Modern Romance July 2018 Books 5-8 Collection. Annie West

on his warm chest, she lifted her head.

      Even in this dim light he was stunning, his charisma due as much to that aura of strength as the slightly stern yet wholly handsome features. His jaw was dark with the hint of a beard and his eyes mesmerising.

      Lina felt them bore right into her, probing her secrets, stripping away whatever layers of protection she retained against him. Her breath caught. Sayid was beautiful in the pared back, almost harsh way of the desert, sculpted by wind and sun yet with a magnificence that stole the breath.

      ‘Good morning,’ she croaked. It was hard to believe last night wasn’t a fantasy, despite waking against him.

      Then, abruptly, his mouth widened into a smile and something contracted deep inside her chest. Last night he’d been serious, his smile tight. Sometimes he’d even looked as if he was in pain. This...this was glorious.

      Sayid lifted his head and crushed her lips with his. Instantly Lina opened her mouth, leaning in for more, but he was already pulling back.

      ‘How are you this morning, Lina?’ Despite the approval in those gleaming eyes, his tone was serious.

      ‘Fine. And you?’

      He shook his head. ‘How are you really? I wasn’t as...gentle as I might have been. Are you hurting?’

      Something within her, some shred of the cloistered girl she’d once been, shrivelled in embarrassment. But Lina reminded herself she was a new woman. A woman who made her own decisions. Who reached out for what she wanted. Who wasn’t ashamed of her feelings, or the bargain she’d made with Sayid. Who’d positively revelled in what they’d done last night.

      ‘No.’ Then, when his eyes narrowed, ‘Not really sore.’ It was more an awareness of part of her body she’d never felt before. But that was too much detail.

      ‘You should have told me.’ His expression turned grave, his smile fading. ‘Before we went to bed.’

      Lina levered herself higher, putting distance between them, till one hot, sinewy arm wrapped around her waist, anchoring her to him. Nerves jumped beneath her skin and suddenly that awareness of her body became a throb of emptiness.

      Did it really take so little to make her ready for Sayid? Not just ready but eager?

      Of course she’d need more than one measly night to satisfy her greed for him. It was nothing to worry about, despite last night’s fears she was in over her head.

      ‘Why? Would you have stopped? Would you have withdrawn your proposition?’

      His nostrils flared as he breathed hard, his chest pushing up against her. Lina was aware of him all down her body, including, she realised, the solid ridge of his erection against her inner thigh. Restlessly she shifted, discovering a fine layer of cotton separating their lower bodies. Strange how familiar and enticing, yet how shockingly...dangerous they felt together.

      Sayid’s other hand clamped her bare buttocks, holding her still, which was when she realised he wore loose trousers. Why? Because he didn’t want more sex? But that erection surely proved—

      ‘Stop twitching!’ His voice was terse, almost hoarse.

      Lina blinked, absorbing the tension in his starkly beautiful features. A tension that hadn’t been there earlier.

      Because she’d rubbed against him? The possibility she wielded such power was exciting yet a tiny bit scary. This was all so new. New and, she decided as she tilted her hips just a fraction, delicious.

      ‘Lina!’ His voice was pure growl this time. She was still absorbing the feral sound when he surged up, flipping her over onto her back and weighing her down with his tall frame, his thighs bracketing hers as if to stop her escaping.

      Lina had no wish to escape. Every part of her body stirred and snapped with energy. Her blood fizzed and everywhere they touched she felt tingles of—

      His mouth covered hers and instantly she was lost. His mouth, the slow, deliberate, possessive slide of his tongue against hers, was the epicentre of her world. His kiss drew her back into that swirling, sensual realm of pleasure she’d discovered last night.

      Lina’s hands moulded his hard chest then insinuated themselves up, over his shoulders, to anchor in his hair, pressing him close.

      When he pulled his head up from the kiss they were both breathing heavily. Reluctantly she opened her eyes.

      Sayid’s mouth was a thin line, taut as if with displeasure.

      ‘What is it?’ Lina wanted to smooth away the furrow at the centre of his forehead almost as much as she wanted him to kiss her again.

       Because it’s not just sex you want, is it? You care for him.

      The truth ripped through her languid feeling of well-being.

       As if he needs you to care or look after him.

      The idea of Sayid, capable, clever and in command of a whole nation, needing anyone, much less someone like her to care for him was patently absurd.

      That didn’t stop her lifting her head and planting a kiss on his jaw, then another, till he reared even further back, creating distance between them. Her head fell back onto the pillow, a discomfiting twist tightening her chest.

      He disapproved of her kissing him uninvited?

      Sayid shook his head as if clearing his thoughts. When he spoke his voice was harsh. ‘You asked if I’d have stopped last night if I knew you were a virgin.’ He hefted a breath that expanded his chest mightily. ‘It would be nice to say yes, I’d have stopped, but it’s not true.’ His gaze bored into her. ‘I’ve always tried to be an honourable man and deflowering virgins is something I’ve avoided. But with you...’ Again that quick shake of his head as if exasperated. ‘From the moment you appeared in the doorway last night you were destined for my bed, Lina. Nothing would have held me back.’

      He didn’t look happy about it. In fact he looked positively grim. Whereas Lina glowed, hearing his words. It had been the same for her. She’d tried so long to argue herself out of wanting Sayid but nothing, neither logic nor pride had stopped her.

      ‘I’m glad,’ she whispered, lifting her hand to his jaw, fascinated by the way his eyelids flickered as she caressed the roughened skin there. ‘I didn’t want you to hold back. I want you to want me.’

      * * *

      Sayid’s bark of laughter was short and sharp. Even the gentle touch of her soft fingers across his chin weakened his resolve to take things slow and gentle this morning out of consideration for her untried body.

      ‘Oh, I want you all right, Lina. The problem is restraining myself.’

      That luxurious mouth pouted, making his gut contract and his need spike. ‘I don’t want you restrained.’ He felt the hitch of her soft breasts teasing his chest, and realised he’d forgotten to keep his distance and had sunk down again, lying over her skin to skin. ‘I just want you.’

      Her words painted a picture he tried to dismiss and couldn’t. Of giving himself up utterly to his need for her.

      ‘I’m glad you’re so eager after your first time.’ He’d feared she’d be wary this morning, possibly regretting her decision to come to him, or at least feeling sore and disinclined for sex. Still, she didn’t understand what she was saying. She had no idea what a demanding lover he could be.

      Sleeping beside her all night, or more accurately lying awake fighting the urge to have her again, had been one of the most difficult things Sayid had done.

      ‘But why wait till now to lose your virginity?’ That had troubled him through the long, frustrating night. ‘I assumed you’d had lovers before, especially since you’re not interested in marriage. Yet you saved yourself, as if for marriage.’

      Lina’s gaze slid from his, her eyelids dropping to veil her bright eyes.