Beauty and the Sheikh(14)
His attention slid lower to the lavender silk top clinging to the gentle swells of her breasts. He remembered those breasts and how they’d just barely filled his hand but were more than a mouthful. He remembered the way she’d cried out with pleasure when he’d teased the tips with his teeth.
Rafiq slammed his eyes closed and drew in an unsteady breath. Already his body stirred with the need to possess her. He’d not had the pleasure of taking her that night two years ago as intended, but before they left Monaco he would know what it felt like to be inside her. To have Holly’s legs wrapped around his waist and her nails dragging up his back.
And he would know, without a doubt, that she was not acting this time around. He would take pleasure in her ultimate surrender, listen to her breathy pleas.
He opened his eyes again to watch her. As if she sensed his gaze, Holly’s lashes fluttered upward to show her blue eyes, drowsy and disorientated. They landed on him and a hint of agitation flickered and then it was gone.
“Did you think it was just a bad dream, habiba?” It pricked that her first reaction at seeing him would be anxiety. “That you would wake up in your own bed and not find yourself forced to be my mistress?”
She sat up straighter and ran a hand through tousled sable hair. “We both know I’m not your mistress. Not in the literal sense of the word anyway.”
He gave an unconcerned shrug. “A mere technicality.”
The rest of the sleepiness faded from her eyes, replaced with familiar fiery defiance as she looked away, crossing one leg over another. His gaze was immediately drawn to the expanse of flesh she’d revealed.
“How far are we from Monaco?”
“Ten minutes at the most.”
“And what exactly are we here for, anyway? Do you know how long we’ll be staying?”
“We’ll stay for as long as needed. I have meetings with an investor.” He offered a small shrug. “You simply need to be seen with me when the occasion calls for it and look stunning.”
She turned back to look at him. “You do realize I’m not actually a model now. I don’t have a wardrobe that will fall into the ‘stunning’ category, and my nails haven’t had a manicure in months—”
“You’re absolutely beautiful, Holly, and let’s not pretend otherwise.” He frowned. Why did she try to downplay her looks? Did she fish for compliments? “You’ll find a new wardrobe awaiting you in Monaco. Manicures, pedicures, whatever else you need can be arranged.”
Her mouth parted in dismay, her cheeks tingeing pink. “Rafiq, I can’t possibly afford any of this.”
“You have no need to. I will pay for them. It is all part of the mistress agreement, of course. And I am well aware of your financial situation. You would have been left penniless, had I accepted your money for your brother’s freedom.”
Her chin lifted. “It didn’t matter. I would have done it anyway.”
“I have little doubt otherwise. Even if it meant giving up your chance at attending college, no matter that you’d already enrolled. Your brother gave up his education for you, so why shouldn’t you do the same? Was that your reasoning?”
Anger flashed in her eyes and she stiffened. “Is there any part of my life you have not investigated?”
“I find it better to know my enemies, Holly.”
For a moment she was silent, and he must’ve imagined the hint of hurt in her expression as she once again looked out the window of the limo. “From enemy to mistress? So extreme, don’t you think?”
“You know what they say. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” He set the files down on the seat and moved to sit beside her on the other side of the limo. “How much closer can I get than having you in my bed, habiba?”
He noted the shiver that ran through her slender body, but she did not turn to face him. “Go to hell.”
“Undoubtedly I will, but for now I think I’ll enjoy all the sin that will take me there.”
“Not with me, you won’t.” She tried to scoot away, but she was already against the door.
He cupped her cheek and turned her head around to face him again, heard her breathing hitch and saw the mix of panic and awareness in her eyes. “Why do you fight what is between us?” he challenged softly, his mouth just above hers. “Why does your mind deny what your body clearly wants?”
Why indeed? Holly bit back a manic giggle as she struggled to control the runaway gallop of her pulse. How easy would it be to simply give in to Rafiq? To allow them to become lovers? But she struggled to reconcile the gentle person on the plane with the man in front of her now.
The plane ride, which should’ve been emotionally trying, had actually been one of the most enjoyable moments in the past few days. Rafiq had been charming, so completely sympathetic and gentle with her.
And then she’d woken up in the limo to find his heavy stare on her, had realized immediately the animosity was back. It seemed he enjoyed tormenting her as if she were an ant under a magnifying glass.
But with him so near, she couldn’t tear her gaze from the sensual curl of his lower lip, struggled with the temptation to lean forward and press her mouth against his. It was hard to remember why she hated him when he was so close she could smell the spiciness of his soap. See the flecks of stubble on his chin that she could just imagine on her heated skin as he kissed his way down her body.
“Please, Rafiq,” she begged huskily. “We aren’t in public right now. The window is up between the driver. There’s no need for this pretense.”
His gaze, already heated, darkened with an emotion that wasn’t quite violence. “It never has been, nor ever will be a pretense on my part. You are the lone skilled actor between us.”
She tried to look away, but his strong fingers that were curled around her chin held her immobile.
It was never an act. The words of protest died on her lips as his mouth covered hers, and then her only thoughts were of the intoxication of his kiss, the way her heart seemed ready to take flight, and how much she wanted more.
Rafiq’s tongue slid into her mouth to demand her response, teasing her and tormenting her into a need only he could bring forth. His hand curved around her hip, angling her back against the soft leather of the seat so that his body came to rest half on top of her.
Every nerve ending inside her sparked to life, tingling with the sensation of having his hard, muscled body pressed so intimately against hers. A moan fled past her lips as she buried her hands into the softness of his hair, holding him close. His hand on her hip skimmed upward, over her ribcage and toward the swell of her breast.
She should stop him, even if the driver couldn’t see through the tinted window and they were completely alone. She knew she should put an end to this.
But when Rafiq cupped her breast through the silk blouse she cried out, her hips arching off the seat to press against his. The movement brought her into sharp contact with the proof of his arousal. The realization of his size and the intimacy of their position set her body on fire and made the sensitive flesh between her legs ache.
Rafiq lifted his mouth from hers to look down at her, his eyes burning with desire and need. He eased up her silk top and she couldn’t have stopped him if she wanted to. First her stomach was exposed, and then the satin cups of her bra. “Holly,” he muttered thickly. “I must see you again. Taste you.”
He tugged first one cup and then another from her breasts, until they were bared for his observation and the air-conditioned limo.
Holly just barely stopped herself from lifting her hands to cover herself as her nipples tightened further under his hungry gaze.
Rafiq’s groan was low and guttural as he traced his fingers over the swells. “So beautiful. You are so very beautiful, habiba.” And then he lowered his head and gently took one tight peak into his mouth.
Oh God. Holly’s grip in his hair tightened as pleasure rocketed through her. She closed her eyes and whimpered as each pull from his lips sent a stab of pleasure straight between her legs. Her legs moved restlessly, seeking a release she knew she was still so far from.
Rafiq lifted his head momentarily to murmur soothing words in Arabic, his fingers tracing over her body before his mouth captured her nipple on the other breast. Heaven help her, but there was nothing on earth that felt as amazing. Blind with passion, with need, she dragged her fingers from his hair to the curves of his face. Feeling the ridges and the stubble—
Holly gasped as her wrist was ruthlessly manacled and pinned against the leather seat. Her gaze flew to Rafiq’s and shock swept through her at the savagery that had replaced the heated desire in his eyes.
“Rafiq?”
“Do not touch it,” he ground out.
Touch it? It took her a moment to realize what he meant. His scar. Holly hadn’t even realized where her fingertips had strayed; she’d simply been touching him. Discovering him.