Married for the Prince's Convenience

Hearing the words so starkly drew a cold shiver from her in spite of passion’s flames arcing between them. He felt it and immediately captured her shoulders. ‘But make no mistake. This desire burns bright and strong and I promise to make the experience—should you choose to stay for it—pleasurable for you.’

His accent had thickened, his words burning away the cold as if it had never existed. He lowered his head and brushed his lips over hers.

Jasmine swallowed as his words echoed in her head. A powerful aphrodisiac intent on eroding rational thought.

Walk away. Now!

She groaned and pulled away. ‘I can’t. I know you probably think I’m a tease, but I promise, I’m not. I’m not in the habit of jumping into bed with a man I just met. I hope you understand?’

Her mind made up, she took another step back and picked up her clutch. She couldn’t go through with it. She would find another way to save her stepfather. Whatever the repercussions, Jasmine would find a way to help Stephen and her mother deal with it.

But not this.

Whatever Joaquin needed the copy of the treaty for no longer mattered to her. The man who stood in front of her, who’d battled whatever demons haunted him to achieve this treaty for his kingdom, didn’t deserve what she’d planned tonight. She would never be able to live with herself if she went through with it; if she took a step back to that dark place she’d sworn never to revisit again.

Her heart lifted, lightened, filled with relief.

She looked up at Reyes and experienced a little thrill at the stark shock and disappointment on his face. She had reduced a powerful, virile man to...what had he called himself before? Lust-crazed?

Slightly heady with the feeling, she took another stumbling step back before she succumbed to temptation.

She was in an exotic country, in the presence of a charismatic man who seemed to set her very soul on fire. Jasmine knew that if she gave in—and she wouldn’t!—the experience with Reyes would be unique and would remain with her for ever.

After several more moments staring at her, he finally nodded. ‘Very well. I’ll summon my driver.’

Acute loss scythed through her. ‘That would be great, thank you.’

She watched him walk to the intercom next to the bar, holding her breath to keep from blurting for him to stop.

About to press the black button, he paused and looked over at her. ‘It’s not every day that I’m surprised, but you’ve succeeded in pulling the rug from beneath my feet,’ he said.

‘Umm...thanks. But why are you surprised?’

That reserved smile made another appearance and he turned. ‘You want me, but you’re walking away. I may not know why, but I admire the strong principle behind your decision. Perhaps you deserve a prize after all.’

‘Oh?’ Renewed excitement fizzed beneath her skin.

He retraced his steps and held out his hand. ‘If you still want to see it, I’ll show you the treaty.’

Oh. Jasmine wanted to refuse. Wanted to demand another prize, one that involved his mouth on hers. But that opportunity had passed. She’d refused Prince Reyes. A man like that wouldn’t place himself in a position to be spurned twice.

But neither could she resist the chance to glimpse a piece of Santo-Valderran history.

He led her down several flights of stairs into the heart of the yacht. Images of soft, mellow wood and rich chrome touched the edge of her consciousness. There seemed to be a lot of gold—chandeliers, paintings frames, doorknobs—but Jasmine was too caught up in Reyes Navarre’s magnificence and the electric awareness where his hand held hers for details of the décor to register.

She finally regained her senses when he released her upon entering his study. The space was masculine, the furniture rich antique. Expensive books on diplomacy, economics and culture lined one wall. First-edition literary works lined the other. Behind his desk, a Renaissance painting that would’ve had museum curators salivating graced the wall.

He smiled at her and skirted his desk. He pressed a lever beneath the painting and it swung back to reveal a safe. He entered a code and pressed his thumb against a digital scanner.

Jasmine held her breath as he slid out an expensive leather folder and came to stand beside her. Very conscious of the breadth of his shoulders and the heat emanating from his whipcord body, she struggled to focus on the treaty.

When the terms finally registered, she frowned. ‘Why would you agree to this?’

‘The terms aren’t up for discussion. I need to make the best of this situation.’

Puzzled, she stared at him. His gaze captured hers before dropping to her mouth. Awareness crackled through the air. Sucking in a breath, she refocused on reading the final pages. She noticed that various preliminary terms had been agreed every year for the past three years, the first signed by his father. Prince Mendez had played a cunning game, increasing his demands with each passing year.

She started to turn the last page. Reyes put his hand over hers. ‘The remaining terms are confidential.’

The effect of his hand on hers again made her pulse jump. ‘And what? You don’t trust me?’ she joked, hoping to inject a little lightness to ease the thick tension filling the room.

His hand trailed up her arm to slide around her nape. Tilting her head, he looked deep into her eyes. ‘Trust doesn’t come easy to me, but I’ve trusted you with more tonight than I have anyone in a long time, Jasmine.’

Her breath squeezed through the lump clogging her throat.

‘Why?’

He shrugged. ‘Perhaps I’m learning to trust my instincts again. Perhaps because you’re the only one who didn’t enjoy Mendez’s antics earlier.’ He smiled again.

Despite his attempt at a joke, Jasmine remained fiercely glad of her decision not to give in to Joaquin’s threat; she blinked back hot tears and smiled. ‘You have no idea how much that means to me.’

The lightness evaporated. He stepped closer, an almost desperate hunger screaming from his body. ‘I still want you, Jasmine. Very badly.’

Throwing caution to the wind shouldn’t have come so easily, shouldn’t have felt so freeing. Because she’d learned very early that everything came at a cost.

But she replied, ‘Take me,’ before she registered the enormity of the plunge she was taking.

The sensation of luxurious covers beneath her back was the first inkling that they’d left his study. The equally luxurious feel of him as he lowered himself on top of her confirmed that thought.

Crushed by his delicious weight, she couldn’t mistake the imprint of his impressive arousal pushing against her. Hot sensation pierced her, settling low in her belly as he deepened the kiss. His tongue delved into her mouth, commencing a bold exploration that left her reeling and struggling to hold on to the last of her sanity.

His hands slid down her sides, creating a path of heat wherever he touched. Locating her side zip, he eased it down.

At the touch of fingers on her skin, Jasmine gasped.

He raised his head, his dark grey eyes spiking into hers. ‘Your skin is so soft, so silky,’ he murmured huskily.

‘Thank you,’ she responded, then cringed, feeling suddenly gauche and awkward. The first time she’d done this, it had ended badly. Beyond badly. The second time had been worse. What if third time wasn’t lucky...?

She lost her train of thought as he gripped her hip. His heat penetrated the silk material to her skin, fanning the flame already building inside her. Wanting to experience even more of his warmth, she raised her head and traced his mouth with her tongue.

Her action drew a gasp from him, his eyes darkening even further as heat scoured over his taut cheekbones. ‘I hope you’ll forgive me,’ he murmured distractedly as he nuzzled her jaw, planting feverish kisses that caused her heart to pound harder.

‘What for?’ she managed to squeeze out.

He settled firmer against her. ‘It’s been a while for me. I will want to take my time.’

A wave of heat engulfed her face. ‘Oh. Yes...well, it’s been a while for me, too.’