Free His Reluctant Bride by Sheena Morrish Page A

suddenly very aware of the large bed and what it represented. She was also very aware of Tariq and his powerful presence. She expected him to try and enforce his conjugal rights as her husband and she eyed him nervously.
    “There are night clothes in the wardrobe,” he informed her and Katie stared at him in horror at the thought of changing in front of him. He might have seen all of her but somehow it felt more intimate to change in front of him. She needn’t have worried though for by the time she had selected a nightgown he had left the room giving her some much needed privacy. Not that the nightgown provided much cover as it was made of flimsy white silk and was so short and low cut that it was a wonder it covered anything at all.
    After pulling a face at the stupid garment she slid beneath the covers and closed her eyes as she realised just how exhausted she really was. She was on the verge of sleep when she jerked suddenly awake as she was totally unprepared for the sudden dip of the bed as Tariq slid in beside her and his arm curled around her waist pulling her back against him.
    She tensed expecting him to try his best to seduce her in to submission but the minutes ticked by and he didn’t move. Finally after several minutes passed by she risked a glance at him and found that he was simply watching her, his eyes slumberous as they gazed down at her.
    “You should be resting,” he chastised gently and she rolled her eyes.
    “I can hardly rest with you staring holes in my back,” she commented unaware that she had snuggled closer until she heard his sudden indrawn breath.
    “Rest,” he murmured as he ran his hand gently through her silken hair making her shiver with lust though she refused to acknowledge what his touch did to her.
    Instead she closed her eyes and within seconds she was asleep and feeling surprisingly secure in her husband’s arms though she didn’t realise it as she slept. She also didn’t feel the tender kiss that Tariq placed on the top or her head or the way he held her close and simply watched her sleep for hours until sleep claimed him also and even in sleep he refused to relinquish his grip on her supple body as it moulded to his own.
     

CHAPTER TEN
     
    Katie awoke slowly and kept her eyes closed for a few minutes unwilling to move from the warmth of her bed and face the harsh realities of day. But she knew she didn’t have a choice. Work waited for no woman.
    With a sigh she snuggled deeper in to the warmth and barely held in a shriek as she realised a male body was entwined with her own. It all came rushing back in an instant and she realised that she didn’t have anything to get up for and yet surprisingly that was a depressing thought.
    “Morning,” came the soft voice at her shoulder and Katie gently rolled over to find Tariq gazing down at her with a sparkle in his eyes as he watched the inner war she fought.
    “Hi,” she finally said and he gave a gentle chuckle that made her eyes widen at the smooth sound that wrapped around her nerve endings and tugged a little.
    “You can do better than that,” he murmured and before she could say a word he placed his lips against hers and kissed her deeply and thoroughly as he plundered the inside of her mouth, like a pirate hunting for his treasure, and made her sigh at the sheer pleasure of it. Until he pulled away and reality dawned making her jerk abruptly away.
    “Catherine,” he sighed as she darted from the bed only to freeze in place at the realisation that he was getting a better view of her now than he’d had from the bed and she cursed inwardly while Tariq seemed transfixed by the sight of her creamy silken legs and the generous outline of her breasts. She was extremely aware of his gaze and a small thrill ran through her even as she crossed her arms over her breasts in instant denial.
    “Come back to bed,” he said with a deep sigh and she hesitated as instinct told her to run and not look back. She hesitated too