Getting to this point simply means you enjoy the stories so far.This too will gladden your heart...TITLE: LUSTFUL DESIRES"So, which look do you think is going to attract the attention of a heart breaker like film producer Gregorio Di Costa?" Chloe prompted Ethna consideringly, as she threw open the door to her wardrobe and brought out a white dress. "The demure virgin?"She held the garment against her, its plain styling covering her tall slenderness from neck to knee. She pulled her heavy length of red hair away from the delicate lines of her heart-shaped face, at the same time lowering her head, her expression youthfully coy as she looked at Ethna with moss-green eyes through long, dark lashes.Her flatmate and long-term friend laughed softly as she sat on the bed, watching the display. ‘Or…?’ Ethna inquired smilingly."Or a sexy vamp?" Chloe threw the white dress down on the bed and pulled out a slinky black gown, its ribbon shoulder straps, low neckline, body-hugging style, and
Ethna, Alana, and Chloe had been at school together and then stuck with each other while taking further education courses in London: Ethna had taken a degree in history, Alana had gone to drama school, and Chloe had chosen medicine. Declan, having known Chloe’s old friends well and having attended university himself, had joined them in sharing a house during those years of study.The passing years had forged a bond between the four of them that was as close, if not closer, than family; if one of them was hurt, the others felt it, too.And then, six weeks ago, Alana’s tender heart had been broken by the heartless Gregorio Di Costa!After university, Declan had gone to Los Angeles, and the three women had taken another apartment together in London. Then, six months ago, Alana—after some mild success on the London stage—had gone to Los Angeles, too, in order to look for acting roles.which was how she had met and fallen in love with the famous film producer Gregorio Di Costa.The two had
She was very slender, with long, shapely legs, narrow hips, and a flat abdomen, but in contrast her breasts—bare beneath that clinging gown, Gregorio felt certain!—were full and pert, their creamy swell tantalizingly visible above the low neckline of her gown.His curiosity had been piqued earlier, as her coolly dismissive gaze had swept over the crowded foyer. Those eyes, the color of moss—an exact match to the gown she wore, which clung so enticingly to that curvaceous body—had paused on him momentarily before she had turned away, uninterested.Enough to quicken the interest of any red-blooded man!And especially one who had already found her so immediately attractive...There hadn’t been time for any introductions before the film showing, but Gregorio had been determined to meet her once they moved on to the party afterwards.She was even more beautiful up close: her skin was satiny smooth, those green eyes mesmerizing through lowered dark lashes, a deep peach gloss on the pout of
Declan’s grin widened. "I should warn you, Gregorio—it takes a lot to impress my little sister," he advised, before strolling off determinedly to rescue his leading lady.Chloe gave a rueful smile as her brother left her alone with this Lamberto—in Lamberto’s clothing!—without so much as a backward glance.Not that Declan had any idea of her ambivalent feelings towards the Sicilian film producer. There were some things you didn’t confide in a twin, and Alana’s humiliation at Gregorio Di Costa’s hands was definitely one of them!But, even so, her brother had to be well aware of Gregorio Di Costa’s reputation with women.On second thoughts, Declan probably saw leaving her to the legendary lethal charms of Gregorio Di Costa as a huge joke!Although she wasn't quite sure whether Declan intended that joke to be on her or on Gregorio Di Costa, Declan was as aware of her own elusiveness when it came to relationships as he had to be of the other man’s will-o’-the-wisp attitude towards them.S
Chloe could feel the heat creeping into her body as the intimacy in Gregorio Di Costa’s voice moved across and into her. She was aware of the way her breasts had swollen, of their hard and tingling nipples, and of the heat moving between her thighs.Not exactly what she had planned to happen when she decided to call this man’s bluff!"And while I am kissing you," Gregorio Di Costa continued in that low, sensuous voice, "I would like to thread my fingers into your beautiful hair, to feel its silky softness, to tangle it about my fingers as we deepen the kiss." And then I would like to release one of my hands to run the zip of your dress slowly down your spine, touching you as I do so, caressing the smoothness of your bare skin as I allow the gown to drop to the floor. Under the gown, you would be wearing nothing but a pair of silk pants—black, I think,’ he added, as he looked over her with slow consideration, "and sheer flesh-colored stockings""Are you trying to shock me, Mr. Di Costa
Those dark eyes warmed appreciatively. "Tomorrow evening, then? Say eight o’clock?"I’m busy tomorrow evening," she told him with great satisfaction.It was the truth, after all; she had a late shift at the hospital tomorrow. But even if she hadn’t, she would have made an excuse not to meet him tomorrow evening. If only to show him, she was less than eager to see him again.The fact that the warmth had faded slightly from those dark eyes and his lips were thinning more than justified her refusal.No doubt he was used to a more enthusiastic response to his invitations.No doubt most women would have put off any previous engagement in order to have dinner with him tomorrow or any other evening he suggested.Well, as Gregorio Di Costa was going to learn, Chloe wasn't like most women.And in his case, forewarned was definitely forearmed!She had no doubt, despite her own reluctance when it came to relationships, that she would have been totally bowled over by his deadly charm if she hadn’
But that didn’t mean that she hadn’t thought about Gregorio Di Costa a lot over the last two days—that she hadn’t remembered the delicious shiver that had run down her spine as his lips had brushed across the back of her hand and how her body had responded as he’d detailed how he would like to make love to her, while all the time that devilish sense of humor had glinted in his eyes.And she had guilty thoughts of him right now, as he sat in the restaurant, waiting for her to arrive, probably under the increasingly pitying gazes of the other customers. thoughts that kept intruding as she tried to watch her favorite film...It was only the memory of the way Gregorio Di Costa had so callously hurt Alana that made Chloe so certain she had been right to carry out her plan to stand him up tonight. The man simply didn’t have the right to go around breaking women’s hearts without even a backward glance. and especially when that woman was a friend of Chloe’s.Then why did she feel so increasin
As his own was rising now, as he realized that she wore absolutely nothing beneath those striped pajamas...As garments, they shouldn’t have been in the least sexy. They were obviously meant for someone much bigger in size—the shoulders hanging loose and the sleeves falling over the slenderness of her hands, and the trousers only held in place by the tie-string at her slender waist as they bagged about her hips. With their awful green-and-cream striped pattern, the pajamas should have been anything but sexually alluring. But the low neckline of the jacket revealed the slenderness of Chloe’s throat and a creamy expanse of her bare breasts as they thrust pertly, her nipples taut, against the cotton material.Gregorio could imagine nothing more erotic than slowly undoing the buttons down the front of the pyjama jacket to reveal those thrusting breasts, then lavishing the full attention of his lips and tongue across her hardened nipples...‘My diagnosis?’ Chloe echoed, moistening her lips
He moved suddenly, turned to her, and gripped her arms; she glimpsed the desperation in his eyes as he dragged her against his chest. "I will do whatever it takes to win you back, Kalila." "You are my wife, the love of my life, and I won’t let you go." His warm breath fanning the curls that framed her face, he pressed his lips to her temple, his eyes briefly closing as if in pain."I have told my father to name his brother Sulim as the interim ruler of Qubbah in the event of his dying before Hazem comes of age." Kate stared at him, shocked beyond words. "But... but why?" she finally stumbled.I thought that you were to rule until Hazem was older. "You are the King’s only son, and it is your duty." Ahsan shook his head. "My first duty is to my wife, and my father agrees." Even if he did not, I would still be here for you."Don't you understand, Kalila?" he asked urgently. "You are more important to me than Qubbah, my father, everything." You, me, and Hazem are a family, and the only thin
The still silence in the garden that followed his astounding statement was broken by the piercingly sweet song of a blackbird. Kate licked her suddenly dry lips, her heart beating so fast she was sure it would explode. "I don’t understand.""It’s quite simple." He sounded impatient and stared at her haughtily. But to her amazement, streaks of dull color highlighted his cheekbones, and his eyes veered from hers as if he were afraid to meet her gaze. "I love you, Kate."Her rebuttal was fierce and immediate. "No, you don’t.""I should have known you would want to argue about it, Kalila." A little of his tension left him, and his smile stole her breath."You don’t love me," she said again. It was probably some cruel trick, and she had more sense than to be fooled. "You married me for Hazem." You love Farrah. Malika said so.Malika said a lot of things, most of them untrue. Ahsan’s voice was suddenly harsh."But not the things she said about me," Kate said thickly. "My mother was a prosti
The blue sky was dotted with cotton wool clouds, and the warm breeze carried a scent of lavender and old-fashioned roses. There was no place on earth more beautiful than Ingledean on a spring day, Kate mused—except an oasis in the middle of the desert, where palm trees provided shade from the scorching sun and an azure pool glinted beneath a cloudless sky.She had been home for a month—although Ingledean no longer felt like home without Hazem. The image of his huge brown eyes and impish smile caused the familiar agonizing pain in her chest, and she bit down hard on her lip, tasted blood, and cursed the tears that slid unchecked down her face. She couldn’t cry forever. Somehow she was going to have to find the strength to move on, pick up the threads of her life, or maybe make a new one, far away from Ingledean and all its memories. But since she had left Qubbah, a terrible lassitude had settled on her, and she could not plan anything when the only two people she loved were far away on
In less than an hour, she was expected to attend the lavish dinner organized in honor of King Kabir’s recovery and his return as supreme ruler of Qubbah. And somehow she was going to have to do so without revealing that she was breaking up inside, which Kate acknowledged despairingly as she stared in the mirror at her paper-white face and red-rimmed eyes.When she first returned to the palace after her explosive confrontation with Malika, she locked herself in her dressing room and recalled, in stunned disbelief, everything the young Arab woman had told her. Could it be true? Had Ahsan always intended to divorce her once he’d gained custody of Hazem and marry his beautiful advisor?She did not know how long she’d sat there, but eventually her maid had knocked on the door and reminded her that it was time to prepare for the banquet. She should have made the excuse that she was ill—no one who saw her pallor would fail to believe her. But the steely backbone of pride that had seen her th
Despite the warmth of the early-evening sunshine, Kate shivered. "You’re talking nonsense," she said firmly, striving to sound confident despite the sudden lurch of her heart. She was perfectly aware of why Ahsan had married her, but he had given no hint that he wanted a divorce. Ahsan told me he was never engaged to you. She lifted her chin and glared at Malika, trying to ignore the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach."He wasn’t," Malika agreed, looking surprised. "I was engaged to Farhan; Ahsan was engaged to Farrah."The world seemed to tilt alarmingly for a few seconds, and Kate actually gripped the edge of the wall for support. Ahsan and Farrah! It couldn’t possibly be true, could it? "Jamila told me that Ahsan was in love with his fiancée," she said faintly. "She doesn’t know why the marriage didn’t take place."Malika gave a careless shrug. ‘Jamila knows. Everyone at the palace knows that Ahsan adored Farrah and that she eloped with his brother on the eve of their wedding.
He was suddenly aware that the children had finished their dance and everyone was waiting for his response. Kate had turned her head to him, frowning at his inattention, and he quickly clapped his hands in applause. Once the dancers had filed out of the marquee, his personal assistant Zaid appeared at his side and informed him that a group of local potters had brought their best work for his gracious inspection. Stifling a sigh, he led the royal party out into the blazing sunshine.The garden party continued all afternoon, and Ahsan was not in the best of moods when he strode back to the palace. He suddenly realized that he was too far ahead and slowed his pace, waiting for Kate to catch up with him. He frowned when he noted how pale she looked beneath her wide-brimmed hat. She made no attempt to speed up, and the dejected droop of her shoulders fueled his impatience."I appreciate that an afternoon spent admiring traditional crafts and customs is not likely to top your list of exciti
Her feet briefly touched the floor, and he spun her around, tugged her zip down her spine, and removed her dress before she had time to catch her breath. Her bra went the same way before he lifted her again and threw her onto the bed as if she were a rag doll, his eyes glittering with a mixture of anger and sexual hunger that made Kate’s stomach dip."At night, I’m happy to give you all the attention you could possibly want," he growled, his shoes, trousers, and shirt hitting the floor with barely controlled savagery until he stood in his silk boxers. "This is the only bed you’ll ever sleep in." The boxers joined the rest of his clothes, revealing his powerful, unashamedly aroused body in all its glory. "But I wouldn’t bank on sleeping for many hours yet."Kate stared up at him, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she struggled to control the wild excitement that was pounding through her veins. She was conscious that she was wearing nothing but a pair of tiny lace pants and the pric
Clearly embarrassed, Aaliyah determinedly changed the subject to Hazem and how fast he was growing. But although Kate smiled and made token conversation, her mind was whirling. If Malika’s family had expected her to marry Ahsan, was she the woman he had been engaged to years ago—the woman Jamila had said he had loved? But, if so, why had they not married? It didn’t make sense, and she brooded miserably as she stared at Ahsan. He was smiling at Malika and clearly enjoying her company. Perhaps they had argued and broken off their engagement. Was he now regretting his lost chance to marry a beautiful, clever Arab girl who would have made him the perfect wife?From that moment on, the party became a blur of faces and stilted conversation with people she had never met before. She was sure they viewed her as an oddity, with her pale skin and vivid hair—and her glaring lack of sophistication. But until his father had recovered, Ahsan was king, and one of her wifely duties outside of the bedr
As Ahsan had predicted, his team of advisors was waiting for him when they arrived back at the palace. Even on the journey across the desert, he’d had his mobile phone clamped to his ear, and Kate had sat silently beside him, lost in her thoughts. The honeymoon was over, and he had made it abundantly clear that he now saw her role as his wife as a walk-on part—or perhaps a lie-down part, she thought bitterly. But what had she expected? She had married him for Hazem, and he had married her for sex, and they had each gotten what they wanted.At least she had Hazem, she told herself later that evening, when she tucked the toddler into bed. She had missed him desperately, and his evident delight that she was back was a comforting balm to her raw emotions. She was Ahsan’s wife, a member of the Royal Family of Qubbah, and no one could ever take him away from her now.But as she prepared for the state banquet, her insecurities returned, and she felt sick with nerves. She had been horrified w