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| The Sheiks Of Kumar - Part One The Crown Prince By CJ |
| Chapter 8 It was just as well they’d been interrupted the night before, Tara thought. She hadn’t been herself all that day and making love with Nik only would have complicated matters at Villa Serena. As it was, Jamaal chastised her for having missed the entire afternoon at the stables and she’d simply explained that she’d been needed at the main house. “Needed, I am sure,” he’d drawled sarcastically, as his black eyes had looked her over with disgust. His attitude toward her had not changed, but at least Tara knew Jamaal did not have as much pull with Nik as he had first insisted. So despite the cool atmosphere between them, she at least felt secure in her job. Unless, of course, she had made love with Nik. Would her job be as secure then? What if all that existed between them was a one-night stand and then their relationship deteriorated? She didn’t want to risk that possibility, so she was careful around Nik for the days following their tryst. Nik, however, never even hinted at what had transpired between them. Tara was positive it was the gentleman in him that was keeping him silent as they spent the rest of September getting to know one another. Tara enjoyed spending time with Nik. Rides around the vineyard and dinners on the patio with Jenny were entertaining. But each day they spent together, his eyes warmed more and more, filling with passion instead of politeness. Obviously, Nik wanted to do more than ride horses and have dinner. But Tara knew that he understood her need to slow things down. He never pushed any situation and never physically did more than kiss her hand or cheek. Her body yearned for more, but it was the reasonable thing to take matters slowly. Then there was Gabe. Though Tara refused all his dinner invitations, he often stopped by the stables during the day to chat. He hadn’t mentioned his proposal again, but Tara knew it was in the front of his mind. And when he stopped by when Nik was around, she noticed that Gabe eyed him suspiciously. He’d attempted to charm Nik once or twice with his cool air, but Nik had appeared unimpressed and had actually been abrupt. If Tara hadn’t known better, she would have thought Nik disliked Gabe. But Nik didn’t dislike anyone. So the only explanation for his actions she could think of was jealousy. Perhaps Nik saw Gabe as a challenge. She knew Gabe saw Nik as such. So when the men met, one usually went quickly in the other direction. Gabe did, surprisingly, speak with Jamaal when he visited. Tara thought that a strange match, but the men talked cordially and she noticed Gabe even pretended to be interested in the horses for the man’s sake. It was certainly a relationship she was going to keep her eyes on. Tonight, however, in the early October evening, she wasn’t thinking about Gabe or Jamaal or even Nik. She and Jenny were together, riding bareback through the vineyard’s horse pasture. Jenny was aboard her favorite horse—Popcorn. It was an old, gray mare who had once been a fine show horse. Now, she was docile and gentle and Jenny’s only choice to ride. Tara was riding one of the other horses at the stables, a fine bay Arabian gelding named Colonel. She’d rather ride Mystic whenever she ventured out, but the Arabian had already been worked in the paddock today and Tara didn’t want to over exhaust the mare. “Fall is already moving in,” Tara commented as they rode along the fence. “It’s getting chilly already and it’s only 5:00.” “I know. I wish I had brought a sweater,” Jenny complained. Jenny had been getting along much better. She rarely complained about school and she and Rachel were becoming best friends. And Jenny had even progressed so far as to actually venture into Villa Serena. If she continued to adapt as she had been doing this past month, Tara was certain she would be her old self again in no time. A lone figure appeared on the dirt road next to the pasture as they rode and as the figure neared them, Tara saw it was Nik. “Nik,” she called to him. “Tara. Jenny,” he said with a smile. “What a pleasant surprise.” “What are you doing out here?” Jenny immediately asked, grinning at the man she obviously adored. “I was out for a walk. Had to get away from business before I tossed my computer and phone out the window,” he explained. Tara noticed he divided his time between his home office at Villa Serena and his business office in San Francisco. He rarely stayed away for longer than a day and always made certain to let her and Jenny know when he had returned. And though he found much time to spend with them, Tara realized he spent every other waking moment on business. “Would you like a ride back?” Tara offered. “Last time I checked there were no phones or computers on Colonel here.” Nik smiled at her and slipped through the barbed wire fence. “I would love a ride back.” He jumped onto the back of Colonel and his denim clad thighs pressed against Tara’s. She wanted to gasp for it had been too long since she’d felt his body next to hers. Jenny chatted for part of the way back, then her mood abruptly changed and she said with a strange glint in her eye, “I think I’ll gallop Popcorn a bit. It’s been a while since she’s gotten in a good run,” and the teen was off before Tara could respond. “That was strange,” Tara commented. She felt Nik’s hand brush through her long hair as it laid about her shoulders. “Not really. I think she’s been waiting for a moment to give us privacy for a long while now,” he said. Indeed, Jenny had been with them often during the past few weeks, but Tara did not think the girl had noticed hers and Nik’s attraction. “Privacy, huh?” Tara inquired. “Yes. It’s been a long while since I’ve touched you and kissed you Tara.” Nik’s lips brushed her ear. “But it was for the best I behaved myself. Was it not?” Nik had realized that one night in the paddock, the night when he had nearly lost his grip on reality as he’d kissed Tara, had been a mistake. Tara had been so vulnerable that day and she’d begged him to touch her only because of the emotions she’d felt from grief. So Nik had taken his time these past few weeks and allowed her to learn about him without the pressure of romance while he’d fallen further and further in love with her. Yet the time had come for him to nudge her a bit, for he would be leaving Villa Serena for a while, and he wanted to be positive she did not forget him while he was away. “I’m glad you have. I’ve enjoyed just spending time with both you and Jenny,” Tara confessed, “getting to know you.” “Good,” he said resolutely, then ran his hands up and down her arms. Her skin was cold to the touch and he realized the fall evening was rapidly cooling. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hugged her to his chest while he whispered all the things he’d love to do with her in a foreign tongue. The sound of his voice warmed her as well as the feel of his solid chest behind her. But what she enjoyed most was the flow of the foreign words that sent tingles down her spine. “What are you speaking?” she asked softly. “Italian,” he said. “You speak several languages?” she inquired. “Yes. Several. Shall I speak to you in another? Perhaps French or German?” She laughed and shook her head. “No, Italian is just fine. But I’d really like to know what you are saying.” “No, darling, you do not want to know,” he said lightly. Though his tone was light, Tara felt in his heated touch that he was completely serious. She pulled back on the reins and halted the horse. “Its strange how you’re acting tonight,” she began. “I mean, for three weeks now you’ve barely touched me. Now, you’re seducing me with Italian.” Nik sighed and slid off the horse. Tara jumped down and joined him on the ground. He placed his hands on her shoulders and allowed his eyes to drink in every inch of her beautiful face. How he would miss being able to look at her while he was away! “What’s wrong?” Tara asked when she saw the grave look on his face. “What happened?” He touched her face and said, “It is nothing to worry about. I must leave for a while. That is all.” “Leave? Where? For how long?” A lopsided grin spread across his face. “I have been ignoring requests from my family to return home for several weeks now.” He sobered and his smile disappeared. “There is an OPEC meeting that we are hosting in Kumar and I was going to pretend I didn’t have to go. But my father has sent Rafee to fetch me. He will arrive tomorrow. I have no choice. I must leave.” A strange and utterly foreign feeling passed through Tara’s body and she bit her bottom lip to keep it from trembling. She would miss Nik. Miss him terribly. Suddenly, she realized, Villa Serena would not be the same without his handsome face. “You have many responsibilities, Nik. Don’t you?” Tara asked touching his blue polo shirt. “Yes. I have many that I do not wish to have,” he confessed. “But I was born into a certain position in life and I must fulfill my obligations.” His brown eyes darkened with the growing dusk and Tara now understood why his eyes sometimes held her at bay. It wasn’t the man those eyes were portraying, it was his station, his title. The Nik she knew wasn’t a sheik, he was just a refined, desirable man. But when Nik’s eyes turned cool and his face stoic, he was playing a sheik. “How long will you be away?” Tara again inquired. “I do not know. At least two weeks. Perhaps longer.” “Two weeks? Is that all?” Tara asked with a smile as she looped her arms around his neck. “I’ll still be here in two weeks.” Nik’s arms moved about her waist and he held her tightly to his body. It had been weeks since he’d held her and his body was already overreacting from the contact. He’d been starved for her touch and now that he was getting it, he would have to leave her in the morning for another fast. “I pray that you will be,” he said lowly as he tenderly touched her lips for a brief kiss. Then he reached out and touched the gold pendant around her neck. “And I promise you will remain safe.” “I do have the Armanjani crest on,” Tara said. “And I will be leaving Omar,” he announced. “Taj and Devesh, I’m afraid, must come with me, but Omar will stay. You will be safe,” he repeated. Though Tara had never felt as though she needed a security guard, she was grateful for his concern. After all that had happened to her, it was nice to know she had someone looking out for her well being. “I’m a big girl,” she teased. “I can take care of myself.” “Yes, you can. But I want to make doubly sure.” Gazing at his face and feeling her lips quiver with anticipation, Tara said lowly, “Then make triple sure I’ll be all right and kiss me now so I’ll remember how attracted I am to you while you’re gone.” There was no doubt, however, she would never forget that! He didn’t even have to hesitate at her request. He’d held himself back for weeks, but only because her eyes and manner had kept him at bay. But now, her eyes were luring him in and her manner was electric. Holding her closely, he met her mouth and kissed her slowly, savoring every caress of her lips. The kiss lasted for a long while until Tara pulled her lips away and trailed small, hot kisses down his neck. Nik caught his breath in his lungs and suddenly wondered how he’d be able to survive half way around the world without this woman near. “Tara, my darling,” he said to her in the same Italian he’d used earlier as he nuzzled her ear. “How I love you. When I return, we will spend long nights making sensual love. I promise this to you. You are mine and I am yours.” Tara shivered from the stirring sound of the Italian he spoke. There was something so exotic about Nik and she could stay in his arms all night and listen to the language she didn’t know a word of. For when Nik spoke it, she was positive she could feel something very meaningful in his words. “What did you say?” she asked him, feeling his lips now upon her neck. She clung to him, running her hands through his dark hair and feeling his hands slide along her back. He kissed her lips one more time before he pulled away and looked down at her face. “I said,” he began, “that we have much to do and much to talk about when I return.” She believed there was more to his words and was positive much had been lost in his simple translation. But when a man had such a look of conspiracy in his eyes as Nik did now, Tara knew it better not to ask. She was sure, however, that his secret would not be a bad secret, so she would wait until he returned. “All right,” she agreed. The thundering of hooves caused them to slowly pull away. Jenny and Popcorn appeared next to them. “Ready to go?” Jenny asked jumping from her horse and walking to them. Then her keen green eyes looked them both over and she inquired, “Did I interrupt something? You both look strange.” What Jenny was no doubt reading was the lingering passion that was thick in the air. But Tara would not explain that to a thirteen-year-old, so instead she announced, “Nik will be away from Villa Serena for a while.” Tara had been disheartened from the news, but Jenny nearly burst out in tears. “No, Nik. You can’t leave,” Jenny insisted, moving beside him and looping an arm around his waist. “I’m sorry, Jenny, but I must. I have very little choice in the manner,” Nik carefully explained, giving her a short hug. “I have responsibilities that cannot be ignored.” “Where are you going?” “Home,” he said, then changed his mind and corrected, “To my family home in Kumar.” Villa Serena was home now, not Kumar. Kumar was a place that represented his history, but not his heart. “Will you be gone long?” Jenny asked tearfully. “Just a few weeks. In the meantime, be sure to take care of Villa Serena. And keep an eye on Omar while I am away.” Jenny laughed and her tears quickly went away. “No way, Omar’s like a giant. He can take care of himself.” “Then take care of your sister and I will be home before you realize it.” The evening had ended with a walk back to the stables. After the horses had been put away, Nik had said a farewell to Raja, walked Tara and her sister to their house and left. Jenny had hugged him fiercely and Tara had simply said she’d see him in the morning before he left. Seeing her sister so upset in addition to Nik’s news would only cause her to cry as well. So in the morning, she had ventured up to the house to swim her laps and say good-bye to Nik. As she was finishing her laps in the chilly morning air, she caught her breath while hanging on the edge of the pool. A male figure dressed in a dark suit was standing with his back to the pool, gazing up at the house. She often found Nik by the pool as she finished her morning swims and she was positive this was him again, coming down to bid her farewell before he left. Playfully, Tara splashed water his way and said, “Hey, sexy. You sneaked up on me again.” She thought that would surely bring a smile to Nik’s lips as he turned around. Only, it wasn’t Nik. The facial features were similarly handsome, yet displayed a brooding gaze from light brown eyes. And though the man could easily be mistaken for Nik, he was an inch or two taller and wider in stature, possessed no facial hair and was not Nik. “Oh!” Tara gasped, nearly losing her grip on the pool as the man’s surprisingly light eyes landed upon her face in annoyance. “I apologize, I thought you were Nik.” Rafee, Nik’s brother, did not smile at her, nor did his piercing eyes loose their expression. “And even if I was, such an informal greeting from a staff member is quite inappropriate for the Crown Prince of Kumar,” the man said firmly. Tara frowned and pulled herself out of the water. The man may look like Nik and portray the same confident mannerisms, but he was not approachable. He appeared to be a hard man, a man who was wary of every person he met. He almost reminded her of Jamaal and she pictured Rafee as a staunch conservative. Though Nik and Rafee were both Armanjanis, they were quite different people. “With all due respect, Rafee, we are not in Kumar,” Tara said with a cool tone and moved past him to grab her towel. She put up with Jamaal’s attitude on a daily basis and wasn’t about to put up with another adversary. Rafee beat her to the table in one long stride and he grabbed up her towel. Whereas Nik would have opened her towel for her, Rafee held it hostage as he looked her over with curiosity. “No, we are not. But my brother is coming back to Kumar. Perhaps I can convince him to stay there longer and forget these foolish American ways,” Rafee threatened. Tara wondered what she had ever said to this man to cause him to dislike her so. She’d met him only once, briefly. Certainly, nothing could have transpired in that short introduction back in August that would make him loathe her so. Reaching out and snatching the towel away from him, Tara argued, “Your brother likes it here.” “He thinks he does.” Tara studied Rafee for a long moment, then inquired, “Did you and Nik have that different of an upbringing?” “No,” he answered. “We were educated the exact same way. Only, I have wasted much less of my time touring Europe and looking for property in America.” “Why’s that? There’s nothing wrong with Europe or America,” Tara defended, having traveled quite extensively through both before having lost her fortune. Demonstrating at least one of Nik’s characteristics, Rafee amazed her with his honestly. “Europe, I can tolerate. It is rich in culture and traditions of its own. But aside from the Superbowl and television, America has very little of either,” he taunted. Tara did not want to begin an argument with Nik’s brother about the qualities or lack of qualities of America. And the fact that Rafee obviously disliked her and disliked Nik living in California had her suddenly fearing that Nik would never return from Kumar once his family exuded their influence. As that thought passed through her mind, Nik exited the house in a crisp dark gray suit and said, “Good morning, Tara. I see you have found my brother.” “You could say that,” Tara quipped lightly. “Rafee, you do remember Tara Malone?” Nik inquired. “Certainly,” Rafee answered stiffly. Nik took a moment to glance both over. He sensed tension, but decided it best not to comment. Rafee was certainly only tired from his travels and Tara was more than likely upset over his departure. She’d acted as such last night and that had pleased him, for it meant she would miss him. However, he would not dismiss the tension in Rafee to be that of disappointment. Rafee was a different man than Nik. He enjoyed challenging people and was stubborn in every fiber of his body. And Nik’s move to America had caught Rafee off guard. Rafee did not want Nik living so far from home, but there was nothing Rafee could do about it, so he’d grudgingly accepted Nik’s decision but refused to show any pleasantries over the situation. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll wait for you in the house, Nikash,” Rafee suddenly said without another look to either and he quickly left. Tara watched his tall form disappear, then she commented to Nik, “I don’t think he likes me.” Nik chuckled and wrapped Tara’s robe around her shoulders. “Rafee doesn’t like anyone. Or, at least he likes to pretend so. But do not allow my brother’s moods to upset you. He is still pouting over the fact that I have moved so far away.” “Are you two close?” Tara inquired. “Yes, very. We used to fight off the bullies in boarding school together and quiz each other on economics at Oxford. We have always been very close by one another until now.” Nik’s eyes then strayed to the French doors Rafee had left through and he sighed. “Perhaps you could convince Rafee to move out here too,” Tara suggested as she laid a hand upon Nik’s arm. “As you Americans say, I won’t hold my breath for that to ever happen.” He smiled at her, his eyes portraying an almost whimsical aura. “Besides, I do not need my brother here. I have everything I need here already.” His hand moved to her face and his tender caress of her cheek caused her to lose her breath. She closed her eyes and placed her hand atop his. “Why now, Nik? Why have you waited so many weeks to touch me again and do it now before you leave me?” Tara asked on a whisper. He moved closer and cupped her face in his hands. “Because I wanted to give you time to get to know me, Tara. You’ve been so uncomfortable since I moved here and I did not want to rush you. And the reason I kissed you last night and am going to kiss you again this morning is not to pain you. It’s to make sure you do not forget our attraction while I am away.” He bent his head and tenderly kissed her lips. Her lips trembled when he touched them and he drew back to gaze into her eyes. She was saddened by his departure. When he’d first arrived at Villa Serena that had saddened Tara. Now, she was upset over his leaving. Such a change! And he wanted to curse the timing of the meeting in Kumar, but it would not postpone the inevitable. “I couldn’t forget how you make me feel, Nik,” Tara said back. They kissed again and their lips met with such desire, lust and tenderness that Tara was certain her heart would melt and her insides explode. She tingled everywhere and longed for Nik to carry her upstairs to his bed. But the time for him to leave was drawing near and she imagined Rafee standing at the doorway and interrupting their exchange. Reluctantly, Tara pulled her lips away. Nik, however, was not ready to have her leave his arms, so he drew her to him and held her against him. “I’ll get your designer suit all wet,” Tara complained. “I do not mind. A little water is a small price to pay to hold you,” he joked. Tara laughed and was glad for the humor because it kept her tears at bay. Nik held her for another minute and heard the time ticking away. Time was not on his side this morning and he very slowly released her. “I must leave now,” he said as he kissed her forehead. “Omar has my phone number and email address if you need anything. Do not hesitate to contact me, darling.” Tara shook her head. “Oh, I could never interrupt your meeting, Nik. I’m sure you have more important things to worry about aside from my mundane life.” He frowned at her and it was a strange expression for he rarely frowned. “Nothing about you is mundane. And my meeting is not more important than you or Jenny or Villa Serena, for that matter.” His brow furrowed as he asked, “Why do you constantly argue with me over that? Why do you play yourself down as though you are merely a fixture on this estate that I should pay no more attention to than the living room furniture?” Tara sighed and took a step back. Nik’s closeness made it difficult for her to say all that had been building in her mind since the night she’d met him. “Because, Nik, you are the son of the Sheik of Kumar. You carry that title and though you like to pretend it doesn’t matter, everyone else around you insists it does. And what am I? I’m just the hired help that takes care of your horses. There’s no future here for us.” Tara remembered the dream she’d had so long ago when she’d slept in Nik’s bed and she realized that even then she’d understood there was no future. “Even your brother sees that. And I want you to realize that I have no hard feelings about it. It’s just the way things naturally align.” Of all the days for Tara to broach this topic, this was the worse. He’d sensed her hesitancy over starting a relationship and now he fully understood why. She was convinced, still, that his title somehow defined his future. “There is nothing natural about what you have just said,” he told her, moving to her as she turned her back to him and placing his hands upon her shoulders. “Every cell in my body yearns to hold you and make you mine, Tara. How can you not see that? And as for my title, I would throw it away if I could. I am in America. This is my home now and the title Sheik of Kumar means nothing to 99% of the people living in this country and that is how I want it.” “But you are returning home now, as your brother noted earlier. A lot could change then,” Tara argued. She hated that she was arguing, but she had to sort through all she was feeling now. Nik’s kiss had unraveled so much. “Only the price of gasoline in America, my love,” he said teasingly. “Nothing else will change. I will return the same man I left. I will continue to attempt to charm you upon my return as well. For you are not a mere employee of my estate. You are part of my home here in America. And I would very much like you to be a part of my life too, if you will agree.” Part of his life, to what extent? Tara wanted to cling to his words and believe that everything would work out for their benefit but it seemed so much was against them. And there was that nagging thought that perhaps she was attracted to Nik because he now owned her heritage. She turned and looked him over for a long moment. No, she liked the man, not his financial assets. And the fact that he owned Villa Serena only complicated matters. But they were matters that could be discussed when he returned. Nodding, Tara took his hand in hers and said, “All right. I’ll try not to doubt so much, Nik. And when you get back, we’ll pick up where we left off. I promise I won’t forget you.” He touched her face again and softly kissed her lips. “Then I promise to hurry home, Tara,” he whispered to her before he hesitantly released her and left her standing on the patio. It was a difficult way to leave, but the only way and he forced himself not to look back as he strode confidently to the black limousine waiting at the front of the house. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Crown Prince - Chapter 9 |