Page 82 of Healing the Heart

“You’re lucky, then. You have three minutes to spare.” He opened the rope, smiling at Fiona as they passed. “I’m sure you’ll still enjoy your abbreviated journey into the past.”

She twisted to look back at him as they climbed the narrow staircase single file. There wasn’t room to be side by side with the stream of members descending at the same time. “What did he mean by that?”

His lips curved into a sly smile. “Prepare to have your world rocked, pet.”

At the sly smile curving his lips, which promised untold wickedness awaiting her, she tripped. She caught the rail, but it was Noah’s hands on her waist that saved her.

“Watch your step, kitten. We wouldn’t want any broken teeth. Although two of the doctors Thomas mentioned are actually DDSs.”

Fortunately, she made it to the top without requiring the help of either dentist. “I’m dying of curiosity. Which one is it?”

“Guess,” he playfully challenged, coming even with her on the landing. He reclaimed her hand and moved them along what looked like a long balcony. The railing on one side and the theme rooms on the other.

Because she’d spent countless hours fantasizing about how his medical training would enhance playtime, she blurted out without thinking, “The exam room?”

He half grunted, half groaned, revealing his desire for anything but that. “That’s too much like work.”

Fiona hid her disappointment that she’d have to wonder longer.

Suddenly, he stopped and turned back. Fiona skidded to a halt to keep from slamming into him but wasn’t fast enough. Knocked off-balance, she lurched toward the rail. In a flash, she imagined flipping over it and landing on countless people, injuring them all, or worse.

Noah caught her around the waist, saving her from another near catastrophe.

“Unless you’re into that,” he said, as if she hadn’t nearly tumbled to her death. “Are you?”

Confused, she blinked up at him. “Am I what, sir?”

“Into playing doctor.”

Heat invaded her cheeks as she searched for an answer that didn’t completely embarrass herself. “I can’t really say. I’ve never...”

“You’ve never,” he repeated, a slow smile lighting up his face. “Then I’ll have to make an exception for you, won’t I? But not tonight. The sultan has other plans.”

Fiona’s heart pounded with excitement as Noah brought her to a halt in front of room nine, known as the Sultan’s Chamber. She’d peeked into the opulent room once and hadn’t forgotten it. The walls were papered in textured purple and contrasted beautifully with the luxurious jewel-toned linens and furniture. Sconces on the wall flickered like they were real candles, and the scent of incense added to the exotic atmosphere.

It was the stuff of fantasies, which was the point. A rush of exhilaration flooded her senses as she imagined the wicked delights her dominant sultan had in store for her.

With his hand on the knob, Noah twisted, facing her with eyes gleaming before he opened the door. “When we step inside, we’re no longer dominant and submissive, but sultan and his favorite concubine. Are you ready for this?”

“Yes, Your Highness,” she replied, her voice husky with anticipation.

“Very nice, pet. This is going to be fun.”

He opened the door and swept her inside. Although nothing had changed from what she remembered, she tried to take it all in at one time.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.

“Not as beautiful as my favorite slave girl,” he replied, leading her farther into the room so he could close the door and switch on the light, denoting it was in use. “While I prepare for our evening, I want you to strip, kneel in the center of the rug, and await your master’s pleasure.”

Her body tingling with a mixture of nerves and arousal, she moved to her designated place. She trusted Noah completely. He would take care of her and push her to new heights of submission. Despite the usual dynamic of the concubine serving the master, he always went above and beyond to fulfill her desires, so she looked forward to the intense pleasure that awaited her as well.

While she removed her new dress and folded it carefully, she heard him moving around behind her. Hinges creaked, and the soft thud of his footsteps tempted her to turn around and see what he was up to. But if he wanted her to know, he would tell her.

He’d mentioned several times how anticipation heightened the state of play, so she kept her eyes forward as she knelt naked as he’d directed. Feeling the thickness of the rug beneath her knees, she silently expressed gratitude to the room designer that it wasn’t a cold and unforgiving tile or hardwood. But it muted the sound of his approach, and she jumped when, suddenly, next to her, he ran his fingers through her hair, left loose because he liked it that way.

“Although it’s beautiful as it is, falling in glossy waves around your shoulders,” he murmured as he stroked the length of it. “For what I have in mind for you tonight, it’s in my way.”

Her hands rose to brush it forward, but he stopped her.

---