Sheikh's Untouched Woman (2 page)

She didn’t respond to his words, just looked at her watch. “Francois should be here soon.” A telltale buzz started in her purse. “Shit,” she muttered when she read the words on the screen.

“I imagine that’s Francois telling you he can’t make it today.” He smiled that smile that used to melt her panties right off but today she just wanted to slap him hard enough to leave a handprint.

“Got it,” she said as she starting digging around for her keys. At least she’d get to spend the rest of the day with Rafa. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She walked away but she should have known that was too easy.

“Since you planned to be here anyway, how about that coffee?”

Her head fell and she tried to wipe away the negative images and words swirling in her mind. She had to say yes. Let him say whatever he needed to soothe his conscience and get it over with. “Fine. Ten minutes.” She pointed down the street to a coffee and chocolate shop.

Raffi caught up with her. “Surely you can give me more than that since you planned to be here for a few hours?”

Serena didn’t bother looking at him or offering an explanation. “Ten minutes.” When they reached the doors of the shop she took a step to the side, “I’ll be inside in a moment,” she pointed to her phone and then turned her back on him.

~

Raffir felt his frustration rising at Serena’s seeming indifference to him. It was arrogant to assume she’d still be the same infatuated young girl eager to spend all her time with him, but her attitude now was a bit much. Sometimes he thought he caught a glimpse of anger or hurt in her eyes but she was now a master at masking her emotions. Another change that could probably be attributed to him.

He gazed out the window at her red hair looking like flames as it blew in the sunlight and wondered who she had to call? Was it a lover or a boyfriend? A husband? That thought felt like a kick to the stomach. What did it matter to him anyway? He would apologize and return to Maju-ul and find a woman to help him rule.

When it was his turn he placed an order for both of them, hoping her tastes hadn’t changed too much in the time they’ve been apart. “A plain coffee, latte and two muffins,” he told the cashier and laid cash on the counter.

“Change that latte to a black coffee and take off a muffin,” she smiled at the barista with a wink. “Thanks.”

She grabbed her coffee and found a table overlooking the street. “This looks good.” She sipped and waited for Raffi to talk.

He looked at her, searching for hints of the Serena he once knew but she wasn’t there. This woman was stunning and confident, a core of steel that said she wouldn’t be taken for a fool again. “Serena, I’m sorry.”

She nodded as she absorbed his words and felt…nothing. She thought she would feel anger or relief or
something
but she didn’t respond at all to his apology. “Okay.”

“That’s all you have to say?” Why did he want a reaction from her so badly? Was it just ego or was it something else?”

“What else do you want me to say Raffir? You asked for this chat to apologize, do you need my forgiveness to feel better? Fine, I accept your apology.” She took several large gulps of coffee to keep her emotions in check.

“I want you to understand.”

“Why?”

He didn’t know. He just wanted her to understand he wasn’t rejecting her. “I can’t say, really. I just hated the way things ended.”

She nodded, everything suddenly became clear. “You’re here because I left before you could, what, get one more screw or tell me again that I was just a mistress?” She shook her head with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, “Sorry to be the one to tell you, there was never going to be a good end to us.” It had taken her a long time to acknowledge that because at the time she thought there was a chance they’d become more than what they were.

“Where’d you go?” He’d spent a week searching for her in Paris and came up empty.

“I finished the year and left.” She’d barely finished even that due to the morning sickness that kept her in bed or wrapped around a toilet during those final weeks in Paris.

“Why did you leave the apartment and all your belongings behind?”

Serena wanted to laugh at the bewildered look on his handsome face. He still couldn’t fathom a woman would leave behind such luxury, just another clue she hadn’t known to look for. Now she did. “I didn’t leave any of my belongings. The stuff I left was never mine.” They were gifts for a mistress, a woman paid to be at the sexual beck and call of a wealthy man. Just thinking about it still made her sick to her stomach.

“I bought it for you.”

“No, you didn’t. You bought it for a mistress, not
me.
”

“You don’t understand, it is very common for a man of my status.”

“I don’t care Raffir. It’s over so there’s no point going back there.” She stood and tossed her cup in the bin. “Now I’ve accepted your apology and listened to your excuses, I mean
explanations
. We’re done, right?”

“No. I hate that you don’t smile at me Serena, you don’t even want to be around me.”

If only he knew that she’d tried to hate him but she couldn’t. He was the first man she’d ever loved, ever shared her body with. The first man to break her heart. She wished she could hate him but even if he wasn’t even more gorgeous today, she wouldn’t hate him. She feared she would always love him. “Can you blame me? The last time I was with you I was crushed and I’m not eager for more.”

He watched her smack the door open and turn her face toward the sunny blue sky. She was still as beautiful as she ever was. He stood and went after her, his long strides quickly closing the distance between them. A quick tug on her wrist and her body was flush against his. “I’m very eager for more of you Serena.” Before she could respond he fitted his mouth to hers, determined to make her succumb, to admit she still burned for him the way he did for her. Raffi devoured her mouth, laid claim to it with seductive swipes of his tongue, nips on her lips. His fingers twined in her fiery locks, pulling softly so he could deepen the kiss. When her body relaxed against him, he smiled against her lips and took a few minutes to savor her flavor, her taste.

Damn she missed that mouth. But it was that mouth that said the words that broke her heart and shattered her faith in love and relationships. That thought brought her to her senses and she stiffened under him and pulled back. “Happy now?”

His smug smile said it all. “Very. Now we can take this back to my hotel.”

She took a few steps back, shaking her head. “No we can’t. I’m going home. Goodbye.”

“Dammit Serena, why do you deny your desire for me?”

“Raffir you taught me everything I know about sex and sexual attraction, my body will likely always respond to you. The rest of me knows better.” She turned and took hurried steps away until she could no longer feels his eyes on her back.

~

Serena made the walk back to her car like the walking dead, not feeling or seeing or hearing any of the activity around her. The only thing she could focus on was every step that took her closer to her car without letting a tear fall. She couldn’t cry, not now and not over him. Not again.

How could I have been so stupid?
She couldn’t believe she’d let him kiss her and had actually kissed him back. It was the one thing guaranteed to renew the hurt because it brought back the memories she couldn’t forget no matter how hard she tried. Those kisses made her think of Paris, of the romance she’d experienced for the very first time. His soft lips made her think of a time when she felt loved, cherished, important to someone. Now she knew it was a lie but her memories didn’t know the heartache, hadn’t felt it as viscerally as she had.

Now her memories were caught up in the past.

After two weeks of nonstop togetherness she’d summoned the courage to take things further. “I’d like you to take me to bed tonight,” she said as she fidgeted with the opal ring her grandmother had given her.

Raffi nodded, his gaze thoughtful and full of desire. “Ah Serena my love, I am glad we can finally dispense with these games.”

She remembered frowning in confusion. “Games?”

He stood and cupped her face, feathering a light kiss on her lips. “Come now Serena, a woman of your beauty and grace, that inherent sensuality. Surely we can stop the innocent act, can’t we?”

She was torn between the lust he was evoking in her and anger at his cynical words. “I don’t know what you mean Raffi but if you aren’t interested just say that, don’t accuse me of things I haven’t done.”

“Accuse, no,” he said and his finger trailed down her throat and between her breasts. “Simply stating facts as I see them.”

Her breaths were coming in quick shallow pants now but goodness she wanted to smack that man in his smug gorgeous face. “You had better double check your facts, Prince Raffir al-Jazzari,” she spat at him.

“I guess we’ll see then, won’t we?” After those words very few had been spoken. Raffi had laid her down across her small bed, stripped her naked and spent an hour stroking her body with his magic tongue. Then she’d finally gotten a glimpse of his magnificent body when he removed his standard uniform, a dark suit with a white shirt. His bronze skin was the perfect showcase for rippling muscles that bunched and curled with every sly step as he stalked to the bed. His big body covered hers and the sensation was so overwhelming she gasped and shuddered as his warmth spread over her.

“Raffi,” she panted, her hips rolling on their own as his fingers played in the moisture gathering between her legs. She had been embarrassed by the wetness but somehow, Raffi was turned on by it. She’d tried to close her legs but he was stronger.

“Don’t be shy now love. I’ve tasted your sweet nectar and I know you crave my touch.” She couldn’t deny that, she was growing to crave everything about this man. When he rubbed his erection over her most sensitive area she screamed out an oath that made him laugh. “That’s right, let it out.”

When he entered her in one smooth thrust she cried out. “Oh,” the pain she felt overriding every other sensation. One tear slipped out and she squeezed her eyes shut, praying for the pain to subside so Raffi would continue his sensual torture.

Raffi stilled, hardly believing what had just happened. The barrier he’d so carelessly ripped through proved him to be a cynical bastard and her to be exactly what she portrayed herself to be. “I’m sorry my love, so sorry.” He leaned his forehead against hers, kissed her nose and her heart shaped mouth. “I didn’t know.”

The pain had subsided and she was beginning to feel the pleasure take over her body. “Don’t stop now Raffi,” she urged. She was still hurt he’d thought her an easy woman but she couldn’t let her first time be an abbreviated version of the real thing. Raffi would make her feel good, would make this good for them both and dammit, she wanted him to. She watched the guilt transform to a hazy lust as his hips began to move back and forth, increasing her pleasure and moisture with every stroke. He murmured how tight she was, how he loved how wet she was and his words washed over her, made her feel as sexy as he said. Then she was trembling underneath him as a floating sensation took over her body and she was floating away. Only Raffi held her down, tethered her to the earth as his own passion carried him away.

It had been the single most exciting night of her life.

It was those memories that killed her and kept her heart’s shattered pieces locked up tight for the world. Only Rafa was the beneficiary of all the love she had to give. He got all her genuine smiles, hugs and kisses. It was his chubby face that made her days brighter and made the past hurt just a little bit less each day.

She couldn’t wait to get home to see her little man.

Several days had passed and Raffi was still shaken by that kiss with Serena on the street as well as her parting words to him.
The rest of me knows better
. Had he been such a bad partner to her? He had bought her designer clothes and put her up in a gorgeous flat overlooking the Eiffel Tower yet she acted like he’d mistreated her in some way.
You crushed me
. God he couldn’t get those words out of his head. He had crushed her.

He’d known Serena was fond of him because she talked as if she had been in love with him, but she’d never said a word to him. She was an infatuated young woman, but he had to admit she hadn’t been infatuated with his wealth. She’d often chided him for his extravagant gifts and she had left them all behind when she left.

Raffir didn’t know if there was anything left to say to Serena. She was clear that she wanted nothing to do with him so maybe he should honor her wishes even if it was the last thing he wanted. Strolling the Botanic Gardens on his own wasn’t exactly a stimulating activity, but he’d needed the solitude to clear his head. He didn’t care about the colorful flowers and vibrant green plants along the walk, he needed to get over his obsession with Serena.

He still wanted her, that scorching hot kiss proved that. But was there any way to change her opinion of him? He didn’t know because Raffir al-Jazzari didn’t have to work hard to get women. They threw themselves at him, did whatever he wanted in hopes of catching a few shiny baubles, exotic vacations and fancy clothing. He’d given all that and more to Serena but it hadn’t been enough. She’d wanted
him.

If she only wanted him she could want him again.
You crushed me.
But he couldn’t marry her, she was a foreigner and that would cause more problems than he’d need once he became Sheikh of Maju-ul. There had only ever been one royal who wasn’t of Maju-ul blood and it had taken the people more than two years to warm up to her, his great grandmother. He shook off the thoughts as silly because they were. He couldn’t marry Serena and she wanted nothing to do with him.

He turned down a path with tons of large trees, offering shaded relief from the hot day. The gardens were fairly quiet today for which he was grateful. The last thing he wanted was the interruption of unruly children and their obnoxious parents clouding up his mind. But then he heard laughter belonging to a small child and a woman and the sound brought a smile to his face.

That was a sound a man could get used to hearing. He spotted the duo sitting on a blanket under a large tree. The young red headed child was giggling at the butterflies on his arm.

“No Rafa, don’t eat the butterflies. They’re your friends.”

His steps faltered. That sultry sweet voice.
Serena
. The child had the same auburn hair. She picked up the baby and his chubby hands went to her cheeks and planted a slobbery kiss on her nose. She laughed that sweet laugh and felt like he was intruding on a private moment. “Good afternoon, Serena.”

~

Her body went numb at his words. Under normal circumstances those were benign words spoken by a former lover. Today with Rafa in her arms, feet away from his father, those words were like a numbing agent to her entire body. Stiff and scared she took a moment to compose herself before she spoke. “Raffir.”

“And who do we have here?” He squatted down to get a better look at the child. To see the features of the man lucky enough to give Serena a baby.

“This is Rafael.” She didn’t turn Rafa around, she couldn’t.

“Hello Rafael,” he said in that crisp accent that drew all eyes his way.

She squeezed her baby, god help her, but she did to keep his attention focused on her. But Rafa wasn’t used to the deep timber of male voices and his head swiveled towards it. “Babababa,” he slapped his hands on his legs in excitement.

Raffir gasped and fell from his squat until he was sprawled out on the grass. Those golden eyes, flecked with brown, were not just familiar they were the defining trait of the al-Jazzari family. Every male for the past hundred years has had those same eyes. His gaze flicked to Serena’s and the wariness mixed with guilt told him who that lucky man was. Him. “Serena?”

She nodded as Rafa continued his baby talk. “Yes.” She closed her eyes, allowing a few tears to roll down her cheeks before she cleared them and blinked the rest away. “He’s my son.”

“I think you mean
our
son.”

She heard the anger in his voice but Serena was not intimidated, would
not
be intimidated. Not now and not about this. “No I mean
my
son. I raised him alone and kept his father’s identity a secret so that he could marry someone else and fulfill his duty to his country.” She lifted Rafa and kissed his chubby cheek. “Don’t worry yourself about a thing Raffir. You have no more obligations today than you did yesterday.”

He stood when she did, his eyes riveted to the little boy in Serena’s arms. His son. Rafael. It seemed the boy was as enthralled with him. His little arms reached out to Raffir who could do nothing but the same until he held his son in his arms for the first time. He was so small and light, Raffir didn’t know if he was holding him too tight. “You’re so small,” he whispered to Rafael, who was staring at his face, taking stock of all his features it seemed. Small hands landed on either side of his face, looking deeply into his eyes. Eyes that were mirrors of each other. “Oh,” he laughed when the wet kiss he’d been expecting turned into an attempt to eat his nose.

The sound of his son’s giggles squeezed his heart until he thought he would cry. From joy and anger, confusion. Rage.

Serena packed up their bags and turned away from the scene before her. She couldn’t bear to look at Raffir holding their son, so enchanted by her bundle of joy. It hurt, it hurt so bad. That was how it should’ve been but it wasn’t. It never would be. “Okay Rafa, it’s time for your nap.” She reached for him, trying to avoid touching Raffir.

“We need to talk Serena.”

She nodded. “You can come ‘round tonight for dinner and talk. Come at half seven, I’ll text you the address.”

~

By the time seven o’clock rolled around Serena knew what she had to do and she’d made a list to put it all into action. She knew, by the way his eyes lit up when he held Rafa that Raffir would not give him up. So she was willing to make some concessions to give him that chance, not that he deserved it. But she was not prepared to hear the words Raffir uttered over dinner.

“We should get married.”

She looked for signs of humor or insanity but found none, which was weird because she couldn’t have heard him correctly. “Excuse me?”

“I think we should get married.”

“No.” The way his eyebrows rose would have been comical if his surprise hadn’t been due to extreme arrogance. A year ago she had been prepared to throw her life away to become his bride. This year that wasn’t a compromise she was willing to make.

“Why not?” He couldn’t understand her. He was prepared to make her a queen and she was refusing.

“That’s simple Raffir. I don’t want to marry you.”

He sat back, thoughtful. “You wanted to…before.”

Her smile was bitter, her tone harsh. “Yeah well you cured me of that delusion, didn’t you?”

His sigh was weary, angry. “Is it always going to come back to that?”

“It will if you keep talking marriage.” She had no desire to marry him or anyone else anymore and thinking about it will only lead her back into the hole she recently climbed out of. No thank you.

Raffir sat back and pushed his plate away in frustration. “What do you suggest then Serena? I plan to see my son and be in his life so if you won’t marry me, then what?”

“That’s how you see everything isn’t it, all or nothing?” She stood and grabbed the folder she’d been working on. “I will come to Maju-ul for six months so you can see Rafa when you are free. After that we’ll reevaluate things.” The last thing she wanted to do was go to his home country and watch as he picked out a wife, married her and became Sheikh. But for Rafa she would.

“What
things
will need to be reevaluated six months from now?” He didn’t want a half a year with Rafael only to lose him all over again.

“Well you’ll be married soon and I doubt having a love child running around Maju-ul will go over well with the Queen or the people.” She wouldn’t stick around and become a rumor or a dirty little secret.

“No! I won’t be away from my son, I can’t.” It would be torturous to get to know him and fall in love with him only to have him ripped from his arms.

“You don’t get to make all the decisions here Raffir. I’m willing to move to a country where I know no one, don’t speak the language and will have to find new work so you can have time with Rafa but still that isn’t enough. Well you can take it or bloody leave it, damn you!”

She was right. He was being unreasonable, but this was his son. “You can stay at the palace and I will take care of you. That should make this easier.”

Arms crossed she shook her head. “That is not happening. I will find my own place for us to live and I will pay for it.” She would not depend on Raffir ever again. “Rafa will be there for you. I will be there
for him
.”

Damn she looked beautiful when she was protecting their son. Her green eyes were flaming with fury, her skin luminescent in the warmth of the kitchen and chest heaving, she looked magnificent. He’d never been more attracted to any woman than he was to Serena in this moment. “Fine.”

A week later Serena was in one of the private jets that belonged to the al-Jazzari family and it was incredible. The seats were made of the softest leather and there were two bedrooms at the back of the plane with a shower. One room had been outfitted for a baby, with a crib, changing station and more toys than any baby would need in one lifetime. Several servants were on board to make sure Serena never had to lift a finger, which was nice after taking care of herself for so long. But it would get old after awhile.

She drew the line when one of the servants tried to take Rafael and put him down for his nap. She would take care of her son herself just as she had been doing since she found out she was pregnant. She would not rely on servants that she would never have again to do things she could do for herself. “No thank you,” she smiled when the woman tried to take Rafa from her arms. “I can do it myself,” she shouted at the persistent woman.

“You are allowed to relax Serena.” He found it amusing that she didn’t want to let anyone help.

“If I need help I will seek it out.” She refused to get used to all of this luxury and assistance. It would make it that much harder to get back to her normal life.

Raffir chuckled. “He is my son too Serena, which means he will have these luxuries at his disposal. Get used to it.”

She shook her head. “No I won’t. He can get used to that when he spends time with you, with me he will live my life.” She could see it now, Raffir lavishing gifts on Rafa that she could never afford. Every toy imaginable, fine cars, tailored clothes and globe hopping vacations. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. She would lose her son eventually.

“Fine Serena.” He didn’t understand why she had to make everything so difficult. He was only trying to help. “If you need anything just ask.”

The jet began its descent and she turned her attention out the window while Raffir slept peacefully in her arms. The beautiful red and gold dessert below was breathtaking. In the center of the colorful dessert was a cluster of modern buildings, skyscrapers and in the distance a gigantic palace. “Is that your home?”

Raffir smiled and leaned over her to gaze at the palace out the window. “Yes. That is the Grand Palace of Maju-ul, home of the royal family.” He sat back and watched her face. “The palace has 112 rooms, 37 bathrooms, an indoor pool and gym, a library, billiards room, several offices and a bunch of other stuff I can’t remember. It’s too big but the Sheikh used to take as many as a dozen wives and the rooms were needed. These days, it’s just a jobs program, really.”

“Nice,” she mumbled. The palace was beautiful on the outside with a domed roof, gold plated window frames and a beautiful reflecting pool leading to the front door. It was beautiful but it was also…too much.

It was going to be a long six months.

~

Raffir was in love. With each day that passed he was falling deeper in love with his son Rafael. The boy was adorable and fun and so smart. Every night after work, he showed up at Serena’s new house and spent time with his son. They weren’t able to do much, but he really enjoyed bath time and story time. He never knew how fun it was to be a father, since his father hadn’t made time for these things. They had servants for that.

“Thank you Serena, for allowing me into your home every day to be with my son.” He was so grateful, more than he could ever say.