Their Virgin Concubine

Page 32

And by tomorrow, if Tal had his way, she would be gone. It was the hardest thing she’d ever done, but she plastered a smile on her face and joined the group, taking a glass of wine from one of the servants. She mingled, speaking to each politician, turning the conversation to the economy and politics when she could. She could feel Rafe’s and Kade’s warm eyes on her, giving her strength. And every time she looked up, Tal had to look away because she caught him staring.

She completed her circuit around the room, never allowing a moment when she wasn’t smiling, wasn’t charming. She found herself alone finally, on the far side of the room and away from the guests, staring out the big bay windows that overlooked the grounds. The sun had set, and silvery moonlight illuminated the gorgeous gardens. This land was foreign and beautiful and, in a few short days, had begun to feel like home.

Where would she be tomorrow? She’d spent so much of her life knowing exactly where she would be. She’d expected to live and die in a small Texas town, accepting her fate. At some point she’d discovered the strength to make her own way. Was she strong enough to keep her family together?

“You play the part well. I’ll give that to you. You have the gracious queen act down.”

She saw his reflection on the glass. Talib. Beautiful, remote, her sheikh. The thought of losing him hurt her heart. “I’m only doing it to please you.”

“If you want to please me, you’ll walk out and take my brothers with you,” he shot back in a heated whisper. He stared out the windows, his face a polite blank, so unlike the man who’d spanked her and forced his cock deep in her body, binding them together just hours before. Now he was telling her to leave.

“If I really thought it would please you, I would leave, but I remember what it feels like with you inside me,” she said softly. “I know how you make love, Tal.”

There it was. Just a little twitch to let her know she’d scored a hit. If she hadn’t been watching closely, she would have missed it. His face went blank again. “It was sex, Piper. You’re too naïve to know. I fuck the same way every time.”

She rolled her eyes. She couldn’t help it. She turned, making sure to lean back so there was no way he could miss her breasts. Rafe had selected her gown, a gorgeous red designer item with a plunging V-neck. And there it was again, a little flare to his eyes and a tent in his slacks. Yes, he was utterly disinterested in her.

“Sure. Except you told me you haven’t had a lover in your dungeon in years. Me, Tal. I was in there,” she murmured.

His eyes hardened. “You snuck in there.”

“I was curious. If you really hadn’t wanted me in there, you would have politely asked me to leave. I would have, you know. I would have left and never gone back, but that isn’t what happened. What happened was you made love to me.”

His jaw tightened, his eyes trailing to her breasts. “You overestimate your appeal.”

Piper snorted. She couldn’t help it. “Yes, I’m so good. So well-practiced. Tal, you can send me away, but I’ll still love you.”

“And I will forget you. Piper, I’ll get married two weeks after you’re gone and I will move on. You can wait all you like, but I’m done with you.” He turned and walked away.

She stared at him. What the hell was she doing? If he’d really decided on this course, how could she change his mind? He would simply have his guards forcibly remove her from the country, and she wouldn’t be allowed back in. If he didn’t want to see her, he would never look on her face again.

“Your Highnesses, honored guests, please join us in the dining hall. Dinner is ready to be served.” A turbaned servant in a black uniform smiled as he and his helper stood at the double doors that led to the dining hall. Piper stared as Tal walked toward the doors. He would put as much distance between them as possible. He would sit at one end of the long table, relegating her to the other. He would try not to speak to her again until he sent her away.

She could fight. But now she wasn’t certain she would win.

The double doors opened, and Hassem stood there, two small metal objects in either hand. What was he doing? She got a glimpse of his face again and remembered where she’d seen him before. A brief memory flashed through her head. Hassem had been the one Khalil had called on for tea. She remembered his graceful hands as he’d placed the tray on the table and poured out the tea. He’d given her the slightest smile as he’d passed her the cup that she now suspected he’d placed a measure of poison in.

He had the same smile on his face as he threw the small canisters into the conservatory. Metal cylinders hit the floor and exploded, causing the whole world to flare. There was a horrible flash. Her vision fled, bleeding from fiery white to complete darkness in a second. A blast of sound hit her ears just before they stopped working. Piper stumbled, trying to find her balance, but she couldn’t quite make her legs work.

Flash bang. She’d read about them. Stun grenades. She’d read an article about a terrorist attack that went into the use of flash bangs as a way to gain valuable seconds. They could incapacitate people for a few seconds, giving the bad guy time to do something really nasty. She let her body fall back. She needed to get to the floor. She couldn’t stand. Falling back would save her arms, and she could turn to her belly and protect her head. Confusion threatened to swamp her, but she forced herself to stay calm. Five seconds. That was what she’d read. In five seconds her vision would start to clear. Her hearing would take longer, but she would be able to see. She had to get to Tal. They were coming for Tal.

But they weren’t, she knew in just a second. A big hand reached down, and she was dragged across the floor, her body sagging as she was pulled from the room.

* * * *

Tal hit the floor, his ears ringing and his eyes black. He couldn’t fucking see. What the hell had happened? One minute he’d been walking away from Piper, certain he was saving her, and the next, one of his household staff was tossing a goddamn grenade his way. It had hit his chest and bounced off before the flash bang had exploded and sent him into silent darkness. He forced himself to flip over. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t see. He had to get to Piper. Khalil was behind this. Khalil had paid off his staff to turn against him. It was the only explanation.