The Return of the Sheikh (9 page)

She’d climbed into the monstrosity on the assumption they were returning to the palace. She soon realized she’d been wrong when they headed away from the village and started toward the massive mountain.

Madison gripped the top of the windowless door as Zain guided the truck on a downward trek through a narrow passage comprised of boulders on both sides. She decided in this case ignorance was truly bliss and closed her eyes. She stayed that way until they came to a teeth-jarring stop.

The moon and the headlights provided enough illumination for her to view the shimmering lake spread out before them. Zain rounded the car, opened the passenger door, held out his hand and helped her climb down.

“So this is it?” she said as soon as she had her feet on solid ground. “I just wish I could see it better.”

“I promised to bring you here before your departure, and with the upcoming chaos, I felt tonight would be the best time.”

She didn’t want to think about leaving Bajul, about leaving him, so she wouldn’t. “I’m glad we survived the drive so I could see it.” Or see as much as she could.

She did spot a path leading to the shore, and immediately saw relief for her aching feet. Without another word, she took off toward the lake and, after arriving on the sandy beach, toed out of her sneakers and socks and rolled up her jeans. The minute her toes hit the cool water, she sighed at the sensations. A soothing balm for her sore soles.

“Take care of the piranha.”

Madison spun around and did a little dance out of the water. When she heard the sound of Zain’s laughter echoing over the area, she glanced up to see him standing above her. She considered sending him a dirty look but doubted he could see it, so she chose to give him a verbal lashing. “That was not funny at all, Zain Mehdi. It’s bad enough that you took me on a dangerous joyride to get here, and now you’re trying to scare me with killer fish.”

He slipped his hands in his pockets. “My apologies for frightening you.”

She snatched up her shoes and started toward him. “I take it there are no flesh-eating fish?”

“There are fish, but they do not crave flesh.”

“Good to know, after the fact,” she said when she reached him. “What now? Midnight scuba diving? Underwater basket-weaving?”

“Whatever you wish to do.”

What Madison wanted to do and what she should do were two different animals. She stared up at the mist that had formed over the looming mountain, and the clouds gathering in the distance. “Since it looks like it’s about to rain, we should probably head back to the palace.”

“Are you afraid of rain?”

She turned her attention to Zain, specifically his eyes, which seemed darker than midnight. “I’m afraid of what might happen if we stay.”

“You fear we’ll make love.”

“Yes, I do. I told myself I wouldn’t be alone with you where anything was possible. And here we are.”

He moved a little closer. “And I have told you I have certain conditions before that will happen.”

“You want me to say I trust you.” And if she didn’t, that would be the end of it.

“Do you trust that I would never hurt you?”

Not physically, but he could hurt her in so many other ways. “I know that.”

“Do you trust that what has been said about my relationships with women is not the truth?”

“Do I think your sexual exploits are overblown? Probably.” Though she wasn’t sure how exaggerated they might have been.

He reached out and touched her face. “Most important, you may trust that whatever happens between us tonight, I will not take it lightly. And I will not tell a soul. I only want to prove that you are a desirable, sensual woman. With that said, do you trust me?”

Call it instinct, call it crazy, but she did. “Yes, I do trust you. I’m not sure I trust myself around you.”

He took her shoes, dropped them on the ground, slid her jacket away and tossed it down to join her sneakers. “I will teach you to trust your own sexuality.” He shrugged out of his jacket and added it to the pile. “I only ask that you let go of your inhibitions.”

That could be a test for her normally cautious self, and she wondered if going forward would be worth the risk. Yet when he pulled her into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers, she began to believe she could meet the challenge. He kissed her gently at first, just a light tease of his tongue against hers. Then he held her tighter, kissed her deeply, thoroughly, until her pulse started to sprint. The rain had begun to lightly fall, but she didn’t care. Didn’t care that before this was over, she would be soaked to the skin. Come to think of it, they could be down to only skin very, very soon.

Madison started to protest when Zain pulled away and stepped back. But all arguments died on her lips as he tugged his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. Due to the limited light, she could barely see the finer points of his bare chest. However, she could make out the width of his shoulders, the definition of his biceps and the light shading at his sternum. She was dying to touch him, investigate the extremely masculine terrain. As if he’d read her mind, he moved forward, leaving little space between them, and flattened her palms against his chest immediately below his collarbone. She took a downward path over his damp skin and when she circled his nipples with her fingertips, she heard the slight catch of his breath. When she slid her hands to his abdomen, she thought he might have stopped breathing. She kept going, using a fingertip to trace the thin trail of hair that disappeared into his waistband.

But that was as far as he allowed her to go. He clasped her wrists, lifted her hands and kissed each palm. Then without fair warning, he pulled her T-shirt up and over her head. She wore only jeans, a pink floral bra and a blanket of goose bumps that had nothing to do with the weather. She predicted he would soon relieve her of the rest of her clothes. Instead, he claimed a boulder to take off his boots and sent her a
What are you waiting for?
look.

“No inhibitions,” he said when she failed to remove her bra.

The time had come to kick the self-consciousness to the curb. She sucked in a deep breath, undid the clasp, slipped the straps from her shoulders and added her bra to the clothes heap. “No inhibitions.”

The words seemed to shred Zain’s control, apparent by the way he pushed off the rock and engaged her in one deep, deadly kiss. After a few moments, he shifted his attention to the column of her throat with light kisses. When his mouth closed over her breast, Madison feathered her hands in his hair in order to stay somewhat steady against the sensual onslaught. So caught up in the pull of his mouth, the feel of his tongue swirling around her nipple, she was only vaguely aware that he’d unfastened her jeans. She became extremely aware when he pushed her pants down her hips, along with her underwear, until both dropped to her ankles.

“No inhibitions,” he whispered. “No turning back.”

She couldn’t turn back if she wanted to, and she didn’t. Not in the least. Taking his cue, she used his broad shoulders for support and stepped out of the jeans. Now she was completely naked, while he was still dressed from the waist down. Normally that might make her feel extremely uneasy. Instead, she was incredibly hot, especially when he kissed her again, his hands roving over her bottom, his fingers curling between her thighs.

She wanted him as naked as she was. She wanted him more than she’d wanted anything in quite some time. And it appeared she would get what she wanted when he swept her up into his arms, carried her to the ancient truck and set her on the tailgate. She glanced over her shoulder to discover the bed had been conveniently covered by a colorful quilt, but all her attention soon turned to Zain as he stood in front of her, his hand at his fly.

She was in the buff and barely breathing and drenched. Everywhere. She was also overcome with impatience when Zain failed to remove his slacks.

“Birth control,” he grated out as he continued to lower his zipper.

She didn’t want to reveal why it wasn’t a problem, or burden him with the truth—the chance she could become pregnant was slim to none without medical assistance. This was not the time for sadness or regrets and, most of all, sympathy. “It’s not an issue.”

“Are you certain?” he asked.

“You’re going to have to trust me on this.”

That seemed to satisfy his concerns as he took little time shoving his pants down and kicking them away. Now they were both equally undressed and she was extremely impressed. Despite the fact that he’d left on the truck’s parking lights, she still wished she could see him better. But even if the sun made an unexpected appearance, Zain wouldn’t have given her the chance to assess the details. He hoisted himself onto the tailgate and in a matter of seconds, had her on her back on the makeshift bed.

He hovered above her, his hand resting lightly on her thigh, his gaze leveled on hers. “Do you still trust me?”

Right now, she’d say anything if he’d just get on with it. “Yes.”

“Then roll to your side away from me.”

Madison wasn’t sure where this might be heading, yet she complied because she did trust him. Trusted him not to hurt her. Trusted him to take her on an unforgettable ride.

Zain fitted himself against her back, pushed her damp hair aside and pressed his lips to her ear. “Clear your mind and think of nothing else but us together.” He streamed his hand down her thigh and lifted her leg over his. “Enjoy these moments.” He slowly slid his palm down her abdomen. “Pretend this is the only time you will feel this good—” he eased inside her “—again.”

The moment Zain hit the mark, Madison shuddered from the sensations. He seemed to time his movement with the stroke of his fingertips, and she responded as if she never had felt this good, because she couldn’t recall when she had. He kept a slow, steady pace with both his touch and his body, yet her own body reacted as if they were on a sexual sprint. If she could prolong the involuntary release, she would, but that all-important passion had led to this moment when her body claimed all control. The orgasm arrived quickly in strong spasms, wave after wave of pleasure that seemed to go on forever, though not nearly long enough.

Zain muttered something in Arabic that sound suspiciously like an oath, then pulled out and turned her onto her back. He entered her again, this time not quite as carefully as before, but as promised, he didn’t hurt her. He did fuel her fantasies as he rose up on his arms and moved again, harder, faster, his dark gaze firmly fixed on hers. Madison found his powerful thrusts, the continuing rain and the fact they were out in the open highly erotic. And so was the way his jaw went rigid, his eyes closed and his body tensed with the force of his climax that soon came sure and swift.

When Zain collapsed against her, Madison savored the feel of his solid back beneath her palms, even his weight. She didn’t exactly appreciate what he had done to her—coaxed her into crossing a line she had never intended to cross. A dangerous boundary that could cost them both if anyone found out.

But even in light of that possibility, she truly believed that this first experience with the king—the
only
experience she could afford—had been absolutely worth the risk.

Unfortunately, it was the last risk she would allow them to take.

Seven

H
ad it not been for the deluge, Zain would have made love to her again. And again.

Instead, he had carried Madison and set her in the cab. He re-dressed in soaked clothing and gathered hers, only to return to find her wrapped in the dry blanket. Not long after they’d left the lake, she’d settled against his side, her head tipped against his shoulder, and fallen fast asleep. Even when he navigated the rugged terrain, she hadn’t woken. But during that time, and since, he had been very aware that she was still naked beneath the blanket. Whenever she stirred, his body did the same. Tonight’s brief interlude had not been enough. If he had his way, they would enjoy more of the same, and often, in the upcoming days.

When Madison shifted slightly, Zain glanced at her to see she was still sleeping, looking beautiful and somewhat innocent. She brought out his protective side, though she did not need his protection. She was fiercely independent, fiery and intractable, everything he admired in a woman. Tonight she had proven she possessed an untapped passion that he needed to explore further. She also made him want to right his transgressions and prove to her he owned a measure of honor. He wanted to toss away convention and be with her after the coronation. And that was impossible. Eventually he would be required to marry, and he would not relegate Madison to mistress status. She deserved much better, and so would his future wife. So had his own mother.

That did not preclude him from being with her until the day she left.

When he hit a bump in the road, Madison raised her head and gave him a sleepy smile. “How much longer until we’re at the palace?”

“Approximately ten minutes.”

She straightened and sent him a panicked look. “You should have woken me earlier,” she said as she sorted through the clothes at her side.

“Dressing is not necessary.” He preferred she remained naked, as he planned to take her to his bed as soon as they arrived.

“I’m not walking into the royal abode wearing only a blanket.” A blanket she tossed aside without regard to her nudity or his discomfort.

He became mesmerized when she lifted her hips and slid her panties into place, followed by her jeans. She picked up her shirt, shook it out, allowing him an extended look at her breasts, the pale pink nipples…

The sound of grating beneath the tires forced his gaze to the road that he’d inadvertently left during his visual exploration. He jerked the truck back onto pavement immediately before he ended up in some unsuspecting citizen’s front yard.

“Are you trying to kill us, Zain?”

“I was avoiding a goat.”

Madison laughed softly. “An imaginary goat.”

He frowned. “It is your fault for distracting me.”

“It’s your fault for not keeping your eyes on the road.”

“I am a man, Madison. You cannot expect me to ignore your state of undress. You should know that after what we shared tonight.”

“You’re right, and I’m sorry.”

He sent another fast glance in her direction to find her completely clothed and smiling. “Are you more comfortable now?”

“I’m very wet.”

That prompted a very vivid fantasy, and a return of his erection. “If you will remove your pants again and come over here, I will remedy that.”

She shot him a sour look. “You are such a bad boy. No wonder all those women fell all over themselves to be with you.”

“Two women.”

“Excuse me?”

He finally recognized that she could trust him freely only if he freely gave her accurate information. “I was involved with two women during my time away.”

Her blue eyes widened. “You’re saying that out of all those highly publicized photos of you escorting various starlets and such, you were only involved with two?”

The disbelief in her voice and expression drove him to disclose the details. “The first woman was older,” he continued. “I met Elizabeth through business contacts about a year after I arrived in L.A. My father released only limited funds to me and she assisted with my investments. I owe the majority of my second fortune to her.”

“How long were you together?”

Too long for his comfort. “Almost three years.”

“What about the second woman?”

This explanation would prove to be more difficult, and much more revealing. Yet for some reason, he wanted Madison to know the facts. Facts few people knew. “Her name was Genevieve. I met her in a café in Paris. I was there for business, she was on sabbatical.”

“Then it was only a brief fling?”

“No. I joined her in Africa.”

“Africa?” Madison sounded stunned by the revelation. “How long were you there?
Why
were you there?”

“Eighteen months in Ethiopia and, after a three-month break, fifteen months in Nigeria. Genevieve is a humanitarian aid worker. I assisted her with the relief effort by delivering supplies and building temporary shelter.”

“Did anyone know your true identity?”

“Only Genevieve.” He smiled with remembrance. “She introduced me as Joe Smith.”

“That name definitely encourages anonymity,” she said. “And to think that all this time, people believed you were holed up with some supermodel, while you were less than a thousand miles away from Bajul being a really stellar guy. Unbelievable.”

“Genevieve convinced me I needed to learn the reality of the situation in order to be a better leader.” And he had not been prepared for that reality. “I have never seen such desolation. Violence brought about by unrest and ignorance. Famine, starvation and disease brought about by drought and insufficient food and water distribution.”

“And that’s when you decided to develop your water conservation plans.”

He started up the road leading to the castle, relieved that the conversation would soon have to come to an end. “I vowed when my opportunity to rule arrived, I would do everything in my power to prevent the possibility of that devastation in my country. I had not expected the opportunity to arrive so quickly. My plans were to return to Bajul to present my proposals when I received word of my father’s death.”

“So he never knew about your ideas.”

“No.” Even if he had, his inflexible father would have rejected them because he had the power to do so. “Regardless, I will never be able to repay Genevieve for forcing me to open my eyes to the possibilities. The experience changed me. She changed me.”

“She sounds like a very special woman.”

“She was caring and committed and possessed all the attributes I had never acquired.” And she’d been much too good for a man whose character had been questionable up to that point in time.

Madison laid a hand on his arm. “But as you’ve said, you’ve changed for the better. Not many men in your position would have personally taken on those challenges, and dangerous ones at that. Most would have written a check and returned home.”

He appreciated her praise. He greatly appreciated her willingness to listen without judgment. “At times I wish I could have accomplished more, especially when it came to the children.”

She sighed. “I know. I remember traveling with my parents to some of the worst poverty-stricken places in the world. The children always suffer the most, even in America.”

The memories came back to Zain with the clarity of cut glass. Memories he had never shared with one soul since his return. “I met a special child there. She was around four years of age and an orphan. The workers took charge of her care until a relative could be located. For some reason, she attached herself to me. We spoke different languages, yet we found ways to communicate. Perhaps she appreciated the treats I gave her.”

“Or maybe she recognized someone she could trust.”

The sincerity in Madison’s tone temporarily lifted his spirits. “Her name was Ajo. It means
joyful,
and that suited her. Yet I saw no joy in her when they took her away.” He would never forget the way she held out her arms to him, or her tears. The images still haunted him, and at times he felt he had abandoned her.

“Do you know what happened to her?” Madison asked.

He arrived at the gate and raised his hand at the confused guards who, after a slight hesitation, allowed him entry. “Genevieve has been kind enough to keep me apprised of her situation and to deliver the funds I send monthly for Ajo’s care. Fortunately, her aunt and uncle see to it she is safe and secure.”

“That’s wonderful, Zain. But what about your relationship with Genevieve?”

A complex relationship that was never meant to be. “I returned to L.A. when she was reassigned. I had my responsibilities, and she had hers.”

“Were you in love with her?”

He was surprised by the query, and uncertain how to answer. He’d cared a great deal for Genevieve, but love had not entered into it. “We both understood from the beginning that our relationship could only be temporary. We agreed to enjoy each other’s company while the opportunity existed.”

Madison shifted back to his side and rested her head against his shoulder. “I’m sorry I misjudged you. I bought into the whole ‘superficial, arrogant, rich playboy’ assumption, just like everyone else did. It’s nice to know that couldn’t be further from the truth. Despite your issues with your father, it’s clear he raised you to be an honorable man.”

Anger broke through his remorse. Anger aimed at his patriarch, not at Madison. “My father knew nothing of honor, and he did little to raise me. You may thank Elena for that. I would never take a mistress and force my wife to have a child she did not want. As far as I am concerned, he was responsible for her death due to his careless disregard.”

“What happened to her, Zain?”

The strong urge to halt the conversation overcame him. He had already said too much. But Madison’s expectant look proved too much, as well. “She was found below the mountain, not far from the lake. Some believe she slipped and fell. Many believe she took her own life due to my father’s infidelity. I suppose we will never know the truth.”

“I’m so sorry, Zain.”

So was he. Sorry that he had almost ruined the evening with regrets. That ended now.

He tipped her face up and kissed her. “We will return to the veranda the same way we left, only we will stay in my room tonight.”

She pulled back and slid across the seat away from him. “We’re going to walk in the front door, otherwise we’ll look guilty. And we’re going to stay in separate beds, tonight and every night until I leave.”

That would not suffice. “I would prefer you sleep in my bed the majority of the night after we make love. As long as we’ve parted by morning, no one will be the wiser.”

She folded the jacket’s hem back and forth. “We can’t take the risk that someone will find out. I had a wonderful time tonight, but we can’t be together in that way again.”

How many times in his youth had he said something of a similar nature to a woman? “That is unacceptable. How to you expect me to pretend I do not want you when I do?” More than she knew. More than he realized until he faced the prospect of not having her.

“We’re going to limit our alone time together.”

“You’ve said that before.”

“This time I mean it, Zain. I am not going to be responsible for a scandal that could ruin all the work we’re doing to restore your image.”

Zain gripped the wheel and stared straight ahead. “Then you lied when you said you trust me.”

“I do trust you, and so should your people. I admire and respect you even more now. But when I said I didn’t trust myself, I wasn’t talking about sex. I’ve already blurred the personal and professional lines and I can’t afford to become more emotionally involved with you than I already am. Now we need to go inside before they come looking for us.”

Before Zain could respond, she was out the door and walking toward the path leading to the front entrance. He left the truck and caught up with her in the courtyard flanking the front steps. After clasping her arm, he turned her to face him. “I will honor your wishes. I will allow you your blessed distance, but not before I give you this.”

He crushed her against him and kissed her with all the desperation he experienced at the moment. He expected her to fight him, and when instead she responded, he realized she wanted him as much as he wanted her. As much as he needed her for reasons that defied logic. He agreed with her on one point—this was not only about sex.

Then she wrested from his grasp, looking as if he’d struck her. “Don’t make this more complicated than it already is, Zain.”

Madison hurried around the corner and by the time he reached the stone steps, she had already disappeared through the doors.

Once inside, he was met by a security contingent and Deeb. “You are all dismissed,” he said in Arabic. “No harm has come to me to warrant this attention.” Not the kind of harm they would assume.

He ascended the stairs only to have Deeb stop him on the second-floor landing. “Your brother asked me to summon you to his study upon your return.”

Confronting Rafiq was the last thing he needed. “I have no desire to speak to him.”

“What shall I tell him, Emir?”

Tell him to go to hell
. “I will see him in the morning.”

Zain arrived at the corridor leading to his quarters in time to see the door to Madison’s room close, shutting him out.

Perhaps she could easily dismiss him and what they had shared tonight, but he would wager she would suffer for the decision to avoid him. So would he.

But he would do as he had promised and hoped she decided they should take advantage of what little time together they had left. In the meantime, he would prepare to spend the first of several long, sleepless nights.

*

Ten days had passed since Madison had enjoyed a decent night’s sleep, and she had Zain to thank for that. Not only had he upheld his promise to give her space, he’d downright ignored her. He’d avoided all eye contact when they’d been together, and he’d only spoken to her when she had spoken first. The two times they’d briefly found themselves alone following one of his myriad meetings, not once had he mentioned their night together, nor had he delivered even the slightest innuendo. He hadn’t joined her and Rafiq for dinner, but at least she’d had a chance to get to know the older brother, who was highly intelligent and not quite as serious as she’d once assumed.