Page 30 of Back to Claim His Crown
‘Don’t you trust me?’ she asked softly.
His eyes flashed open and he stared at her directly. ‘I don’t trust anyone. Ever.’
‘You trust Niko,’ she pointed out. ‘He’s never let you down.’
‘Niko can take care of himself. I don’t have to worry about him.’
‘You don’t have to worry about me either.’ Her anger spiked.
‘More importantly—’ he ignored her interruption ‘—I won’t take advantage of you.’
‘I don’t need you topatroniseme.’ She lifted her head proudly. ‘I’m not going to be here for long, Lucian. I’m going to leave. Why can’t we enjoy what’s between us? It wouldn’t be taking advantage. It would only be for a little—’
‘Zara—’
‘You’re not going to break my heart—’ she brazenly asked outright for what she wanted ‘—it’s just sex.’
He shook his head but his eyes glowed. ‘It wouldn’t be right for us to go that far, Zara.’
‘Why not?’
‘You’ve just been jilted at the altar. Is this the best time to make that decision? And you know that if anyone found out, it would make things even more complicated for us both. Not in a good way.’
Annoyed because she could see his point but hurt by yet another rejection, she snapped back, piqued, ‘Fine, maybe I’ll justplease myself, as you once so wisely suggested.’
‘Really?’ He suddenly shot her a tight, feral smile. ‘I think you might find that that’s not the same now. It won’t be enough.’
‘We’ll see, I guess.’ She shrugged even as her insides seemed to melt.
‘All right,’ he said silkily. ‘Why don’t you prove it to me?’
She stilled. ‘Now?’
‘Why not?’ he challenged provocatively. ‘Go on, Zara. You do you.’
The atmosphere crackled. It was as if she were thrown right back into that sensual crucible he’d created for her in his arms last night.
‘Is that what gets you going—watching?’ But she felt her skin flush. What he was daring was outrageous, yet she was dangerously hot. ‘Can’t you let yourself be touched?’
She heard his sharp intake of breath. In the next second he pushed away from the table, stalked around to her seat and pulled her out of it. The second after that she was clutching his shoulders as he bent her back and kissed her straight back to the searing edge of ecstasy. His hands werealmosteverywhere—his clever, tormenting, sweeping hands that stopped just short of where she burned most for him.
‘See?’ he growled fiercely. ‘It’s not enough. You needmytouch. You ache for it.’
It had seemed like such a good idea to challenge him directly but now, as she writhed against him in shocking desperation, she felt utterly undone by her own desire.
‘And I will touch you, Zara. I will kiss you. I can give you the satisfaction you crave,’ he muttered hotly against her throat. ‘Butonlyup to a point. You won’t sufferharmfrom me. You’ve suffered enough of that with Anders.’
‘He never touched me,’ she growled back. ‘And you taking my virginitywouldn’tharm me.’
‘I willnothurt you, Zara,’ he gritted hoarsely.
‘That wouldn’t happen!’
But he stilled.
Anger swamped her at the impasse. She’d been so alone, so forgotten, and she’d tried to sacrifice so much. With him—in this—she suddenly wantedeverything. Not the few crumbs he cared to toss her way. And she couldfeelhis arousal against her right now. Why was he so determined to deny them both this release?
‘I’m tired of people pretending I don’t exist,’ she said in frustration. ‘Of ignoring my desires. My wishes have value.’
