Modern Romance December Books 5-8. Дженнифер Хейворд

screwed on tightly, but she’d lost hers when he’d kissed her.

      ‘You’re beautiful,’ he whispered just as she was reflecting that there would never be another night like this.

      ‘No, I’m not,’ she said. ‘I’m just okay, but you’re beautiful.’ When he frowned at this, she added, ‘All right, then, you’re not just beautiful, you’re rugged and tough too.’

      ‘That’s better,’ he agreed with a grin. ‘But it’s only your opinion.’

      ‘And I’m always right,’ she said.

      He laughed and, cupping her chin in one hand, he kissed her again. By the time he’d finished kissing her, she was ready to agree to anything he suggested. Deep down, she knew she should move away, slow things down, but she couldn’t—she didn’t want to. She wanted more breath-stealing kisses, and more caresses from those knowing hands. More than ready to accept that one night couldn’t last for ever, she knew that memories like these would stand the test of time.

      The cloud of pink smoke added to the sense of unreality, making things seem possible that she would never have considered on a regular first date. Being close to Tadj and touching him like this was as far from Lucy’s normal as it was possible to get. This was definitely the most romantic night of her life, she thought as she stared into his dark, compelling stare, and she was in no hurry to put the brakes on.

      Everything about Lucy enchanted him. She felt perfect beneath his hands, and was full of surprises. Passion of all types fired off her, and she wasn’t afraid to stand up to him. Quirky and inexperienced, as he had thought her, she had responded to his kisses, not on his terms, but on hers, and he liked that about Lucy best of all. He admired her openness. What you saw was what you got, and the night was just beginning.

      ‘Nice dress,’ he remarked as she straightened the folds of fabric, smoothing it over her thighs, as he would like to do.

      ‘I have my friends to thank for helping me put this outfit together,’ she admitted. ‘Oh, I see,’ she said, reading him with her usual ease. ‘You like the dress because it leaves my back bare.’

      ‘That’s part of it,’ he admitted. The tasteful knee-length dress was Lucy’s choice, he guessed. The glittering shoulder bag encrusted with diamanté, together with its matching high-heeled shoes, didn’t strike him as Lucy’s taste. She was all about understatement, and the shoes were too big, which kind of gave it away. The sensible, if dated poncho she’d handed over to an attendant at the entrance to the Sapphire would certainly keep her warm, but he couldn’t imagine Lucy spending her hard-earned cash on such a bulky and unflattering item. ‘You’ve got some good friends,’ he commented.

      ‘The best,’ she agreed.

      The fact so many people had wanted to contribute to Lucy enjoying herself tonight told him a lot about her character, as well as her resourcefulness, not to mention good judgement when it came to choosing her friends.

      ‘Let’s make a move,’ he suggested as a fresh wave of pink mist made its way towards them from the lower deck. Taking hold of her hand, he linked their fingers as he led her towards the infamous Golden Suite on board the Sapphire.

      ‘Shouldn’t we meet the Sheikh first?’ she asked, glancing over her shoulder as impatience to have her truly alone led him to increase his pace.

      ‘He’s not going anywhere.’

      But they were, Lucy thought. And where was Tadj taking her? Her sensible mind caused her to worry her bottom lip, but her wayward body thrilled as she considered the possibilities.

       CHAPTER FIVE

      TADJ HAD EXPLAINED that the stateroom he was about to show Lucy was unique. Not only was it full of treasures beyond compare in the historical sense, but also it was stuffed to the gunnels with golden ornaments and furniture, as well as the fabulous, famous sapphires.

      ‘Do I get to see your etchings too?’ she asked lightly.

      ‘No etchings. Erotic hangings,’ Tadj informed her. ‘No joke,’ he assured Lucy when she looked at him in surprise. ‘So, I hope you’re not easily shocked.’

      ‘Me? No,’ she said on a throat turned suddenly dry.

      ‘Extremely erotic hangings,’ Tadj teased, seeing her discomfort.

      ‘I’m not entirely unaware of the workings of the human body.’

      He laughed. ‘These aren’t so much workings, as the most outlandish contortions.’

      Lucy gave him one of her ‘so you think I’m dumb’ looks. ‘Well, it sounds like a very special room.’

      ‘Sarcastic,’ he commented, smiling faintly.

      ‘Curious,’ she said honestly. And then she frowned. ‘But it doesn’t sound much like a room for lingering in.’

      ‘You might change your mind.’

      ‘I doubt it.’

      This was a deck reserved for very special guests, Lucy thought as a security guard, having recognised Tadj, stood back to let them through. The corridor was as luxurious as everywhere else on the ship, with plush carpets, pristine ivory walls, decorated with fascinating objets d’art, all shown to best advantage by discreet lighting. Plump upholstered seating invited a pause at convenient intervals—goodness knew what went on there, Lucy thought, but Tadj wasn’t interested in lagging behind to explain, and curiosity propelled her forward. For some crazy reason, she trusted him. With no real foundation, that was reckless maybe, but she had a good feeling about him that she couldn’t explain.

      Even so, it was better not to take any chances, she thought as he stopped outside the most stunning golden door. ‘Five minutes and I’m out of here,’ she warned in a teasing tone to soften the information.

      Seemingly unconcerned, he shrugged.

      ‘I’m impressed,’ Lucy admitted as she stood back to admire the door’s intricate ornamentation.

      ‘Wait until you see inside,’ Tadj advised. Opening the door, he invited her to enter the Golden Chamber.

      Having overdosed on luxury for the past hour or so, Lucy was complacent, thinking she was ready for anything, but her first sight of the unique room stunned her into silence. It was so bling, she wasn’t sure if she liked it or not. But, ‘Wow,’ she exclaimed as she stared around. Her feet sank into a carpet that was deep, sapphire-blue, while every surface, wall, ceiling, and piece of furniture was composed of solid gold. She guessed the ornaments would be the same, and these were studded with glowing blue sapphires, and were quite obviously precious artefacts from some ancient time.

      ‘I’m not sure about the elevator music,’ she teased Tadj, turning to face him and raise a brow at the strings playing softly in the background.

      He laughed. ‘Me neither. I guess it’s supposed to improve the ambience.’

      ‘It smells good, anyway,’ Lucy conceded. Incense was burning in golden salvers, and, closing her eyes, she drew deep on the exotic scent.

      ‘Time to look at the shocking hangings,’ she said matter-of-factly, opening her eyes. She stared around, but her gaze always returned to Tadj. He was more interesting than the erotic hangings, though she did have a few questions for him.

      ‘Is that pose even possible?’ she asked, tipping her head to one side. ‘I had no idea human bodies were even capable of doing that.’ She wasn’t easily shocked, just perplexed.

      Smiling his unreadable smile, Tadj made no answer. Opening a second, heavily ornamented door, he revealed another glittering golden stateroom, one so large it easily accommodated several glittering crystal chandeliers.

      To swing from? Lucy wondered.

      ‘You’re