Possessed by Desire by Elisabeth Naughton Read Free Book Online Page B

left.
    The only option was to find out for himself.
     
    * * *
     
    Claire stood at the window and looked out over the empty beach. Where had he gone this time?
    With a frown, she flopped onto the couch and stared up at the thatched ceiling. So much for seducing him. She’d done exactly what she’d told herself not to do. She’d freaked him the hell out again.
    She closed her eyes. Drew in a breath, let it out slowly. She just needed a minute to think of what to do next, but before she could get a grip on her thoughts, darkness descended, a black cloud that seemed to pull her under. Something in the back of her mind warned now was not the time to take a nap, but she couldn’t stop herself from floating.
    A haze rolled in, almost like fog. And through the swirling smoke, she saw images. Fantasies. Those things she’d read about in books and seen online since she’d been banished. Wicked things. Erotic things that shifted and changed in front of her. And somewhere close, a voice whispered, Oh yes, we can do that too .
    She didn’t know where the voice came from, but she liked the sound of it. Liked the accent and the way her whole body tingled in response. Liked the heat consuming her skin and the flutter in her stomach that told her something was coming. A darkness she craved. One she didn’t even care could just lead to her downfall.
    Her body grew light, her mind empty. The couch shifted beneath her, and then air slid along her spine, as if she were moving.
    For a moment, her mind recoiled, but she couldn’t open her eyes. And then softness cradled her limbs again.
    She sighed, snuggled down against the cushions, tried to stay awake but couldn’t.
    Hours later—it felt like hours later—that same sinful voice echoed close. “Wake up, Claire.”
    Claire turned her head, tried to open her eyes, but they weren’t working.
    “That’s it, noor .” Something soft brushed her calf. “Open those eyes for me. I know you’re tired, but fight it. I promise it will be worth your while.”
    Claire rolled her head the other way, tried to stretch her arms out to the side, but met resistance.
    What the …?
    “Come on.” Another flutter of softness, this time against her kneecap. “Come back to me.”
    She knew that voice. It was rough. Sexy. She’d heard it whispering in her dream. Wanted to hear it again. She flexed her fingers, tried to shift her leg so she could roll to her side, but again met resistance.
    The whisper-soft touch traced the inside of her knee, moved down to her ankle and back up the outside of her leg. Tingles ignited all along her spine.
    A chuckle echoed to her ears, then the voice—his voice—whispered close, “You like that, don’t you? Open your eyes, and I promise you’ll like what you see even better.”
    She fought against the haze. Finally managed to pull her eyelids open. Soft light blinded her. She blinked several times. Strained to see. Slowly, the watery image above came into view.
    Wood beams. A flickering, warm light against a thatched roof. And beneath her…silk.
    She was in her hut, the one she’d rented in the Marshall Islands. She tried to move her arms again. The bite of rope against her wrists brought her head up.
    “There you are.”
    Her head snapped around. Ashur was standing at the end of the bed, wearing nothing but the same black cotton pants he’d had on earlier. Darkness pressed in from the windows, making her wonder how long she’d been asleep, and candlelight flickered off his muscular torso. But the feather in his hand, the heat brewing in his eyes, and the menacing grin across his rugged face warned her to be careful how she reacted right now.
    She tried to move her legs. Rope ground against ankles. She tugged on her arms again, but they didn’t budge, and in an instant, she realized she was tied to each of the four corners of the bed. “What—what’s going on?”
    “You said you wanted to be seduced. I’m only doing what you desire.”
    Her heart