curving muscles honed by hard physical exercise and a broad, strong chest hazed by curling dark hairs. He was aggressively, imposingly masculine, and it took all her willpower to look away from such physical perfection. Her cheeks were burning, and she honestly didn’t know what to say or do to move on from here. Her head had emptied itself of all thoughts that weren’t related to sex with this man.
No wonder she hadn’t been able to resist his kiss.
‘The blushing is sweet, but a little over the top given the kiss we just shared.’ Karim’s tone was icy cold as he reached for the robe that was flung carelessly over the chair. Without any obvious sign of haste, he slid his arms into the sleeves and belted it loosely, as relaxed and cool as she was embarrassed. ‘And your display of shyness is a little out of place in a woman who began exploring her sexuality at such a young age—but if you want to play that game then I’m happy to oblige. It’s safe to look, Your Highness.’
Safe?
Part of her knew that this man was anything but safe, and the knowledge unsettled her more than she cared to admit. She’d lived with the threat of danger all her life, but this was entirely different. Normally she was completely in control of her reactions, but with Karim she wasn’t in control at all and the thought terrified her. She couldn’t afford to be distracted. She didn’t need this confusion. Her mind needed to be sharp and focused.
Her future depended on it.
The future of Rovina depended on it.
Her cheeks still flaming with embarrassment, Alexa struggled to find some of her old, rational self. Part of her wanted to melt from the room and never see him again, but another part wanted to …
‘None of that is important,’ she said hoarsely, saying it for her own benefit as much as his. ‘I—’
‘You what?’ He folded his arms and fixed her with his hard, unsympathetic gaze. ‘The Sultan would not approve of the conduct of his prospective bride. He’s an extremely possessive man.’
‘We both know that the Sultan is unlikely to care what happens to me.’
Since when had anyone cared what happened to her? She’d been surviving on her own for so long that it was impossible to imagine a scenario where she mattered to someone.
‘You’re wrong.’ Karim studied her with grim contemplation. ‘If you marry him then you become his possession, and he’s ruthlessly protective of anything and everything that is his. The ability to share nicely is not a virtue to which he aspires.’
She stood up, because sitting down made him all the more intimidating and she couldn’t think straight when she was facing him. ‘You’ve stumbled into a situation that you know nothing about. Believe me, if you’d known the facts, there is no way you would have signed up for this job. Just let me go and perhaps we’ll meet up in Zangrar one day.’ If she survived the journey. She turned and caught the narrowing of his eyes.
‘So, your uncle kept your passport from you. Presumably for your own good. You’re clearly something of a handful to manage, Your Highness. I don’t envy him.’
Alexa straightened her shoulders. ‘Your role is not to pass judgement on a situation of which you know nothing. It’s not your business.’
‘If you’re planning to sneak away then it becomes my business. If I wake up tomorrow and you have gone then I will have to answer to the Sultan. His Excellency isn’t exactly renowned for tolerating the mistakes of others.’
‘Coming with me would be a bigger mistake than you can possibly imagine.’
‘If you believe that then you clearly know nothing about the Sultan.’ He walked towards her, his expression unreadable. ‘If you disappear while under my protection then it is entirely my responsibility.’
‘The Sultan wouldn’t care. He doesn’t want this marriage.’
‘Nor does he want an international incident,’ Karim said dryly. ‘Make no mistake, the Sultan is going ahead with this marriage. The plans for the wedding are already underway. You marry him on the day of your twenty-fourth birthday.’
‘Yes, but I intend to travel alone. If you refuse to let me go, then you will regret it.’
A muscle worked in his lean jaw, and his eyes were faintly amused as he surveyed her with disturbing thoroughness. ‘Never before have I been threatened by a woman who barely reaches my shoulder.’
Alexa felt exhaustion wash over her. As if it wasn’t enough to constantly be trying to outwit William, she now had another fight on her hands. Utterly defeated by the constant obstacles that faced her, she sank back onto the edge of the bed, and then noticed something glinting under the edge of the pillow.
Puzzled, she reached out a hand, lifted the pillow and gave a soft gasp. ‘You sleep with a gun and a knife?’
‘I’m a cautious man.’ He walked over to the bed and gently prised her fingers from the pillow before dragging her back to her feet. ‘And I want to know why you feel the need to leave the palace in the middle of the night.’
She tried to ignore the fact that his hand still held hers. ‘Because it’s imperative that I reach Zangrar safely.’
He watched her for a long moment. ‘You’re that desperate to marry the Sultan?’
‘I prefer determined to desperate.’ Although desperate was probably much closer to the truth.
‘And you believe that your uncle is going to try and stop you?’
‘If I wait until morning—yes.’ Alexa hesitated but decided that she had no choice but to tell him at least part of the truth.
‘William feels very strongly that this wedding shouldn’t go ahead. Strongly enough to use physical means to prevent it.’
Karim was silent for a moment as he digested that piece of information. ‘He must love you very much to have such strong concerns for your well-being. And yet you choose to ignore that love?’
Alexa stared at him for a moment and then gave a short laugh. ‘He doesn’t love me. He hates me. He has always hated me.’
‘You’re young. Sometimes, when someone else’s wishes for you are in contrast to your own, it can be hard to hear what they are saying.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with my hearing. My uncle isn’t interested in what’s best for me.’ She eyed the door, knowing that she was wasting precious minutes that she didn’t have. ‘I have to go.’
‘If you leave, then I leave. Make no mistake about that. I’m your bodyguard.’
‘Haven’t you listened to a word I’ve said? I don’t need you.’
‘Why not, if you think you’re at risk?’
‘I don’t trust you.’
Karim frowned. ‘What possible reason could there be for you not to trust me?’
‘I don’t trust anyone. And if you insist on coming
