| The Sheiks Of Kumar - Part II The Warrior By CJ |
| Chapter 12 The wedding was two days away and Shawna was glad most of the details where she was concerned where taken care of. She’d spent so much time today with dresses and jewelry that she had worked little. She was using the night to try and catch up. Sitting on her bed after having taken a long bath in that luxurious sunken tub in her bathroom, Shawna was only half-dressed for bed. She’d pulled on her white tank top and pink satin underwear, but her long pajama bottoms still sat next to her on the bed as she read through her emails. Her hair was damp, and she pushed it behind her ears, keeping the strands out of her eyes so she could see the text her brother had sent. She read the words from Joseph and saw he had attached a file for download. This was good news he had mailed her and as she downloaded the information and saw a list of hundreds of names appear, she was practically squealing. He had finally compiled an INS list of people who had left on international flights for the Middle East in the past week. As soon as her computer completed the download, Shawna saved the information, unplugged her computer and ran out the door. Her bare feet slapped on the marble of the hallway, but she paid no attention until she reached Rafee’s room. She knocked before she noticed she had forgotten her PJ bottoms, but this news was so urgent, she didn’t feel the need to run back and grab them. Besides, Rafee’s voice was giving the order to enter. She pushed through the door saying, “Raf, you have got to see this.” Shawna paused when her eyes landed on him sitting cross-legged on his black sheets with the dark gray comforter tossed to the side. He was wearing nothing but black boxer-briefs and she loved how they hugged those strong thighs of his. He turned to look at her and the tightly packed muscles of his stomach flexed from the movement. Shawna would have gasped had the computer with the urgent email not been in her hands. Rafee’s gold eyes surveyed her up and down and halted upon her bare thighs. Then, with jest in his voice he drawled, “Isn’t this a surprise.” Shawna looked him over again, making a show of eyeing his only garment and answered, “I could say the same.” “I was about to go to sleep,” he explained. “Me too,” Shawna insisted then gestured toward her computer. “But I had to show you this. It could be good news.” She set her computer on his mattress and hopped up on the bed. Its dark cherry wood headboard matched the rest of the furniture in the room and the same gray marble that surfaced the hallway, spilled into the bedroom. The walls where painted a lighter hue gray than the marble on the floor and the décor was dramatic in its effect. It gave one the feel of strength and stateliness, just as his study did. It was purely masculine and only the billowing sheer white curtain over the open balcony doors gave it any softness. Immediately dropping his sarcasm, Rafee focused on the computer screen and asked, “What is it?” “Joseph emailed me. He finally got those departure names from the INS. See, he sent us an entire file full of names.” Shawna scrolled through the names and there were so many her eyes began to hurt at just the thought of reading through them all. “This is wonderful news,” Rafee said. “We can first see if Jamaal flew out of the U.S., then we can cross check all the names with our other list and discover if anyone happened to fly in before the fire at Villa Serena and then out shortly after. If so, they may be suspect.” “That’s exactly what I was thinking,” Shawna agreed. Rafee chuckled and relaxed on an elbow with that casualness he sometimes displayed. “You and I think too much alike at times, Shawna,” he declared. He pointed to a stack of printouts. “I work in bed, you work in bed. And we both run around the palace dressed in practically nothing.” His words were light but there was something building in his eyes as he looked her over in her scant outfit. “I wasn’t running around anywhere but to your bedroom,” she argued. “Running to my bedroom?” he repeated. “I like the sound of that.” He reached out and toyed with the strap of her tank top, pulling it slowly off her shoulder. Shawna shuddered when his finger brushed her skin and the thought that she had brazenly run to his bedroom dressed in nothing but a shirt made her ponder her actions. Had she done it on purpose or had it really been innocent? She shook her head and closed her eyes. No, she just hadn’t been thinking, period. When Rafee watched the tension enter Shawna’s face and her head shake, he quickly pulled his hand away. “I know, we should work,” he said with a sigh. She opened her eyes and stared at him. He had backed down so quickly and was now scanning the computer screen. Had he thought she was toying with him again? Did he have it in his mind that she was nothing but a huge tease? “Rafee,” she began. “I didn’t mean to come in here dressed in practically nothing. I was just excited about the email and I wanted you to see it. Please don’t think that I’m…” Her words were silenced with his fingers as they landed upon her lips. “I do not think that, Shawna,” he insisted. “Maybe I should go put some more clothes on,” she suggested and started to move. His hand grabbed her arm and he said, “No, you needn’t do that. I can behave like a gentleman, contrary to popular belief.” “Popular belief?” Shawna asked. He moved the computer to the nightstand and laid on his side. Gazing up at Shawna, he explained, “I’m afraid I have developed a reputation for being a no-good rogue. That’s what my brother pointed out to me anyhow. And, from the times we have talked intimately, I have a feeling you think that as well.” “Not at all,” Shawna refuted. “I can just see by the way you carry yourself and feel in the way you kiss me that you know what you’re doing. You’re experienced.” “Then you do not think that bad?” he asked. She shook her head. “It beats being the clumsy rookie.” “Rookie?” “The one new to the game,” Shawna explained. “Like me.” “You have fears that you will not be good enough,” Rafee pointed out, “and now I am developing self doubts that I will not measure up to your expectations of my prowess.” There was much humor in his voice and eyes and Shawna laughed despite the sensitive subject. She gazed at his outstretched form, so masculine and so muscled and was positive that would never be the case. “No, I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Shawna said. “I have never been a rogue, Shawna,” he said seriously. “Though I have never made a commitment, I never dated women who wanted that either. I never wanted a situation where someone would get hurt.” “That sounds fair,” Shawna acknowledged. “I don’t see that as taking advantage.” “Then you don’t think me a cad?” “I never thought you were.” She tilted her head and looked him in the eye. “Why do you care what I think?” “Because I like you, Shawna. Your opinion is beginning to matter to me.” Warmed by his words, Shawna said, “I seem to remember a time when we couldn’t stand the sight of one another in the same room.” “Yes, but that was a time when I was nothing but an over-inflated oil sheik and you were a conniving American,” he joked. “And now? What are we?” she inquired. “Now,” he answered, “we are partners.” Shawna was certain she was going to burst. All her adult life she had been looking for a man who was passionate, brave and who wanted to share life. What she had been looking for was a partner. Now, Rafee was just that! Had that simple statement of his just caused her to fall in love with him? She gazed at him for a long moment and decided—yes, she had fallen in love with him! “Would it be appropriate for me to kiss you now?” she asked leaning forward. “Just to seal the partnership.” “It would,” he said and allowed her to come to him. She crawled toward him and leaned over him on her hands and knees. Bending her head to him, she kissed him only once. She pulled her lips back and saw so much in his eyes as he gazed upon her. It was that same breathless awe he’d possessed this afternoon when he’d seen her in the wedding dress. She knew then that she could make love with this man and be safe. He would adore her, not admonish her, and as the heat rose in her gut she leaned forward and met his lips again. They kissed for a long, slow moment. Then Shawna laid on her side next to Rafee and gazed at his face. He returned her stare but said nothing. His fingers touched her cheek, then made their way down her shoulder. They grazed the soft skin of her throat, then circled her breasts. She felt her chest tighten in sweet anticipation and she wanted to moan and close her eyes, but Rafee’s intense gaze held her eyes to his. After his few short touches created arousal in her chest, his fingers slid down to her belly and caused the feminine muscles to quiver with a soft stroke. Then, quite boldly, his fingers gently caressed the satin material of her panties and the slight pressure sent a spiral of energy shooting down to her toes. She sucked in a deep breath and held it, as more and more waves of energy coursed through her. All this from just a slight touch! Rafee pulled his hand away and again touched her face. “I cannot see how you think you would fail to please a man, my darling,” he whispered to her. Shawna smiled shyly and explained, “My first time was quite unremarkable.” “And that is your fault?” he asked back. “I am positive it was the man’s fault.” “Why do you say that?” she inquired. Rafee took her by the wrist and placed her hand upon his face. “Feel my skin,” he demanded gently. “Just your nearness makes it ten degrees hotter.” He moved her hand to his chest and declared, “And my pulse rate is certainly at a dangerous level from your touch.” Shawna smiled and asked, “Are you trying to build my confidence?” “I am, by telling you the truth,” he said. “And if none of that convinces you that you would certainly please any man, including me, feel how my body reacts to your kiss.” He brazenly and without hesitating, placed her hand over the hardened length of him. Shawna did not fill with fright at the imposing feel of him. Instead, she felt a sense of awe and power that she could turn him on so quickly and so easily just as he could do to her. His hand left her wrist to again touch her breasts through her shirt, and Shawna gently stroked him through the cotton of his underwear. Rafee’s hand tightened upon her breast and he closed his eyes from the shudder of pleasure she brought him. Then he tenderly pulled her hand away and said, “See what you can do with just one simple touch.” He was taking his time and trying to show her that making love to him would not be a challenge, but rather ecstasy. Shawna adored him more for his patience and she nuzzled closer and kissed his face and neck, hoping she conveyed to him her growing confidence. “Make love to me, Rafee,” she told him. “I’m not afraid any longer. I want to spend the night with you.” “As do I,” he returned, pulling her atop him. “I want you hostage in my bed for more than the night.” Shawna sat up, straddling him, and yanked her shirt off. His hands slid up her sides and clasped her bare breasts. She arched into his hands and moaned softly. Through the thin layer of her satin panties, she could feel his arousal pressing against her sensitive area and she rocked in a gentle motion, knowing she was wielding some control. Rafee responded immediately and groaned as he sat up to capture her lips. He kissed her and fought the urge to throw her to the bed and have his way with her. He could not do that now that he had her trusting the process with him. He would have to force himself to take it slow. Just as his mind accepted that realization, his phone rang on the nightstand. He tried to ignore it, but it did not cease its ringing. Shawna pulled her lips away and said reluctantly, “You’d better answer it. It might be important.” “Not as important as this,” he declared. Shawna moved off his lap and grabbed the phone. Handing it to him she said, “Probably more important.” He cursed under his breath and took the phone. He was glad he had answered it for the news was serious. It was one of the guards from the Kumar Business Center and they needed him right away. “We caught a suspect trying to plant a pipe bomb in one of your company cars, Sheik Rafee,” the guard explained on the phone. “The authorities are here and they want to speak to you right away.” “Yes, of course,” Rafee said. “I will be there as soon as possible.” Any desire that had been ruling his body was gone by the end of the phone call and he quickly stood and strode to his closet, ringing his security men on the way. “Rafee, what’s wrong?” Shawna asked once he’d hung up from his second phone call. Slipping into khaki pants, Rafee explained, “A guard at the offices caught someone trying to plant a pipe bomb on one of our company vehicles. I must go there.” Shawna slipped into her shirt and ran to his side. “Give me two seconds. I’ll go with you.” Rafee grabbed her arm and yanked her against him. “No, you will remain here,” he ordered, his voice gruff and his face hard with determination. Hating how he had been begging for her touch one moment and now he was ordering her around Shawna tried to free herself from his grasp saying, “We’re in this together, Rafee. You can’t make me stay here.” His voice and face softened as he said to her, “I will make you stay here, darling. I will not have you dodging any more bullets.” “You’re being a chauvinist,” Shawna declared and turned away from him. He released her and she crossed her arms over her chest and sat on the bed, her full lips in a pout. Taking a black shirt from his closet, Rafee neared her on the bed. Using a finger under her chin, he forced her eyes to his. “If keeping you out of harms way qualifies me as a chauvinist, then that is what I am being,” he said gently. “This is too dangerous and you are a guest in my country. I will not allow you to get hurt.” Her eyes softened and she appeared to be listening to his explanation so he added, “Besides, I have not yet made love to you. If that is not reason enough to keep you out of harms way, then I don’t know what is.” “All right,” Shawna relented. “I’ll stay here.” “Stay here and look over those lists?” he asked. “That way, we’ll both be working on something productive.” “Sure,” she agreed. “If I don’t occupy my mind, I’ll end up taking a cold shower for the rest of the night.” Rafee leaned down and planted a simple kiss on her lips. “The wait will only make it that more thrilling.” Shawna laughed and Rafee moved away to slip into his black boots. When he had all he needed gathered, a knock resounded off his door. His security man called to him and Rafee gathered Shawna in his arms. He kissed her again, hugged her tightly and said, “I will see you in the morning, perhaps later.” “Stay safe,” she pleaded. “I always do,” he said with his trademark arrogance and left the room quickly. Shawna took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She wondered if this time his words would hold true. ** She worried while he was gone—worried excessively. Although, Shawna attempted to quell her anxiety by studying the INS lists carefully. Jamaal had flown out of the United States early that Sunday morning bound for Saudi Arabia. That was not huge news. What was news, however, was the name of a man who had flown out that same date and time and who had entered the United States via San Francisco just a week prior. His name was Taamir al Rashid. Shawna made note of the name and as soon as Rafee returned home, she would have him run the name through his country’s databases. It was a good lead and she only hoped it took them closer to solving the mystery that was growing more dangerous each and every day. That task took her several hours. She remained in Rafee’s room by the phone, hoping he’d call, but knowing he would not. Once she’d finished with the INS lists, she sent the name of Taamir al Rashid to her brother and asked him to run it through their terrorist task force to see if they had any information. After that, she was finished and the night sky was still dark. Shawna paced the room for several minutes. She was not only anxious over Rafee being gone, but also fighting off the last of her desire. She had come so close to making love with Rafee. If that phone call had not arrived, she’d more than likely be in his arms still. She smiled at that image in her mind, despite the worry that hung in the air. She wanted to make love with Rafee. She wanted it almost as much as she wanted to solve this crime. And it didn’t matter to her that they lived on separate continents. She loved him and she trusted him. Because of that, she had to give herself to him—it was what she desired most. Finally, exhaustion overtook her and Shawna crawled into Rafee’s bed and fell asleep. The phone never rang and no servants rapped on the door to wake her. Only Rafee woke her when he returned several hours past dawn. His eyes were tired and when Shawna began to inquire of the bomb, he merely kissed her forehead and told her to go back to sleep because everything was taken care of. Then he undressed and climbed into bed next to her, wrapping her in his arms and slept with her for the rest of the morning. ** “It was a standard pipe bomb,” Rafee explained to the group of men gathered in his office later that day, “planted in one of our company cars. Security caught the suspect in the act and detained him. He is now at the local jail.” “Who was this person?” Sheik Aarif asked. Rafee glanced at all the faces in the room, studied Shawna’s beautiful face, and then returned to his father’s gaze. “A boy. A fifteen year old boy was sent to do the work,” Rafee answered. “But he will not say who sent him or why. The authorities tried to push him for information last night, but he will not talk.” It was both disturbing and disheartening that such a young person had been sent on that mission. Rafee was angered that a group would send a boy to do their bidding. It was a coward’s way and though the boy’s eyes had held the look of one much older, his face was still that of a child and he had been unwilling to threaten the boy for information. After several hours of talking with authorities and trying to identify the boy, Rafee had returned to the palace, drained and feeling rather defeated. Only the sight of Shawna sleeping in his bed had lightened his mood. It had been a welcoming sight to see her and he’d immediately crawled into bed next to her and held her warm body while he slept. Now, they were informing his father and all the necessary parties of the new information, along with trying to discover if the name Taamir al Rashid meant anything for Shawna had flagged his name from the INS lists. The meeting adjourned with the assurances that all security personnel would begin researching the name Taamir al Rashid and that Rafee’s trusted palace security chief would personally go back to the Kumar jail and see if any more information could be obtained from the boy. “I’m going to personally call my brother,” Shawna said as she too stood along with all the men in the room. “I want to make sure he got my email and have him bother their task force detectives until they find something. Its too close to the wedding and last night’s bomb has me nervous.” “You nervous?” Rafee asked with humor he was not feeling. “I never would suspect you would ever get nervous.” She’d smiled at him and he could read the strain upon her face despite her expression. Then she walked out the door. “Rafee,” Nikash said to him, causing him to look away from Shawna’s departing form. “Do you still think we should postpone our wedding?” There was a look of uncertainty upon his older brother’s face. That struck Rafee as odd for Nikash was just as confident and determined in his ways as was Rafee. And just two days before, Nikash had been resolute in his decision to marry Tara as soon as possible. “Why would you ask that now?” Rafee inquired. “The last time I suggested it, you nearly bit my head off.” “That was before a bomb was involved.” “It was merely a pipe bomb and it was very far away from the palace,” Rafee said calmly. “Yes, but what if tomorrow, one of our family’s cars is rigged with a similar bomb and it is driven right into the palace?” Rafee looked at his brother with confidence and replied, “That will not happen. All who are coming have security personnel at their homes now. Their cars will be inspected beforehand.” Nik nodded, but it was not a confident nod. Placing his hand upon his brother’s shoulder, Rafee said, “Nikash, marry Tara. Do not allow this group of rebels to come between you and the woman you love. We have come this far and we will get you married. I promise.” Nik seemed to relax at those words and his shoulders slumped and he smiled at his brother. “I can always count on you, Rafee, to get the job done. You are incredible,” Nik offered. Rafee moved to his desk and smiled back. “Do not forget that the next time we quarrel.” “Yes, something we have been doing too much of lately,” Nik said. “But that would not be so if you would quit being so stubborn. Did you get Shawna that necklace?” Rafee hesitated, then reached into his desk drawer and placed a black velvet box on the desktop. Nik moved forward, took the box and opened it. Inside was not only the diamond bouquet necklace, but also matching earrings. Nik smiled broadly. “Very good, Rafee. You’re catching on to this romance game very well.” “It is no game,” he snapped. “And I bought them merely for the wedding. Do not…” he began to raise his voice then paused and thought about the compliments his brother had just bestowed upon him. He was retorting for no other reason than the fact that Nikash had been right about Shawna from the start and Rafee had been wrong. “Do not,” he continued with much less force, “think I have any other intentions with this gift.” “Very well,” Nik said with a sigh. “I will just pretend that I never saw her leave your room this morning wearing practically nothing and pretend that she doesn’t look upon you as though you were the earth, moon and stars all rolled into one. And of course, I will forget that smile I saw you just throw her as she left, for it is obvious you have no romantic inclinations for the lady.” “You are being sarcastic,” Rafee declared. “And you are a no good liar,” Nik declared back. “Quit telling the world you think of Shawna as nothing but a friend. Quit acting like you will never love another because some stupid little girl hurt you so many years ago. And for the life of me, please, quit being so damned proud, Rafee!” Nik closed the box and held it toward his brother. “Give these to Shawna tonight in front of the family. Declare to all that you care about something other than your work.” Why did Nikash always have to be so sensible? Why did he always seem to be able to prove to Rafee what a fool he was? Rafee thought about that for the rest of the afternoon while he searched his security databases with little result. He didn’t see Shawna again, for she was busy with her own Internet search as well as helping Tara with wedding plans. He was glad for that, for it gave him time to think. He’d almost loved her the night before. And though he had tried to convince himself that she was better off without him, he was having a difficult time convincing his body of that. But it was more than just a physical attraction he was feeling. He was close to Shawna. He trusted her. And though they would inevitably end up on separate sides of the world, while she was here, he planned to take advantage of her proximity. He would love her while he had the chance, and he would not regret allowing her to see inside his soul. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Warrior - Chapter 13 |