I Married a Sheik (23 page)

"Ali." His words made her own wary, scarred heart soften, hope. "Oh, Ali." She forgot all the warnings she'd reiterated a hundred times to herself since she'd agreed to spend the weekend with him, forgot everything but the man in her arms. Tilting her head, she raised her mouth for his. "Kiss me."

He did. It was neither gentle nor soothing, but hot, demanding, passionate. His arms tightened around her as his body responded to her closeness, to her softness, to his need for her—only her.

The first touch of his tongue on her lips and in her mouth had her whimpering softly, clinging to the back of his shirt, arching against him, wanting him to close the distance between them and become part of her.

She opened her mouth to him, greedy now for the touch and feel of him, giving back all she got. Her body trembled when his hands slid to her waist, then to her buttocks, to cup and caress, bringing her closer against his growing, aching hardness.

It was his turn to groan, a soft whisper of need that only fueled her own desire.

Need, raw and ripe, spiraled through her, making her body ache and moisten. Nearly mindless with desire, she ground herself against him, wanting to cool the ache of fire his touch had aroused.

"I want you," he murmured softly, sliding his mouth from hers to her neck, nipping gently at the tender skin there, before sliding down to suckle her breast right through the jacket of her silk pantsuit.

"Yes," Faith gasped as she threaded her fingers through his hair, holding his head and arching against him as he sucked her breast. Wanting to feel flesh to flesh, he slid his hand under the top, till finally he tugged it off and dropped it to the floor. She was bare beneath the jacket, her skin a beautiful shade of ivory, her breasts small, perfect, tipped with dark nipples.

"Faith." His breath withered out of him. "You are so beautiful." He lifted her in his arms and carried her toward the bed, bending his head to suckle her ripe, aching breasts as he lay her on the bed and followed her down.

With a moan, she tore at his shirt, lifting it out of his pants and tugging it open until the buttons went flying around the room like a hail of snow. She wanted to touch flesh, to feel his skin, warm and bare beneath her hands.

His mouth drove her higher and higher until her hips were arching and she was clinging to him, moaning softly, dying with need.

Half-mad with a desire to possess her, Ali tried to absorb every sensation. He wanted to see her, all of her, to feel that beautiful, pliant body respond to him, and only him.

"Faith." He dragged the silk pants that covered her from him down her legs, nearly ripping them in his madness.

It was as if a demon had possessed him. The need for her was so powerful, tugging him into a deep abyss of emotions he had never known existed. He wanted to brand her as his, so that no other man would ever know the joy of possessing her.

"You are so beautiful," he murmured, knowing in that moment, that no other woman could compare to her, not for him.

There was no fear of his frenzied, almost frantic desire, only a response that left him breathless, hot, hard and wanting only to satisfy this craving she had created in him.

A pulse thrummed hotly, incessantly between her legs, and she arched to help him skim her panties off her hips. She almost cried out when she felt his hand slide the scrap of silk down her legs, then merely whimpered at the fire he started, burning up his path until finally the fire settled into a white-hot pulse between her thighs.

Buffeted by myriad sensations, Faith let her hands frantically run over his bare back, wanting to absorb him into her. Mindless, she let her hands glide over his bare skin, savoring his touch, the feel of him.

Her nails dug in when he began to kiss his way down her body.

A moan of surprise, delight and desire ripped from her, and she clutched his hair when she felt the warmth of his lips glide over her thigh, moving slowly upward, causing her to arch.

At the first touch of his tongue between her legs, she cried out, closing her eyes and driving her hips against the intense pleasure he was giving her.

"Ali." She could barely say his name, she was so mindless to everything but the pleasure he was giving her, as he kissed her more intimately than anyone had ever done before.

Delirious and nearly desperate as he drove her higher, then higher still, her body quaked and she nearly screamed as his talented, clever mouth drove her over the edge in a haze of ecstasy so intense she was certain her heart would pound right out of her chest.

He didn't give her a chance to come down. He made his way up her body, up her belly, licking softly, nipping, then kissing where his teeth had gently nipped, moving upward to warm and excite her skin with his touch.

She reached for him, wanting him inside of her. He paused only long enough to shed his slacks, and then he was covering her with that magnificent male body, warm, strong, hard.

Gently, he kissed her eyes, then moved to her mouth, teasing her lips with his until she wrapped her arms around him, holding him closer, tighter.

"Ali, please?" she whispered in a pliant, husky plea. She couldn't wait anymore. When he rose above her, then slowly, carefully entered her, his eyes never leaving hers, her own eyes closed as wave after wave of feeling assaulted her.

Her breathing was shallow, harsh, as she moved with him, arching against him, feeling him fill her. When he moved faster, she lifted her legs higher and wrapped them tighter around him, wanting to take him deeper. When she did, she heard his soft moan and saw his eyes darken.

The second peak of pleasure caught her by surprise, stealing her breath with the power and intensity of it. She cried out his name and clung to him, as he soared over the edge, taking her heart with him.

* * *

Something was brushing against her face. Her eyes fluttered open and she saw Ali smile down at her, brushing a tangle of hair off her face.

"You dozed for a few moments," he said softly, bending to kiss her.

Her mouth curved in a soft, slow smile. "Apparently." She was naked, relaxed and pressed intimately against him. She laid a hand to his cheek, overwhelmed by her feelings for him, for the experience they'd just shared. "You wore me out."

He laughed, bending to kiss her again. "And I have only just started," he said softly, deepening the kiss until she was moaning and arching against him. She wrapped her arms around him, enjoying the warmth of him. He groaned in regret, then pulled away. "Unfortunately, we cannot continue or we shall no doubt be late for dinner."

"Dinner." She scowled. "I almost forgot." Nerves started again, and she wanted to cling to him, to just stay right where she was.

Sensing her distress, he kissed her forehead. "Do not worry, Faith dear." He picked up her hand to kiss that as well. "Remember, I will be stuck to you—"

"Like sticky gum to a shoe," she finished with a nod. "I remember."

He smiled. "I have a present for you," he said softly, laughing when her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You are suspicious again."

She sighed, feeling totally comfortable with him in spite of her nakedness. "Another present?" She shook her head. "I wish you'd stop buying me presents."

"Ahh, but you liked the last one," he said, sitting up and taking her with him.

"That's only because I'm a sucker for candy, soda and chips."

"I think you will like this present a bit better." Oblivious to his nakedness, he slid from the bed and crossed to the doors that connected their rooms. Faith watched him, letting her gaze soak up his magnificent body. As males went, she had to admit he was one incredible specimen.

When he returned, he handed her a small black velvet box. She eyed it warily. "What is this?"

"You won't know until you open it, now will you?" He touched her cheek. "Open it."

She did, and gasped. "Good Lord, what on earth is this?"

He laughed. "It is a ring, Faith. Your engagement ring."

"No," she said with a shake of her head. "This is a miniature ice skating rink." The diamond glinted and sparkled like a wondrous star. "Exactly how…how…" She was afraid to ask. "How big is this?"

His brows drew together thoughtfully. "I believe almost ten carats."

She almost dropped it. "I can't accept this." She pushed the box toward him with nervous fingers.

He stared at her. "And why not?"

"Good Lord, Ali, what if I lose it?" The mere thought had her stomach hitching.

He shrugged. "Then we will simply replace it."

"Replace it," she repeated, unable to take her eyes off the magnificent ring. It was a slender platinum band, with one single spectacular diamond set in the middle, surrounded by a slender braided band of platinum.

He took the ring out of the box and reached for her hand. "You are supposed to be my betrothed." He slid it on her finger, then smiled in approval. It fit perfectly as he knew it would. "I certainly cannot give you a cigar band for an engagement ring."

"Well, I'd probably feel more comfortable." She couldn't stop staring at the ring, her heart aching because she knew this was pretend…this was all pretend.

He kissed her forehead, then drew her close. Her naked breasts pressed against his bare chest and he groaned, wanting her all over again. "It is a pity, but we must get ready." He ran his hands up and down her bare back. "Or else my mother will no doubt be up here wanting to know what's taking us so long."

"Your mother?" She scrambled for the sheet to cover herself. "Good Lord, your mother can't see me like this."

He laughed, then pressed another kiss to her brow before standing. "We are engaged, Faith. Trust me, my mother would not be alarmed to find that we have made love. It is merely a way to show and share our love. Now I'll go to my own room and prepare for the evening." If he didn't leave now, he was afraid he might not. "You will be all right?" he asked with some concern.

"Fine. Just fine." Dragging her gaze from the ring, she lifted it to his, then smiled at his concern. "I'll be fine, Ali, really." She waved him away with her hand. "Now scoot so I can get showered and dressed."

* * *

True to his word, Ali never left her side all evening. Holding her hand, he introduced her to friends, answered all the questions, filled her dinner plate, tended to her drink, and was the ultimate attentive fiancé. By mid-evening, Faith's nerves had fled and she was actually enjoying herself. Tibi and Omar's friends were pleasant and pleased that Ali had finally decided to settle down. They were nothing but kind to her.

His parents had treated her as one of the family, proudly introducing her to everyone, making it clear that they couldn't be more pleased with their son's choice.

Now, as the evening wound down, Faith found herself feeling exhausted, enormously grateful most of the guests had gone and just a bit guilty.

Sipping a glass of wine, she slipped away from Ali and walked out onto the patio where they'd had drinks that afternoon.

The night was a perfect pitch black with stars glistening as brightly as the diamond on her finger. It had been a perfect evening, she realized sadly. Too perfect.

Guilt over their deception, and the fear that she would not be able to hide her true feelings for Ali much longer had Faith gnawing her lip in worry.

What had started out as a simple favor had turned into something far more complex. She glanced up at the stars and felt tears sting her eyes.

There was no denying how she felt about Ali. She couldn't deny what was in her heart, and now, knowing they'd made love, knowing just how wonderful they were together, had only made it worse.

He could never love her, he'd admitted it.

She had to accept it, but how could she accept it while she was playing the role of the loving fiancée?

Faith knew she couldn't. She couldn't bear to go on with this, couldn't bear to see the joy and relief in his parents' eyes, knowing it was going to break their hearts when they learned the truth. She couldn't bear to know that he could never love her as she loved him. Couldn't bear the thought that she had fallen hopelessly, heedlessly in love with him.

Realizing she couldn't go through with this any longer, Faith turned from the patio and, with a heavy heart, headed inside. She had to put an end to this deception for all their sakes.

The only question was how.

Thirteen

S
he was gone.

Ali awoke to an empty bed. He had spent the night in Faith's room. They had made love again and again, and then somewhere near dawn they'd fallen asleep in each other's arms.

But now the bed beside him was empty. Rubbing his eyes, he glanced around, noted her suitcase, which had been sitting on the floor in the now-open closet door was gone, as were all her clothes.

Panic had him climbing out of bed. "Faith?" He searched her suite, but she was gone and every trace that she had ever been there was gone as well. "Faith?" There was panic in his voice, in his heart. He went to his own room, pulled on a pair of jeans and a shirt, and headed downstairs, racing barefoot through the house. There was still no trace of Faith, and his panic increased.

"Mom?"

"In the kitchen." She was pouring herself a cup of coffee, while his father sat, reading the morning paper.

"Where's Faith?" he asked, glancing around.

"She's gone, Ali," his mother said quietly.

"Gone?" He scowled. "Gone where?"

"She told us the truth, Ali," his mother said softly, glancing at him. "Everything."

Guilt hit him with the force of an anvil and he sank down on a chair. "Mom, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

Feeling sorry for him because he looked so utterly miserable, she patted his shoulder.

"I understand, son. You were concerned about our welfare." She cast a quick glance at Omar, who continued to read his paper. "I understand you did what you did out of love. Perhaps I don't agree with it, but I do understand." She poured him a cup of coffee, then handed it to him. "However, I cannot so easily understand how you could hurt Faith."

"Hurt Faith?" The coffee was so hot it almost scalded his tongue. "I never meant to hurt her," he grumbled, dragging a hand through his hair.