Flashes of heat went up and down her body. His hands on her shoulders were heavy, sensual, like points of light. With an intake of breath, she ripped herself away from him.“Dream on,” she said, tossing her head with every ounce of bravado she possessed. He shrugged. “Then I’ll have to find some other way to make you useful.”Illyra started to reach for the bucket and sponge, but he stopped her. “No. You are right. Enough cleaning.” He gave a sudden wicked grin. “You will cook for me.”Her jaw dropped. He must have forgotten the last time she’d cooked for him, taking a romantic date idea from a magazine. It had been romantic, all right—she’d nearly burned the cabin down, and then the firemen had been called. “You can’t be serious.”Andrea lifted a dark eyebrow. “Because you’re still a terrible cook?”She glared at him. “Because you know I would poison you!”“I know you won’t, because we will share the meal.” He leaned forward and said softly, “Tonight I am craving...something deliciou

An hour later, Lyra was in the tent, bathed, comfortable and wearing clean clothes. And more determined than ever to escape.Okay, so her phone didn’t work and her impulsive escape attempt had been laughable. But she couldn’t stay here. Whatever Viktor thought, she couldn’t just be patient. She had no intention of abandoning Illyra for weeks in her ex-boyfriend’s clutches and trusting all would be well.Why had Viktor even insisted on keeping her here? There was no reason he couldn’t have her sign some kind of letter of intent or something, promising to give him the property. Something just didn’t add up. She felt as if she’d become almost as much a prisoner as Illyra was. Two prisoners for two brothers, she thought grimly. Could their lives get any worse? And yet...Lyra brushed her long brown hair until it tumbled softly over her shoulders. Somehow, he’d also made her feel free. As if she, of all people, could be daring enough to travel around the world, learn to drive on a Lambor

She looked in shock at the vulnerability in his eyes. Since she had known him, she had never seen him that way before. Something had changed in him somehow, she thought.The warm, generous man sitting across from her in exotic Moroccan garb seemed very different from the cold tycoon in a black suit she’d met in Hawaii. Had the desert really made him so different? Or was it just that she knew too much about the manbehind the suit?“I don’t like that you lied to me about Illyra,” she said slowly. “Or that you brought me out here against my will. But,” she sighed, taking a bite ofthe tajine as she looked at the sunset, “at the moment it’s a little hard for me to be angry.”He swallowed. Reaching across the table, he briefly took her hand. “Thank you.”"It's just a lot that you're apologizing. I didn't think you would ever do that."She shivered as their eyes met. Then he released her as the servant returned with a samovar of filigreed metal. He left it on the table in front ofViktor ,

Her expression changed as he said that. Snatching up the frayed sponge, she grabbed the bucket of cold wash water from the floor and, in a posture of clear fury, knelt down. He watched her slender, delectable body, wearing only the tiny slip of pink silk, moving back and forth on all fours as she scrubbed the floor. His mouth went dry.Illyra looked up.“Enjoying the show?” she said coldly. "I hope you are."Without a word, Andrei turned and left the bedroom. He returned a moment later with his own dinner tray and red wine. Still not speaking, he sat down in a cushioned chair near the marble fireplace. Calmly he unfolded his fine linen napkin across his lap.“Now I am,” he replied. "I need you to scrub efficiently."Sitting back comfortably in his chair, he took a sip of merlot. He had the satisfaction of seeing her eyes widen, of seeing her scowl. Then she turned back to her work, and he had the even greater satisfaction of watching Illyra on all fours, her body frosted with silvery

“Are you joking?” His hand tightened over hers. “How many womenwould have spent their last money to cross an ocean—and agree to marry aman like me—just to save an older sister who’s perfectly capable of takingcare of herself?”Lyra’s whole body was shaking. With an intake of breath, she pulledaway. “Anyone would have—”“You’re wrong.” He cut her off. “And that is what’s different about you.You’re not just brave. Not just strong. You don’t even know your ownpower. You are—” he kissed the back of her hand, causing a flash of heatacross her body as he whispered “—an elemental force.”Her body felt as if it was on fire. A breeze blew through the desert night,cooling her skin. Her heart pounded in her chest. She looked up at him.The wind caught at his black hair, blowing it against his tanned skin,against his high cheekbones that looked chiseled out of marble in the silvermoonlight and flickering glow of the lanterns.“Now do you understand? Now do you believe?” he said softly.