by Leah Leonard
****
Sarah couldn’t; believe she actually left the hotel and her group behind. What was she thinking? Still, she was thrilled to be here with Ghazi and see his home. The place was magnificent. “I love it.”
“Want to go swimming? I have a pool here. We can hit the beach tomorrow.”
"I don't have a suit," she told him.
"That's quite alright. You won't need one here." He grinned.
"Sorry, but I'll require something to wear," she told him.
He disappeared and returned a moment later with three ladies suits, all brand new with tags still on. "We have some here," he said, holding up the two string bikinis, tossing the one piece to the side. "I prefer these, of course."
"And why do you have bikinis and ladies suits here? Whose are they?" She wasn't about to wear something if it belonged to his girlfriend or lover.
"I have no idea."
Sarah studied him.
“Seriously,” he lifted his hands in surrender, and appeared to be sincere.
She sighed. "All right. Give me one."
Ghazi tossed her the smallest of the three. "I’ll be waiting outside."
As crazy as this was, Sarah wanted an adventure, and the stakes now were higher than ever. She’d come this far, so why not have some fun?
CHAPTER NINE
Ghazi sat on the edge of the freshwater pool in the garden and looked out at the sea, waiting for Sarah to reappear. He wondered if she might enjoy the pool more than the ocean.
She showed up a few moments later barely covered in the white triangle topped bikini with gold and white bottoms. His mouth gaped open. Her breasts were firm, rounded and filled the top almost too well. Adjusting himself, his eyes moved down her torso. He studied her flat abdomen. He imagined holding her, rubbing her there.
"Does this look alright?" Sarah tugged at the strings.
Ghazi hoped they would loosen and the cloth would fall to the ground. "Of course. I like it very much."
She twisted and turned, offering him a side view of her rounded bottom.
Not wanting to reveal his arousal, Ghazi dived into the deep end of the pool to cool himself off.
****
Sarah tried not to stare when Ghazi emerged from the pool and
slicked his glossy black hair away from his face. His hair lay on his chest and legs in brushstrokes so perfect, a master painter could have placed them there.
His body was even more arousing than she imagined it would be and she realized this was the first time she'd ever seen any part of him unclothed since they met years before. Thank God she hadn't gotten this view of him in high school or she was sure he would have ruined her for anyone else. As it was, the thought of him now made her abandon all previous values and the dreams of marrying the first man who bedded her. She wanted him, she was sure of it, despite her lack of experience, if he got any closer to her, she wasn't sure she could control the heat rising up in her belly.
"Join me?" Ghazi splashed water on the slate tiles surrounding his pool. His white teeth flashing.
She studied his full lips. "Uh…sure." She walked to the edge of the pool and carefully tried to sit without exposing her private parts to his unbending gaze. "This suit is a little…"
"Small?"
"I was going to say tight, but yes, small too."
"I like it. Very much."
"Yeah, I'll bet you do." When she finally got herself seated, she slipped her feet and legs into the water and gasped. "This is cold!"
Ghazi laughed. "Yes, our weather is much different than Dallas. Not so hot."
"You remember that?"
"How could I forget?" He climbed from the pool, lifting himself up with his brawny arms. “Hot and humid. Unbearable, if you ask me.”
The only unbearable thing Sarah could think of right now was how in the world she could control herself. She studied how his hands gripped the edges of the pool and wished he would do the same to her.
"We can get in the hot tub, if you'd like." Ghazi crossed the deck and adjusted the jets. “I turned it on a few minutes ago and it’s already starting to get warm.”
"Sure."
Ghazi slipped inside first, held out a hand to her. "Come. This is better for you. Warmer."
Hotter with him around, she thought. Sarah tiptoed down the steps and sank under the warm water, leaned against a jet, allowing the pulsating water to loosen her up and help her relax the primal attraction building within her.
Before she could do so, Ghazi lifted her into his arms and on his lap, his mouth pressing hers in a fit of passion.
Rather than pull away, she sank into him, feeling her way through the muscles and mass of hair on his chest.
Ghazi hungrily tugged at her neck with his teeth. "Sarah, I want you."
She moaned in pleasure, unaware of the fact his hands were wandering over every inch of her body. "Stop." She sat upright, pulled herself from his arms and moved to a small step by the entrance to the tub.
Ghazi held his hands up like a man being led off to prison, guilty as charged. "Sorry."
"It's okay…I just…" She almost told him about her status, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to go there. “I don't know."
Ghazi slid toward her. "I care about you, Sarah. A lot, if that’s what you’re worried about."
She studied his face. "I want to believe you."
"Then do, because I speak the truth. You're a beautiful and bright woman, Sarah. Any man would be lucky to have you, and I plan to be that man." Ghazi sat on the edge of the hot tub and rubbed her back and neck. “I insist on it.”
Sarah shivered in the heated water at the touch of his hands. She couldn't believe he was talking to her like this.
"Want a towel?"
"Sure."
He disappeared and returned a moment later, holding out a towel big enough for the both of them to fit into. "Come."
She again did as he asked, closing her eyes as he dried every inch of her body. She wanted him to carry her inside, throw caution to the wind, give herself to him body, mind and soul, but should she? Was he telling her the truth?
When she was dry, Ghazi wrapped her up so tight, her arms wouldn't move. He pulled her close, kissed her, exploring her mouth with his tongue.
She relaxed into him, allowing the connection, experiencing sensations while he stimulated her like never before. "Oh, Ghazi."
Without a word, he lifted her into his arms.
"Where are you taking me?"
"To the shower."
"What about your staff? The nice lady we saw? What will she think?"
"I gave her the night off." Without further explanation, he carried her inside to a room with a large round bed and placed her carefully in the center. Straddling her, he kissed her deeply.
She rolled to the side.
"What troubles you, darling?"
How could she tell him about her virginal status? She couldn't. Period. He wouldn't understand. "Nothing."
“Sure about that?”
“Yes.”
"I know you want to get into the mood. That is fine. Why don't we take a shower first? Hmm? You and I, together, water running over our naked bodies?" He ran his finger up her thigh, teasing her, kissing her neck. "What do you say?"
"I…um…"
Before she could answer, his phone rang. He glanced at it, grimaced and sighed. "I need to take this. I apologize."
"That's fine." She certainly wasn't about to get in the way of any business he had to deal with, on the contrary, part of her wished he would get called to the office right this minute so she could forget the lustful thoughts filling her mind after he dried her off.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
“I promise I won’t be a moment.”
“That’s fine.” Sarah rolled out from under him and walked to the window.
"Deniz here," he answered and listened to the caller for a moment, cupped the phone with his hand. "Go see the beach. I should only be
a few minutes. Go on and if you are not back by the time I'm off the call, I will come find you so we can…" His eyebrows raised, his gaze bore a hole through her, as he examined her bare skin and the chill now hardening her in places she wasn't sure she wanted him to see just yet.
Yanking the towel from his hand, Sarah wrapped herself up and went out to the beach where she hoped to clear her head and decide what to do about Ghazi Deniz.
****
Sarah stood on the rocky shores of Turkey staring out into the vast turquoise expanse of the Aegean Sea while the last line of golden pink light sat on the horizon illuminating the sky in a multitude of pastel shades and shadows. She had many firsts the past twenty-four hours – a trip to Turkey, an encounter with a long lost friend. She knew if she rejoined Ghazi in his bedroom she would never be the same again. Literally. She was about to give the man the most valuable possession she had to offer - herself. Should she? She'd planned to wait for marriage. Even though Ghazi said he cared about her, he wasn't the kind of guy to marry anyone, especially someone like her. He was a jet setter, a playboy. She was a normal girl from the suburbs. The two didn't mix. Maybe they worked as a temporary fling or summer fantasy, but not for a lifetime.
But did she really need to be concerned about marriage? She chose a challenging career and had real world responsibilities to contend with when she returned to the States - namely the fact she needed to continue to do well in school, graduate with honors and find a decent job to support herself.
Her parents' death was a shocker. She always relied on them for everything, but Sarah found out the hard way that even the best plans don't always work out. She couldn't rely on anyone but herself to provide her future, so would enjoying a physical chemistry like the one she shared with Ghazi really be so bad? Why shouldn’t she have fun, let her hair and more important, her guard down? Why not now? Why not today? And what better place to make such an important memory than Turkey?
Once she returned home at the end of the summer, she would go back to school and would need to find a part time job, at least. There wouldn't be any time left for socializing. She considered her favorite motto – Carpe Diem, Seize the Day. Why not seize this day? She would never be here again, or if she was, it would likely be after years of dedication in a well established career. One of the attractions to being a professor was the idea of having the summers off.
She strolled toward the water's edge and sank her feet deep into the piles of tiny pebbles tossed around the sea for eons. The ocean numbed her toes. A wave crashed against her legs, splashing her body and giving her courage to go further until the water rose to her thighs. She could be content being alone in her life, but she still wanted to enjoy herself. If offering her virginity to Ghazi brought pleasure and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Sarah would accept the consequences of her actions.
The trouble wasn’t in the mere doing of the deed she planned to save for that one special person, it was the attachment she knew she would have to the outcome of such an intimate connection. She tried telling herself that she could have sex and it could be all right if nothing permanent ever came out of it. She would go home in a few months time. Knowing Ghazi, he would have someone else in his bed within the week, if not sooner. He would not feel the same for her. She knew that.
After he left Dallas, Ghazi never gave her a second thought. She was certain of it. They shared a kiss, and while she imagined way back then that something would develop from it, she never heard from him again. So why in the world was she still so inexplicably drawn to him? Like a swirling bundle of hormones spinning out of control, she hated herself for allowing him to affect her this way.
Pain in relationship was bound to happen to her someday, though, so why not today? Why not make a spectacular memory of her first time in the most glorious setting on earth with the most gorgeous man she knew? If only she could temper her emotions, use him the way he planned to use her. Then she could get something from this, retain control and not give Ghazi the special emotions she saved for the man she married.
These days everyone knew happily ever after never turned out. People disappointed and deserted one another all the time, or as in the case of her parents, died and left forever. Life was painful. She knew that all too well.
Was she ready to fully enjoy this opportunity, this setting…this man?
Yes. Absolutely. She turned and walked back toward the house, planning to get what she wanted from this night. She had to.
****
Her walk turned into a jog. Five minutes later she stood dripping wet and shivering in Ghazi's bedroom. The smell of soap and water filled the air and steam seeped under the bathroom door. Her soon-to-be-lover hummed a tune and sang in his beautiful language.
The sound of his voice melted her. She wasn’t sure she could go through with this without being swept away by emotion. Part of her wanted to join him in the shower while her other half wanted to run while she still could.
Ghazi could never know she was so inexperienced. Whatever happened between them, she would keep quiet and hope he wouldn’t notice. She couldn't tell him. Ever.
If she wanted to change her mind, she would need to run from there fast. She turned toward the door, stared at the beach, contemplating her escape, but before she finished considering that option, Ghazi appeared wearing nothing but a towel. She would have to pretend to be more than she was, simple as that.
“Sorry about the call earlier.” He smiled and raked his fingers through his thick black curls, shook his head and splashed water everywhere. “How was the beach?”
She gulped. She studied his face and chest. “Good. Beautiful.”
“I told you.” He unhooked his towel in an effort to tighten it about his waist.
She couldn’t help having a look.
“Like what you see?” he teased.
She did. Very much. Too much. She nodded and only hoped her mouth wasn't gaping open. His cocoa brown skin, bronzed from the sun and surf stretched over the masculine ripples of his muscles. Every sinew, each curve was exactly where it would be had Michelangelo himself crafted this man from clay. She ran her gaze appreciatively over ever inch and feature and breathlessly answered, “Yes.”
With that proclamation, Ghazi dropped his towel completely and stood erect, like a Roman statue, allowing her to take him in. "Feel free to look all you like."
She followed his command, allowing her gaze to study every lean line and muscle, every sinew. Before she could respond, Ghazi snapped to her, forcefully cupping the nape of her neck in his palm, lifting her mouth to his, sucking the air and any inhibitions from her lungs. Her legs wobbled beneath her and as they were about to give out, he reached around, bracing the small of her back in his free hand and lifted her in his arms.
Sarah gasped.
"Don't worry, I've got you." He pulled her closer, kissed her hard before tossing her gently on the enormous bed in the center of the room.
Sarah stared up in amazement and watched while Ghazi grabbed her wrists and planted his hands on either side of her, leaning over to kiss his way over every available inch of her skin, and to her delight, a hot rush of liquid began forming between her thighs.
His hands reached under her back and he expertly untied the strings of the small bikini top.
Instinctively she covered herself with her hands.
"No," he pulled her hands off her breasts, kissing them tenderly. "Don't hide from me. You're beautiful, I want to see all of you. I’ve waited my whole life for this."
If he only knew! Sarah wanted nothing more than to believe him and the overwhelming sensations he gave her when he touched her sent any doubt or fear to the back of her mind.
CHAPTER TEN
Ghazi fell over Sarah’s slender body, straddling her with even more intensity than he had last night or earlier today, his mouth finding her rosy buds. He flicked them with the tip of his tongue, teased her with his teeth.
Sarah moaned in pleasure, stretching her long arms above her head
, arching her back, revealing the tender neckline he longed to explore.
Ghazi lowered his head and licked his way from her neck, then paused on each breast, venturing further to her flat stomach. He gripped her hips in both hands and nibbled her skin. Her scent intoxicated him and he leaned his full erection on her thigh, hoping she would grab him in her hands, or better yet, her mouth.
****
Sarah watched the breathtaking features moving eagerly over her body and wasn’t sure if she was strong enough to go through with this. Her mind was filled with the conflicting emotions of pure raw desire and passion and the thought that should this man become one with her, she wasn’t sure she would be able to dismiss him as merely an experience without wanting more from him than she knew a man like Ghazi could ever give.
Not to mention the fact that these hands which were sending her to unknown states of pleasure were experienced where she was not. She ran her fingers through his thick black curls and relished at watching him gaze lustily at her with his amber eyes.
His hands traced her hips and she cried out with pleasure, new wetness filling the space between her legs. Ghazi teased her by kissing her belly, his fingers sliding under her swim suit.
Should she? Could she? How could she not? She did not think she could stop him once her bikini bottoms were off. Dear God! What should she do?
His eyes probed her, questioning, seeming to sense her internal struggle to resist him. "Are you all right, my darling?"
Unwilling to allow this moment to slip through her fingers, she reached for her bottoms, yanked them down herself, kicking them to her ankles and freeing herself from them one foot at a time. "Yes, please don't stop."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
****
Like a weary traveler who crossed the desert and finally reached his oasis, Ghazi hungrily devoured her, opened her legs and kissed her warm wet center.
