The Sheikh's Resisting Lover (The Tazeem Twins Series Book 3) (6 page)

“Ew.” Tanya really did not like classical music.

“And what is wrong with classical music?” James asked her.

“It's boring.”

“It most certainly is not. What do you listen to?” She turned her head to face him.

“I listen to different kinds of music. I am open-minded,” she said with a grin.

“Anything except classical music.”

“Exactly.”

The maids opened the doors for James and Tanya when they arrived back at the palace, greeting James with a deep bow and Tanya a slight bow. The two of them headed upstairs. Tanya stretched her arms when they reached the top of the stairs.

“You cannot be tired,” he said to her.

“I am, it has been a long day,” she replied. Part of her did not want to part company with him. They had been having such a good time. He walked her back to her room.

“So are you enjoying your stay here?” he asked her.

“Yeah,” Tanya nodded. “It’s been great,” she added. They reached her door.

“Here, we are.”

“Yes.”

They stared at each other for a moment neither one saying anything. They just stared. Tanya felt her heart beating faster as she reflexively licked her lips. James was staring at her with such an intense gaze. She saw his jaw twitch and his gaze grow darker.

Before she could even think or say anything, he stepped up to her and pressed his soft lips against hers. She gasped and pushed him away as she touched her lips in surprise. This was the second time that he had tried to kiss her.

James looked at her with so much desire and fire in his eyes that Tanya felt as though her knees would buckle. Her mind told her to escape to the safety of her bedroom but her legs betrayed her and she could not move.

Her breathing became heavy as she felt herself grow dizzy. James moved towards her again and successfully pressed his lips against her’s. This time she did not fight him off. She had no more will power left. His lips were soft and warm as Tanya’s whole body reacted to him instantly and she leaned against him.

He gently and slowly caressed her lips with his as his hands cupped her face. Lifting his head, he looked down at her, as he smiled gently. The way he was looking at her, Tanya wasn’t sure what to think as she had never seen that look before. This wasn’t the conceited Prince James looking at her, this was the James who fed stray cats and made large donations to zoos. This was the James that she liked. 

He rubbed her lower lip with his thumb as she opened her mouth in surprise. His touch made her lip tingle, as she went up on her toes to kiss him. He gently parted her lips to explore her mouth. Tanya gasped and clung to his shirt as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. She leaned against his hard body as her arms wound their way around his neck. He pressed her back against the door as he held her head still.

She kept her eyes closed as she let the sensations he was creating wash over her. She could not think. She could only feel and she felt good. She liked the feeling of his hard body against her’s. Breaking the kiss, he trailed kisses from her neck to her collar bone as she squirmed with pleasure.

Tanya felt his arousal pressed against her as sparks of pleasure continued to make her body tingle in response. Her legs gave out and he was fully supporting her as she clung to him. It was all she could do to keep from reaching behind her to open the door and drag him into her bedroom; however, she knew better. Mustering any remaining will power, she pushed James away from her.

“Stop,” she said. She was breathing heavily as she ran her hand through her curls to tame her arousal. James was also breathing hard as he looked at her.

“You want me to stop?” he asked her.

“Yes,” she replied to him. He looked at her unconvinced, as she tried to pull herself together. She wanted him more than she had ever wanted any man in her life. She may have not known him for long, but things had developed quickly. He did not make it easy when he always flirted with her and stared at her over dinner or breakfast. The man was unbelievably attractive and he knew how to please her.

“Are you sure?” he asked her again.

“Yes, go,” she said and opened her bedroom door tumbling inside and slamming it behind her. She rested her back against the door breathing hard. She could not believe what had almost happened.

Tanya staggered to her bed forcing herself to walk on shaky legs. Her body had been paralysed with pleasure. Throwing herself on the bed, she lay there looking at the ceiling. She closed her eyes and remembered the feel of his lips as he kissed her. His trail of kisses down her neck. How his hands felt as they cupped her face. His look of desire that made her feel as if she was the only woman in the world.

She rubbed her face to clear her head and took in a deep breath as she smelled his scent on her. Rolling over onto her stomach, she screamed into a pillow in frustration as she reminded herself that she was not going to be that easy

Closing her eyes, she replayed the day in her head. She had enjoyed spending the day at the zoo with him and was impressed at how much he knew about the animals and their welfare. He was witty and charming. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the peacock key ring and squeezed it in her hand. It had been a good day.

Flicking through the pictures she had taken at the zoo, she stopped when she saw the picture James took of the two of them together. She remembered how he had held so tightly when he took the picture. Tanya smiled as she looked at it. They actually do look good together.

Chapter 8

It had been a long day for James. He and his brother; Joshua, had been out of the city negotiating with a start-up tech company. They both felt that the company had a lot of potential and they wanted Tazeem Petroleum to be the first to sign with them as this was an opportunity for the company to expand their prospects into coal.

Despite the back to back meetings and never ending presentations, the only thing James could think about was Tanya. She had melted into his arms at his touch and he could not stop reliving that moment over in his head.

He knew that she wanted him - that was obvious, so why did she tell him to go? Normally women threw themselves at him and he was happy to bed them, but Tanya was so very different and he could not stop thinking about her. He could still remember the way her skin felt and the scent of almonds.

It was after eight in the evening when Joshua and James returned to the palace jubilant at their success. They found Rene and Tanya in the dining room as Joshua bent down to kiss Rene.

“Hello, beautiful,” he said to her as he kissed her again. She smiled and rubbed his chest.

“Hey, handsome,” she replied as she smiled up at him.

“Oh, you two, are so cheesy,” Tanya teased. James approached her and greeted her.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he said to her.

“Bye, James,” she said to him before breaking eye contact. James chuckled when he realized that he missed her feistiness.

Hussain had walked in behind the twins, greeting his cousins and Rene before turning to Tanya “Hello,” he greeted her and kissed her on both cheeks.

“It is nice to see you again,” she replied as she kissed him back. He returned her smile. The maids brought in a tray of glasses and Champagne.

“A toast to the successful business contract,” James said and looked at Tanya, “and to beautiful things,” he added. Tanya blushed as he smiled and raised his glass.

“Cheers,” everyone said together as they held up their glasses in a toast.

After dinner, the maids cleared the table as Joshua and Rene moved over to the patio’s sitting area, while the others remained at the table chatting. Hussain leaned toward Tanya and was chatting with her quietly. Moments later, somehow the conversation landed on relationships.

“This guy does not date,” Hussain said, referring to James.

“What is wrong with dating?” Tanya asked. James shrugged his shoulders. What was the point of going on a date? When he showed interest in a woman, it was usually for one thing only and they were only too willing to comply
. Except for Tanya.

“He has issues,” Hussain joked.

“I think so too,” Tanya agreed as James laughed.

“Do you like going out on dates?” James asked her.

“Why not? I think men should court women.”

James was shocked at Tanya's response. “Courtship?” he asked with obvious shock in his voice.

“Yes, courtship.”

The two of them started arguing about courtship. Tanya felt that men were not taking dating seriously. They took women out on one or two dates and then expected sex. She thought old school courtship was nice because it showed that the man really liked the woman and respected her. James obviously disagreed. Dating and courtship were overrated and a waste of time. People should just get to the point of what they wanted.

“You have issues,” Tanya said and got up to join Rene and Joshua. James watched her leave with a mischievous look on his face.

“Tanya is a good girl,” Hussain said to him after she had left.

“...okay?” James was confused as to why Hussain would say that.

“The way the two of you were just going at it,” Hussain grunted.

“Where is this going?” He knew that his cousin had something that he wanted to get off his chest. James mentally prepared himself for whatever he was going to say.

“There is something between the two of you. She is a nice girl, so you should stop trying to bed her.”

James rocked his head backwards and laughed before he responded. “Who said I was trying?” he asked.

“It would be really peculiar if you were not,” said Hussain with a serious face.

“She is an attractive American. Who would pass up such an opportunity?”

“Is that all you can think about is making her another point on some imaginary score card?”

James smiled. He had never had a girl like her, so of course he would be interested in bedding her. What was wrong with that? “Can you blame me?”

Hussain narrowed his gaze at him. “I actually think that you would make a good couple.”

“Would we now?”

“Yes, James, you would.”

“I do not do relationships.”

“Yeah, that would require trust. After her-” Before Hussain could finish his sentence, James whipped his head in his direction and cut him off.

“Don't you even dare say her name. Do not even think it,” James warned. He was done with the lecture from his cousin. He was who he was and had no intention of changing.

“Okay,” Hussain put his hands in the air as if to surrender. “Anyway, I am leaving,” he said.

“All right, cousin,” James said and shook his hand. Hussain bid farewell to the others before he left.

After Hussain left, James joined the others by the fire place. Rene picked up the remote control and switched on the television. “What should we watch?” she asked the others as she flicked through the channels. James had made himself comfortable on the sofa next to Tanya.

“Of all the places to sit,” she said to him.

“You know you are happy about it,” he said to her and winked.

“Not really,” she replied and looked away with a small smile on her face.

“I know what we can watch,” James said to Rene.

“What?” she asked him.

“Some porn.”

“What?” Rene's eyes flew open as James and Tanya burst into laughter because they knew what he was referring to. Tanya fished her phone out of her pocket and played the video for Joshua and Rene.

“What is this?” Joshua asked with his eyebrows raised.

“This was at the zoo!” Tanya said. Rene giggled and covered her face with her hands.

“That is crazy,” she said.

“And you actually recorded that,” Joshua said to Tanya. She and James burst out laughing as Joshua shook his head.

Rene and Joshua snuggled under a blanket together as they watched a film. Tanya was hugging herself. “It's cold,” she complained.

“Maybe James could keep you warm,” Joshua teased. Tanya and Rene both turned their heads in his direction as James laughed in response. Joshua picked up the other blanket that had been sitting on the sofa next to him and threw it to James who caught it and shook it open before covering him and Tanya up.