| The Sheiks Of Kumar - Part II The Warrior By CJ |
| Chapter 6 Not flirting, however, was growing more difficult every second. Shawna had spent the evening scanning copies of Walter Malone’s signatures and the fake signature she’d discovered and emailing them to a handwriting expert in San Francisco. He confirmed that the signature she had found was forged, although almost flawlessly, and offered a handful of names of people he suspected in the bay area who could have done the forgery. It gave them a lead to follow and Shawna was hoping that one of the five names on her list would prove to be their culprit. If she found the forger and the forger fingered Gabe, perhaps their case could be solved. Her mind, however, was not thinking up a story with which to approach these forgers with. Instead, she was thinking about Rafee and how she had fibbed to Tara about her attraction to him. She’d even spent several hours on the Internet looking up web sites on his country and learning all about Kumar and the United Arab Emirates. Though the country was modernized and growing commercially, the information she discovered offered her little insight into the ways of Rafee. He was still puzzling, although not as puzzling as before their heart to heart talk in the van, and she found herself wanting to discover all his secrets. “Just give it up and get back to thinking up a plan,” she told herself, after a night wasted on thoughts of him. It was Friday morning now, and she had to contact her five forgers today and think up an excuse to meet with them. Her mind, however, was still not working and she fought every instinct to pick up the phone and call Rafee. What she needed was to get away and drive. But her Mustang, her classic convertible, was still at Eddy’s shop where she had failed to pick it up nearly two weeks before. So, she would find herself a ride there and collect her car. Then, she’d take a long drive through the rolling hills of Napa Valley and think herself up a plan. She looked for Tara and discovered, via the very rude Jamaal, that she and Nikash were out riding. Devesh was on a conference call and Omar insisted he was not allowed to leave the estate as per Rafee’s instructions. Finding a ride was not working. “I’ll talk to Rafee about that,” Shawna had said to Omar and stalked out to the patio to find Rafee just turning off his cellular phone and his handsome face frowning. “Rafee, can I ask you something?” she exited the kitchen glass doors and asked. He looked at her, his face still frowning. “If you must.” “Could I borrow Omar for an hour? I need to be dropped someplace.” “No. He will stay here,” he snapped. Shawna frowned and Rafee forced himself not to notice how those perfect lips of hers formed the expression. He’d been noticing too much about Shawna and since he’d kissed her, he’d thought of little else—until now. He’d just received a phone call from Kumar and the news was concerning. “Are we back to arguing again?” she asked. Rafee was ready to attack and insist that they were, but Shawna quickly stepped closer and looked critically at his face. “What is it? You’re not just grumpy, something happened. What?” she inquired. Taken back by how she had so easily read him, Rafee answered without thinking, “It is Kumar. There was a fire in the stables there too. Much like this one here. No one was hurt and all the horses were spared. I suppose that answers our questions about what the fire here meant.” Shawna gasped and her hand immediately landed on his arm. “Oh, no! That means whoever is threatening your family has access to your palace.” “Yes, and Villa Serena too. It’s as if they are toying with us and proving that they can get to us anywhere—America or Kumar,” Rafee finished, amazed at how alike their thinking was when it came to solving a mystery. He wondered if taking Shawna back to Kumar wouldn’t be a good decision after all. They did work well together, aside from the occasional, or not so occasional, tiff and she might prove helpful in the long run. “I’m so sorry,” she said, then slipped her hand into his. She’d gone from touching his arm to holding his hand. And that struck her as odd because she generally was not the type of person who comforted people with a touch and Rafee did not seem to be the type of man who needed it either. Realizing that, she pulled her hand away and conceded, ‘”I can see why you want Omar to stay here then. I’ll find a ride someplace else.” “I will take you,” Rafee suddenly offered. He’d liked her comforting touch and found that she had eased much of his burden. “We can discuss Tara’s case and mine while we drive,” he added as though that was the only reason he wanted to drive her. They drove Nik’s forest green SUV toward San Francisco. Eddy’s garage was located half way between San Francisco and Calistoga in a middle class suburb of the city. He had taken over their father’s mechanic practice and moved it out of Calistoga for better business. Though Calistoga was beautiful, it was small, and her father had barely made enough money for their modest house and four children. But he had refused to relocate for he had wanted his children to grow up in a rural environment that wasn’t spoiled by the dirt of the big city. And she was thankful for his efforts. She may not have been born rich, but she had learned the value of hard work and family and community. They pulled into Eddy’s garage, and her bear of an older brother strolled out with a frown, wiping the grease from his hands. “I was about to put your baby up for sale, Shawna,” he quipped. “It’s been ready for well over a week now. Didn’t Joseph tell you?” “He told me,” Shawna said as Rafee exited the car and stepped next to her. “I’ve been working.” “Still chasing down cheating husbands?” he taunted. “Not this time around,” she said and again thought about how she would solve her case on Gabe Bryant. Eddy’s hazel eyes turned to Rafee and he held out his hand, “I’m Eddy Patrick. Shawna’s brother.” Shawna had been hoping to get her car and leave before introductions were necessary, but her brother had noticed the tall, handsome man next to her after all and she was waiting for the worst to begin. Anytime she was seen with a man by one of her brother’s it was Twenty Questions time and Shawna despised the game they played. “Rafee Armanjani,” Rafee said, shaking his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Turning to Shawna, Eddy cracked, “At least this one has manners, Shawna.” Rolling her eyes and placing her hands upon her hips, she returned, “He’s just my ride. Don’t start.” Turning to Rafee, Shawna explained, “You’ll have to excuse my brother, he sometimes lacks manners. In fact, all my brothers lack manners.” Rafee said nothing and before Shawna could grab her keys and speed away, Eddy inquired, “You from around here, Rafee?” “I am staying on my brother’s estate in Calistoga,” he said simply. They began walking around the garage to a fenced-in compound, which held several autos in various stages of repair. “So, you’re just visiting? Where are you from?” “Kumar,” Rafee said. Eddy halted and turned to look at his sister with confusion. “United Arab Emirates,” Shawna clarified and when her brother still looked at her with a furrowed brow, she added, “Persian Gulf. Middle East.” He continued to frown. “Where we get most of our oil.” Finally, Eddy smiled. He lightly tapped Rafee on the arm and said, “Well, then, I might just like you after all. Come on, you like classic cars? I have some beauties I’m working on.” Gawking, Shawna watched as Rafee and her brother stopped next to a 1964 Camero and started talking cars. Rafee had said nothing but in greeting before now, and Eddy was actually being civil. It could only be attributed to the fact that she had insisted Rafee was only a ride, nothing else, otherwise Eddy would be attempting to run Rafee over with one of his classic cars, not show them off. Shawna found her car and sat in the driver’s seat, waiting for Rafee and her brother to return. Her Mustang was cherry red with white vinyl seats and it was her only prized material possession. In fact, material goods meant very little to her. She only needed a few possessions to be happy, and her car was on that short list. In fact, just sitting in her car again was giving her ideas. She glanced at Rafee and caught his denim clad back end as he leaned under the hood of one of her brother’s newest creations. She allowed her eyes to travel the length of his long, sturdy legs, taking in the lace-up black boots and black belt, the form fitting white ribbed Tee and those stylish Oakely sunglasses that hung from his pocket. He was perfect in his style and physical shape, even from behind, and she again wondered what he thought of a simple girl like herself who dressed in faded denim with yellow cotton shirts and who wore her straight hair in a bland ponytail. She banished those thoughts from her mind, because they had once again interfered with her plotting. She was supposed to be thinking about their case. Shawna pulled the paper with the names and contact numbers for the forgers from her pocket. She studied it over, closed her eyes and pointed to a name. Using her cell phone, she called the number. No one answered. Randomly choosing from the last four names, she called another number and a New York accented voice answered, “Yeah, this is Rodney. What do you need?” Calmly, Shawna said, “I was calling because Gabe Bryant…” She was going to explain that Gabe Bryant had recommended him for a job and that she had needed something similar. But the man cut her off and immediately said, “Look, if this is his secretary again, tell him I’ll have those documents finished by Sunday as he requested so he can pick them up out here.” Bingo! Shawna was so surprised she could barely reply. Finally, she answered, “Of course, Mr. Rodney…” “Its just Rodney.” “Yes, Rodney, like I was saying, there is no huge rush, but Mr. Bryant was wondering if perhaps he could have them just a little earlier.” “How much earlier?” “Uh, Saturday night?” Shawna asked, hoping to be able to beat Gabe to the punch and seize more documentation against him. With enough money for a bribe, she might also be able to get the forger to hand over something on Gabe that she could in turn hand over to the police. “Gabe knows I work out of my street office at the Wheel House on Saturdays. Is he willing to come down to a dive bar to pick those things up?” Rodney asked. “He’s sending me this time.” “With the cash too?” “Of course. Uh, One thous…” she began to name off an amount. “Two thousand. One thousand per document,” he insisted. “Right,” Shawna said. “And he’d like another copy of a power of attorney forgery you did back in May. The one on Walter Malone.” “Yeah, I remember that one. I still have a copy of it too in my files.” “Good, because I’m afraid a file clerk accidentally shredded half of that file along with the power of attorney. We’ll bring an extra thousand for it,” Shawna offered, happy that this was indeed the man who had done the forgery of Mr. Malone’s signature. Now she would have the document and not just a copy of the one she stole. With all that, she was certain she could hand the information over to the police and not have to jeopardize her PI license. “So, Saturday night, three thousand at the Wheel House. Just drop my name at the front door sometime after ten o’clock and you’ll get in,” he said. “Thank you,” Shawna started to say and the man hung up. She had until tomorrow night to find three thousand dollars. Perhaps she would be able to prove that Gabe had not only swindled Mr. Malone, but that he was also cheating other people in Calistoga. And if he was cheating others, she was positive she could solve Tara’s problems that much quicker. Having caught such an amazing break, Shawna felt a surge of excitement course through her gut. She jumped out of her car and ran immediately to Rafee where he was still leaning under the hood of her brother’s car, looking at the shiny chrome engine and discussing horsepower and block sizes. “Rafee,” she said with enthusiasm as she grabbed his arm. He jumped and she heard the thud as his head made contact with the car hood. He groaned and Shawna reacted instinctively by placing a hand on his head. “I’m sorry,” she apologized, half sincerely, half with a smile. She never thought she could have caught Rafee off guard. “Not to worry, it was only my head,” he growled. With a crooked smile and a devious glint in her eye, Shawna returned, “That’s right, you hardly use it.” “Don’t let my sister get the best of you,” Eddy insisted stepping forward and closing the car’s hood. “She’ll do it too. She’s got a wicked mean streak in her.” “If I do, its all thanks to you and Joseph and Billy,” she argued. “Besides, Raf here can more than take care of himself when it comes to arguing with me.” She could see a retort growing in Rafee’s eyes, so she quickly cut him off and said, “But right now I have some huge news for you, Rafee, so don’t start arguing.” Shawna grabbed Rafee by the hand and began pulling him away from her brother. “What news?” Rafee asked as they neared her car. When his eyes landed on her Mustang, he dropped her hand and began a close inspection of the car. “Rafee,” Shawna said, trying to grab his attention. Ignoring her, he admitted, “There is one thing about America that I do admire and that is its classic cars.” He ran his hand over the front fender and Shawna shivered as she imagined that hand was on her skin. Then she shook her head because she had to tell him about her plan. “I love this car, Shawna,” he confessed. His confession caused her to balk again, for he had never seemed like a man overly excited about anything. But the look on his face now as he surveyed her car was one only seen upon the face of a child at Christmas. “You do?” she inquired. He nodded, but his eyes were pealed to the Mustang. “Did your brother give you this?” he asked. “Sort of. He gave me the body and he and I rebuilt it together.” It was then that Rafee’s eyes landed on her. He’d always known Shawna was a different breed than most women, but having learned that she also knew something of autos peaked his interest even more. Classic cars were a passion of his and the thought that Shawna shared this interest with him made him instantly forgive her for causing him to bump his head. “Again, I find that you are full of surprises,” he replied. “I have not met a woman before who could not only argue me into a corner, but also rebuild her own car. You impress me, Shawna.” “Even though I made you bump your head and almost sent you packing back to Kumar two days ago?” “Let’s not push the compliment too far,” he warned lightly, not wanting to admit that indeed he was that impressed. “I won’t. Besides, I have a lot to tell you. I was busy while you were talking cars with my brother and we have a date for Saturday night,” Shawna said. “We do?” he asked, hating for a moment that he had been left out of the loop of her decision making. Then he remembered this was her country they were in and that he was only assisting. So he backed down and allowed her to explain. She told him what had transpired on the phone and that by sheer chance she had discovered that Gabe was having more documents forged. She also informed him that they would be taking a trip to San Francisco tomorrow to retrieve those documents and that they would need at least three thousand dollars cash. “So, what do you think?” Shawna asked when she was finished. “I think we have been taking entirely too many of Mr. Bryant’s documents,” he drawled. “But this is our only lead right now. If we can prove that the power of attorney was forged and who forged it, perhaps we would have enough information for your authorities.” “That’s what I was hoping. And the money? Do you think it’ll be a problem to get it together? I have some, but not all and…” She began to explain when Rafee cut her off. “The money is no object. I do not want you to worry about it. I will take care of all expenses,” he told her with a tone that did not lend itself to argument. “But I do want one thing from you.” “Anything,” she said, then was sorry she had allowed that word to escape her mouth when a mischievous grin filled his face. “This car. I want this car,” he told her. Dangling the keys in front of her, she said, “I’ll let you drive it home, but you’re not getting this car, Rafee.” He rounded the car and stood too close to her. Was he invading her space to intimidate her about the car, or for some other reason? His long fingers grasped the keys and captured her fingertips in the process. Holding her fingers hostage, he declared, “I have a way of getting what I want, Shawna. Even a woman as courageous as yourself will be no match.” “It’s not for sale,” she stated simply, hoping the slight tremor in her voice didn’t give her away that his nearness and slight touch was toppling her will power. “You could name your price.” “Money doesn’t matter to me.” They were words he never would have thought he’d hear coming from an American woman’s mouth. And even if he had heard an American utter those words, he doubted he would have believed them until now. No, money did not matter to Shawna and he wondered why it had taken him so long to realize that. Rafee’s eyes scanned her and he tilted his handsome face to the side so he could see the length of her. Then with an unreadable tone, he said, “No, I don’t suppose it does matter to you.” If he meant that it was obvious she didn’t dress in designer clothes and wear expensive jewelry, then Shawna wasn’t going to argue to change his mind. It was true, she didn’t care about status or power or money. She lived her life as she wanted to live it, not caring what the rest of the world thought. And if some billionaire oil sheik was going to think her common for her simple ways, then she needed to prove nothing to him. Stepping back, she said coolly, “You can drive it, but it’s not for sale, Rafee.” He’d offended her with his words and he wondered why, for he had just bestowed a compliment upon her. But she didn’t know of his history in college, he realized, and so his comment more than likely had been heard as a taunt and not as an amazing realization. He, however, was not a man who would stand and beg for forgiveness for a misunderstanding so he simply took the keys and said, “I’ll meet you back at the estate.” He revved the engine and drove away. “Nice guy,” Eddy walked up and commented. “And you say you’re not dating?” “Hell no!” Shawna snapped. “He’s helping me on a case.” “Too bad,” he replied, “because for once you brought over someone with some poise and brains.” “He’s arrogant,” Shawna insisted harshly, still angry at how Rafee could so easily twist her emotions. One moment she was elated about her discovery and the next she was ready to explode from one careless comment. She doubted, though, that anything Rafee said was careless. He more than likely planned out each word in an attempt to control every outcome in his conversations. “A man has to be arrogant to put up with you, sis,” Eddy remarked. “A weaker one would only end up under the tread of your shoes.” She fumed over both Rafee and Eddy’s words as she drove Nik’s SUV home. In fact, she was so focused on her anger that she failed to see Rafee parked in the horseshoe shaped drive in front of the main house until she had parked the SUV in the large four-car garage. He was sitting in the front seat of her Mustang, the top down as she had left it at Eddy’s garage, and sporting those wire-rimmed bronze shades. He was talking on his cellular phone and clicked it off only after she approached. “You look like you belong in here in California with the phone, the shades and the car,” she quipped. Trying to sound light, for he had made a compromise to himself on the way over that he would not apologize to Shawna for anything he may have said, but that he would not agitate her further, he returned, “That’s because this car fits me.” “It’s not for sale,” she repeated. “Give it time,” he countered. “Men and cars!” “Women and not giving men what they want,” he said back. Shawna shook her head at him. Rafee only smiled smugly then insisted, “Get in.” Shawna asked, “Why?” “Nikash and Tara just called. They asked us to pick up Jenny from school.” “Why can’t they do it?” she asked, not in the mood to spend the rest of her afternoon with Rafee after he had pointed out to her that she obviously did not appreciate money or the finer things in life. “I suppose they are…engaged in other activities,” he said evasively. Shawna slid into the passenger seat, tugging her own Raybands over her eyes and asked, “And they just assume we’re not engaged as well this afternoon?” She was only feeling put out because she was trapped with Rafee. Lowering his head toward hers and looking at her eye level he said, “Of course not. Hell has not yet frozen over…remember?” Shawna blushed because she suddenly realized to what activities Rafee had been referring. And like a stupid innocent she had insinuated that they too would be “engaged.” “Oh, of course not,” she replied. Shaking his head to himself, because he suddenly realized that when it came to talk of intimacy, Shawna always blushed or turned defensive, he started the car and drove down the winding estate drive. He glanced at Shawna out of the corner of his eye and watched as she kept her stare fixed out her side window. He wondered why she turned shy or argumentative whenever there was talk of closeness, even jokingly, for she was a very sensual woman. The way she had kissed him just the day before had him convinced of that. There was nothing wrong with her ability to physically attract the opposite sex, so he wondered why she acted as though there was. They drove in silence for a long while. Rafee took the longer route to the school for he enjoyed the feel of the Mustang upon the roads as they wove through Calistoga’s grapevines. He felt a sense of freedom as he drove, lifting his immense burdens from his shoulders as the car’s tires rolled upon pavement. Nikash found freedom in galloping his stallion Raja across the lands; Rafee found it in a long, fast drive. “I like this,” he said aloud as he accelerated around a corner. “I know, but its not for sale,” Shawna again told him. “No, I was referring to driving through the country here. Its relaxing,” he explained. “You relax? I never would have guessed. I just thought you walked around suspecting and distrusting everyone in your path while tossing out orders to your underlings.” “Do not tempt me into an argument, Shawna,” he warned firmly. “I am not seeking one.” “And I wasn’t looking for one until you taunted me at my brother’s garage,” she answered. He looked away from the road for only a moment and could see that her eyes were now upon his profile. She was angry and he could no longer ignore it. He wanted to know why. “I did not taunt you or insult you. And if you heard that in anything I said, it was misunderstood,” he declared. “I think we misunderstand everything about each other,” she said on a sigh. “That is only because we are both too proud and aggressive,” he reasoned. Realizing that she had overreacted to Rafee’s words at Eddy’s and thinking it was best just to call off the argument, Shawna acknowledged, “I suppose you’re right. So I won’t argue any further. I’ll just enjoy the ride.” “Enjoy the ride and consider selling me your car?” he asked. Already having told him three times that she would never sell her Mustang, Shawna tried a different approach and said, “I’m afraid this baby wouldn’t do well in sand.” “We have paved roads in Kumar,” he said matter of factly. “And it doesn’t have air conditioning. Aren’t the summers a scorcher over there?” “I can survive the heat.” “This car represents classic America. Could you stand that?” “For this car, I could stand anything.” Shawna ran her hand over the red dash, thinking about all the work she had put into this car. It was more than just the fact that she had always admired classic Mustangs. It was what this car represented and that was hard work and family. Her brother had given her the body and together they had turned it into what it was. To sell the car for profit would cheapen its value. “I could never sell this car to anyone, Rafee. Not even to you,” she said. “Then I will accept your decision and ask for your brother’s card. Perhaps he could build me something almost as perfect as this car.” “You’re giving up? I’m shocked.” “I said I was accepting your decision. I never said I was giving up,” he returned. “Do not confuse the two.” “There’s a fine line there,” she pointed out. “Yes, but a line none the less,” he insisted. Their conversation was yet another example of Rafee’s unbendable inner structure. It was obvious he never gave up and never admitted he was wrong. Not entirely. He always left room there for his pride and Shawna had to admire a man who could finesse his way through a battle with such tact. They picked up Jenny from school, and being a Friday, she insisted they not return home just yet. “Come on, lets do something,” she begged. “Besides, I’m sure Nik and Tara are busy.” Rafee and Shawna looked at each other with knowledge and finally agreed. The child was right, it was Friday and Nik and Tara were busy—very busy. “Where to?” Rafee inquired. “We are at your service tonight.” “Cool,” the teen returned, “my own sheik chauffeur.” Rafee laughed and Shawna noticed that around Jenny he was very flexible, very at ease. In fact, when the girl insisted they go to an outdoor restaurant for dinner, he readily agreed and when she begged for the drive-in movie theater that was showing some horrible teen comedy, he didn’t balk. He even agreed to sit in the backseat with Jenny and Shawna to watch the movie because according to Jenny, “that was how it was done at a drive-in.” “I think Jenny has her drive-in movie facts a little wrong,” Shawna said to Rafee with a chuckle in her voice as the teen girl left to buy popcorn and soda. “The backseat was always reserved for other activities at a drive-in, and not for actually watching the movie.” “And that would be?” Rafee asked back. Shawna was sorry she had begun the conversation. Throughout their evening together, she had noticed all there was to notice about Rafee. She’d seen his manners, his kindness with Jenny and now that she was sitting next to him in the backseat, having failed to shift away after Jenny’s departure, she was noticing that his thigh burned next to hers. “You really don’t know?” she inquired. He shook his head and Shawna could tell that not a clue was entering his brain. It was funny, for she had always thought when it came to talk of kissing and sex, he would know it all. “I have never been to a drive-in theater before.” He glanced around at the sparse cars. “I find them kind of interesting.” “They’re a dying novelty in America. Everyone goes to those twenty-theater stadium-seating complexes now with surround sound. Seeing a movie from a hundred yards away with the sound coming from a metal speaker hooked to your window while you make-out in the backseat of your car just doesn’t appeal to our culture any longer. People are serious about their movies now. In fact, I doubt teens even make-out in the back of theaters anymore. They actually go to the movies to watch them,” Shawna said. She was practically snuggled against Rafee, his arm draped over the backseat of the car. She really should move to the left where Jenny was sitting, but the girl would no doubt be back shortly and only push her back over. So, using that as an excuse to remain next to Rafee’s warm and solid body, Shawna didn’t move. A light of recognition entered Rafee’s eyes and he said, “So that’s what you do in the backseat at a drive-in. Makes sense.” Shawna laughed and felt her face heat as an image of she and Rafee making-out like kids in the backseat of her Mustang entered her mind. “I suppose we’ve just inundated you with American culture tonight: hamburgers at a horrible restaurant, bad comedy movies and now images of couples in backseats. I see why you think we lack anything worthwhile.” “The food was not so great, the movie sounds very bad but…” Rafee paused as he felt Shawna shift against him. He’d spent several hours in her company today and now that she was pressed next to him, he felt like trying one of those American traditions she’d mentioned. He wasn’t a man who usually held back and though he knew to be cautious with Shawna, he was beginning to feel rather reckless. “But?” Shawna asked. He looped his arm around her shoulders. “But I just might enjoy the tradition of the backseat,” he said lowly before he captured her lips. If Rafee had been the one who’d failed to respond the day before in the park, Shawna was the one unmoving now. She froze with shock until his strong lips worked a magic upon her that caused her to feel comfortable enough to kiss him back. His arm squeezed her to him and he explored her lips for a while with a very undemanding touch. He was holding back, for he could feel the tremble of hesitancy in Shawna’s lips. She had expected none of this from him and if he moved too fast, she could very easily turn him away. But when her lips began to give back more than he was offering, he knew the time to heat things up had arrived. Pulling her atop him, he forced her to straddle him on the seat and when she gasped with surprise, he deepened the kiss with a ravishing urgency. Shawna’s body heated instantly when she felt Rafee’s body beneath her and his tongue caressing her own. He was an expert kisser—very sensual and erotic. Using just his lips and tongue he was able to ignite fires in her belly that had been dormant for entirely too long. He was not only expert, he was forceful. His hands held her face firmly in place and his mouth was unyielding in its demand. This man took control with his lovemaking and Shawna only kissed him back harder as she thought about how excited that image made her feel. Rafee may have started the kiss, but Shawna was beginning to take control of it. He never realized she was so aggressive in her sexuality. Their kiss the day before had been mostly for show, partly because he had considered taking it farther. But she had merely kissed him and not attacked him as she was now doing. Her participation in this kiss prompted him to want more. A fire was burning inside him and he was not one who enjoyed allowing it to burn out on its own. With that in mind, he moved his hands from her face and cupped her firm bottom with his hands, bringing her closer to him. She moaned from his touch and he moved one hand to her T-shirt covered breasts. He caressed gently for a moment and could feel her breasts heightened response through her clothing. Shawna moaned again, somewhere deep in her throat, and tore her lips away as she breathed heavily in the night air. With her distraction, Rafee trailed his lips down her neck and suckled on her sweet skin, while his hand continued to knead the rounded flesh in his hand. Shawna was gasping for air. This assault from Rafee’s tongue and hands were too much for her body to handle and she was positive she would begin crying out for him to satisfy her right then and there. But they were in a public setting, and despite the fact that Rafee’s hands were expertly teasing her and his lips were more satisfying than any she’d felt before, she placed a reluctant hand upon his face and said, “We’d better slow down.” Immediately he halted and pulled his hands from her body. She slid off his lap and stared up at his face. If he was as winded as she, it didn’t show. More than likely, it was all in a night’s work for him, she surmised, and it probably took more than some backseat and a drive-in to get him interested. “Well, that’s one way to indoctrinate you into our culture,” Shawna said with humor as she licked her bottom lip, feeling its swollen, moist surface. Shawna may have halted their escapade, but Rafee wanted nothing more than to continue. And as that velvety tongue of hers licked across her bottom lip, Rafee could not hold back. Leaning his head toward hers, he replied, “I don’t think I completely understood this aspect of your culture. Perhaps you should show me again.” He kissed her again and placed a hand on the back of her head to pull her mouth more firmly against his. She was sitting next to him again, and he wanted her back on his lap. In fact, he wanted her naked and on his lap. Forget all the arguments and disagreements they’d had these past couple days, he wanted her! It was a realization that exploded in his mind with a thousand voices that he was sure everyone around them could hear. And in case they couldn’t, he pulled his lips from hers and whispered in her ear, “I believe hell is a much colder place tonight, my darling. And I want nothing less than to lock the doors, put the roof on this car and take everything I desire from you.” Shawna froze with her hands around his neck and her lips on his cheek. His words were so wanton and direct. She believed he would lock the doors, put up the roof and take her with no further ceremony. But she couldn’t do that, not here, not like this. She had only slept with a man once before and she was certain that after eight years without practice, she didn’t possess the ability to satisfy a man in the backseat of a car. Her clumsy attempts would only embarrass her. But she was spared having to explain that to Rafee, for a shocked and giggling voice erupted from the left side of the car, “So this is what adults do at the movies.” Thank goodness she was only sitting next to Rafee with her lips on his cheek! Imagine if Jenny had caught their act just moments before with her climbing his lap like a woman possessed. But she had seen only what looked like a simple embrace and an innocent kiss. They jumped apart and Shawna quickly turned Jenny’s way. The girl was blushing and laughing and Shawna wanted to do the same. “I, uh, was just…well, I was…,” Shawna tried to explain. “That’s all right, Shawna, I know what a kiss is,” Jenny said. “Yeah, I guess you do,” Shawna returned. Jenny giggled again and said, “I guess I know the answer to my next question seeing how you two probably want to be left alone.” “Uh, not exactly,” Shawna argued, wishing Rafee would help to dispel Jenny’s claims instead of sitting there looking completely in control and unabashed. “Rachel, my friend, is here with her family,” Jenny continued to explain, ignoring Shawna’s argument. “See, the minivan over there.” She pointed and Shawna made out Jeff and Cynthia Moore with their two children. Shawna recognized Jeff Moore from the fire. “They invited me to watch the movie with them. They’ll drive me home afterward. Okay?” Jenny asked. “Of course,” Shawna agreed, thinking it easier to send the teen on her way now, than to try and sit through the rest of the movie in awkwardness. “Cool. See you,” she said with a taunting grin and jogged into the night. Shawna watched Jenny shrink in the distance, then reluctantly turned and faced Rafee. She’d scooted away with the interruption, and a good two feet now separated them. Rafee was seated casually, his arm again on the back seat of the car and his eyes were burning brightly in the night. “That was embarrassing,” Shawna quipped. “Why?” Rafee asked. “You were only kissing me.” Only kissing him? Shawna gaped at him for she had been doing much more than just touching her lips to his. She had been pressing her body to his, moaning with desire and attacking his lips with more passion than she realized she possessed. That was much more than just kissing. She realized, however, that if she overreacted to his statement, he’d only see through her thin veneer of experience. If he saw it as “only kissing” then she would mirror that. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. It was only a simple kiss,” Shawna replied with forced indifference. “Like I said yesterday, you’re not bad. But I have had better.” At first, Rafee bristled at her comment. Not bad? She’d had better? He doubted that for he was as confident in his skills with lovemaking as he was with driving a car. But he couldn’t bring himself to act upon his brief irritation, for he suddenly realized that he’d never felt quite so much heat from so short a session of passion. That spooked him—completely and totally. “As have I,” he replied, hoping he sounded calm after his epiphany. “Then I suppose you’ve had enough American culture for one night. What do you say we skip the rest of the movie and drive back to the estate? I have some planning to do before tomorrow night,” Shawna said. Rafee agreed, hopping out of the backseat and rounding the car for the driver’s side. “Agreed. I’d much rather drive the car than sit in the backseat anyhow,” he said mockingly and started the engine, waiting for Shawna to move to the front. “I suppose I should have expected a comment such as that,” Shawna said as she shook her head and slowly made her way to the passenger seat. “But I won’t take offense to it Rafee, because I know how much you like this car. More than me even.” “No, I love this car,” he taunted. “I only sometimes like you.” It was a joke, Shawna could hear the teasing humor in his voice. So she laughed, though she wasn’t feeling humorous and allowed him to drive her home. Getting to sleep tonight was going to be the most difficult task she had encountered yet. It was obvious for the feel of his hands upon her chest and the burning on her lips had yet to subside and she doubted the sensations would until many weeks later. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Warrior - Chapter 7 |