console and slammed her fist into his shoulder. âYouâyou contemptible son of a bitch! Iâd sooner sleep with aâa camel thanââ
She cried out as the car swerved. The tyres squealed as they clawed at the verge; the brakes protested as he jammed them on, and then he swung towards her, his eyes filled with loathing.
âBut it would be like sleeping with a camel, wouldnât it, Miss Bennett? Sleeping with a man like Khalil, I mean.â
âIf you touch me,â Joanna said, trying to keep her voice from shaking, âif you so much as put a finger on me, so help me, Iâllââ
âYouâll what?â His lips drew back from his teeth. âScream? Go right ahead, then. Scream. Scream until you canât scream any more. Who do you think will hear you?â
God. Oh, God! He was right. She looked around her wildly. There was darkness everywhereâeverywhere except for his face, looming over hers, his eyes glinting with anger, his mouth hard and narrowed with scorn.
âMy father,â she said hoarsely. âMy father willââ
âThe scorpion of the desert is a greater worry to me than is your father.â
âSurely we can behave like civilised human beings andâ?â
He laughed in her face. âHow can we, when I am the emissary of a savage?â
âI never said that!â
âNo. You never did. But you surely thought it. What else would a greedy, tyrannical bandit be if not a savage?â His mouth thinned. âBut I ask you, who is the savage, Miss Bennett, the Hawk of the Northâor a father who would offer his daughter to get what he wants?â
He caught her wrist as her hand flew towards his face. âIâve had enough, youâyou self-centred son of a bitch! My father would no moreââ
His face twisted. âPerhaps I should have let it happen.â He leaned towards her, forcing her back in her seat. âMaybe it wasnât your father who suggested you make this great sacrifice. Maybe it was you who wanted to share Khalilâs bedâor did you think it would be sufficient to share mine?â
âIâd sooner die,â Joanna said, her voice rising unsteadily while she struggled uselessly to shove him off her. âI swear, Iâd soonerââ
His lips drew back from his teeth in a humourless smile. âJust think what erotic delights a savage like me might have taught you. Enough, perhaps, to keep your useless New York friends tittering for an entire season!â
âYouâre disgusting! Youâyou make me sick to my stomach!â
His mouth dropped to hers like a stone, crushing the words on her lips. She struggled wildly, beating her free hand against his shoulder, trying to twist her face from his, but it was useless. He was all hard sinew and taut muscle that nothing would deter.
After a moment, he drew back.
âWhatâs the matter?â he said coldly. âHave you changed your mind about adding a little sweetening to Bennettcoâs bribe offer?â
Hatred darkened Joannaâs eyes. âWhat a fool I was to think I could deal with you in a civilised manner! Youâre just like your Prince, arenât you? When you canât get what you want, you justâyou reach out and grab it!â
âWhat if I said you were wrong, Miss Bennett? What if I told you that I am not a man who takes?â
Anger made her reckless. âIâd call you a liar,â she snapped.
To her surprise, he laughed. âWhich of us is the liar, Joanna? Or are you suggesting I not take what you are prepared to give?â
The look she gave him was pure defiance. âI offered you nothing.â
For a long moment, their eyes held. Then he smiled, and the smile sent her heart into her throat.
âI never take that which has not been offered,â he said, very softly.
She cried out as he reached for her again but there was no way to