by Cara Albany
He felt her slide her hand out of his gentle grasp, and she took a step away from him. He felt a tinge of disappointment. He'd thought it would have been nice for them to walk down onto the beach hand in hand, but she obviously had different ideas.
He closed the car door and when he turned back to Aliyah he saw that she was running down toward the beach. He paused for a moment, content to watch her, savoring the way the fabric of her dress danced around her body as she ran.
Then she reached the edge of the beach and reached down, taking off her shoes, discarding them while turning to look back at Shahid. "What are you waiting for?" she called out. Her voice floated upon the sound of the waves.
Shahid went quickly to her and in a moment he was by her side. She stood, barefoot, her toes curling into the sand. She seemed even smaller next to him, and he had to contain the urge to wrap his arm around her.
Shahid gazed out to sea, drawing in a deep breath. "The sea's calm today," he said.
"I'm sure the water's warm," she replied.
Shahid gazed at her, wondering what she was suggesting. "What are you thinking?" he asked.
Aliyah shrugged. "Nothing," she said. "Just that I haven't been in the sea for while," she said. "Have you?" she added lifting a brow.
Before he had a chance to reply, Aliyah leapt forward, her feet pounding across the flat sand. She turned back to him as she ran, smiling broadly and calling out to him. "See you in the water," she yelled.
Shahid groaned. What did this woman think he was?
"Okay. You win," he roared, kicking off his shoes and chasing after Aliyah.
Chapter Seven
Aliyah's bare feet splashed into the warm water of the Qazhar Sea. She squealed with delight, grabbing onto the hem of her dress and lifting it up so that it wouldn't get wet. She took a few more steps, enjoying the feeling of the water rising up to her knees, the small waves lapping against her skin.
She turned, realizing she was desperate to see Shahid. He was standing on the water's edge a few feet away, hands on hips, looking straight at her. What was that look on his face? Appreciation? Pleasure?
If that was the case, why was he not coming in after her?
"Scared of the water?" she taunted. She scooped up a handful of water and threw it in his direction. He didn't move a muscle, simply letting the water land on his white shirt and dark pants. With a scowl he looked down at his wet shirt.
"You want me to take all this off?" he called out to her, looking down at his shirt and pants.
Aliyah felt her throat tighten as the thought of that sunk in.
"Just roll your trousers up," she suggested, although she really didn't mean what she'd just said. Of course, she wanted him to take off his shirt. Maybe she wanted him to take everything off. Now, that would be a sight to behold, she told herself.
She could already see the contours of his firmly muscled torso through the wet fabric of his shirt. Aliyah felt her heart race, and she knew it was nothing to do with the fact that she standing in water.
"Really?" Shahid replied, sounding completely unconvinced.
Shahid shook his head and started to undo his pants, looking directly at her, a mischievous gleam in his eye. "Tell you what," he said. "I'll take these off, and just keep my shirt on. How about that?"
Aliyah froze on the spot, watching his fingers undo the buttons of his pants. "You don't need to go to all that trouble on my behalf," she said, trying desperately to sound casual, even though her heart was thudding and her pulse was racing.
"It's no trouble," he said with grin.
She could see that he hadn't bought her pretend indifference. His gaze was locked firmly on her, and one corner of his mouth had creased into a sardonic grin. He wasn't going to stop, she realized. No matter what she said, he was determined to take off his pants and step into the sea to be by her side. Was that so bad, after all?
Aliyah started toward him. "You don't need to do that," she started to say. "I'll come out and save you the trouble."
She halted when she saw him raise a hand. "Stay there, Aliyah," he said firmly. His tone of voice allowed no disagreement.
She stopped, feeling the waves lapping around her shins.
Then he started to slide his pants down across his hips, revealing his white shorts. Aliyah swallowed as she gazed at what was contained within those shorts. She dragged her gaze away for a few seconds and when she looked back at Shahid, she saw that he'd placed his pants down on the dry sand at his feet.
He started to come toward Aliyah, and with every step, she saw the sheer power of his movement, the animalistic ease with which he stepped into the water. His body contained a promise, forcing her to keep watching him as he strode toward her, the water splashing lightly around his bare legs. His long legs were powerfully muscled, the skin lightly covered in dark hair.
She saw the way Shahid watched her, the satisfaction written on his features. Now it was his turn to play with her, she told herself. During the drive out here, she'd done everything she could think of to keep Shahid off balance. She'd teased him, toyed with him, taunted him. All in good humor, of course. And she'd thought it had worked.
But, right now, Shahid looked like a completely different man. His brows were furrowed, hungry and determined looking. His eyes were dark, searching pools that threatened to draw her into even deeper waters.
The way he was advancing toward her was making nerves twist in her middle, causing heat to glow in a way that made the water around her legs feel suddenly cool by comparison.
Aliyah drew in a deep breath and clutched her dress even tighter. She realized she was lost for words. All the quips and jokes had deserted her, for the moment. The only thing she could do was watch Shahid and wonder what he would do once he was by her side.
From behind her, the sea surged, and a wave rose up, catching her thighs. She squealed and lifted one leg, raising her skirt higher. In an instant, she realized that she had probably revealed her underwear to Shahid in an unguarded moment. Feeling exposed, she quickly lowered the hem of her dress back down and looked at him, and discovered that she had been right. The smile on Shahid's face told her that, whether he'd wanted to or not, he'd just enjoyed the sight of her thighs and panties.
Then he was by her side, and they stood facing each other.
"That wasn't so difficult, was it?" he said.
"Obviously not," she replied glancing down at him. The water reached up to his knees. Against her better judgment, she couldn't help noticing that standing in the water hadn't affected the firmness of what she could see contained beneath the thin white fabric of his shorts.
She quickly lifted her gaze back to his face, seeing that he was obviously trying to read her mind. Well, he had always been able to guess her thoughts. Why did she believe that now would be any different?
He was so close that she could have reached out and traced her hand down the front of his slightly damp shirt. The thought of how that would feel made her face flush, betraying her secret imagining.
Why was she suddenly being overtaken by these treacherous thoughts? She tried to regain control over herself.
She turned and took a few steps into deeper water, grateful for the relief that came with not being tempted by the sight of the incredible man standing behind her.
Aliyah heard him come up behind her, the water being pushed by his legs rising against the back of her knees. She turned to him and saw that he was looking out to sea, taking in the sight of the shimmering water and distant horizon.
For a moment, she was content to stand by his side and enjoy the sight with him. Once again she was surprised by Shahid, by the fact that he could appreciate simple beauty and quiet moments with her. She felt as if she had been caught off her guard again, and when she felt his arm against her back it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to just allow him to rest his hand against her lower back. The feel of his hand caused a warm tingle to trace its way up her spine, and she glanced quickly at him.
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br /> His gaze shifted to her, and he smiled. "I'd forgotten how beautiful this is," he said. "The sea, the sky."
Aliyah stared off into the distance and drew in a deep breath. The air smelled clean, and her lungs filled, making Aliyah feel somehow complete. Calm took possession of her soul, standing here next to Shahid. The closeness between them had suddenly intensified, without warning. She wondered how they must look to a passerby, and then she realized there would be no-one for miles. They were utterly alone. And, even in a place like this, they were still restraining their obvious attraction for each other?
For a moment she had a flash of doubt. Maybe there wasn't anything between them, after all. If they could stand here, like this, unseen, then what was stopping Shahid from showing her evidence of what he'd said to her in the garden?
The doubts caused a slight chill to race up her body, and she turned to Shahid, intending to seek some kind of answer. She looked at him, and he gazed down at her. But, before she could say anything, she saw a flash of emotion in his eyes and then he twisted, dipping his head, and then his lips crashed down upon hers.
Aliyah moaned as she lifted her head, welcoming his kiss. She turned, lifting a hand to his shoulder, feeling the dampness she had caused on his shirt. She felt him take hold of her, and then she was crushed against his hard body, triggering a delicious ecstasy. Shahid growled quietly as his lips to possession of hers, and she felt heat in her core.
The hand that grasped the hem of her dress loosened and she felt the dress billow out on the water around her legs. But it didn't matter. Nothing mattered right now. Not when Shahid was claiming here like this, making his feelings abundantly clear. She placed her free hand against the firmness of his broad chest. That gesture prompted a reaction from Shahid, and his kiss became more insistent.
Aliyah allowed herself to be taken over by sensation; the taste of Shahid; the feel of his body; the sound of the waves; the touch of the water around their legs. She relaxed into his embrace, feeling his firmness pressing against her belly. The sense of its size made her mind race with scandalous thoughts.
Shahid's breathing was faster now, and then he did something which took her completely by surprise. With a sudden movement, he lifted her up out of the water, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. For a moment she was sure they were both going to fall into the water, but then she felt Shahid steady himself, holding her tight. The water roiled around them as he settled his hands beneath her bottom, supporting her, all the while continuing to lavish his kisses on her.
Their lips parted, and they both laughed, gazing at each other. Shahid's eyes widened as if seeking assurance that she was okay. Aliyah crinkled her nose at him. "Don't drop me," she murmured.
Shahid's nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath. "I'm not going to let you go," he stated. The thought flashed into her mind that he wasn't just talking about here, standing in the water. She brushed that thought away.
"You better not," she replied. "Otherwise the seats in your car are going to get awfully wet."
"Wet?" he responded, lifting a brow. "Really?" His gaze burrowed deep into her, testing her understanding.
Aliyah felt her face redden. He pulled her body closer to him and kissed her again. Wrapped around him, with his lips devouring her like this, Aliyah wondered for a moment if she'd been mysteriously transported to another world. Because that was how it felt to be held like this. Everything was new, everything had been transformed, and she didn't even know how to make sense of it.
For a long time, they kissed, while Shahid held her, holding her as if she was the most precious thing in the world. Maybe for him, she was, she told herself. Then he turned, letting her settle back down to regain her footing on the sand beneath the water. This time he held her close, his arms wrapped around her. She looked up at him, seeing visible joy on his face. She'd never seen Shahid look like this before. The man standing before her was a new person. Not simply the friend from her past, but someone different; someone who promised a future still undecided, a destiny still hidden.
"Where do we go from here?" he asked quietly.
Aliyah lifted her brows. What could she say in answer to a question like that? What did she want to say? She still wasn't sure, in spite of the feelings that were still coursing through her body. Uncertainty tugged at her, the doubts of earlier still keeping a grip on her.
Aliyah glanced back toward the car. "Maybe we should get back," she said.
His eyes clouded with disappointment, and for a moment he looked as if he wanted to kiss her again, almost as if that was the one sure way to change her mind. But then she saw him nod. "I'll take you back to your home. If that's what you want."
Was it what she wanted? She told herself it was for the best; tried to convince herself that there was really nothing else she could do. Not right now. Things were moving too fast. Maybe that's what the old Shahid was used to. Instant conquest. But, hadn't she just convinced herself that the man who held her in his arms wasn't the old Shahid?
Aliyah nodded. "Okay," was all she could say. Her voice sounded weak, slightly cracked with emotion. Could he sense her confusion? By the looks of his face, he was having difficulty understanding what she had just done to break the preciousness of the moment.
When he released her from his embrace, it felt as if she had made a terrible mistake. Moments before, she had allowed herself to sink into being with him, allowed him to take possession of her. Now that they were walking out of the water, she couldn't help asking herself she would ever be able to give herself completely to Shahid.
Chapter Eight
From Shahid's perspective, the drive to Aliyah's home was passing too quickly. There was so much he wanted to say to her, so many questions he wanted to ask about what had just happened back there on the beach.
Driving in the late afternoon, with only a few miles until they reached the Al Kharif palace, Shahid knew he had to say something. But, Aliyah had been quiet since they'd left the beach. She looked like she was lost in her thoughts, and he worried that he had gone too far, taken things too quickly. But that was who he was, right? Shahid Al Mahrez, the man no woman could resist. Maybe that had been the case in the past, but it certainly hadn't been the case today.
At first Aliyah had seemed more than happy for him to kiss her. He'd even caught her looking at him with what looked suspiciously like want, even desire. That was a new for Aliyah, at least as far as Shahid was concerned. He'd never seen her look like that before. Aliyah had a reputation that lay in stark contrast to Shahid's damaged one. Aliyah was the upstanding young woman with impeccable manners and values that would make her parents proud. Maybe her parents would have been surprised if they'd seen the way Aliyah had behaved with Shahid as they'd stood in the water.
He thought about how it had felt to hold her in his arms; how her lips had tasted; the warmth of her body against his. Her eagerness. And then, when he had lifted her, crushing her hips against him, his need pressing against her core, he'd been sure he was going to explode with the passion that had coursed through his body. Even sitting here, driving toward Qazhar city, he could still feel the remnants of the desire he'd felt. Every nerve in his body vibrated with need.
Shahid glanced across at Aliyah. She was biting her lower lip again. Why did she have to do that? Didn't she know what it did to him? Of course she knew, he told himself. Well, it looked as if Shahid had finally found a woman who could quite comfortably keep him at bay.
They came to the gate to the Al Kharif palace. The gates were open, and Shahid drove the car up the long, tree-lined driveway. In the near distance, he could see the palace. It was one of the largest in Qazhar, reflecting the power and status of the Al Kharif family.
Then, something occurred to Shahid. Was that the reason why Aliyah was being so reluctant with him when it came down to it? Was there something about Shahid's background, his family being of more modest social position in Qazhar society. Everyone knew that was the case. Shahid had b
een made to feel just how humble his family background on more than one occasion over last few years.
Wasn't he good enough for Aliyah?
But hadn't she already given him more than enough reasons to believe they might have a future together? Was he just wasting his time? Had he completely misjudge the situation?
Shahid pulled the car to a halt in front of the steps which led up to the massive, ornately decorated front doors. He felt a tug of irritation as he regarded the sumptuous palace, the obvious display of wealth and authority. He had to admit that the Al Kharif residence was something special. Was Aliyah just a spoiled daughter, someone who would pass her years here, eventually easing into a comfortable spinsterhood?
One look at Aliyah as she started to bring her attention back to the present told him that such a thing would be a waste not worth thinking about. He couldn't imagine this beautiful princess passing her years in the confines of the palace, missing out on love, missing out on everything that came with a passionate relationship with a man like Shahid.
No.
He was good enough for Aliyah. He had no doubt about that.
Aliyah looked at him. "Thank you, Shahid," she said softly.
"What for?"
"For a lovely day," she replied.
Shahid saw the emotion in her eyes, saw that she was trying to shield something from him.
"Is that all?" he asked.
"What do you mean?"
Shahid turned away from her and shook his head. "I've been thinking," he said.
"Oh. That's new," she joked, smiling at him, and for a moment he thought she had regained her composure. She looked suddenly brighter and he didn't want to do anything to spoil that.
Shahid laughed. "I walked into that one, didn't I?"
Aliyah nodded. "You did rather," she said.
