Pure As Sin

A group of young men, and some not so young, were gathered about someone in the hallway.  Unable to see who it was, Alexei instinctively knew it was Jasmine.  He arrived at her side just as the music began.

Eyes the color of dark jade looked up at him and his heart stopped.  Several male voices were asking for the first dance.  Neither of them heard the queries.  He held out his hand for her and she took it, moving to his side.

A waltz, in his honor, no doubt.  He held her as close as he dared.  He was unaware of the satisfied expression of her father across the room.  Sharif took Anna’s hand and joined the couple on the floor.  For a moment no one else was there.

Sharif passed them in a swirl of Anna’s skirts.  “May I present my daughter, Jasmine, Prince Alexander?”  Both men broke into smiles.  Then Alexei’s attention centered on his partner.

“So, you are not a gypsy, after all?”  His hand shifted on her ribcage.  Her skirts wrapped about his long legs as they twirled.

“Are you disappointed?  The game becomes more difficult, hmmm?”  Her eyes laughed up at him.  Excitement filled her.  Oh, she wanted to taste of him again.  She felt his muscled thigh as it brushed hers and she went weak.

“Only more complicated, the stakes higher.”  He smiled down at her, wanting her alone, just the two of them.  “I will have the next dance with you, and the next, - .”

His sensuous lips lowered and for a moment she thought he would dare to kiss her, here, before them all.  But he bent instead to her ear, his voice now a whisper.

“The scent of you, it is jasmine, isn’t it?  Wild, sweet - like you.”  His warm breath tickled her ear.  He moved his hand over her back where he held her.  She glanced around her but no one appeared to notice.

His head was still lowered to hers.  Just a slight turn of her cheek and her lips brushed his.  They both felt the tingle as though lightning had touched.

Gods, what was it about the girl?  Alexei jerked upright, his normal aplomb deserted him.  A challenge, was that it?  Her eyes were filled with innocence.  Well, two could play at this game.

The music had stopped.  She was waiting for him to escort her from the floor.  His eyes dropped to her lips, lush lips that parted just so.  His mouth descended, one arm caught her waist lifting her to him.

There were gasps, followed by nervous giggles from some of the younger set.  Her hands were against his broad shoulders but her mouth answered his, opening for his tongue’s invasion.  The music began again and he was aware of dancers around them, avoiding them.

He released her, his heart beating much too fast.  His eyes had darkened to a navy hue, smoldering.  They just stood there for a minute although it seemed an eternity.  He thought he saw her blink back tears but he wasn’t sure.  Then she turned and ran from the floor, threading her way between the moving couples, and down the wide hallway.

Dumbfounded, he followed.  When her father caught his arm he stared at the man as though at a stranger and his hand dropped.  All Sharif said was, “My daughter is pure.”

He hadn’t meant to embarrass her, to hurt her.  It was a game, wasn’t it?  And she had liked it.  He was sure of that.

It was a long hallway leading out into the garden.  Stairs curved to the upper floor.  He tried to think what lay behind each closed door.  She hadn’t had time to ascend the stairs.  The first door was locked and he tried the next.

Jasmine was standing before the half-opened shutters.  Moonlight streamed through the wide slats.  She didn’t turn when he ent