woman brings with her the warmth of sunlight and laughter when he’s been cold, joy and happiness when he has none, he will do anything for her. Anything at all to make her happy. You are that woman for me.”
When he said things like that she couldn’t resist him. She didn’t want to resist him. He let her know she wasn’t alone in her madness. He was in as deep as she was—if she could believe him, and she did. There had been no sweet courtship, no getting to know each other. She didn’t know a single thing about him, other than what she’d learned from the occasional magazine article. Still, her instant acceptance and out-of-character reaction to him alarmed her. Even his instant reaction to her, as if he’d known her forever.
“I don’t trust this,” she admitted. “Why do you?”
“I have told you why. For me, I knew instantly. It is the way of my people and has been for centuries. I know it isn’t the same for you, but I also know you feel the connection between us. You’ve been in my mind. You would know if I was lying to you.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Would I?” Her gaze strayed to the carousel horses wrapped so securely. He was offering her a safe haven for Lourdes, a beautiful home not only for her niece and her, but also for Genevieve and even Grace if she would accept it. He was offering himself to her. And a job. The job she most wanted in the world.
“You would know, Charlotte,” he said softly.
The way his voice got inside of her always melted her. Always. He didn’t need to try to control her mind; his voice controlled her body. Maybe her brain, too, because she found it hard to think clearly around him.
“I want this, Tariq, what we have growing between us, I really do. I appreciate every single thing you’re offering me. I especially appreciate that you intervened last night with Fridrick. I was really scared, and it was clear he knew where Lourdes was, even though I thought we’d hidden her carefully this time. You and your friends saved her as well.”
“But?”
He tipped his head to one side and his eyes, so vibrant and pure blue, studied her with that unblinking focus he seemed to have. It reminded her of a pure predator’s. A delicious shiver went down her spine, and it occurred to her that the twinge of fear added to the temptation that was Tariq Asenguard. He stood there, looking gorgeous and sophisticated, a wealthy businessman reputed to be extremely intelligent and shrewd. He could be gentle. His touch brought paradise. And then he could look absolutely dangerous, as he did right at the moment.
He was waiting for something. Alert. Watchful. She knew if she made the wrong move he would attack, but how or why she wasn’t certain. She only knew that the threat was there, lingering in the air. The shiver turned into something else, fear welling up to become panic. She found she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t drag enough air into her lungs. She also knew the attack would be in some form she would never be able to resist.
“Stop it.” The command was a whiplash. “I would never hurt you. It would be impossible for me to do such a thing. Unthinkable. I won’t let you go, but you aren’t a prisoner. I would choose to use persuasion, and I can be very persuasive when something is important to me. You, Charlotte, are the most important person in my world.”
She moistened her lower lip with the tip of her tongue, stalling for time. She wanted him, wanted everything he was offering. What she didn’t trust was the terrible need inside of her, the hunger for him. It was overwhelming. He was overwhelming. He made her feel things she’d never imagined in her wildest dreams.
“I’m not someone who works well with dominant males.” It was her way of telling him she wasn’t in the least submissive. He commanded. He ordered. When he wanted something he got it; there was no doubt in her mind. No matter what Tariq said, he was pure alpha male.
“I am not going to tell you I don’t have a dominant personality, because I do. That said, I don’t want a submissive woman. I want an intelligent woman thinking for herself. I want a strong woman to help me figure out what to do with the enormous problems I have facing