The Sheikh's Resisting Lover (The Tazeem Twins Series Book 3) (5 page)

As they walked toward the monkey enclosure, Tanya cried out, “Oh my gosh!” before she covered her mouth and started laughing. Looking into the enclosure, James started to laugh as he watched a pair of monkeys having sex.

“Let the man get his time in without you interrupting him with your laughter,” James said and laughed again.

Tanya was still laughing, as she pulled out her phone to record it. “Rene will love this,” she said.

“Animal porn?”

Tanya burst into laughter. “Animal porn,” she repeated and kept laughing, as she clutched her sides.

“That is exactly what it is,” James replied. He enjoyed seeing her laugh that hard because of him. He knew that he could affect her one way or the other.

“Yes, well I am going to share the porn with Rene and Joshua,” she said.

“Do you watch porn?”

“James, what the heck?” she looked at him wide-eyed.  He stroked her chin with his index finger.

“You look at me as though I asked you a question no one has asked you before,” he said.

“People do not just ask that. What, do you watch? I bet you do.” She looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

“What makes you think I do?”

“You just seem like that kind of a guy.”

James laughed. There was no point in him watching such things, when he could have any woman he wanted. Porn was for amateurs and lonely guys, and he was neither.

“Look, they are finished. That did not take long,” Tanya said.

“Should it have lasted longer?”

“Shouldn't it?”

“Monkeys do not have intercourse for longer than a couple of minutes.”

Tanya raised her eyebrows. “You are too into animals. You even know about that,” she said and started walking away as James followed her.

“Its common knowledge,” he said.

“Ha, sure.”

“Now, that looks like you,” James said to Tanya as they approached the peacocks. She crossed her arms over her chest.

“I look like a peacock?” she asked him.

“Yes.” He stood there with his hands in his pockets, looking at her legs. Her short sundress showed off her nice, shapely legs.

“Why?” She asked him.

“Because peacocks are beautiful.” 

Tanya smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear. She did not say anything to him but he knew that she liked the compliment. Most women would have died if a prince called them beautiful but of course, Tanya, being the complete opposite to most women, she did not thank him or even say anything. Instead, she whipped out her phone to take more pictures. James took the phone from her and wrapped his arms around her. He had her back pressed firmly against his chest. 

“What are you doing?” she asked him. He angled the phone and took a photo of himself and Tanya.

“Taking a picture of course,” he said. Tanya laughed in response.

“You have been dying for this picture,” she said. He laughed and gave her back her phone. They finally left the zoo and headed back to the car. Just before they exited the zoo, they stopped at a little souvenir shop.

“We should buy something,” he said to her.

“Like what?”

“A souvenir of course.”

“You want a souvenir?”

“No, I want to buy you one.”

“Why?”

“When you go to a different place, you buy a souvenir don't you?” He looked at Tanya, as she stared at him perplexed. It intrigued him. Most women loved it when he spent money on them, but she stood there trying to figure out why he would.

“I guess,” Tanya replied vaguely as they started looking at the items for sale. There were cups, pens, stuffed animals, key rings, t-shirts.

“What do you want?” James asked her.

“Nothing really.”

He looked at her with a narrowed gaze. She laughed. “Pick for me then,” she said.

“Okay, let’s get one of each.”

“Oh my gosh, James do not do that.”

“Why not?”

“That is a waste of money. Okay look, let’s get a key ring.”

“Only a key ring?”

“Yes.” Tanya picked a random key ring but James took the ring and put it back.

“At least pick a cute one,” he said. Tanya laughed and allowed him to pick out one for her. He picked out a peacock key ring. “Because you are like a peacock,” he reminded her. She smiled and rolled her eyes.

After they bought the souvenir, they went to the car. After such a long time in the sun, it would be nice to go sit in a cool café, plus he was anxious for Hussain to meet Tanya. When they arrived, the driver got out of the car as always and opened the door for them.

“Where are we now?” she asked him.

“My cousin’s café,” he replied.

“Very nice,” she said as she followed him inside. The interior of the café was like no other. The flooring was from quarter-sawn oak and cut into wide planks with notches instead of nails keeping the boards together much like puzzle pieces.

For seats, there were a combination of black leather sofas and low-backed leather chairs, which were light brown and black. The tables were made of light brown marble with black legs. The roof was dome shaped. He looked at Tanya and smiled as he watched her face light up with pleasure.

“This place is amazing,” she said to him.

“I'll introduce you to the owner,” he said as Hussain approached. The two men greeted each other. “This is my cousin Hussain and this is Miss Tanya,” he said as Tanya smiled at him.

“Hello,” Tanya said with a smile. He kissed her on both cheeks.

“She is Rene's friend,” James added.

“Hello, it is nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” Tanya said. “You have a lovely place,” she continued.

“I am glad that you like it. It’s one of my many businesses. Please, follow me,” he said as he led them to a table. There were few people in the café, but they all seemed to notice James and nodded to him. Hussain disappeared when they sat down.

“What is good here?”

“Everything,” he replied with a grin. “Especially me,” he said as Tanya rolled her eyes.

“Okay then,” she said. A waitress appeared with some coffee and baked treats. “They look good,” she said and picked up a fork. She cut herself a tiny piece and tasted it.

“Good isn't it?” James asked her.

“It is.”

“I told you.”

“Stop gloating, you were not the one that baked it.”

“Why are you always so mean to me?”

“What?” Tanya frowned at him.

“You are either sarcastic or-” before he finished speaking, Tanya started laughing.

“I'm sorry but I cannot take you seriously right now. I have never been mean to you, James,” Tanya took a sip of her coffee and smiled as she swallowed it.

“I taste better,” he said to her. He burst into laughter when he saw her facial expression. “Relax,” he said.

“You have issues,” she said with a smile on her face.

“Tell me about yourself.” James was interested in knowing what she was all about. Tanya told him that she had known Rene since high school and they were roommates since they went to university together. She had studied forensic accounting, but was presently working nights for a company in their customer service department because it currently paid better than an entry level position and she had student loans to pay off.

“There really isn't much to say,” Tanya shrugged her shoulders. James had been studying her as she spoke. She was so beautiful and he loved the sound of her voice.

“There is a lot to say,” he said slowly.

“Like what?”

“Are you seeing anyone over there?”

“No.” Tanya narrowed her gaze at him.

“That is hard to believe. Tell me more about your job.”

“You want to hear about that?” she asked him. James nodded. Tanya sighed before she started speaking.

The two of them sat together for hours just talking about everything. Tanya answered every question that James threw at her. He listened to her and studied her as she spoke. He answered some of the questions she had for him. They even watched the video of the monkeys at the zoo and laughed about it.

“I cannot believe you recorded that,” James said to her.

“I told you, I am going to share it with Joshua and Rene,” she said.

“I cannot wait to see Joshua's face when he sees that.”

“So, you are the younger twin?”

“I am. Can't you tell?”

“I can, you are more immature.”

James narrowed his gaze at her. “The younger sibling is always the better looking one,” he said and ran his hand through his wavy, jet-black hair.

“Pssh,” Tanya rolled her eyes at him. “Whoever said that, lied,” she added.

“Do you have any siblings?” he asked her.

“An older brother.”

“See, you made my point, the younger one is better looking.”

“You have not even seen my brother.”

“I do not have to. I already know you're the better looking one.” He stared at her with an intense gaze as Tanya smiled at him. He decided that he wanted to see her smile more often. Especially if he was the cause.

“Your princely charms do not affect me,” she said.

“There are no
princely charms.
I am just being honest.” She was beautiful indeed. Her hazel eyes sparkled with life. Her lips were so tempting that he wanted to bite them gently and kiss them. She smelled good and her skin was soft. Her curly hair suited her even if it did seem to have a life of its own. She was gorgeous and he wanted her. Every second that he spent with her, his desire for her grew.

Chapter 7

One of the waitresses came to their table to ask if they needed anything else. The entire time she was speaking to them, she was looking at James. She kept smiling and trying to get his attention. Tanya covered her mouth and coughed to mask her laugh. It was not surprising, after all he was a prince, a good looking one at that.

James helped Tanya up from her seat when it was time to leave. She hated to admit how much of a gentleman he had been to her throughout the day. He had been good company and he was incredibly funny. Yes, he was conceited and always made references to sex but there was a different side to him that she found she liked and she was interested in seeing more of that side.

“Thank you,” she said to him. He nodded and led her towards the door. The waitresses all stopped to watch them leave. It seemed as though they were sizing up Tanya and wondering who she was.

“Hussain,” James shouted and waved to him. Hussain nodded at James and smiled at Tanya.

“See you later!” Tanya called out and waved to him. “He seems nice,” she said to James.

“Yes, we’ve been best friends for years. He’s a bit of a control freak though.”

“Worse than Joshua?”

“Are you kidding? He makes Joshua look laid-back and relaxed,” James told her as he laughed. “It’s not that everything has to be perfect with him. It’s that everything MUST be done HIS way,” he added with emphasis, as he shook his head. “If you ask me, it’s a waste of energy to be so controlling.”

Tanya and James climbed into the Bentley continuing their conversation and banter as they travelled back to the palace. Tanya was having a wonderful time as she listened to him talk. He was asking about her life and he seemed to be interested. “Do you ever listen to music when you are in the car?” she asked him.

“I do.”

“And what kind of music do you listen to?”

“Arabic music.”

“That is a given. Anything else?”

“A little classical once in a while.”