“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said, lifting her hand to caress his cheek.
“Mmm,” he said, a slight grin lifting the corner of his mouth.
Without warning, he swept her up into his arms as he moved toward their bathroom, not stopping until he reached the shower.
With a turn of the knob, he started the strong jet and stepped inside with her, gently setting her down and facing her toward the water, where the spray began flowing over her still-sensitive skin.
When he moved her so the spray hit her ni**les, she cried out and tried to move. Rafe held her in place, and Ari’s body began to shake.
“We have all night, baby,” he whispered in her ear before his hand moved down her stomach and he found her swollen womanhood.
All night turned out to last until the sun began rising in the sky. Ari fell asleep a very satisfied woman, with Rafe wrapped around her.
Mmm, she would be extremely happy to have her controlling lover at night, and her sweet fiancé during the day. It was the best of both worlds. Of all possible worlds.
If it could last forever, that wouldn’t be long enough.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Would you please accompany me on a date tonight?
Adriane.
RACHEL LOOKED AT the note with suspicion. What was this new game? Was he actually attempting to court her? That made no sense. Was he asking because now there were witnesses around and he was afraid that one wrong move would send her away from the island on the next available boat or chopper?
Did it matter?
No. Not really. She was determined to get to know this man as much as she could for the sake of her unborn children. If it took going out on a date with him to accomplish her goals, then that is what she needed to do.
“Tell the king I would be pleased to accompany him,” she told the servant who was standing by awkwardly while awaiting Rachel’s response.
The girl beamed a smile her way before telling Rachel the time to be ready and then giving a small curtsy and scuttling away to inform her king that his message had received a positive response.
Rachel supposed she’d been a little harsh with the palace staff, but what else should they expect when she was held against her will? Of course she would be testy.
Upon finishing her bath a couple of hours later, Rachel stepped into her room, then stopped at the sight before her. Hanging on a rack that must have been brought in while she’d been soaking in the deep tub was an incredible red gown.
Walking to it, she smiled as her hand ran along the silky fabric, which was dotted with shining crystals. The skirt was full, and the dress looked like a perfect fit.
Since she’d been brought here without anything formal of her own, she hadn’t even thought about what she would wear, but Adriane had apparently taken care of that matter.
She could be bratty and refuse to wear the lovely gown, but deep down she wanted to put it on, so she relented. Carefully taking the gown off the hanger, she slipped on a pair of her fancy undergarments, then stepped into the dress, sliding the side zipper up before turning to look in the mirror.
It was stunning, and it made her feel like...royalty, actually.
The gown’s top dipped low in front, hugging her chest and waist before flaring at her hips, hiding the small bump that was forming on her lower stomach and accenting her femininity and sex appeal. She stepped into the crystal-covered heels with delicate straps that completed the outfit.
She was starting to really look forward to her night out.
“This is not a date — just a night to get to know Adriane better,” she said aloud to her reflection in the mirror.
She would have to remind herself of that often if she hoped to keep her heart untouched. It would be too easy to be swept off her feet in her condition. Stupid hormones.
After applying a fresh coat of lip gloss, Rachel was ready when she heard a knock on her door. She turned just in time to see Adriane step through her doorway, and it took a moment for her to catch her breath.
Standing before her in a hand-tailored tuxedo and holding a single rose in his hand, Adriane was drop-dead gorgeous. It didn’t hurt that he was looking at her with unalloyed pleasure.
She’d have to fight to remember that they would never be more than friends.
“You are exquisite,” he whispered as he approached, the rose dangling in his fingers.
“Thank you, Adriane. You look very debonair,” she replied, the intensity of his expression making her cast her eyes shyly downward.
“But something is missing,” he said, and her head snapped back up.
As she looked quizzingly at him, he pulled a small box from his pocket, making Rachel take a step back. He hadn’t spoken of marriage all week. She really hoped he wasn’t about to start again — especially with a ring. It would kill her chances of going out tonight, and she was very much looking forward to it.
When she didn’t make a move to take the box, Adriane opened it and held it out. Inside were a breathtaking pair of ruby and diamond earrings, the gems sparkling in the light of the room as he moved the box toward her.
“These will match your gown to perfection,” he said as he took her hand tenderly and turned it palm up, placing the small box in the center before releasing her fingers.
Rachel clutched the box carefully, afraid of dropping it. Never before had she received such a lovely gift. Yes, she’d received her share of amazing presents, but never such an expensive — and beautiful — piece of jewelry.
“I can’t take these, Adriane,” she said. It wouldn’t be right, even if she really did want to wear them.
“Of course you can,” he countered as he slowly turned her around, leading her to the large mirror of her vanity.
He reached into the box, which she was still holding in her hand, pulled out one of the earrings and handed it to her. “Put them on. I want to see how they look.”
She should refuse again, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. She removed the simple gold hoops from her ears and replaced them with the earrings he’d just presented her with.
Adriane was right: they matched the dress as if they had been made just for it. Indeed, they probably had. Turning her head, she couldn’t stop her smile as the light sparked off the jewels decorating her small ears and danced in the mirror.
“They are stunning, and I’ll wear them tonight, but I won’t keep them.” She thought that was a fitting compromise, the right thing to do.