She followed the woman out of the baths, through the lush gardens, deeper into the island. Where was she taking her now? And what did she mean by ready? Ready for what exactly? “Where are you taking me?” she asked. “Yours is not to question, just to obey. Prince Rashid’s instructions are to be followed without fail.” Layla stopped briefly, and she beckoned Astrid forward. Good lord, who does he think he is? He could take a running jump. She would not obey anyone. This wasn’t the dark ages, fantasy be damned, and if he thought for one minute that she would, he had another think coming. Yeah, who are you kidding? Layla’s mocking smile as her dark gaze ran over her body did little to help Astrid slow her suddenly increased breathing. Memories of the bath's forbidden pleasures threatened to overwhelm her as she followed Layla. Yeah, who was she kidding? One look of Rashid’s commanding eyes, never mind that to-die-for gravelly voice, and she would be ready to do anything. Just knowing that he had wanted her to indulge in the baths let her do things she would never have dreamed of doing.
