Unexpectedly Expecting the Sheik's Baby - Elizabeth Lennox Page 0,34
to look at her own reflection. “I don’t need to look at myself, Your Highness. I know what I look like.”
“I don’t think you do. I think you’ve created a monster in your head. A monster developed from too many years of negative thinking.” His hands shifted and he held her so that she had to face the mirror. “You’re beautiful, Cassandra. You don’t even realize how lovely you are because you have this image in your mind, an image that someone else put there.”
“Let me go!” she demanded as firmly as she could despite the tears forming in her eyes.
“Look, Cassandra,” he insisted, softly this time, holding her firmly. “You’re beautiful. You must own the image. Don’t let them win. Their taunts hurt when you were in school, but you’re not in school anymore. Don’t let them own you now.”
His words startled her. “They don’t own me. They didn’t…”
“They are winning. You are still letting their words haunt you. So, look at the beautiful woman in the mirror and create your own image. Take your power back!”
She still looked away so he sighed, the breath teasing the wisps of hair along her neck. “Fine. I’ll tell you what I see when I look at you.” His hands smoothed down her arms, taking her fingers and then lifting her arms out to the sides, like she was flying. “I see a woman who is incredibly intelligent. Despite a painful life, she’s still soft and caring.” He kissed the top of her head and Cassy felt the caress all the way down to her toes. “I see a woman who wears a hideous bra in order to hide her beautiful breasts.” He ignored the strangled sound she made and tightened his grasp on her wrists, knowing she wanted to wrap her arms around herself and hide her breasts from his view. “No, Cassandra. You’re not going to hide from me. Not anymore. You’re beautiful. You’re not promiscuous.” His nose nuzzled the hair away from her neck, then his lips moved against that skin. “In fact, I doubt you’ve had many lovers at all, have you?”
She didn’t respond, her whole body tense as if she could somehow keep herself from feeling the intense surge of need as his lips teased her neck, her ear, her shoulder. “Please, Your Highness, I can’t–”
“Call me Nasir.” He kissed her neck again, smiling slightly when she shivered. He didn’t think she was aware of it, but she was even now leaning back against his chest. He loved the way she was innately sensuous, unconsciously seeking out his touch. Now he just needed to get her to accept that aspect of her body and mind. It would be an enticing challenge, he thought.
She shook her head. “This is a pointless conversation.”
“It is a very relevant conversation, Cassandra, since I’m going to make love to you. But I want to make love to the woman you are and not the myth in your head. And I don’t want you regretting your decision afterward.”
Part of her melted at his words, desperately wanting them to be real. The other part of her cringed, hating to hear them. She couldn’t make love with him! She needed to prove herself, to be strong and not give in to the cravings that were clawing at her from the inside.
She would be strong! She could! It just took determination and resolve! “You can’t…”
She stopped when his lips brushed her neck. The words simply wouldn’t come out.
“Cassandra, you have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?” He nibbled her earlobe. “And I bet you’ve never experienced bliss in another man’s arms, have you?” He didn’t wait for her to answer. “Of course you haven’t. You wouldn’t let yourself.” He let his hands slide underneath her sweater, lifting it slightly so that her stomach showed. “Look at your stomach. Your skin is so pale and delicate.” He waited until her eyes opened. As he looked at her through the mirror, his tanned fingers explored the pale skin he’d just revealed. “See the contrast? Your pale skin against my darker hand?” His fingers spread out, spanning her stomach from one side to the other. “Your slight size against my larger body.” His fingers curled and skimmed along her muscles. His lips curled slightly as he absorbed her reaction. “Even now, you can’t hide from what you want, can you?”
She took in a deep, shuddering breath, but shook her head and shifted, intending to pull his arm