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‘One of the lae live by is that every person should do what he or she is best suited for’ He lowered his head and nuzzled the robe frohtly against her skin ‘And you,’ he said, his voice dropping to a whisper, ‘you are surely best suited to be with a h his nain to melt’

His teeth closed lightly on her flesh Joanna gasped, and he touched his tongue to the pinpoint of pain, soothing it away

‘You smell of flowers,’ he whispered, ‘of flowers heated by the sun of the desert’

Treht for control ‘I—I smell of soap,’ she said as he pressed kisses across her shoulder ‘I—I didn’t use Rachelle’s precious bath oils to—’

‘Then the scent in my nostrils is of you’ He threaded his hand into her hair, knotting it around his fist like a bright, glea band, so that she had no choice but to ht ‘By Allah,’ he whispered, ‘it is a scent more sweet than any I have ever known’

He bent and kissed her throat again Joanna’s eyes closed and she swayed in his ar herself for whatever weakness it was that possessed her when he touched her, hating hi it

‘The only name I’d ever call you is bastard,’ she said unsteadily ‘And—and that would be only the beginning’

Khalil laughed softly ‘Has no one ever taught you manners?’

‘No one’s ever tried to tell me how to live my life, if that’s what you mean!’

She had rin ‘Ah We’re back to that, are we? Khalil the dictator’

‘We never left it! You think—you think you can—’

‘The first thing you must learn,’ he said, ‘is not to talk so much’

Histhe kiss, steeling herself against it, and she went rigid at the first touch of his lips But his kiss was like a whisper—gentle, al through her blood

Don’t, she began to say But the thought never becaainst his athered her so closely to hi, whose skin it was she felt blazing with heat

His teeth caught her bottom lip and he drew the soft flesh into the warmth of his mouth

‘Joanna,’ he whispered

He swept the robe frohtly knotted towel fell to her waist He drew back, just far enough so he could see her Her skin was flushed, her breasts full and hardened with desire

‘How beautiful you are,’ he said, his voice thick

Joanna felt as if the roo around her ‘Please,’ she whispered, ‘please…’

‘What? What do you want ers trailing across her collarbone, and she caught her breath ‘This?’ he said softly, his eyes on her face He touched the rise of her breast, circling the aureole lightly Joanna whiht his breath ‘Or this?’ he said, bending his head and putting his mouth to her flesh

She athered her fiercely to hi her into the hardness of his arousal

‘Joanna,’ he whispered, his voice unsteady, and shein the hard feel of him, her flesh on fire…

‘No!’ The strangled cry burst asto her? She wasn’t the sort of woer or with a ainst Khalil’s chest and pushed him away

‘All right,’ she said, her breathing swift, ‘you’ve convinced er, and—and—’ She closed her eyes, then opened the ‘And there’s so you do that—that makes me—makes me receptive But—’

‘Receptive?’ He laughed, and whatever unsteadiness she’d thought she’d heard in his voice was gone, replaced by s satisfaction at her e Miss Bennett, is ready and willing’ Her hand flashed up but he caught it before she could slap him ‘But, of course, you’d have to be, wouldn’t you, to have had any hope of carrying out your little scheme?’

‘I hate you,’ Joanna said through her teeth ‘Do you understand? I hate you, and I’d sooner die than—’

‘Yes So you said, several ti to play the part of the seductress and the wounded innocent at the same time’

‘You’ll pay for what you’ve done, when my father comes for me, I promise you that’

‘The sooner, the better,’ Khalil said gri Then she will show you the areas in which you will be free to walk’

‘Free? You don’t know theof the word!’

‘Behave yourself and things will not be as difficult as you i to the door

‘And if I don’t?’ She flung her defiance after hi her on ‘What then? Will you put me in chains?’

He turned and looked at her ‘Only a stupid man would resort to such measures, Joanna’ A quick smile flashed across his lips ‘Especially when there are ones that would please me far better’

The door opened, then shut, and Joanna was alone

CHAPTER SEVEN

‘I HAVE brought you some lunch, Joanna’