a pleasant, easygoing attitude.
At that very moment, she was captivated by him. He seemed adept at household chores. Had he been married before? Who was taking care of him now? He had asked her to be his woman; did he intend to make her his wife or mistress?
“What’s wrong? Something on your mind?” Arcan asked suddenly.
Yazmina startled. “I… nothing. I’m going to take that shower now.”
Arcan only smiled.
She went to the bathroom and took a long shower. She donned the t-shirt and sweatpants she found in the closet, then threw her dirty clothes in the washing machine. When she got out from the laundry room, she noticed Arcan was using the bathroom. She headed to the kitchen, took the mug of tea Arcan had made for her, and retired to the living room. She sat on the carpet in front of the TV, sipping on the tea.
Arcan joined her a half-hour later, hair still dripping with water. The scent of soap wafted in her direction. Fresh. Clean. He had also helped himself to the extra clothes from the linen closet. The shirt and sweatpants were too tight for him because of his build. He drank a bottle of water from the fridge.
“Yes?” Arcan nodded at her. “You’ve been watching me since we got here. Something wrong?”
Her face heated. Yazmina couldn’t retain the nagging question inside her any longer. “Earlier…”
He waited for her to finish her sentence, but she was too embarrassed to say it. “Yazmina. Are you all right?”
She blinked. I must say it. I must say it … It’s better if I get everything out . “Earlier, when you kissed me. It was my first kiss.”
Arcan didn’t say anything. He studied her face keenly.
Feeling self-conscious, she avoided his eyes as she struggled with the words. Her chest constricted. She wanted to thank him for the experience, and she’d treasure the memory forever. She wasn’t sure if this kind of thing was something that a person discussed with another. Moreover, Arcan was a Westerner—their world was too different.
Arcan suddenly chuckled. “That wasn’t a kiss.”
She turned to him.
Arcan leaned towards her. “This is a kiss.” He grabbed her face and pressed his lips against hers.
She melted in his arms.
It was magical. His lips were warm and soft and comforting. Everything would be all right as long as she was with him. He parted his lips. She felt drunk. “Arcan…”
“Yes?.”
“I don’t want to go to America.”
“You don’t?”
“I… I want to go with you. I want to be with you wherever you go.”
He caressed her face gently and kissed her again. Her heart drummed wildly as Arcan slipped his hand on the back of her head, anchoring her still as he deepened his kiss. Liquid fire rushed through her veins. It was so much more exquisite than their kiss earlier. Yazmina gasped from the growing lust and the shiver of arousal that consumed every fiber of her being.
She kissed him back. Arcan let out a delighted sound and kissed her ever more hungrily, his tongue finding hers, his teeth scraping her lower lip.
Yazmina melted in his strong arms. Arcan pulled her closer until her body pressed hard against his. His heat radiated through his clothes. She shivered with delicious sensations when Arcan kissed her neck. Goosebumps broke out over her fevered skin. Her heartbeat quickened. She could feel his also, thumping hard in his chest.
Arcan carried her into the bedroom, and they both tumbled onto the luxurious mattress. He was on top of her body, kissing the life out of her. Yazmina felt dizzy. She wound her arms around his neck and threaded her fingers into his long blond hair, returning his kiss hungrily. She felt safe in his arms, and she didn’t ever want to let him go. He burned her deeper into arousal when he trailed wet licks on the hollow of her throat. She was ready to surrender herself to him. To be claimed. He was ready to make her his.
She sighed when Arcan felt her. His large hand covered her breast. Her nipples hardened and