The Sheik's Reluctant Lover (11 page)

“And if I panic and start to run away?” she whispered, her hand moving to rest on top of his, stopping the movement and was relieved when he moved his hand lower.

“Remember?  You’re going to stop me when that feeling starts to show up and we’re going to talk about it, right?”

She gasped when his mouth covered hers. 
But this time, there was a difference. 
Rais
was just as bold, just as demanding, but there was
a hesitancy
behind the kiss.  He was waiting for her, she realized.  An
d
with that understanding, she felt more…accepting.  She couldn’t say she was comfortable or relaxed because she rarely felt those kinds of emotions when she was near
Rais
.  It was almost as if the excitement, the passion inside of him was leashed somehow. 

Her hand reached up and touched his cheek, her fingers experimenting with touching him.  She shuddered with delight now that she knew this wasn’t going anywhere soon.  She could enjoy the way he touched her, the way he kissed her and revel in the feelings without the fear or panic about what might come next. 

She gasped when his hand slid under her silk blouse and pulled away, but the control was still there when she looked him in the eye. 
Lifting her head, she kissed him once again, her mouth opening and he immediately took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, pushing her back against the soft cushions.  His hand moved higher, his fingers only skimming along the skin of her stomach and ribs.  She wiggled
underneath his hand, wanting a more intimate caress, but not sure how to get it from him.  And also not sure how much she could take. 

Rais
lifted his head, his eyes hot with the need but his jaw was firm with the control he was holding over that desire.  “Here’s what’s going to
happen
Rachel,” he said and pulled up so he was no longer touching her.  “I’m going to take you home now and we’re not going to touch each other until we’re back at your place.”

Rachel was startled with that command and started to protest but he put a hand over her mouth to stop her.  “And here’s why.  You’re wearing a silk shirt without buttons up the front.  The only way to progress further with what we’re doing is for me to rip that shirt off of you and view those very lovely breasts
that I want desperately to see
once again.  But if I do that, I know that will snap you out of this haze of passion you’re feeling,” he said and even saw the desire in her eyes fade as the fear took over.  He sighed and sat up, lifting her with him.  “So from now on, when we are together, you will wear something that buttons up the front.  Understand?” he commanded firmly.  He stood up and pulled her so she was next to him, his hands on her waist and pulled her closer, forcing her stomach to feel what touching her had done to his body. 

“I know that you’re afraid of what you’re feeling right now, but there’s no need Rachel.  You’re safe in my arms and I won’t do anything right now.”  He put his forehead against hers and took a deep breath.  “But stand very still right now so I can maintain control.” 

Rachel froze.  She was so still she was even afraid to breathe until he lifted his head.  Her hands were still laying softly against his chest but she wouldn’t let her fingers even twitch, much less move along his strong, muscular chest to explore what was underneath.  Something she was very curious to do. 

He laughed softly and his hands tightened on her waist.  “You’re not very good for my ego, my dear.” 

He took another deep breath then stepped back.  “It’s time to get you home,” he said.  “Pick whichever wine you prefer for dinner this Friday night,” he commented, taking her hand.  “Can you work with Lucy on the menu?  There will be ten dignitaries here for dinner.  I have to fly out tomorrow but I’ll be back in time for the meal.” 

“Of course,” she said, slipping into professional mode with difficulty.  “I’ll have everything ready for the evening.  I’ll get in touch with your assistant to get a list of the guests so there won’t be any international incidents.”

He looked down at her once again,
then
nodded.  “I know you will
be exceptionally lovely Friday night
.”

She wished he hadn’t said it in quite that way, but she didn’t have time to figure out what he meant.  He took her hand and led her out of the house and down to the helipad where he climbed in right behind her.  The pilot was waiting for them and they were airborne just a few minutes after they entered the helicopter.  Rachel wasn’t used to this kind of efficiency and was even more surprised when they landed on the top of a building only a few blocks from her apartment.  The elevator ride down took them
to the street level where his guards were already stationed with a team of black SUVs waiting to ferry her to her apartment. 

She was uncomfortable with how much it was costing him just to take her home.  “
Rais
, this seems like a lot of effort when I can easily drive myself to and from your house.”

He shook his head.  “Not a chance.  It’s a long drive and I don’t want you making that kind of a trip when you’ve had that much wine or even if it’s late at night, which many of these events will last.”  He stopped when they were seated in the back of the SUV and looked over at her.  “There’s an easy solution though.”

She saw the
mischievous
look and knew she didn’t want to hear it, but she laughed anyway and said, “What’s your idea?”

“Just move in with me,” he said easily.

She gasped, pulling back to get a better look at him.  She knew that no other woman had ever stayed with him in that way.  For that matter, no woman had ever spent the night with him.  At least, she suspected that they didn’t sleep over.  He generally took them out of the house and came back alone.  Or that was her impression although she didn’t have anything to back up that assumption. 

“I couldn’t do that,” she finally said. 

They were at her apartment now
and one of his guards was holding the door open for the two of them.  She went up in the elevator, awkwardly flanked by two bulky men and
Rais
, wh
o still towered over his guards
beside her. 

She dug into her purse, wanting to escape this crazy
escort
home but as soon as she pulled out her keys, one of the guards took
them
silently and opened the door for her.  The other guard stood outside, holding Rachel back while the first one entered the apartment.  A few moments later, he came back out and nodded his head, bowing slightly.

“I’ll be right back,”
Rais
said
to his guards
before he nudged Rachel gently on the small of her back to get her moving inside the apartment.  He closed the door and turned to face her.  “You’ll get used to it,” he assured her.  And then he took her into his arms, pressing her backwards so her back was against the wall and her chest was plastered against his.  He kissed her for all she was worth, his mouth moving over hers sensuously, deeply, teasing her until she responded.  Her hands moved up his chest blindly, feeling all those things she
had
wanted to touch before but was too afraid to
explore
.  She reveled in his kiss, her body sliding against his, and she whimpered with the need for something she couldn’t define. 

Rais
pulled back with a groan.  He put his hands on her upper arms and stepped away from her, taking a deep breath as he looked down at her eyes that
were now bright
with desire.  He almost shook his head to keep himself from pulling her against him once again but he knew that he might not be able to stop if he started once again. 

“I have to go,” he growled out.  He pulled a card out of his pocket.  “Here’s my private cell phone number.  Call me if you need anything, okay?”

Rachel reached up and took the card, her hands shaking violently after that kiss.  “Yes.  Call,” she whispered, curling her fingers around
the card as she reigned in her own passion.  “Thank you.”

His hand reached out once again, touching her stomach gently.  “Remember. 
Front buttoned
blouse, Rachel.”

She couldn’t speak, too afraid of what might come out.  But she nodded her head, acknowledging his command. 

After that, he left her apartment, closing the door softly and Rachel stared at the soft light in her apartment, wondering how her life had gotten so crazy all of a sudden. 

Rachel surveyed her appearance in the mirror, nervously
smo
othing the Adrianna
Papell
gold
satin material over her figure.  The satin shimmered along her waist and hips, hugging her breasts with a sheer, embellished mesh neckline.  The edge of the material was high enough up on her chest that it didn’t show even the slightest bit of cleavage but the mesh teased the eyes.  If one were to look more carefully, underneath the rhinestones was her own flesh and she worried that the dress might be too sexy for tonight.  Oh, it was a perfectly acceptable dress for the social part of the night but was she teasing
Rais
too much with the neckline? 

She glanced back at the Armani cocktail suit that had arrived yesterday by special messenger.  The teal fabric shimmered in the light from her bedside table and the rhinestone buttons on the jacket looked fabulous.  But she didn’t want to wear something that expensive, or anything from
Rais
.  She was uncomfortable enough with him flying her out to the party on his private
helicopter,
she couldn’t accept clothes from him as well.  Especially a dress that probably cost a couple thousand dollars. 

This dress was even more expensive than what she’d planned to spend but she’d seen it on the hangar and had splurged. 
It had cost almost four hundred dollars, but she wanted to look pretty tonight. 

Not because she was going to see
Rais
, or because she wanted to impress him….or even because she didn’t want to embarrass him in front of his important guests.  She told herself that the only reason she’d bought the dress was because this was a special occasion and she needed to look nice for her first big event in which she was the primary event coordinator.  She’d be able to wear this dress over and over again
so it was really just a good investment
.

Okay,
and it didn’t have buttons
going down the front
. 

She accepted this part mentally, but it still made her nervous.  Every nerve ending in her body was tingling with excitement, wondering what
Rais
might do when she showed up with a blatant…challenge? 

She smiled, touched up her lipstick then grabbed the sleek, bolero jacket that came with the dress and her
matching
purse.  When she pulled the door to her apartment open, she jumped when she spotted the two men who were standing outside her apartment.  “Oh!” she gasped and stepped back.  “What’s going on?” she asked.

One of the men bowed and stepped forward slightly.  “His Highness asked that we bring you to him tonight.  He wanted to ensure your safety, ma’am.”

Rachel’s hand flew to her neck, astonished that
Rais
would do something like this.  “I don’t really need an escort…I’m sorry, what’s your name?”

The first man bowed again.  “I’m Kadar and this is Joe, ma’am.”

Rachel blinked and released a breath.  “Okay, Kadar and Joe, thank you for the protection, but isn’t this a bit of overkill?  Shouldn’t you be out guarding
Rais
?”

The men didn’t even flinch when she called their employer by his first name.  “We have our instructions, ma’am.”

Her shoulders slumped and she looked down the hallway in both directions, worried that her neighbors would see this conversation and think someone was about to arrest her.  The two guards looked suspiciously like FBI agents, or at least the kind of agents that appeared in the movies or television shows.  “Would you mind if I called
Rais
?  I just don’t think this is necessary.”

“We are at your service,” Kadar replied, again with a bow.

Rachel looked at him curiously, but she backed up into her apartment, closing the door so she could have a private word.  She pulled the card out of her purse that
Rais
had given her earlier in the week and glanced at the number.  She pulled her phone out and dialed, then waited impatiently for the man to answer. 

“Good afternoon, beautiful,” he said as soon as he answered the phone.  “What are you wearing underneath the suit?”

Rachel blushed and was glad that he wasn’t around to see it.  “
Rais
, why are two security guards standing outside my doorway?” she asked impatiently. 

“They’re supposed to escort you to my house.  Didn’t they explain that to you?”

She heard the
edginess
in his voice but ignored it.  “That’s what they said to me, but that doesn’t explain why you want them to escort me.”