ROMANCE: THE SHEIKH'S GAMES: A Sheikh Romance (105 page)

She patted his biceps and squeezed, smiling. “I’m not drunk and I am sure that I want to do this with you. I want you.”

“I want you too,” he told her kissed her until she was breathless and desperately trying to unbutton his shirt.

All of a sudden she was airborne, landing on a hard shoulder with a small thud. “Oh!” She used the time it took him to get from the beach to the house, to roam the expanse of his back, his tight butt that she couldn’t help grabbing. “You know, your body is in excellent shape.” She cringed at the breathy sound of her voice.

His laugh vibrated through her body, making her shiver and making Zadir laugh even harder. “Thanks. I guess that’s the other good thing that came of that stupid accident.”

Eyes closed tight, Shala tried to ignore the words. When that didn’t work she tried to ignore the warm sensation that washed over her. Her hands slid up and down his butt and thighs, and then she was unceremoniously dumped on a bed.
His
bed. “Oh,” she squealed, but Zadir was on her and swallowing her scream before she could get her bearings about her. He was kissing her, first her mouth and then her neck and then the area between her breasts. She writhed against the steel encased denim as it pushed against her. One hand snaked up her leg, inside her thigh and she vibrated with need when his knuckles grazed her moist center. “Zadir,” she moaned.

Her moan had him even harder, knowing she was turned on and out of her mind with lust for him. He stared at her for a minute, taking in her beauty and her innate sensuality. “You are gorgeous, Shala.” He pulled the zipper at her side and gently pulled the dress off her body. Next was her thin strap of yellow lace. It was summer and bright like her. He tossed them aside and ran a finger through her folds, loving that swift intake of breath. He did it again and again until he felt her thighs tremble.

“Zadir,” she moaned again when he kissed his way up her body, stopping to love on her breasts while she reached for him. “Please.”

That breathy plea nearly undid him. He stood and removed his clothes, eyeing her darkly when she gasped at the sight of him.

“You’re beautiful.”

He heard the awe in her voice and did the only thing he could at the moment. He crawled up her body and kissed the hell out of her. “I need to taste you.”

Her eyes were hazy with lust. She nodded, “Okay.”

He gave her a satisfied smile and began to place open mouth kisses all over her body, while she moaned and cried out his name. How he maintained control, Zadir didn’t know. He only knew that he needed to keep hearing that sound and he needed to get his mouth on her. Now. One swipe of his tongue and she bucked her hips, screamed and pulled his hair.

“Zadir, no!”

He looked at her in confusion. “You said I could taste you.”

“Yeah but, never mind,” she sighed and fell back against the pillow.

He shrugged and got back to business, licking and sucking at her core until her legs squeezed him tight and she trembled and screamed his name.

Shala quickly got over her embarrassment when the feeling of his wet tongue against her most private parts, sent a jolt through her so powerful that her body had acted on its own. Up and down his tongue swiped, from her opening to her clit, over and over until her body shook with the force of her impending orgasm. “Zadir, Zadir,” she moaned over and over, his name the only thought in her mind. “Oh!” She screamed out when his tongue slid inside her body and her body felt as though it had been set on fire with tiny earthquakes. Her body moved on its own, absorbing the pleasure and riding the waves out. “Wow,” she whispered when she finally caught her breath and landed safely back on earth.

He laughed and kissed around the stiffened peak of her nipple. “You look so beautiful when you come, I almost couldn't stop tasting you. I would taste you forever just to see that look on your face.”

Her mouth froze in a shocked ‘o’. “Well if every time feels like that, I just might let you.” Her hand lay on his stomach, gaining her attention when he flinched at her touch. Her gaze traveled south and when it landed on that hard column of male flesh, her mouth watered. She sat up, looked at Zadir and then at his erection. Shala wrapped her hand around it and squeezed tight. “Sorry,” she muttered when he hissed out a breath.

“It’s fine. Feels good. Too good.”

“Okay enough,” he growled, pulling her up and on her back in one quick move. “I need you, Shala. Need you.”

She nodded and gave him a nervous smile, secretly bracing herself for the pain she heard was nearly unbearable. But Zadir’s kisses had drugged her until she was so boneless and relaxed she couldn’t prepare herself if she tried. “Now, please,” she begged, releasing a grunted “Ow,” when he slid into her in one long thrust.

Zadir froze when he’d felt himself plow through a barrier that shouldn’t be there. He looked down and saw the wariness on her gaze. Had he forced her into something she wasn’t ready for?
Dammit,
he cursed himself and began to pull away until a pair of tiny hands squeezed his ass, stopping his movement.

“Zadir look at me.” She cupped his face to make sure she had his attention. “I want this. Zadir, I want you. Okay?”

His smile mixed with relief and amazement. She always seemed to get it, to get him and that made him feel good. Really good. He watched her face, saw the disappointment when he began to pull out. He saw her war with herself to keep fighting him or let him go. She chose the latter and he chose that moment to push back into her. The high pitch scream made him harder. “You’re so tight. Wet.” His brain wasn’t capable of regular function as he pounded into her, and complete sentences were out of the question.

Shala caught the rhythm and rolled her hips against, loving the way she felt something new with each new thrust. Her body wanted what Zadir gave it, but it was enough. “More,” she begged as her hands roamed the muscles of his chest and arms. “You’re so hot,” she panted loving the way his body looked as it worked to bring them both pleasure.

He grunted at her words and increased his speed, deepened his thrusts. He was used to women saying things about the way he looked, but the way Shala said it felt different. She meant it, but he didn’t like the doubt he heard in her voice. “Shala, tell me you like it.”

“I can’t, because I love it. I need you, Zadir. More of you.”

He gave her what she wanted, until they were both sweaty and out of breath. He changed the angle, contorting her body so he could hit
that
spot again and again until her body tightened like a bow. He didn’t slow down or ease up. “Shala,” he groaned when he felt his own orgasm barreling forward. “Shala!” He screamed her name in her ear, shuddered several times and collapsed on top of her.

Shala wrapped her arms around him, letting her fingers dance across his muscles while he rode out his own pleasure. Her own core continued to pulse around him, begging for more of his brand of loving. “Zadir that was magnificent,” she whispered and curled her tongue around his ear lobe. A smile crossed her face when he shivered.

She had never felt so satisfied, so boneless in her entire life. She couldn’t move and her body ached so wonderfully, but she felt so good. Different, but good. Tears pricked at her eyes but she fought them back, refusing to let her emotions and expectations ruin this moment for her. She loved him, so what? Big deal. She knew he didn’t love her back and that this didn’t mean anything more to him than sex. But she also knew that she would give anything, would
do
anything to feel that way every single day for the rest of her life.

Too bad it won’t be with you.

* * *

Zadir lie in bed, frozen with fear in the aftermath of their lovemaking. He’d been with plenty of women, more than he should probably, and not once had he been affected the way Shala affected him. His orgasm had been powerful. Too powerful. He felt tears prick at his eyes and that was something he didn’t do, not ever.

And damn, she’d given him the gift of her virginity. That had given him a certain measure of male pride, to know that no man but him had ever been inside her sweet lush body. He also had to acknowledge that it was a big deal for her. But, how big? Did she expect a proposal and a promise of forever or was she in it for the physical release? He couldn’t be sure what her expectations were, but he knew that he liked Shala. He liked her more than he’d ever liked a woman, even Kerri, but he wasn’t sure he was ready for a wife and a family of his own. Eventually he wanted those things, but first he needed to get Alzari Holdings back.

That had to be his main focus until he was installed as the head of the company. He couldn’t let anyone, not even sweet and innocent Shala, distract him from his goals. Careful not to wake her, Zadir slid out of bed and covered her sleeping body. He needed to get away from Shala and her sweet scent, her curvy body and those understanding eyes. He couldn’t think straight when she was around, and more than ever he needed to think clearly.

He stepped through the sliding doors, sucking in a lungful of salty ocean air, and decided to walk down to the beach. The warm breeze cooled his still overheated body and the sand sank between his toes. So far this trip had been more successful than he could have ever anticipated. If things went alright with the Sun Energy people, his father would have no choice but to give Alzari Holdings back to him. The chime of his phone interrupted Zadir’s thoughts. “Yeah?”

“Zadir? It’s Rashid.”

He rolled his eyes. “What can I do for you, Rashid?” He felt a pang of guilt at the sigh his brother released.

“I was calling for two reasons. First to congratulate you on The Crown Jewel. I knew you could do it, but the price you paid was unreal! Impressive.”

Zadir was so shocked he had to take a seat in the sand. Rashid had never offered so much praise, and worst of all, it sounded sincere. “Uh, thank you.”

Rashid chuckled. “Don’t sound so surprised, Zadir. If you listened you’d hear a lot more. Anyway the other reason I’m calling is because I’d like you to come home next week for a special family dinner.”

“Aww, Rashid, anything but that.”

“It’s important, Zadir, please. I really want you here and so does Sabrina. Only for two days.”

He sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Okay yes, I’ll be home next week.”

“Thanks baby brother!”

“Seven minutes, Rashid.” He disconnected the call to the sound of his brother laughing. His uptight, always business brother,
laughing.
At him, no less.
Will wonders never cease?
He turned his back to the water and walked back to the bungalow. He grabbed a pillow and a sheet, took one last longing look at Shala and went to the sofa.

* * *

The next morning dawned earlier than Zadir was prepared for as he unfolded his big body from the child-size sofa. He groaned and stretched his body, looking around the room with barely awake eyes. The sun was already shining bright, making the water sparkle like diamonds. He smiled.
What a great way to wake up
. As much as he loved Jovanbar, his favorite view was the beautiful greenish-blue ocean.

The bungalow was silent as he crept to his room in hopes of grabbing a shower without disturbing Shala. He didn’t have to worry about that since his bed was empty and her frantically discarded clothing was nowhere to be found. Zadir knew he shouldn’t feel disappointed over that fact, but he did.
What did you expect after you abandoned her in your bed, dumbass?
Disgusted with the entire situation, he closed himself into the bathroom and took a long, hot shower.

When he emerged from his bedroom twenty minutes later, the common rooms were still free of Shala’s presence. He couldn’t help but wonder where Shala had disappeared to. Was she still asleep? Did she decide to have breakfast at the hotel? Then he heard it, the sound of her phone ringing. It stopped abruptly, so he knew she was still here, yet she decided to stay in her room. “Good,” he muttered to himself. He needed to focus on Sun Energy and how he would convince them to sell it to him rather than another solar company. He wouldn’t be able to focus with Shala at his side, so he quickly sucked down his coffee and slipped out of the bungalow while she talked on the phone. He felt a pang of unease at his actions, especially after the night they shared. The gift she’d given him.

But he needed to maintain his focus. That had always been his problem in the past. He was easily distracted, by girls and parties, impromptu vacations, nightclubs and anything shiny and fun. It was why his baby sister ran the company while he had to prove himself. Given all of her hard work to help him, he felt guilty for leaving without a word, but right now she was the distraction. Shala was the reason his head wasn’t in the game and he knew she would understand.

He hoped she would.

But as the driver stopped in front of Sun Energy Makers, all thoughts of Shala fled. At least they mostly did. There were times, when he chatted with the important figureheads, that he wished for her research or a small encouraging smile. But he’d left her behind for a reason, so he got down to the business of charming them and selling them.

“Your Highness, we are worried that your interest in SEM has nothing to do with our product. Thousands of islanders rely on us for their employment.” Their spokesperson was a young Spanish man with good looks and a friendly demeanor called Fernando.

Zadir sat tall and relaxed into the people across the table from him with a smile. “First, please call me Zadir. I am a businessman first. Now, I understand your concern but you have no reason to worry. I am interested in SEM
because
of what it produces. It’s no secret Jovanbar doesn’t have endless oil reserves, and my plan is to look to the future, which we are standing in. Solar and wind energy are the future and since I’m not bound to oil, my future is now.” His words seemed to appease the small group gathered today. “Nothing will change except I will have one or two of my people here to oversee operations. So you see, nearly all of the jobs are safe.”

Fernando stood and gave a sharp look to the others, who quickly vanished. “I think we should tour the facility, yes?”