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| The Sheiks Of Kumar - Part One The Crown Prince By CJ |
| Chapter 7 Tara’s smile had widened by morning and it had nothing to do with Gabe or his proposal. She’d dreamed of Nik and Raja again and it had been a very pleasant dream. It brought back the memory of sweet sensations she’d experienced from Nik’s kiss and that caused her smile to stay plastered to her face while she drove Jenny to school. “Why are you so happy?” Jenny had asked, her mood not nearly as sullen as it had been Monday on her first day of school. “I just am,” Tara answered. A frown had deepened upon Jenny’s brow as she asked, “Its because you went out with Gabe last night. Isn’t it? I don’t like him, Tara. I don’t like you going out with him.” “Jenny,” Tara admonished. “What in the world? You’ve known Gabe for a long time. What makes you say that?” Jenny reached up and touched her necklace. Tara was pleased that she’d decided to wear Nik’s gift and she was also happy that Jenny’s mood toward school had lightened. But this cloud that had settled upon her face with the mention of Gabe was disheartening. “I heard him arguing with father before he died. It was after dad had had his first heart attack. Anyhow, I didn’t like the way he talked to dad. He sounded mean.” Tara knew Gabe and father had been friends, and at times they’d disagreed like friends. Usually, they had disagreed over business. Jenny’s story did not prove anything to Tara and she relied upon the fact that she had known Gabe for several years to prove that Jenny had merely witnessed a simple argument. “I’m sure it sounded that way to you. But really, honey, dad and Gabe were good friends,” Tara reassured her sister. Jenny shrugged and stared out the window. Hopping to lighten her mood, Tara said, “You know, Sheik Nikash has been wondering when we’d like to come up to the house for dinner. Would you like to go?” Jenny’s eyes had brightened for a moment then flickered out. “What? Bad idea?” Tara questioned. “Well, I really like Nik and all,” Jenny began. “Nik?” “Yes, we talked at the stables. He told me all about this necklace and how Taj had given him one just like it when he was a boy.” “Did he?” Jenny nodded enthusiastically. “He’s really cool. But I don’t know if I want to go up to the house for dinner. I mean, we ate dinner every night in the dinning room with dad when the house was ours. It’ll be strange without him.” “I know. But what if we requested a starlight dinner? You know, outside?” Jenny hesitantly nodded. “I guess so. Yeah, I could do that.” Then she smiled deviously at Tara. “Do you think he’s cute, Tara?” “Who? Nik?” Jenny nodded again. “Yes. He’s very cute,” Tara said back, using the teenage vernacular. If she happened to mention he was sexy and charming, the compliments would be lost on her younger sister. “Good. Because I think he likes you,” Jenny announced. “Jenny, he hardly knows me.” “He knows you enough to understand that you’re upset about dad dying too. He says he can tell you grieve.” Slowly, Tara asked, “He said that?” “Yes. And he also said that you keep things from him because you’re trying to be strong. He thinks you have sacrificed a lot and that you understand why I hate my new school.” When Jenny was finished she looked proud of herself, as though she’d just successfully recited the Gettysburg Address. But Tara was not happy over her sister’s successful reciting, nor was she proud of what her sister had learned of her. She was the adult! She had to be strong! That meant not showing how scared and angry she was for having lost all that was precious to her. But Nik had told her sister that she was not completely strong, he’d convinced Jenny of her vulnerability and that angered Tara. How did Nik know anything about how she felt? She’d barely talked of her father’s death with him and certainly never told him she was afraid of anything other than the vines at night. Well, she would remedy this! As soon as he returned, she’d tell him he was wrong, then convince Jenny that she was certainly not grieving, that she was not vulnerable. And it was for the best that this had happened so soon. For now she could rid her dreams of Nik forever and make a decision about Gabe. After all, she had no future with the Sheik of Kumar, but with Gabe, she could have a future. And maybe, just maybe he could get Mystic back for her too. When she returned home and parked her Jeep Wagoneer in front of her small house, she saw the black Mercedes sedan that Omar chauffeured Nik in sitting in the drive in front of the main house. Nik was surely home and sheik or not, Tara was going to put him in his place. She stormed up the drive, not caring that she was wearing ripped jeans shorts and that her hair was in disarray instead of tied tightly on her head in her trademark ponytail. How she looked wouldn’t matter for this meeting. Omar let her in the front door and she inquired hastily, “Is Nik in?” “He is in his study,” the man answered. “Would you like me to announce you?” “No, that’s all right. I know the way,” she said and quickly ran up the stairs. Nik’s study was across from the master suite. She knew it was where his office would be because it was where her father’s had been and that location made the most sense. She entered quickly without knocking and saw a casually dressed Nik sitting at his desk with Devesh reading off a memo. “I have to talk to you,” she insisted. Nik looked up from the computer screen on his desk and Devesh halted his reading. “Tara,” Nik said easily. “What a pleasant surprise.” “No, actually, it’s not,” she returned. It was hard for her to force her words out on such a rough edge, especially with Nik dressed in jeans and a plain T-shirt. His casual air disarmed her and she almost relented, almost told him she was sorry for intruding. But when that cool, distant look invaded his face, Tara held fast to her resolve. “Devesh, excuse us, please,” Nik requested. His assistant threw him a sympathetic look, then closed the door to the office as he left. Not liking to be sitting when another person was in a confrontational mood, Nik stood and asked, “Is something the matter?” “Yes,” Tara said directly. “I’m mad at you.” “Mad? At me?” Nik studied her face and saw she was truly upset. He wondered what could have transpired between the time he’d left her at the pool yesterday morning and now. “Is there a problem with Jamaal again?” he asked. “No, but there is with my sister. How dare you tell my sister anything intimate about me!” For a moment, Nik bristled at the attack. Though he was not nearly as confrontational as his brother Rafee, he had been raised in a powerful family. He’d always been afforded respect and this attack caught him off guard. Quickly on the defense he said, “You interrupt my business to accuse me of something I have not done? I do not understand your ways, Tara. This makes no sense.” His words were cool and controlled and she was half expecting to have Omar and Devesh bust into the office and drag her away for confronting the sheik. But they were left alone. “You told my sister that I was grieving over my father and that I was vulnerable,” Tara explained angrily. Nik remembered his conversation with Jenny down at the barn a few days prior and said, “You are grieving, Tara. Is that a lie?” “No, but my sister does not need to know that. I’m the adult now, I have to be her parent. She and I are not on the same level any longer. She’s thirteen, I’m twenty-eight. I am the adult!” Nik was actually glad this confrontation had happened. Since he’d met Tara in August, her green eyes had held such sorrow, such distress. And now, a month later, she had not changed. And as for poor Jenny, twice now he’d found her crying in the stables alone. Whatever these women were feeling they were feeling alone. It was time they spoke to one another and it was time he learned what Tara was harboring. Slowly, Nik rounded the desk. He kept his eyes riveted to Tara’s face. Her lips quivered and her chest was rising and falling under her pink shirt as she breathed deeply to hold back tears. She was beautiful even in this state and he wanted to hold her and tell her not to worry, but she was too independent a woman to allow that. “You are the adult,” he agreed. “And you do have a lot of responsibility to raise Jenny after your father’s death. But you also have to understand that Jenny is not a child. Not exactly. She is caught somewhere in the middle between childhood and adulthood. She does not need, nor does she want, a stoic mother figure to take care of everything. She needs to know you understand her feelings. And the only way she will accept that you understand, is if you feel things the way she does.” He stood in front of Tara and sat on the edge of his desk. “Do you not feel the same way she does? Grief stricken? Lost? Displaced?” he questioned. She didn’t answer, so he prompted, “Come on, Tara. Tell me. I can see in your eyes, in your face how you feel. It’s been there since we first met.” He was very perceptive and Tara knew he had read her correctly so she admitted bravely, “Yes, I do feel that way sometimes.” “And it is all right that Jenny knows that. Believe me. Children are a lot smarter and stronger than we adults give them credit for.” Tara stood, stupidly in front of him. How had this man so easily diffused her anger? How had he read everything inside her and gotten her to admit most of her fears to him? What trick did he know? What spell had he cast? “So you’re the one who helped change Jenny’s mood about school then?” Tara inquired. “She was upset after her first day. I found her crying. I told her about the necklace and how I felt going away to school in London myself as a young boy. I also convinced her you understood how she felt.” He smiled up at her and added, “So you see, I exposed one of my own vulnerabilities as well, Tara. Does she think anything less of me for doing that?” “No. In fact, she thinks you’re cool,” Tara answered. But her tone was still flat, she was still unsure of how she felt about all that had happened. “Then my way has worked.” “I’m not so sure I like the way you do some things,” Tara quipped. He stood then and neared her. “You do not like how I settled Jenny’s nerves about her new school?” Tara shrugged. “You do not like how I have handled things with Jamaal and defended you to him?” Tara stared at him and he began to walk behind her. “You do not like how I have dreamed about you every night since we met?” His voice was low and next to her ear and she shivered. Placing his hands on her shoulders and moving his lips against her ear he asked softly, “And do you not like that I believe a woman’s pleasure should come first? That she should be the one made love to and not the other way around like so many American men believe?” Tara nearly gasped and she stepped forward and turned to face him. She realized her face was blushing from the words he’d just said and wanton images swam through her mind. Nik had taken her on a roller coaster ride in ten minutes. She’d gone from anger, to grief and now to lust. Her heart and mind did not know which path to take or how to feel. And for the first time since June when all her bad news had hit, she felt like turning to another person for comfort. But it was difficult to ask for help or understanding. She’d never needed to before and perhaps that’s what her downfall with Jenny had been. Nik was right. Instead of pretending she was all right, she should have shared with Jenny and relied upon her sister just a little bit to help ease the pain. Jenny, however, was at school and Tara suddenly needed to feel comfort. She turned and sat in the leather armchair that faced Nik’s desk and said feebly, “I’m sorry for intruding and being so angry with you over nothing.” He heard the quiver in her voice and understood she was on the verge of tears. He strode next to the armchair and reached out to play with the long, loose strands of her brunette hair. “How you feel is not ‘nothing’,” he argued gently. “I’m just so damned tired, Nik,” she said with a sigh. “I’ve been holding everything inside for so long that I don’t know where to begin. And poor Jenny…” He knelt in front of her now and touched her face. “Jenny will be just fine,” he insisted. His touch was such a comfort, yet she again thought of Gabe’s proposal. She was falling apart from her grief over losing Villa Serena and maybe it would be easiest for her if she just accepted Gabe’s offer. She couldn’t go on worrying about Jenny and seeing her heritage in another man’s possession. But this man before her was so kind and understanding she knew Villa Serena was in good hands. And she couldn’t image herself married to Gabe while Nik was touching her face and gazing at her with such admiration. A tear fell from her eye and then another. She almost cursed because she was actually crying in front of Nik. He gently wiped at her tears and whispered, “Its all right, Tara. Its all right, my love.” And his tenderness caused her to cry more. When she finally broke down he pulled her to him and held her in secure arms. Finally, she trusted him with her feelings. Finally she was allowing him inside her heart. ** A warm afternoon breeze filtered in through the open balcony doors and the sounds of splashing and children’s laughter floated up from below. Tara slowly opened her eyes, blinked a few times and stared at the open doors. She was at Villa Serena, in the master suite. And just as she’d believed she was truly home the last time she’d slept in Nik’s bed, she again experienced the same sensation. She wasn’t home, however. Not in any true sense of the word. She had merely fallen asleep and Nik had been kind enough to put her in his bed. How, exactly, had she fallen asleep? She thought back on the confrontation she’d had with Nik and how easily he had diffused her. Then she’d allowed her emotions to overwhelm her and she’d fallen into his strong embrace while she cried. She sat up. What a sissy she was to cry like a baby! And even more embarrassing was that she’d cried to her boss. What had she told him exactly in the midst of her grief? Had she told him about how Villa Serena had once been hers? She hoped not, for it would only further confuse her relationship with Nik. Tara stood from the comfortable bed and walked out of the room. She glanced in Nik’s study but it was empty. She continued down the hall but found no one present. Curious about the laughter from the back patio, but more interested in exploring a bit more of her old house, Tara proceeded past the stairs and down to the opposite end of the house. There, where the hallway ended, was her old room. She pushed the door open and found that the room was bare. It didn’t surprise her for aside from Taj and Devesh, no one else lived in this house with Nik. It contained seven bedrooms and surely there was no reason why he had to have all seven furnished with such a small staff in the main house. “Tara,” a voice spoke from behind her. “You are awake, I see.” Tara jumped, startled by the voice, then turned to face Taj. He was not dressed in his traditional dress as he usually was, but rather khaki pants and a white tunic style shirt. His gray head was uncovered. “Yes, I am,” she said, quickly closing the door to her old bedroom. “I was just curious as to how the rest of the upstairs turned out.” “As you can see, we have not yet figured out what to do with all the rooms.” “Yes, I can see that. And I don’t want you to think I was prying or anything,” she defended herself though the man’s eyes and voice held no accusations. “Prying? Why would I think that? It is only natural you would wonder what the new owner had done with your old house,” he professed. Tara looked at the man for a long moment before she asked, “You know?” “I was responsible for this purchase. I have seen your name on the documents. Of course I know.” He smiled sympathetically at her. “And…uh, Nik? Does he know?” she inquired. Taj’s smile changed from sympathetic to conspiratorial. “I do not believe he does. Nikash has much business. I doubt he gave the papers to this house a second glance.” “Good,” Tara said. When Taj’s smile disappeared and his face looked concerned, Tara explained, “I don’t want him to know. As far as he is concerned, I am merely an employee on this estate and not the former owner.” “You, my dear, could never be just an employee in Nikash’s eyes.” Taj then inquired, “Why is it that you do not want to tell him?” “I don’t know, I just don’t. He’s too…generous. He’d feel badly if he knew. And maybe I’m too proud. This place was supposed to be mine, it’s been in our family for generations,” Tara confessed. “Nikash is generous, almost to a fault. But he is also a very balanced man. He is confident, proud and kind all at once and I believe he would understand if you told him. He understands all about family heritage, after all, the Armanjanis once ruled a desert kingdom.” Tara smiled, picturing the historic image of the sheiks that once ruled the Arabian Peninsula. “I do love those stories.” Taj softly tapped her pendant and said, “I can tell.” Tara blushed for showing her weaknesses again and Taj continued, “But I do not think you would be wise to keep such a secret from Nikash. If you are to be friends, you must be honest.” “Friends? With a sheik?” Tara laughed. “Taj, I just work at the stables. I do not believe such a relationship could exist.” “First of all, my dear Tara, this is America where anyone can be friends, regardless of one’s station in life. And secondly, you were once mistress of this house. Anyone who was once the lady of such a fine estate is surely a good enough match for an oil sheik.” Tara laughed again, for Taj’s lightness was so refreshing. Then he held out his arm to her and said, “Come. Your sister has brought over friends from school.” Jenny had indeed invited friends over from school. A girl whom Tara had seen before around town was in the water along with a younger boy of about ten years old. The kids splashed and squealed as they swam, while Omar stood by the pool’s edge keeping watch. Devesh, she saw, was pouring cups of juice and Nik was on his cellular phone, dressed in his same jeans and T-shirt, barefoot. “Just how long did I sleep?” Tara inquired of Taj. “Surely it must have been a couple months. Jenny invited friends over from school?” “Yes. We sent Omar with the car to collect her from school so as not to disturb you and she asked if she might invite her friend Rachel and Rachel’s younger brother over to the pool. Nik agreed and Rachel’s mother brought the children here and said she’d return in a few hours since you were indisposed. The mother apparently knows you.” Tara stared at the girl with the blonde hair who was swimming next to her sister and recalled she was the child who lived about a half mile down the road. Her family owned just a small plot of land and Rachel’s mother was an elementary school teacher in town, while her father worked for the fire department. “Oh, yes. Cynthia Moore. I have met her before. In fact, I believe Rachel and Jenny used to go to summer camp together,” Tara relayed. “She seemed most anxious to say hello to you again,” Taj explained. Tara nodded as Taj excused himself to assist Devesh. Jenny spotted Tara and called, “Tara, come here!” Tara walked to the side of the pool. “Tara, look, I brought Rachel over. Nik said we could use the pool,” Jenny explained. “And I got to ride home in his car today with Omar as a chauffeur. It was so cool.” “Yeah,” Rachel chimed in as he hung on the edge next to Jenny. “All the kids are going to think Jenny’s so lucky. The guy who picked her up looked just like one of those Arabian knights in the movies. Only, he drove a black Mercedes instead of riding a black horse.” Tara smiled, glad that Jenny’s attitude had changed so quickly about school and Nik owning Villa Serena. “Did I also show you what Sheik Nikash gave me?” Jenny inquired of her friend. She held out her pendant for Rachel and said, “Its gold.” “Wow!” Rachel exclaimed as she touched it. “What does it say?” “It’s my name in Arabic,” Jenny bragged. “Neat. Can I get one too?” Jenny shook her head. “Sorry.” She turned her pendant over. “See, it has the mark of the sheik’s family. Only certain people are allowed to wear it.” “Awesome,” the girl cooed. The girls then each grabbed beach balls and began floating away, talking about what the Armanjani crest meant. “Tara, you are awake,” Nik’s voice interjected. Tara turned to see Nik walking to her side. “Yes. I’m sorry about…” She was about to apologize for falling asleep and wasting the afternoon, when she realized Nik wasn’t interested in her apology. “No need,” he said simply. Tara nodded then looked at the children in the pool again. The young boy, whom she remembered being Scott, Rachel’s younger brother, was in the shallow end, splashing water at Omar’s feet. The large man frowned Nik’s way, then took a step back as Scott laughed. “How on earth did you allow Jenny to talk you into this?” Tara asked him. “I thought it would be good for her. But don’t worry, she and Taj did homework together first and I’ve had Omar watching the children in the pool the entire time.” “I wasn’t worried about any of that,” Tara said. “I was only worried that my sister was taking advantage of your generosity.” “Nonsense. There is no taking advantage of my generosity where you and Jenny are concerned.” His voice may have been light, but his eyes conveyed so much more. He looked as if he wanted to touch her, but when the children erupted in laughter again, he turned his eyes to the pool. “I guess your way with Jenny did work,” Tara finally said. “It would appear so, wouldn’t it?” Just then the cellular phone in his hand rang, and Nik turned to Devesh, “Dev! Bury this phone, please.” He tossed the phone to his assistant without answering it. “You shouldn’t allow the children to disturb your business,” Tara declared. “I should only be so lucky to have my business disturbed everyday. I have had enough of it for today.” Nik had cursed his business dealings today for it had interrupted the amazing sight of Tara sleeping. He’d held her in his arms for a long while as she cried. And when weariness had overcome her, he’d carried her to his bed. As she had slept, he’d gazed upon her longingly for a long while until his phone began ringing and his assistant insisted matters needed to be tended to. He could have done without business today, but he did have responsibilities that needed his attention. Of course, he’d much rather shower all his attention upon Tara. She, however, still kept him at a distance. She may have confessed her worries to him today, but now she was again being formal and polite. Nik wondered what he had to do to break through to her. Give her time, perhaps? That was more than likely the best course of action. She barely knew him as a man, though he knew everything he needed to know of her. Given time, however, he was certain he could make her love him. All in time. “Is there anything I can get you? You missed lunch. Are you hungry?” Nik asked. Tara shook her head. “Then please, sit with me and let’s talk while the children swim,” Nik insisted, rather than requested, and took Tara’s hand. He led her to a patio chair and they sat and chatted casually. Tara was surprised that Nik did not mention their confrontation nor did he speak a word of her emotional outburst. They talked about the horses, the surrounding area and simple matters of the house. A half-hour later, as the dinner hour began to arrive, Cynthia Moore showed to retrieve her children. She was a middle-aged woman with short red hair and a friendly smile. Tara stood to greet her. “Tara Malone,” Cynthia announced. “It has been such a long time since I have seen you. How are you doing?” “I’m fine,” Tara replied. “And how are you and your husband?” “We’re just great.” Nik moved beside her and Tara asked, “Cynthia, have you met Nik Armanjani?” “No, I haven’t.” She held out her hand as the introduction was conducted. “I did, however, meet that lovely man, Taj Badawi, when I dropped off the kids. He assured me it wasn’t a bother having them here to swim,” Cynthia said. “Now, tell me, is the sheik who bought this estate here often?” “I will try to be here as often as possible now that I am settled,” Nik answered. And when Cynthia glanced at him with confusion, he clarified, “I would be Sheik Nikash of Kumar.” A hand flew to Cynthia’s mouth and her brown eyes looked Nik up and down. “Oh, my! I never thought you’d be so young and so…casual,” Cynthia exclaimed. “And to think, my children have been over here all afternoon swimming and making noise for you. I just assumed that you were away and that’s why Jenny was having guests.” “Please, Mrs. Moore, do not worry. This is not a palace, merely my home. It was a pleasure having your children over and I know Jenny appreciated it as well,” Nik assured her. “And speaking of Jenny,” Cynthia said to Tara, apparently over her shock of meeting the Sheik of Kumar. “How is she doing? I am so sorry about your father. He was such a good man.” “She’s adjusting. Slowly,” Tara said. “But when I heard she was going to the public school now and that she was in several classes with Rachel, I was so happy. Rachel and she really get along wonderfully.” “Yes, they do,” Tara agreed hesitantly, afraid Cynthia was going to mention Villa Serena and her misfortunes. “And what about you? What are you doing now?” Cynthia asked. Tara’s eyes shifted to Nik. He was standing casually by, observing the conversation. “I, uh, keep up Nik’s stables now,” Tara finally said. “That’s good. That’s really, really good for you. I know how you love those horses.” “Yes,” Tara said simply just as the children joined them. All three were dripping wet and Omar was handing them their towels. Rachel and Scott immediately began telling their mother about their afternoon while Jenny stood next to Nik. She wrapped her towel around her shoulders, then leaned against his side and put her wet head on his T-shirt. It was reminiscent of how Jenny would stand next to her father. She’d been so affectionate with him. Tara had loved him dearly, but she’d never been overly affectionate. Jenny, however, needed constant physical closeness and Tara knew she had failed at providing that to Jenny. Now, Jenny was snuggling next to Nik like he was her father substitute and Tara was afraid he would object. “Jenny,” Tara gently scolded. “You’re getting Nik’s shirt all wet.” “Oh, sorry,” Jenny said, beginning to push away. “It is all right, Jenny,” Nik then said. “I don’t mind the water.” He draped his arm around her shoulders and leaned closer as Devesh handed all the children drinks. “Now, Devesh on the other hand,” he added mischievously, “really, really loves getting wet.” Jenny’s green eyes lit up the same orneriness Nik’s were displaying and she moved toward the other man saying, “Oh, Deveeeesh,” in a taunt. The man frowned and quickly retreated into the house. Nik and Jenny laughed and she returned to his side. Jenny was so comfortable around Nik and it had only been a few short days since she’d known him. Then again, he had a way of making people feel welcomed. Even Cynthia Moore had forgotten who he was and was chatting about local news like he was an old friend. “Well,” Cynthia finally announced fifteen minutes later, “its time I got these kids home. Thanks so much, Nik.” She shook his hand again, then added, “And I must say, it’s really a pleasure to finally meet you. This past month, there have been so many rumors floating around the area about you that I expected a stern older man in flowing robes with armed guards at the gates.” Cynthia and her children had left then, and Jenny had moved off to talk to Taj at the opposite side of the pool. When the company was gone, Nik turned to Tara and asked, “Is it true what Mrs. Moore said? That people expect me to be a mythical figure instead of just a man?” “This is a small town, Nik. They get lots of tourists, but they don’t have their own celebrities. Hearing that a real life sheik is moving into the neighborhood is cause for intrigue. They’re expecting something they see off of television and not you.” “Not me?” he asked. “Yes. I mean, I was all set to hate you myself,” Tara confessed. “I thought for sure when you arrived with that entourage in the limousines that you’d be traditional and arrogant and a man who ruled with an iron fist.” “So you do not hate me, then?” he inquired with a raised eyebrow. Tara smiled shyly. How could anyone hate Nik? She’d tried, but she knew she never could. “No. Far from. Instead of being that arrogant ruler from a mysterious land, you proved to me the first night that you were kind and intelligent and handsome. That’s a hard combination to hate.” “Good. Then I am doing my job at winning you to my side,” he said with a smile. “I’m sure you’ll be winning all the women in town to your side soon enough,” Tara remarked, remembering the way Cynthia Moore had looked at him with admiration. Nik reached out and took her hand in his. He brought it to his lips like he’d done many times before and whispered, “There is just one woman I want to win to my side and that is you, Tara. Please, dine with me tonight. You and Jenny.” “I’ve troubled you enough for one day,” Tara said evasively. “And Jenny…” She was about to insist that Jenny would more than likely want to return home when Nik tactically cut her off and called across the pool to Jenny. “Jenny, would you like to stay and have dinner with Taj and myself?” he asked her. “Your sister is about to tell me no again.” Tara watched as Jenny’s eyes glanced up at the house looming before her. She knew Jenny didn’t want to enter that house yet, and she wondered what the child would say. “Are you going to make me beg?” he asked the girl with humor. “Jenny, it is not a pretty sight to see a sheik beg.” Jenny laughed out loud then and asked, “Can we eat outside?” “We can eat on the moon if you would like,” he returned. Then he looked back at Tara and said, “At least one of the Malone women is easy to persuade.” “In that case, I will also accept your invitation.” She was happy she had accepted his invitation for Jenny had not laughed so much as she did over dinner since their father had died. Nik and Taj charmed her and made her feel like a guest of honor and the girl’s face never once expressed anything but a smile. And Tara was glad to have the opportunity to get to learn more about Nik. He was such a gentleman that she was almost sorry for the way she had verbally attacked him this afternoon. As he escorted them home in the darkness, she commented so. “I really feel bad about this morning, Nik,” she said once Jenny was out of earshot, rounding the corner of their small cottage. “I should have known better than to assume you would try and undermine me with Jenny. And you were right, she does seem much more at ease now.” “Say no more. I understand your reaction, but please warn me next time before you attack. I would much rather be prepared.” He again proved how he could take a serious situation and ease it with light humor. The door to the house opened and closed with a “Good night, Nik,” in its wake and Tara was suddenly glad her sister was inside the house. There was something about Nik and moonlight that she found difficult to resist and her stomach fluttered with anticipation. She remembered when he had kissed her hand under the moonlight on the walk to the winery a month before and she wondered what would transpire now. Then she asked herself, why wonder? Why not just take action like she had at the pool a few days before? With a devious tone, Tara asked, “So I caught you off guard today? Like I did that morning by the pool?” His sexy mouth pulled a grin and he chuckled lowly. “Ah, yes, the pool. A man should be caught off guard like that often.” Tara’s fingers reached out and gently touched his shirt. She could feel the outline of defined masculine muscle and she found herself more curious than was safe. “So I don’t need to warn you in the future if I plan to do something like that?” Tara asked, looking up at him with a coy expression. “Only if you want to,” he answered. His words were flirtatious but he had not yet reached out to her. Tara thought that strange. She moved her hand to his arm and ran it over his bare skin. “I didn’t want to be attracted to you, Nik, but I am. I thought you should know that,” Tara said quietly. She was waiting for him to touch her, to make some move, but he didn’t. Nik stared down at her and felt her fingers lightly touch him. Such innocent caresses were doing incredibly sinful things to his body. He was surprised, pleasantly, at her words and actions. But he held himself back for he knew if he kissed her like he wanted to, he’d only scare her away. “I am glad you told me,” he said. “Do you mind? That I find you attractive?” she inquired. “A man would be a fool if he did,” he answered, his voice losing its control as her fingers moved to his shoulders. “Then why aren’t you touching me?” she asked boldly. He caught her eyes with his as he stated, “Because I would be a bigger fool if I did.” Nik had been referring to the fact that he would only cause Tara to feel pushed if he grabbed her up and kissed her, but apparently she heard his words differently. Immediately she pushed away from him and stepped back. “Because I’m your stable keeper?” she asked with disgust and stormed away into the night. Unwilling to allow her to leave him in such a state of anger and misunderstanding, Nik followed after her and caught her in the darkened paddock. They were away from all of the property lights and only the clear night, with its half moon and glittering stars, lit the way for them to see. Tara had no idea where she was heading to when Nik’s hand wrapped around her wrist and halted her escape. But hearing him deny her had bruised her ego. She’d been fighting her attraction to him since she’d met him and now that she’d been brave enough to confess it, he’d turned her down. He was playing games with her, obviously, only using her when the sheik wanted her affections. And apparently, tonight, he wanted no affections. “Do not run away,” he ordered sternly. “You can’t tell me what to do,” Tara snapped. Grasping her wrist in a firmer hold, Nik tugged her back to him. “I will tonight,” he insisted. “I’m an employee, not a slave,” she declared with venom, trying to free herself but powerless to. There was a look to be wary of in Nik’s eyes and his refusal to let her go was certainly out of character. He didn’t respond to her retort and pulled her even closer. She felt the hard, masculine lines of his body against hers and when she took a step back to escape him, she felt the equally hard surface of a fence post. He’d maneuvered her into a trap with no escape and she stared up at his dark eyes awaiting his next action. “I do not care that you work for me, Tara. How many times must I repeat myself?” he asked harshly. “Then why did you say you’d be a fool to touch me if you don’t care about my position on your estate?” she challenged. “Because, my love, I was afraid I would not be able to control my actions if I touched you tonight,” he said with less force. “I was trying to protect you.” “Protect me?” she asked aghast. He took her hand and placed it on his chest. “Yes, protect you from a madman. Do you feel how my heart beats wildly tonight?” He moved his hands to her shoulders and slid them up and down her arms. “Do you see how my touch rushes to caress every inch of you?” Softly, but with much passion, he pressed his mouth to hers, then whispered against her lips, “And do you not feel how my lips burn for you? If I had touched you, I would have consumed you. I was trying to protect you.” The heat coming off his body was clinging to Tara and her own blood boiled. She was on fire, her body needing to be dosed with the touch of his hands. She could no longer suppress the passion tonight just as she’d been unable to suppress her emotions this morning. Her heart was on a wild ride with this man and she was reacting in extremes. Dangerous extremes. “I don’t care,” she whispered quickly. “I don’t care if you consume me tonight. Touch me, kiss me, please.” Nik moved his lips to her neck and suckled gently. His control was evading him so quickly that he was certain he would never recover his senses. She tasted sweet on his tongue and smelled like wild flowers to his nose. He whispered her name in her ear and she shivered with passion. Tara’s fingers slipped beneath his T-shirt and toyed with the muscles of his stomach. He felt his abs quiver slightly and he groaned as he longed to have her touch move across his body. Unable to hold back any longer, he moved his lips to hers and kissed her hard on the mouth. She responded and parted her lips, allowing him to deepen the kiss he’d been waiting for impatiently since the night he’d first seen her. His tongue made love to her mouth and she moaned involuntarily. It sounded almost like a cry, and Nik forced himself to pull away enough to look at her. “Don’t stop,” she pleaded, out of her mind with desire. She needed him to make love to her now, just as she’d needed him to hold her this morning. “Please, don’t stop,” she repeated and touched his handsome face. He moved his lips to her neck and trailed hot kisses down her sensitive skin, while his fingers worked quickly on the buttons to her sleeveless blouse. Pushing her shirt open, Nik continued his line of kisses down her collarbone to the valley of her cleavage, while his fingers kneaded the toned flesh of her stomach. She expected him to stop there and satisfy himself with her breast, but he continued to kiss his way down her navel. She moaned again as his lips made contact with the delicate skin of her stomach and he kneeled before her. One hand worked the snap on her denim shorts and began to slowly unzip her zipper. She was shocked for only a moment by his actions, until she remembered his words from earlier that a woman’s pleasure should come first and that a woman should be made love to. And he was doing exactly that. He’d asked for nothing from her and he was touching her as though she was a fine, crystal vase. She could get used to such tenderness and wanting to give something in return, she moved her hands to his face. She caressed his chiseled features and ran her hands through his thick hair. She said his name on a gasp as his hands began to push away her shorts and his lips traveled to the lace band of her panties. Tara was on the verge of exploding then and there and they’d barely begun. “I want to make love to you, Tara,” Nik said to her as he tried to slow his rapid breathing. “I want to discover all the secrets of your body.” He moved his hands to her stomach and glided his fingers over the smooth skin. “I want to pleasure you in every way you desire.” “Nik,” Tara whispered cupping his face in her hands and lifting his eyes toward her. His eyes were burning for her. She saw he wanted her and the intensity of his gaze was shocking. He looked like a man possessed and it only served to fuel her own lust. But the night would not be so generous as Nik was being with his lovemaking. Jenny’s voice rang out in the dark, breaking the mood. “Tara!” she called. “Tara! Where are you?” Nik’s hot mouth grazed across her stomach for a moment, his facial hair chaffing gently against her skin, and he groaned with frustration. “I have to go,” Tara said with disappointment. “Yes, you must go,” Nik agreed. Tara touched his face one last time, and climbed out of the paddock gate, fixing her clothes as she ran. Nik remained in the paddock on his knees and cursed the night. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Crown Prince - Chapter 8 |