The Duke's Runaway Princess (Love By Accident) (13 page)

Joe laughed harder and Alicia smiled brightly. “You’re too kind. And too accurate!” she laughed.

“Guys, this is Zarah,” he said and looked down at her. “Actually, I don’t know your last name, do I?” he said as the realization occurred to him. “What is your last name?”

Zarah couldn’t take the risk that he would recognize her family name, so she stepped forward and took Alicia’s hand in hers, greeting her warmly. “It’s an honor to meet you, Alicia.”

The older woman smiled brightly and covered Zarah’s hand with hers. “It’s a delight to finally meet someone who flusters our handsome Derrick as much as he does the ladies.”

Zarah blushed as both Joe and Alicia laughed while Derrick rolled his eyes. “Don’t scare her away, Alicia. She’s been running from me for the past week.”

Alicia’s startled eyes came back to survey Zarah. “You’re running from him?” She linked arms with Zarah’s and led her inside. “Oh, this is a delicious story! I’ve never heard of a woman running from Derrick. Usually it’s him who is trying to escape from their sticky little grasps. Women certainly don’t run away.”

Joe reached up to slap Derrick as they too turned to enter the house. “Losing your touch?” Joe asked.

Derrick wanted desperately to tell his old friend off, but he knew that any kind of irritation would only whet Joe’s interest even more so he tried to downplay his accidental comment. “She’s just a friend.”

Joe laughed and shook his head. “Alicia would kill me if I treated my friends like you were treating Zarah a few moments ago. Don’t even try to hide it, old man.”

Derrick thought a change of subject was a good idea. “What the hell are you doing out here tonight anyway?”

“Can’t two friends get together for a nice, relaxing dinner once in a while?”

“Of course,” Derrick replied as he closed the front door and guided Joe into the great room where Alicia and Zarah were already seated. “But you’re not one of those men who know how to relax, so cut the crap and tell me what’s going on so I can get you out of my house.”

Joe laughed even harder while it was Alicia’s turn to roll her eyes. “He needs your financial advice, but doesn’t he always?” Alicia called from the sofa.

Derrick raised an eyebrow in Joe’s direction. “What have you done now?”

“It isn’t what I’ve done. It’s what I think the banks are trying to convince me to do. I’ll run their suggestion by you after you’ve fed me so you can tell me what you think.”

Zarah heard the words and desperately wished she could be a part of that discussion. She’d helped so many people in the village to increase their business and get them online so their presence could expand, but right now, hearing the prime minister talk of a potential top down, country wide banking policy change, her mind was distracted from Alicia’s conversation as she tried to come up with reasons why she should be part of the men’s discussion. This was exactly what she’d been arguing with Rashid about, even though he’d never consider Derrick as a potential husband.

Zarah looked over at him. He was so tall, incredibly handsome and intelligent. Wouldn’t it be nice if Rashid would allow her to choose her own husband? And would she pick Derrick? What would her life be like here in Great Britain? She loved her home in Tasain but had been raised to know that she would be married off to a ruler, to live in another country. Great Britain was so much cooler than she was used to, and there was so much green in the trees and the lush countryside.

But no, this man was not meant to be her husband. She didn’t think Rashid would think him protective enough. Was that his only criteria though? Could she change his mind and add in something that would give her hope in her future?

She sighed and re-focused on Alicia. She was telling Zarah about how she’d met Joe and as she listened, she found herself fascinated by the woman. No wonder Alicia and Joe were such a powerful couple and had risen to such heights within the British government. Joe was handsome and obviously intelligent, but nowhere near as handsome or tall as Derrick. But the man had charm in spades. As they moved from the great room to the dining room, Joe and Derrick told stories of their college times, making all four of them laugh with the antics the two of them got up to. They all laughed throughout the meal, enjoying the company and the excellent food. Zarah was immensely glad she’d accepted Derrick’s invitation for the evening. This was much better than watching a movie with a bowl of cereal.

As Derrick’s housekeeper brought in the dessert, Joe said something that Zarah found interesting. Or more specifically, Derrick’s reaction to Joe’s comment was interesting.

“So what’s this I hear about a festival in this little village of yours?”

Derrick leaned back in his chair and glared at his friend. “It isn’t my little village, Joe.”

“You know what I mean. They adopted you because of that bastard of a father you had and now, from what I can figure out, you’re taking them to the next level and bringing their cottage industries out of bankruptcy.”

“Drop it, Joe.”

Alicia glanced between her husband and Derrick, just as Zarah was trying to figure out the unspoken messages. “Is something going on that I should know about?”

“No,” Derrick replied firmly, but smiled to soften the rejection.

Joe opened his mouth to say something, then shut it with a small shake of his head. “I admire what you’re doing for them. They are a wonderful group of people and I’m sorry that the re-zoning I pushed through last year didn’t help enough to get them over the top financially.”

“You did what you could. And that helped more than you know.”

“Would you like me to show up at the festival? I could drop by in the afternoon and get them some press.”

Derrick thought about that for a moment, turning to Zarah with a raised eyebrow. “Zarah has taken on the project so I’ll leave it up to her. What do you think?”

Zarah took a deep breath and glanced between the two men. In the end, she had to shake her head. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think the village business owners are organized enough for that kind of publicity. They are getting there, but their inventory systems are painfully out of date, their understanding of marketing techniques are antiquated and they need a stronger financial base. If you showed up during the weekend, the press would definitely be there and the publicity would be huge, but their inventories might not be able to handle the influx of customers and there could be a frustration backlash from the visitors.” She smiled gently. “Perhaps next year when they are more organized and veterans of the weekend festival circuit?” Then she glanced nervously at Derrick, realizing that she’d just overstepped her position. “I mean, if there’s going to be a festival next year, that is.”

She saw the praise in his eyes for her understanding of the village business owners’ weaknesses and her appreciation for what they can handle. She suspected that he also approved of the way she’d handled the prime minister, rejecting his offer but providing an explanation so that he wouldn’t be offended.

“What Zarah is delicately trying to tell you Joe,” Alicia said with a soft laugh, “is that you’d probably bring the wrong types of people and they don’t want your kind around.” Everyone at the table laughed at her teasing before she said, “Now I could show up and it wouldn’t be a problem, would it?” she offered.

Zarah considered that suggestion and thought it might be a good idea. “I think that might be a better option. Your presence would be a wonderful boost to the festival, giving it a bit more legitimacy but not overwhelming the villagers with the press.”

“Oh, there will still be a ton of press,” Joe corrected with a chuckle. “This woman tends to bring those idiots swarming. But you’re probably right about me showing up versus my lovely wife.”

Alicia turned to her husband and rolled her eyes. “Of course she’s right. I’m exactly what the festival needs whereas you would ruin things.”

He turned to Derrick. “I love the way she boosts my ego with her charming wit.”

Derrick shook his head. “Don’t get me involved in this conversation. I’m not taking sides.”

They all laughed once again before digging into the fluffy raspberry dessert with white chocolate drizzled over the top. It was a delightful evening and Zarah was actually sad to see the couple take their leave. As soon as the door was closed, Derrick turned to face Zarah.

She noticed the dark, passionate look in his eyes immediately and backed up a step. “You’re going to take me back to my apartment.”

He took a step towards her. “I am?”

She understood his intent and was determined to not fall into his arms again. “Yes. You are.”

“Why would I do that? I have you here almost exactly where I want you.”

“Almost?” she asked breathlessly.

“Well, you’re in my house, the door is closed, we’re alone…” His voice trailed off, leaving the rest of his statement unsaid.

“But this isn’t where you want me?”

He shook his head and continued his forward movement towards her. “You’re not naked and in my bed so no, you’re not exactly where I want you. But we’re getting close,” he said softly.

Zarah looked behind her and saw the stairway. She took a deep breath and shook her head. “I want to go home.”

He smiled and reached out, his fingers picking up one of the curls laying on her shoulder. “No you don’t.”

“I don’t?” She licked her lips as she watched him move just a bit closer. When his large hand settled on her waist, his long fingers slightly massaging her hip, she shivered with anticipation.

“No. You don’t want to go back to your cold, unwelcoming bed where you’d climb into cold sheets and lay awake, staring at the ceiling thinking about what I could be doing to you and with you.”

She felt her heartbeat increase and her breathing was suddenly extremely ragged. “Oh.”

“You want to stay here with me. You want to find out what it would be like to finish what we started last week. You’ve been thinking about it every time you saw me. Every time you’ve run away and hidden from me as if I might hurt you.”

Zarah knew that he was right. She’d wanted to find out what it would be like to lay in his arms and feel his body press against hers, to find fulfillment in his embrace and know what it was like to be a woman. She wanted this man to show her what making love was all about. She briefly thought back to all the men she’d met for either lunch or dinner before she’d run away from her brother’s protection and she knew that she didn’t want any of those men to touch her. Not the way she wanted Derrick to touch her.

Suzanne’s voice came into her head, urging her to take the leap, to go with Derrick and let the future figure itself out. She knew that her brother hadn’t been a virgin when he’d married Sidra, why was she held to a different standard simply because she was a woman? There was something about pregnancy and her husband needing to know that any children were from his seed, but she banished that from her mind. She didn’t want to think about bearing any other man’s children. She wanted Derrick and focused solely on him and the way he made her feel just with one hand on her body.

“Yes,” she finally said.

Derrick had been watching the play of emotions rush across those beautiful features. One day he was going to find out what was happening behind those lovely eyes, why she hid her last name and left the village at the same time each Saturday to make a phone call in London. There was a mystery surrounding this woman that he was determined to unravel.

But right now, he didn’t want to think about that. He wanted to just take her into his arms and make love to her until she couldn’t think about any other problems or any other man, and she was screaming out his name as he brought her such intense fulfillment.

He didn’t care what had changed her mind or convinced her to stay. He was just relieved that she was going to be with him tonight.

“You won’t regret this decision, Zarah,” he groaned as he pulled her up against his chest. He covered her mouth so she couldn’t tell him that she knew that it was a good decision. So she showed him with her response instead. She pressed herself against him, her body rubbing sensuously against his hard frame and making her body ache for more of his touch.

The world tilted suddenly and Zarah’s arms wrapped around his neck as his strong arms picked her up and carried her up the stairway, quickly ascending the stone steps and down the dimly lit hallway. He shouldered his way through an arched door and Zarah looked around at his magnificent bedroom that looked exactly like a medieval king’s master suite should look. The stone walls were covered with tapestries and heavy furniture, even a knight’s armor standing at attention in one corner.

She took it all in with one swift glance before her eyes found the large, canopy bed covered in red velvet. There was a thick carpet covering the floor and Derrick slowly lowered her feet to the floor right beside the bed.

“You look absolutely gorgeous in red, by the way.” Derrick looked down at her, his hands moving up and down her arms, tickling her overly sensitive skin.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He lifted her hands, placing them on his chest. He then moved closer, pulling her against him as he bent low, taking her lips with his. The kiss started off gently, but quickly increased in pressure as both of them stepped closer. Zarah lifted herself up onto her toes, wanting more of the kiss and she opened her mouth, wanting more. He quickly complied and Zarah gasped as his hands lifted her higher into his arms as his mouth took control, his tongue diving into hers and teasing her, tasting her.

When his mouth pulled away, she felt bereft but quickly found that she liked the way his mouth felt against her ear, nibbling along the shell and moving downward to her neck. Zarah tilted her head, giving him better access while her fingers clumsily pulled at the tie around his neck, loosening the knot and tossing the material to the side. She had trouble unbuttoning his shirt while he sent shivers racing down her body from the kisses along her collar bone, but she eventually managed and thrilled to the touch of his skin under her palms. Her fingers ran along the smooth, muscled expanse of his chest, reveling in the textures and the freedom.