her lips throbbed along with her body.
She watched as his golden-brown eyes burned into hers with something raw and unreadable that had nothing to do with contracts or clauses.
“Don’t stop,” she whispered. “Kiss me again.”
He kissed her again.
But this time, it wasn’t the fierce, claiming kiss from before. This one was slower and deeper. His mouth moved over hers with a softness that made her chest ache strangely.
His fingers tangled in her hair, tilting her head back as his tongue traced the seam of her lips, coaxing them apart gently.
She shuddered and then bit his lower lip.
He groaned into her mouth, his grip tightening in her hair as if anchoring himself against her sudden provocation. She reveled in the ragged sound.
Then he pulled away from her again.
Her mouth automatically moved towards him, but he caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her face up to study her. His gaze traced her parted lips, the flush creeping down her neck, the rapid flutter of her pulse beneath her jaw.
Something unreadable flickered in his eyes before he exhaled sharply and bent down.
She gasped as his arms slid under her knees and shoulders, lifting her effortlessly against his chest. His skin burned where it pressed against hers, and she instinctively curled into him, her nose brushing his collarbone. The familiar scent of his cologne,masculine sweat, and something faintly metallic flooded her senses as he carried her through the adjoining door.
Moonlight drifted from the windows and fell on his face.
He paused at the foot of the bed, his jaw tightening as if fighting some internal war, before depositing her with unexpected gentleness on top of the bed covers. The cold fabric shocked against her overheated skin, making her shiver slightly.
His hand lingered, his thumb brushing against the emerald fish pendant.
Then he moved away.
Once again, his movements became controlled. He pulled the bedcovers that she had kicked away earlier and draped them over her. The weight settled over her.
He then adjusted it silently in precise movements, ensuring no cold crept in.
He straightened and stepped back.
He looked at her, his gaze falling on her face with startling intensity. Her breath caught at the hunger in those golden-brown eyes, which was a stark contrast from the controlled moments before.
Before she could say anything, he turned away to leave.
He paused at the threshold, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the soft light coming through the connecting doorway.
“Rest well,” he said in a low command. “We have another long day ahead.”
His tone was once again steady, as though the past hour didn’t happen.
The connecting door closed with a soft click.
Yamini lay still.
“Arrogant, infuriating jerk,” she whispered.
But even as she cursed him, she lifted her fingers to her swollen lips.
