by Leslie North
Carolyn’s stomach clenched as she thought about food and she nodded her head, “Fine. Show me the way.”
She followed the maids down to the main floor and to the back of the large house. She knew there were two men following her, but she tried not to acknowledge their presence. She didn’t need guards but she did need food.
“Will this kitchen be sufficient?” Jessenia asked.
Carolyn looked at her and questioned, “What would you do if I said no?”
“Tell you to deal with it,” Jessenia answered her back, a small teasing glint in her eyes.
Carolyn smiled and nodded her head, “Good answer. This is perfect. Thank you.”
“Everything you need is either in the refrigerator or the pantry behind you. When you are ready to return to your room, step outside these doors and the guards will take you back upstairs.”
Of course, they will! But I’m not a prisoner? Yeah, right!
Carolyn held her tongue and as soon as the last of the maids had left the huge kitchen, she got to work. She found plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit and began cutting them up. The vegetables went into a skillet with some butter and the fruit went into a bowl with a bit of sugar.
She stirred the vegetables around and then pulled some eggs from the refrigerator. She whisked them together and was just getting ready to add them to the skillet when the kitchen door opened and Mahil sauntered in.
She glared at him and then went back to adding the eggs to the pan.
“I was informed I would find you down here.”
“Oh, were you looking for me?” she asked, feigning indifference to his presence.
“Most assuredly. I am pleased to see that you are in a better mood today.”
Carolyn felt her temper start to rise and she bit back the retort that sprang to mind.
“The maids inform me you are refusing to let them do their jobs,” Mahil told her, coming around to stand across the counter from her.
“I am not an invalid and do not require their assistance.”
“It is their job. Would you deny them the opportunity to work?” Mahil asked, figuring she had a healthy respect for women who were working to provide a better life for themselves.
“No, but I’m sure in this big place they can find somebody else to bother.”
“They are not bothering you; they are trying to help you. I want you to enjoy your stay here.”
“Then you should have asked me whether I wanted to come here in the first place!” Carolyn bit her lip, stalling whatever else she had in mind to say to him.
Mahil came around the counter, standing only a few feet away from her now, “I already explained my reasoning for bringing you here. I will not waste time explaining myself again.”
Carolyn gaped at him and then shook her head, “You won’t waste time? How dare you?! You stole me from my own country, you won’t take me home, and I’m to be worried about wasting your time?!”
Wishing that her rise in color was due to time in the sun, Mahil watched the color bloom in her cheeks and watched as her temper rose another notch, “My time is very valuable. Now, have you decided to tell me what is wrong?”
Carolyn stamped her foot, forgetting the cooking eggs for a moment, “No! I already told you it’s no business of yours!”
“I am making it my business.” Mahil glanced into the skillet and sniffed before telling her, “Whatever you are making smells delicious. Would you consider sharing it with me?”
Carolyn saw red. It was bad enough that he didn’t get how horrible he’d made her life now, but since she wouldn’t tell him the finer details of her predicament, he had moved on to another topic, content with the knowledge that she wasn’t going anywhere until he decided she was.
On a whim, and without thinking of the consequences, she picked up an egg in each hand and threw them at his face. The first one missed as he ducked, but the second one smashed against his chest. Mahil looked down in stunned silence as bits of eggshell and yolk slithered down his white dress shirt.
“I cannot believe you just did that,” he told her, reaching for a dishtowel and wiping the front of his shirt off.
Carolyn must have seen something on his face that told her retaliation wasn’t far behind because she quickly moved the skillet off the burner, turned the gas off and started to back away from him. “I’m sorry. Sometimes my temper…”
“…gets away from you? Yes, I can see that.” Mahil advanced upon her, reaching for one of the eggs as he stalked her around the island counter. “Were you never taught not to play with your food?”
Carolyn watched his hand, silently hoping he’d squeeze too hard and the egg would shatter in his palm. When he pretended to toss it at her, she ducked, only to realize that he had only been faking her.
She ducked to the right, catching the egg on the shoulder and grimacing as it broke and slithered down her bare arm. She shook her arm, dislodging pieces of the eggshell onto the tile floor and silently begged the pardon of whoever would have to clean up the mess they were making.
When Mahil reached for another egg, Carolyn quickly grabbed at the remaining vegetables on the countertop and scurried around the island making sure to keep some distance between them. Looking at her, he was surprised at how alive she seemed. Even when he had first met her at the auction, she had dark circles under her eyes that makeup barely covered. He’d been overwhelmed by his desire to help her when he found her dead on her feet at the diner.
Lost in his thoughts, he barely dodged the mushrooms she lobbed at him.
“You should pay more attention,” she teased as a tomato caught him on the shoulder.
Stopping, he raised an eyebrow at her as he slowly removed his jacket, folded it and carefully laid it across the back of a chair. He fought to keep a stern expression as he watched her bounce side to side on her feet as she watched him roll up his sleeves. Her eyes tracked his every move and he couldn’t help but notice that it was less like a prey fending off a predator and more as a woman interested in a man. This was something he could work with.
Advancing slowly around the island, he picked up a plate to use as a shield, as her attempts to keep him away became more frantic. He smirked at her over the top of the plate when the vegetables bounced off and hit her instead as she squealed in outrage.
He set the plate down when he realized that she was out of ammunition and stalked toward her slowly. He watched her breath catch as she became acutely aware of him and she stopped paying attention to where she was going.
She looked startled when she backed herself into a corner as she watched him advancing toward her. There was nowhere left to go.
He lifted the egg up, asking, “What is the expression in your country? Something to do with crying uncle?”
Carolyn kept her eyes on his hand and shook her head, “No, I’m not ready to cry uncle. That means giving up, and I will never give up to you.”
Mahil’s smiled broadened as he invaded her personal space, the egg in his hand forgotten as he watched her eyes darken. When only a few inches separated them, he stopped, inhaling her unique fragrance and letting his eyes take in her beauty.
Her face was devoid of cosmetics, but her complexion was so perfect, she didn’t require them. Her almond shaped eyes still showed signs of sleepless nights, and the color in her cheeks was heightened by their exchange. And he was pleased that she no longer smelled of greasy food from the diner.
He lifted the egg a little higher, enjoying the way she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off his arm. “Would you like to change your answer?” he asked her softly.
Carolyn slowly shook her head, her eyes pulling away from his arm and locking on his own ice-blue gaze. What he saw mirrored back in her eyes had him lowering his hand, and taking the last steps that brought him into contact with her.
Mahil was very aware of what desire looked like and Carolyn’s eyes were ablaze with it. Their little skirmish had only served to heighten their awareness of one another. Chest
to chest, he let the egg fall unheeded to the kitchen floor as he cupped the side of her face tenderly with one hand while the other rested on her hip. With a tug, he drew her tightly to him before he slowly lowered his head to hers, searching her eyes before taking her lips in a kiss full of exploration and promise. He lifted his head slightly and urged her, “Cry uncle yet?”
Carolyn opened her mouth to respond, but Mahil captured her lips with his effectively silencing her. Her lips were as soft as he imagined as he tried not to moan at how good she felt. She was as delicious as she was lovely and he held himself still as her small hands stroked his chest and arms before slipping around his waist to hold him close.
He used one hand to skim down her side, feeling the soft swell of her breast even as the bulge behind his zipper grew. He’d been hard for what seemed like days, and only the fear that she was in some kind of real trouble had kept him from giving into this need to explore the chemistry simmering between them.
Mahil was so lost in their kiss and the feel of her body against his own; he didn’t realize right away when she stopped responding to him. Only her shoving hard against his shoulders brought him back to reality and the bright lights of his kitchen.
“What’s wrong?”
Carolyn was glaring at him, her lips swollen from their kiss and her cheeks bright with her blush. “Is this why you really brought me here? To be your…your…sex slave?”
Mahil was instantly angry. “Sex slave? We shared a kiss…”
Carolyn shook her head and pushed against him again; not relenting until he took a step backwards, “Go away! I am not sleeping with you.”
“Your body doesn’t seem to be in agreement,” he told her, watching the rapid pulse beat in her neck and seeing her tight nipples puckered beneath the thin cotton of the sundress she was wearing. It was an American item of clothing that a visiting friend’s sister had left in his pool house, and while it was a little big on her, she’d chosen it over the traditional gowns worn by the women of his country.
Modesty was a high priority amongst his people, but here in his home, he’d given orders that allowed Carolyn to dress as she saw fit. He’d also made sure there would be no male servants in the house as long as she was in residence. Ahmed was the only exception as he accompanied Mahil most places and oversaw his security.
“Get out!” Carolyn told him, crossing her arms over her chest when she saw where his eyes had strayed.
“Why are you so angry? You were kissing me back just now…”
Carolyn clenched her teeth and glared at him, “You kissed me without my consent. Now, get out so I can eat my meal and then return to that prison cell of a bedroom.”
Mahil looked at her and shook his head, “I will leave, but not because you have demanded it. I will leave because you need time to come to terms with the fact that your body craves what I can offer it, even if your mind is running scared. The chemistry between us is not something I am prepared to ignore. You would do well to adjust your thinking around that fact and soon. I can only be patient for so long.”
Carolyn glared at him and then dropped her gaze, “Just leave, okay? Just leave me alone. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
“A lie if I’ve ever heard one. You kissed me back. With abandon. Maybe you should dwell on that fact while you eat your meal. Good day.”
He stormed from the kitchen, doing nothing to camouflage the fact that he was unhappy with her. She’d basically accused him of bringing her home with him to force sexual favors from her.
That was a huge insult and Mahil fumed as he headed for his library and the bottle of Scotch. A habit that was quickly forming, as he continued to deal with the headstrong female currently in his kitchen.
Chapter 7
Carolyn woke to the sound of insistent knocking. Rolling to her back, she stared at the unfamiliar ceiling as she tried to figure out where she was. Realizing that she was still in Al-Sarid, she sat up with a groan. If nothing else, she was catching up on her sleep, she thought as she yawned.
Hearing knocking again, she realized what woke her up and called out, “Come in,” and watched as Mahil walked in dressed casually in dark jeans that accentuated his muscular legs and a form-fitting polo shirt.
She swallowed hard as he walked toward her. She’d spent yesterday and most of this morning trying to get their kiss out of her mind, but it wasn’t working.
“What do you want now?” she asked him, her tone of voice as unfriendly as she could make it. Never mind the fact that her eyes immediately swept across his body before straying to his strong features, landing on his mouth and sticking there.
“I thought perhaps you would like to accompany me to the wildlife sanctuary at the back of this property.”
“Wildlife Sanctuary?” she questioned, somehow the concept not fitting with her perception of the man in front of her.
“Yes. Second Chance Preserve is a sanctuary that gives refuge and assistance to injured or endangered species.”
“Like a zoo?” Carolyn questioned him.
“Not quite. This is a private facility and not open to the public at this time.”
Carolyn listened to him talk about the animals currently residing there and the more he talked, the more she got a glimpse of a Mahil she’d yet to meet. He had a softer, more caring side that up until now she hadn’t realized existed.
“How far is it? I can’t seem to find my clothes,” she told him, hoping he would take the open invitation to return her normal clothing to her.
“I will have clothing and shoes brought to you. So you will come with me?” he asked, eager to share this part of him with her.
Carolyn nodded her head, thinking that if nothing else, this little fieldtrip might provide her with the means of escaping his control. “Sure. I don’t think I have anything else pressing on my schedule this afternoon,” she replied, narrowing her eyes.
She knew she sounded petty, but then again, he’d brought her here and he could damn well deal with her tantrum!
Mahil didn’t respond to her whining, but opened the door and issued a series of instructions in his own language to whomever was standing in the hallway. Within a few minutes, he was back, a pile of clothing and shoes in his hands.
“Get dressed and then meet me downstairs. I will wait for you outside.” He handed her the clothing and then gave her a slight bow, “Be quick.”
Carolyn wanted to respond back, but he was gone and the door was once again closed. She set the pile of clothing down on the bed and growled. He’d had the traditional long dress worn by the women of his country brought to her. The leather sandals were acceptable, but after pulling on the dress, she felt like she was suffocating. It covered her from neck to ankle, and the heavy fabric was stiflingly hot.
She figured he’d had such items brought to her because that was how women were expected to dress while in public in Al-Sarid, but Carolyn was feeling very volatile and not at all in the mood to placate his wishes.
She headed to the bathroom and retrieved the hair scissors she’d spied earlier in the back of the vanity drawer. They weren’t really up to the task of cutting through the thick fabric, so she used them to snip the seams loose at the shoulders, turning the garment into a sleeveless one.
Next, she slid the garment over her head and gathered a pinch of fabric just above her knees. She cut a small slit in the fabric and then proceeded to tear the bottom half of the dress off! It took her almost fifteen minutes to alter the dress, but the result when she was finished was much cooler, and in her opinion, infinitely more to her liking.
She gave her hair a quick brush, refusing to pin it up as the other women she’d met did. She instead left it down, flowing over her shoulders in soft curls. She’d found a small supply of cosmetics in the bathroom drawers, but she eschewed using them as her complexion was flawless and her recent interactions with Mahil had left behind a healthy blush in her cheeks.
She headed down the stairs, ignoring the maids gasps when th
ey saw how she was attired. Get used to it! I didn’t ask to be here and I’m not going to cover up my body to protect some man’s misplaced sense of modesty.
She opened the front door and stepped out, shielding her eyes from the bright afternoon sun, and missing the look of anger that crossed Mahil’s face when he took in her appearance. “Was there a problem with the clothing I provided you?” he asked through clenched teeth.
Carolyn met his gaze and shook her head, “Not at all. As you can see, I was able to make do.” She held his angry gaze, hoping he would lose his control so that she would have another reason to hate him. But he merely closed his eyes for a brief moment and then turned towards the driveway. “Shall we? “
Carolyn looked at the camel waiting for them in a kneeling position and immediately wanted to return to her bedroom. The animal was huge, and seeing that there was only one in attendance, she figured Mahil expected to ride with her.
There was a dual seat saddle on the animal, and a brightly garbed trainer held the reins of the massive beast as it continued to chew slowly on something.
“We’re riding a camel?” she asked, her voice going up slightly in pitch.
“What else? We are in the desert. Come, I will have you sit in front of me.”
Carolyn walked slowly towards the animal, steering clear of its mouth and feeling almost relieved when she felt Mahil’s hand on the low of her back. With his assistance, she climbed into the saddle and seated herself, all the while expecting the animal to give some indication that it didn’t like her.
Mahil climbed onto the back of the saddle and then spoke to the trainer briefly, before he leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “Hold on. Up we go.”
The trainer tapped the camel with a stick and the massive beast slowly got to its feet. Carolyn was grateful for Mahil’s strong arm around her waist as the animal rocked back and forth, finally coming to a standstill and putting her six feet into the air.
“I don’t know that this is such a good idea,” she murmured to him, as she was suddenly rocked back against his chest. She could feel the hairs on her arms rise as she brushed against him. Suddenly regretting her petulance, she wished that the dress had more fabric to serve as a barrier between them as she sat stiffly in front of him.
