Page 40 of Hair, She Bears
He snickered. Rustling followed, then the sound of cloth rubbing cloth.
“Will this subdue your distraction?”
She turned and giggled as Malik spread his arms wide and bowed. The ragged quilt hugged his body, wrapped around his waist, and curved over his shoulder, the excess material trailing down his back.
“That’s interesting.”
“Step one, don’t distract the chemist.” He winked. Sliding forward, he took her hand and raised it to her lips. “Step two?”
“Check the batch.” She indicated the tower behind her. “Can you move the sofa back? It will be difficult to work with it smashed against my table.”
“I am at your service.” He brushed his mouth across her knuckles, his eyes blazing. Leading her down the staircase, he stopped at the window, and his gaze flicked over the shutters. “Step two, secure the perimeter.” He released her hand.
“Let me.” She stopped him, her hand pressed against his chest. “Only one person should lean out that window. If Mother is watching…”
Malik’s eyes flicked down to his chest.
“One of these steps had better be to seduce the chemist.”
“It follows. Fill all the vials,” she replied as desire flooded her body.
“How soon until we get to that step?”
Backing her into the wall, Malik’s hands slid down her arms, his fingers drawing sensual trails over her skin, then closed around her wrists. He lifted them over her head and pinned her against the rough stone, his mouth hovered millimeters from hers.
Her breath caught.
“Stop?” Malik asked, his eyes blazing.
She shook her head.
Releasing her wrists, he grabbed her butt, lifted her, and pushed her against the wall. His mouth claimed hers as his hips ground into her.
She tore at the quilt, ripping it from his shoulder, her fingernails digging into his skin, her body begging for release.
“Step one,” she managed to grind out through the scorching passion raging through her veins.
With a groan, Malik set her down, sliding her the length of his body, then moved away from her, taking one rather large step backward. Adjusting the quilt, he tightened the wrap—an action that accentuated his arousal—and flung the excess portion over his shoulder, then lifted his gaze, his face expressionless.
“Don’t distract the chemist,” he growled.
Inhaling a shaky breath, Zenna turned and leaned out the window. She could feel the heat rolling off Malik. Ignoring the fluttering in her stomach, she pulled each shutter closed and latched them together. When she spun around again, Malik stood directly behind her. She gasped.
“Please don’t be angry with me,” she said, her voice faltered as her eyes dropped.
“I am not your captor.” Malik lifted her chin. “Nothing you do will upset me. And after we’re free of my father, I’ll have plenty of time to dedicate to seduction.” Leaning forward, he brushed a chaste kiss across her mouth. “I do like hearing my name on your lips.”
Zenna swallowed and nodded. She wobbled toward the worktable on unsteady legs, Malik trailed behind her. A blush lingered just below her skin, warming her body. Retrieving the final jar from the back wall, she unscrewed the lid, and the acrid smell of decay assaulted her. Removing one piece, she smashed the lid back on and wrenched it tightly.
“What is that?” Malik asked, glancing up from the arm of the sofa, where he perched. His nose wrinkled.
“Dried lizard tail.”
Malik paled, his face taking on a greyish color.
“Lizard and human hair? Why do people ingest that stuff?”
“I doubt your father tells his customers the ingredients.” Zenna dropped the tail into the mortar. “Hold your breath for a moment.”
