Wicked Lovers 06.5 Wicked All The Way (15 page)

Her blue eyes took him in. “Talib. Of course. How stupid of
me, but then I have been for months, it seems.” She stopped, her shoulders
slumping a little. “Or am I wrong? Are you my Tal?”

This was supposed to be a special moment, when she looked up
to him. Instead, she looked betrayed. “Yes. I am Tal, Piper. How is your
sister?”

He knew everything about her. He knew about her family and
her love for Mindy. He’d already taken care of the girl’s education, though
Piper wouldn’t realize that for a few days. He knew about his bride’s
upbringing. He knew what she liked and what she didn’t.

Until now, he hadn’t known how her eyes would pierce through
him and see straight to his soul. He hadn’t known how his cock would pound at
the very sight of her.

Her whole face contorted as if in pain. “You’re the third
brother?”

Why did guilt roil in his gut? “Yes. It is good to meet you
in person. I have enjoyed our talks over the internet. I am very eager to
continue our discussions now that you are here.”

Her eyes dropped away, studying the ground in front of her.
She didn’t pull away from his brothers, but he could feel her confusion.

“You’re the sheikh?” Her voice was a bleak monotone. “And
you let me think you were just another researcher.”

He couldn’t let her win this argument. If he allowed his
guilt to show, she would have the upper hand. It wasn’t how he intended to
begin a marriage. “Bezakistan is my country. I didn’t lie to you, Piper. I work
very hard for my country. This project means the world to me.”

“Of course. I’d like to go to my apartment, please. When
would you like my presentation? I need a few hours to settle in and get
everything in order.” She was cool and competent, that flustery feminine energy
from before fleeing, leaving a somber woman in its place.

“Don’t worry about that right now,” Kade said. “You need to
rest,
habibti
.”

“I will show you to your rooms. Don’t be angry with us. Let
us explain about security measures. Talib cannot simply tell everyone who he
is. And he really does the work he said he does. He has a master’s degree in
economics.” Rafe’s hand tangled in hers.

Her eyes went up, taking in the grandeur of the palace.
“This is where I’m staying? Well, naturally.” Sarcasm dripped, and she looked
furious. Closed. “I’d like to rest now. I want to get my presentation ready.
And what we discussed on the plane? It won’t work. I’m not that girl. So you
all need to rethink this because if I’m here for any reason other than the job,
then I should just buy a plane ticket now and head home as soon as my
presentation is over.”

Oh, she was here for a job. She was here for the most
important job he could think of. She was here to be their wife, to save his
throne. It didn’t matter how much she moved his cock. He had a crown to think
of. She was going to be theirs. Her beauty and innate sensuality that tempted
him so were problems he would deal with later.

He caught sight of Khalil, stalking behind the palace walls,
his stare taking in Piper.

This was precisely why he hadn’t wanted a woman who would
move him. The idea of Khalil even looking at her as a potential way to get
under his skin had his blood pressure rising. It would be hard enough to
protect her with a cool head, but if his emotions came into play? He had to
shield her from being a target for rebels and neighboring radicals. Everything
rested on her soft shoulders.

He needed her wedded and bedded and pregnant as quickly as
possible. He had no intention of hurting her, but he had no intention of
letting her go.

“Please, allow me to show you to your rooms.” It was time,
perhaps, to play on everything he knew about her. “I apologize for the
subterfuge. I wanted a thought partner in this process. Can you honestly tell
me you would have spoken as openly as you did with me had you known who I am?”

Her eyes flared a little and then slid away from his.
“Probably not. I think I called you an idiot on a couple of occasions.”

He brought his fingers to her chin, forcing her to look up
at him. “My math was faulty, and yours was correct. And you called me an ape
with my head up my backside because I was being stubborn when you knew you were
right.” He sighed a little, letting his face fall, noting all the while that
she utterly softened with every layer of guilt he heaped on her. “I loved our
talks, Piper. Ask anyone in the palace. I set aside that time to work with you,
and it was sacred. I walked out on a conference with the British Prime Minister
because I had a call scheduled with you.”

Yes, she was flustered again and that was right where he
wanted her. And Rafe was a bastard because there was no doubt he’d dressed her
for this occasion. The brilliantly colored sundress was lovely and modest, but
he couldn’t miss the swells of her breasts and the way her skin caught the
sunlight. Rafe had trussed her up like a gorgeous bird ripe for the plucking.

“I would have waited,” she murmured.

“But I could not.” He let his hand drop. He was actually
surprised that when he looked back on the incident, he meant every word he
said. He could remember sitting there listening to the Prime Minister talk
about deeply important issues and he’d been watching the clock, waiting for the
seconds to tick by until he could talk to her, her slow accent soothing him. He
sighed. “It does not matter. I will admit I brought you here for selfish
reasons. I thought to dazzle you with everything I have to offer. I have
obviously failed.”

That gorgeous skin flushed, and he knew he had her. She just
stared at him, clearly uncertain what to say.

“I will leave you be, Miss Glen. Again, I apologize for the
deception. I can only hide behind my desire to begin a relationship on equal
ground. Please allow my brothers to show you to the rooms I have prepared for
you. I will leave you be until such time as we conduct business. I wish you
good rest and please enjoy my country.”

Tears pooled in her eyes, but he couldn’t let those sway
him. It was time to make his exit and allow the wonders of the palace and her
own soft heart to work in his favor. He bowed politely and turned to go, Dane
stepping in beside him, Landon and Cooper in flanking positions.

The big former SEAL had a frown on his face. “That was a
pretty piece of manipulation if I ever saw one. You’re a ruthless son of a
bitch, Tal.”

He walked forward. Dane wouldn’t be the last person he
pissed off. By the time this was over, he might lose everyone.

But he would keep his crown. One way or another.

Masters and Mercenaries, book 3

Available Now

By Lexi Blake

A Man with a Past…

Liam O’Donnell fled his native Ireland years ago after one
of his missions ended in tragedy and he was accused of killing several of his
fellow agents. Shrouded in mystery, Liam can’t remember that fateful night. He
came to the United States in disgrace, seeking redemption for crimes he may or
may not have committed. But the hunt for an international terrorist leads him
to London and right back into the world he left behind.

A Woman Looking for a
Future…

Avery Charles followed her boss to London, eager to help the
philanthropist with his many charities. When she meets a mysterious man who
promises to show her London’s fetish scene, she can’t help but indulge in her
darkest fantasies. Liam becomes her Dom, her protector, her lover. She opens
her heart and her home to him, only to discover he’s a man on a mission and
she’s just a means to an end.

When Avery’s boss leads them to the traitorous Mr. Black,
Liam must put together the puzzle of his past or Avery might not have a future…

EXCERPT

“I want you.” She wanted him so badly. She just didn’t trust
that he could possibly want her.

“No, you don’t, but you will.” He stepped back and tucked
his shirt in. “We’re going to do this my way. We tried yours and it didn’t
work, so I’m taking control. I should have done it in the first place. If I
thought you had some, I would tell you to change into fet wear, but you don’t
happen to have a corset and some PVC hiding in that closet, do you?”

“I don’t know what PVC is,” she admitted, her heart aching a
little. “I don’t think this is a good idea, Lee. I don’t think I can be what
you need. I’m not experienced, and what experience I have wasn’t very good.
Don’t get me wrong. I loved my husband, but the sex wasn’t spectacular. I think
I’m just one of those women who can’t be sexy. I was trying to please you, but
I couldn’t.”

Even in the dim light, she could see him staring, assessing.
“And I think you’re one of those women who can’t stop thinking long enough to
let her body take over. Look, Avery, the sex you’ve had happened with a kid.
Was your husband older than you? More experienced?”

She shook her head. They had both been virgins.

“Then you have no idea what it can be like. I look at sex
differently than most people. It’s an exchange, and it should be good for both
parties. I don’t want you to spread your legs and let me have you because you
want someone to hold you. If you want me to hold you, ask me. I want you to
spread your legs because you can’t wait another single second for my cock. I
want that pussy ripe and ready and weeping for a big dick to split it wide and
have its way. I want your nipples to peak because I walk into a room and you
remember every dirty thing I can do to them. I want you to want me. I can make
you crave me. I don’t want some drive-by fucking that gets me off and I forget
it five minutes later. I want to fuck all night long. I want to feel it all the
next day because my cock got so used to being deep inside your body. If that’s
what you want, then get dressed in the sexiest thing you own and agree that I’m
the boss when it comes to sex.” He turned and walked out. “I’ll give you five
minutes to decide. I’ll be waiting in your living room. If you really want me,
you’ll dress exactly how I’ve told you to dress and you’ll present yourself to
me for inspection. And Avery, no bra and no underwear. You won’t need them.”

The door closed behind him, and she had to remember how to
breathe.

She wasn’t sexy. She wasn’t orgasmic.

But what if she could be? Lee hadn’t been right about
everything, but he had a few points. He’d told her he wanted to be in control
and then she’d tried to make all the decisions. He had more experience, but
she’d decided she knew best. She hadn’t listened to him.

He wanted control. He wanted her to really want him. She
didn’t understand, but if she ever wanted to understand, she had to try.

She’d taught herself how to walk again. That had been an enormous
mountain to climb. Why was she so scared of this? She’d faced worse, but she
was cowering in her boots over not wearing underwear and a bra? She’d lost so
much. Was she willing to lose this, too?

What was she really risking? She might look dumb. She could
end up with her heart broken, but at least she would have proven it still
worked.

She’d come across the ocean to change her life—to have a
life. What was life without a few risks?

She got her phone out and sent a quick text to Adam letting
him know she was home and who she was with so if she was serially murdered, at
least they would have a starting place for where to find her body.

But she was going to do this because she felt safe with Lee.
And because she wanted to finally understand what it really meant to want
someone.

For more information,
visit www.LexiBlake.net
.