The country was a nice thing, as long as it was in the middle of town and you could reach a civilized place with shops, libraries and newspapers within five minutes or so.

My God, did they gag you?’ ‘Ymm!’ ‘Smart people.

He grabbed my chin, pulling me towards him. ‘In my dreams,’ he told me, his voice still as hard and cold as an iceberg, ‘more interesting things happen. Things that involve the two of us’.

And worse, far worse – he wasn’t just kissing me. He was making me like it! And he was somehow, by some nefarious chauvinistic manly trick managing to make me kiss him back!

I’m an ifrit! What’s a bit of snow to me? Let’s fly on wings of fire!

I was a city girl, and the few trees and lawns of Green Park were as much country as I could deal with at any given time.

Do you still want me to go to hell? I must admit, I don’t know the way.

It is your choice,” he said, so close to me that our lips were almost touching. “Either do what I say – or get another job.

It was the first time I had ever heard Rikkard Ambrose stutter. The first and probably the last.

You are my little Ifrit.′ His voice travelled up to me right through his chest, deep and strong. ‘How could I possibly say no?