Maharaja's Mistress Read online

  When would she learn not to fall for it? Mia wondered as Ram’s lips curved with amusement. ‘Who else would dance with me?’ he said.

  Judging by the envious glances she was attracting—every woman in the club?

  ‘What are you thinking?’ Ram demanded when she fell quiet at the thought of so much top-class competition.

  Right this moment? No ego-stroking required. But she had an ace up her sleeve. ‘I was just wondering if you can tango, actually.’

  ‘Don’t push me,’ Ram warned.

  She would never learn. At a signal from Ram to the DJ the music changed again.

  The tango might be the one thing Mia had learned at her starchy all-girls school that came in useful now, but she hadn’t factored into her thinking Ram’s advanced technique. ‘Is there anything you can’t do?’ she demanded as he bent her low over his arm before yanking her into intimate contact with every hot-wired contour of his body.

  She might have known Ram would dance the tango like a gaucho—all brutal control and persuasive seduction, while she had no option but to wrap herself around him—those were simply the demands of the dance.

  A circle soon cleared around them. They moved as if they were joined at the hip, staring at each other, intent and unblinking, as if they would find the meaning of life hidden in each other’s eyes. Ram understood the workings of her body better than she did, Mia discovered, and she wasn’t the only one to have noticed this. A blur of hungry female eyes only proved that Ram could turn any club steamy. He had set this one on fire the moment he had arrived—and now it was a raging inferno.

  And fun. The humour in Ram’s stare made the moment theirs—even if everyone else was swept up in an erotic haze. Outwardly, they were putting on a show to scandalise, but this was really an intensely private and fun-filled moment—though Mia suspected that neither she nor Ram could have guessed quite how well they would move together, or what a blaze of lust-filled heat they could create.

  When the music ended everyone applauded as they returned to their seats. ‘Wow,’ she exclaimed as the electricity between them subsided. ‘Where did you learn to dance like that?’

  ‘I could ask the same question of you,’ he said.

  ‘I’m afraid my answer would bore you.’

  ‘Try me.’

  Mia pulled a face. ‘At school. You?’

  ‘The school of life,’ Ram confessed, shooting her his very best bad-boy smile.

  ‘Savage.’

  ‘Bluestocking.’

  ‘Scoundrel.’

  ‘Prig.’

  She started laughing as they traded insults. It was a long time since she had felt this good.

  ‘They’re playing your song,’ Ram pointed out.

  ‘You did fix this,’ she accused him as ‘My Girl’ blasted out over the speakers, but then as Ram threw her a sexy grin she had a moment of doubt. Didn’t this just prove the lengths he would go to to soften her up and send her home? Maybe Tom had asked Ram to work his magic and persuade her to return to England.

  And was she going to worry about that now? Or was she going to have some fun?

  No contest, Mia decided as Ram pulled her to her feet. Just for tonight she was going to forget everything and let herself go.

  Chapter Seven

  WHEN they left the club the subject of Ram’s boat was playing on Mia’s mind. She had told the girls she would never go anywhere near it, but they would be so delighted if she could tell them all about it—and Ram was playing into her hands. He had chosen to walk back via the harbour, but he could turn up any one of the little side streets at any time. She had to come right out and ask him: Please may I see your yacht? It wouldn’t hurt to play the cute little kid sister one more time.

  But as it turned out she was somewhat snippier. ‘I might as well know what I’m missing,’ she said offhandedly. ‘Seeing as your yacht is supposed to be the biggest, flashiest and most vulgar yacht in the harbour.’

  ‘So many compliments,’ Ram exclaimed, putting his hand on his heart. ‘I hardly know how to deal with them.’ Fortunately, he was grinning.

  ‘Come on, show me.’ Linking arms, she urged him along.

  ‘So who gave you all this info?’

  ‘Didn’t you?’ she said, acting bemused.

  ‘Me?’

  Ram might well seem confused seeing as it was the girls who had talked of nothing else but Ram’s fabulous yacht, warning Mia she mustn’t return to the apartment without a truckload of insider information. And for once the girls hadn’t been exaggerating. Ram’s vessel—modestly named The Star of Ramprakesh, was indeed a floating city rather than a mere billionaire’s plaything. A helicopter and several small speedboats were comfortably housed on one of its many decks. She had seen many of these gleaming white super-yachts berthed in Monte Carlo, but never one to compare with Ram’s waterborne palace. It was more the size of a commercial cruise liner than a boat in private ownership. Spectacular? The two of them were dwarfed by it. She felt like an ant—an ant rapidly being consumed by curiosity. ‘Can we go on board?’

  Ram drew back his head in mock-shock as he grinned down at her. ‘Minimal Mia craving a hit of high living? Whatever next?’

  ‘You can stop raising your eyebrows right now, rich boy. Just take me on board.’

  She was still on a high from their unexpected rapport at the club, and nothing felt too far out of reach for her now—not even Ram.

  Except she should have known better, Mia concluded, feeling the first stirrings of unease as Ram escorted her onboard with the words, ‘Welcome to Ramprakesh…’

  But when had she ever played it safe? ‘So, show me round,’ she prompted, surprised at how many crew there were to salute Ram—and how many attendants greeted him with a bow. ‘There has to be more to this floating caravan of yours than a dance floor beneath the stars, a ballroom-sized saloon…and a swimming pool?’ Mia’s eyes widened as she stared in disbelief at the full-sized pool.

  ‘I have to get my exercise somewhere,’ Ram explained tongue in cheek. ‘And don’t forget the cinema, the badminton court, and the practice tee.’

  ‘Show off.’

  ‘Champagne?’

  ‘Oh, I think so.’ She felt light-headed—dizzy with excitement. It was all so…magical. And was there any better time to throw caution to the wind than when you knew you were completely safe?

  Didn’t she always avoid the reality of a situation if her fantasies could create something more appealing?

  Shaking off the warning voice, Mia gazed around. There was no doubt that Ram was the supreme ruler of this floating city.

  Correct. Nice to see you caught up eventually. Who would know if you disappeared here?

  A shiver that warned of change shot down Mia’s spine as Ram finished talking to one of the stewards. But Ram would never take advantage of her—and how often did a chance like this come around? She’d asked to come here. Ram had hardly forced her.

  And so she was going to chill out and enjoy it. It wouldn’t be long before Ram would be sailing out of her life for good—and before he did she wanted to make the most of their time together.

  ‘Ready to see some more?’ he said.

  ‘You bet.’

  Ram led her across the wide expanse of deck with its comfortable seating areas and occasional tables, and in through some impressive doors into an opulently decorated saloon—which was quite a bit larger than the apartment she shared with the girls. And while she stood gaping Ram opened the glass roof over their heads with a flick of a controller.

  ‘As man toys go, I have to say, that is impressive.’

  ‘Do you like it?’ Ram gestured around. ‘I had it installed recently. Why don’t you give me your professional opinion of the décor, Mia?’

  This suggestion both surprised and flattered her. It had been so long since anyone had asked her opinion about design—but then she hadn’t exactly broadcast the fact that interior design was her passion after the accident; there had seemed so little
point. And while Ram seemed to be asking her a simple question she hadn’t missed the hint of challenge in his eyes.

  ‘Okay…’

  She looked around. The saloon, as she knew the large drawing room on board a yacht this size was known, was superbly presented, but when she tried to marry up the grandiose décor with Ram’s ultra-modern sliding-roof design she hit a wall. Did she like it? Truthfully? It was all a bit old-fashioned for Ram. On the other hand, she didn’t want to rock the boat, so to speak, by insulting his in-house designers. She settled for a mealy-mouthed: ‘I honestly don’t think I could have done a better job for you, Ram.’

  ‘No quirky twists? I’m disappointed in you, Mia…’

  And now she felt a pang of regret and wished she had been braver. It was her off-the-wall ideas that had set her apart, she had been told at college. ‘Maybe I’d have capitalised on the light a little more—toned down the background to throw the artwork forward—adjusted the lights—’

  ‘Ah, so you would like to make changes,’ he said. ‘Are you ready for champagne while you think about them? I’m serious about hearing your suggestions, Mia—I’m thinking of doing a refit.’

  Of course you are—the furnishings can’t be more than a couple of years old—

  But Ram was smiling as if he knew he’d sparked something inside her. ‘When you’re ready to give me your honest opinion,’ he said, confirming this, ‘just let me know.’

  And so she came up with quite a few more ideas that seemed to please him. ‘Don’t fill the glass,’ she said quickly, seeing something in Ram’s eyes that made her wonder if she was quite ready for a Ram-sized challenge—there was an awful lot more yacht to see.

  ‘You’re surely not going to risk a bottle of my best going flat. You don’t have to drink it,’ he added, pressing the crystal flute into her hands. ‘All I ask is that you taste it.’

  ‘Just one glass, then.’ She wanted this time with Ram. She wanted to see how he had changed. She wanted an insight into his life, however small. And after that tango she needed a chance to unwind and cool down. While Ram poured the drinks she gazed around. ‘You know this is pretty much perfect, but if you’re serious about letting me loose with my ideas I could make a few more suggestions…’

  ‘I want them all.’ His gaze was direct as they chinked glasses.

  There was more to that request, Mia sensed. People were trying to force Ram into a box that could never hold him. He was too forward thinking—too energetic in every way to be confined by the traditions of the past. ‘Then, for what it’s worth, you shall have them.’

  ‘That’s all I ask…’

  Pity. Now she could only remember how it had felt when he held her in his arms when they danced. Dark and dangerous, and utterly irresistible, Ram was a force of nature—

  A force to beware of, Mia warned herself. Pulling away, she put some space between them. Walking a little distance away, she stared out of one of the picture windows from where she had a grandstand view of the small, but perfectly formed, diamond-lit wedding-cake-shaped town that was night-time Monte Carlo. Ram followed and stood close to her, but not touching, so that every part of her tingled with anticipation of his touch.

  ‘What’s wrong, Mia? You never used to be so—’

  ‘Boring?’ she suggested.

  ‘Touchy. I was thinking more…contained? I thought you had started to relax when we were dancing in the club?’

  The tug of Ram’s lips only made his dark face more attractive. And he was right—she had relaxed at the club. She had been far too relaxed. It was time to get things back on an even keel. ‘What would you think of me if I hadn’t changed, Ram? It’s been a few years since we last saw each other. What would you think if I were still the same wild child you remember?’ Mia’s mouth slammed shut. Why ask Ram the one question she didn’t want him to answer? Whatever she’d done as a child paled in comparison with what she’d done later when she’d been yearning for him. And even now she didn’t want to relax and be his friend; she wanted so much more than that—so much that wasn’t good for her.

  She walked outside onto the deck, hoping the rapidly cooling air would blast some sense into her. The velvet sky was illuminated by a luminous, waxy moon, while in front of her the inky-black ocean rested silent and mysterious beneath its canopy of diamond stars. There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. The inky-blue was as clear as a blank sheet of paper, making it impossible to imagine a storm had ever threatened earlier. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply as she lifted her face to the sky. The air smelled fresh and clean, the tang of the ocean salty and alive with life, mixing with—

  The spices of the East. Which could only mean Ram was standing directly behind her.

  ‘Shall we lose the champagne?’ he suggested, taking the glass from her hand.

  Before she could answer she was in his arms and Ram was kissing her.

  She’d thought she had been kissed before. She’d thought wrong. Ram’s lips were warm and clever, and he was…extremely good at this, Mia registered as her body melted around him like molten honey.

  But wasn’t it Ram who had told her that no one could play with fire and expect not to get burned? And shouldn’t he know when no fire blazed brighter than his?

  She made some feeble attempt to push him away and was thankful Ram refused to budge. And so he teased and stroked and kissed until he was right about them not needing any more champagne, because she was drunk on him. He smiled against her mouth when she whimpered with desire. He knew she was on fire for him, but it was Ram who pulled away first. ‘You wanted to see round the rest of the ship, didn’t you?’ he reminded her.

  ‘Did I?’

  Of course she did. ‘Lead the way.’ She had to gather up her senses from the untidy heap of broken resolutions she’d dropped on the floor.

  ‘Where would you like to start?’ Ram prompted.

  ‘The bridge?’ It wasn’t the first destination that popped into her mind, but it did seem to be by far the safest bet.

  ‘Then we’ll start on the bridge,’ Ram agreed.

  What she really wanted was for Ram to kiss her again—just so she could convince herself she hadn’t imagined the whole thing. This was frustration squared—something she was sure Ram was more than aware of. She even found herself wondering the unthinkable—if she had sex with Ram would she really regret it so much?

  ‘I should go home.’

  ‘Should you?’ Ram demanded softly. ‘So, go,’ he said, standing back to allow her free passage to the gangplank.

  So much for that particular little fantasy. She glanced at the shore just a few tantalising feet away, and then back again at Ram. ‘If that’s what you want…?’

  ‘This is what I want.’ He yanked her back into his arms. His hold was firm, and his kiss…his kiss was punishing, passionate and bone-melting.

  Who would stand a chance against this type of advanced kissing technique? She would just have to postpone disembarkation for now. And as Ram teased her lips apart, leaving her in no doubt as to what he would like to do next, or how very good he’d be at doing it, she realised that postponement might have to suffer a further considerable delay.

  ‘You don’t have to see me back to shore,’ she managed to gasp when he finally released her. ‘I can easily—’

  ‘What?’ Ram demanded. ‘Call a cab? Ride a bike? Walk home in the dark?’ He shook his head.

  ‘I did bring my cab fare.’

  Did he have to smile like that?

  ‘You don’t play fair,’ she complained as he dragged her back into his arms.

  ‘Who said anything about playing fair?’ Ram demanded, nuzzling her neck to prove that his sharp black stubble had some invisible link to some very sensitive parts of her.

  ‘You don’t have to do this,’ she insisted in a gasp through well-kissed lips. ‘You’ve done your duty—’

  ‘My duty?’ Ram laughed as she struggled desperately for self-control. ‘There’s no duty involved, Mia, this is sheer
unadulterated lust.’ And then he pressed her back against the ship’s rail to prove it with the heat and power of his erection.

  ‘Oh…’

  ‘Exactly,’ he said.

  ‘In that case…’

  ‘You’re not in such a hurry to leave?’ Ram guessed, his lips curving with amusement as he met Mia’s startled gaze.

  ‘The urge isn’t as bad as it was.’ And she was definitely hungry for more. ‘I realise I’ve still got so much to learn—about what you want me to do—with your interior design, I mean…’

  She was rambling now and they both knew it. Also, they were both adults—they both wanted this, and she couldn’t see why the next few hours shouldn’t be very educational indeed. And so she gorged herself on the taste of Ram—fresh, clean and totally irresistible. She even tried to pretend she was in control when his hands moved down her back, but she definitely wasn’t herself by the time he cupped her buttocks and rubbed against her. In fact, she was a brazen hussy by then, and as a riot of sensation invaded her body a rush of dreams filled her mind suggesting anything was possible—

  And then she staggered against him. ‘What’s happening?’ she demanded, clinging onto Ram for dear life.

  ‘Nothing for you to worry about,’ he said as he steadied her. ‘I think we just picked up speed—’

  ‘What?’ Mia threw a panicky glance over her shoulder. ‘What do you mean we’ve picked up speed?’

  ‘We’ve cleared the harbour and so we’re allowed to go faster.’

  ‘You mean we’re going out to sea?’ She gazed round wildly, trying to clear the haze in her mind, she’d never even noticed the engines starting up.

  ‘It’s quite usual when we leave the harbour.’

  ‘So it’s just a short trip—like testing the engines, or something?’

  ‘I think it might be a bit more than that.’

  ‘What do you mean, a bit more?’ Her voice was rising to the point where she sounded on the verge of hysteria. But this wasn’t a joke. She wasn’t a child, and this wasn’t one of her childhood fantasies. ‘You’d better tell me where we’re going,’ she said, gathering her wits about her. Shooting an anxious glance at the fast-receding shoreline, she was already calculating how long it would take them to turn around.