A shocking blaze of heat burned through Lily as Yasin’s dark eyes simmered with desire, his gaze wandering over her body.

Suddenly, she realized he’d been drinking.

He took a step toward her and she forced herself not to back away. He grasped her upper arms, his gaze resting on her breasts. Drinking in the sight of them in her skimpy, sequined bra.

“You don’t know how much I longed for you in college.” His voice was tight with emotion. “How hard it was to hold back my urges. Because I wanted to give you time.”

His dark, bitter gaze moved to her face. “Then you turned your back on me and walked away, as if I were nothing.”

She didn’t answer, knowing she couldn’t reason with him in this state. And she couldn’t tell him about the video her sister had shown her. And how much it had frightened her.

His hands tightened around her arms like a vice.

“Is that it? Did I mean nothing to you?” he demanded, his eyes pools of dark pain.

“Oh, Yasin. That’s not it.”

He shook her. “Then what was it? Why did you leave?”

“Please, Yasin. You’re hurting me.”

He froze, his grip on her arms loosening a fraction. Then in a sudden jerk, he pulled her close, holding her tight to his solid chest, storming her mouth with his own, his tongue driving inside her. She could taste the alcohol.

She could also feel the tension coiled in his body. Sense the emotion blazing inside him.

She’d been afraid of him, because of what she’d seen on that video. Because of what she’d believed him to be. But since she’d been with him here on this island, he’d proven he was nothing like his family.

Everything he’d done here had shown him to be honorable and protective of her. Casting doubt on all her fears about him.

She could almost believe that he was in love with her.

As his lips moved on hers, she felt herself responding to him. Melting into the kiss.

Accepting him.

* * *

The feel of Lily’s sweet body pressed tight to his was driving Yasin insane. He wanted her so desperately. The urge to take her was so potent he could barely think straight.

He curled his arm around her and pulled her closer still. His hand glided to her breast and he squeezed. The softness of it drove his senses to the edge, leaving him dizzy.

She gasped and arched against him.

When she pressed her hands to his chest, he realized she was actually trying to get away from him. Her struggles against him sent heat burning through him. He wanted to overpower her. Bend her to his will.

He wanted to master her body until she surrendered to him totally.

“No.” Her fearful cry knocked him to his senses.

What the fuck am I doing?

This wasn’t the kind of man he wanted to be.

He drew his hand from her breast and released her gently.

“Lily, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

But the stricken look in her eyes tore at his gut.

“Fuck!” He sank onto the bed and drew in a long breath. “How can I make it up to you?”

She beside him. “I know how much you’re struggling with all this, too. It’s difficult for both of us.”

He raked his hair back from his face.

A knock sounded at the door and he glanced at his watch.

“Fuck, that will be your dinner. And I have to shower and change for mine.” He took her hand and squeezed. “We will talk this evening, after we return. If you’re up to it.”

She nodded, but he could see the tension in her face.

“I’ll get the door.” She stood and hurried from the room.

Yasin strode to the shower and cursed himself the whole time he washed the salt water from his body.

When he came out of the shower, Lily was not in the bedroom. He changed into his clothes and walked into the living area to see her at the table eating. He knew he should hurry to join his family, but he hesitated. Then he found himself walking to the table and sitting across from her.

She gazed up from her meal in surprise.

“I would like you to tell me something,” he said.

She sat back in the chair. “Yes?”

“I want to know why you really broke up with me so suddenly.”

Her eyes grew guarded. “Yasin, we really shouldn’t start this conversation now. You have to go.”

He shook his head. “They can wait. I want you to give me an honest answer.”

She sighed. “We come from such different cultures and—”

“No. Don’t tell me that again. It can’t be as simple as that. We were becoming close.”

“That’s part of the problem. We were becoming too serious and I realized that it would be a problem if you wanted to…” She bit her lip. “If we got more serious.”

He frowned. “So you knew about the ring.”

Her gaze darted to his. “What ring?”

Her surprise was real. So that wasn’t it.

“Nothing. Just a little gift I got for you. I thought one of your friends might have seen me buy it and misconstrued its significance.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. The point is I know there’s something else going on. Something you’re hiding from me. I can sense it. Tell me what it is.”

“Yasin, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“So there is something.”

She stared at her food, clearly uncomfortable with telling him.

“Lily, I want to know.”

She sighed. “All right.” She lifted her gaze to his. “I learned things about your family that frightened me.”

“People told you these things? And you believed them?”

She leaned forward. “Please understand. I heard many things. And I tried to ignore them. Because with me you were charming and loving. Nothing like the things I’d heard.”

“Then why—”

“Because there was a video. Posted on YouTube. It showed one of your brothers beating a woman.” She dropped her gaze. “And taking her against her will.”

His chest constricted. Ah, fuck!

“I know that video. It was not my brother, but one of my cousins. I had hoped you would never see it.”

It had been posted on-line months before he met Lily but his family had gotten it taken down. Someone must have put it up again.”

“That video, along with other stories I’d heard about your family…” She fidgeted with her fingers. “I just couldn’t stay with you.”

He wanted to reach out and take her hand, but touching her right now probably wasn’t a good idea.

“I don’t know how I can ever convince you,” he said, “especially after Omar brought you here against your will, but that video was not what it seemed. That woman was my cousin Assan’s girlfriend and what happened was consensual.”

“Are you sure she believed it was consensual?”

“She is an American woman, from New York City, where they both live. That was a sex tape they foolishly made at a BDSM club they used to frequent. She likes to be flogged. Unfortunately, someone got hold of the tape and sensationalized it, making it sound like something sinister.”

She drew in a deep breath.

“Okay,” she said, but he knew she wasn’t convinced.

Not that he could blame her, being in the situation she was. The men in his family had a penchant for the D/s lifestyle. He almost wanted to take her to the dungeon he knew his brother had on the premises to show her. But it would more likely frighten her than rather than help.

At least now he understood what had happened. He wasn’t surprised that the video had scared her away.

“Thank you for telling me.” He stood up. “I’ll be back for you in about an hour.”

“I’ll be ready.”

* * *

Lily held her breath as Yasin opened the door to lead her outside. Hafsa had brought her a lovely crimson and black bra and panties this time, but also a robe to wear over them. It was completely see-through, but it gave her the feel of being covered.

Maybe she would forget that every man here could see most of her body.

They stepped into the balmy air and she glanced around. It was really quite beautiful with moonlight glittering on the ocean below, and colorful lanterns lighting the terrace.

Yasin led her to a chair by the stone railing overlooking the ocean. Not that she could enjoy the view because the chair faced away from the wall. And her place to sit was on the ground by his feet.

A servant brought Yasin wine and he had her pour a glass for Lily, too. He kept her glass full as he talked with the other men. She was conscious of them staring at her, her skin crawling with goose bumps at their attention.

Soon, music began to play and dancers in colorful costumes twirled before them. Lily’s cheeks blossomed with heat when she realized these women wore nothing below the swirling skirts. The music slowed and the belly dancers undulated to the hot, pulsating music, their hips swaying and their breasts jiggling when they shimmied. Soon, they shed the bras, leaving their glorious breasts exposed and quivering with their movements.

Lily dragged her gaze from the dancers, then realized that around her, each of the men had a woman on his lap and was fondling her in some way.

When the music stopped, the dancers moved toward the men, swaying their breasts close to their faces. Several grabbed onto the women and suckled their ample breasts, despite the woman already on their laps.

Lily’s heart pounded as she tried to ignore what was going on around her, but one dancer came to Yasin and offered her enormous mounds, the nipples peaking forward in invitation. He simply shook his head and the woman frowned, but moved on.

Lily heard moans beside her and her gaze darted to one of the dancers on his brother Rahman’s lap. She was pivoting her hips in a provocative and intensely erotic manner. At first, Lily thought it was a lap dance, but then his hands wrapped around her waist and he lifted her, urging her to move up and down. Lily could see his hard cock driving into her. The cousin next to him had two women. One standing in front of him, her breast in his mouth, and another between his knees, sucking his dick.

Omar had two women in front of him, both bent forward, and he drove his cock into one, thrust a few times, then moved to the other. Then back again. Fucking the two of them.

She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Yasin.

“Here. Drink more wine. It will help you relax.” He handed her the glass and she drank deeply.

Music played and other dancers performed. These ones shed veils, then clothing until they were totally naked. Some of the dancers were tugged away to pleasure the men. The rest began to pleasure each other. Stroking each other’s breasts, pushing their tongues into intimate places.

Lily was too embarrassed to watch, but all the moaning and touching was so erotic she felt her breasts swell and her body heat.

“Brother, you sit there with your cock bulging against your pants while your slave sits at your side.” Omar frowned. “You are too lenient with her. If she doesn’t take care of you, I will send over someone who will.”

“I’m fine, brother,” Yasin said.

But Lily could tell that Yasin ignoring the offer of these beautiful women—because of her—was putting him in a bad situation. If he lost face with his brother, it would leave them both in a difficult position.

Omar scowled, but walked away. Lily felt sure he would return soon, though, maybe with an ultimatum.

She rested her hand on Yasin’s thigh, garnering his attention, and leaned close.