ROMANCE: THE SHEIKH'S GAMES: A Sheikh Romance (19 page)

“Come here, Ava.”

His voice was deep and strong and crisp. The words were spoken with command, as though he just expected she would obey. She stood still, transfixed by the look of him, the sound of his voice but then her feet betrayed her, pushing her closer and closer until her toes curled over the edge of the pool. Her eyes closed when his hand closed around her ankle and gently caressed her leg. “Kade,” she pleaded with him, to stop or continue she didn’t know.

“Ava.”

She couldn’t resist him any longer, the photo shoot she had planned long forgotten as his hand continued its gentle persuasion on her leg. Before she knew what was happening Ava felt her body sinking slowly into the warm water, Kade’s hands skimming every inch of her body on the way down. A desperate moan escaped when his lips touched her neck and she knew this was happening. She was going to give her body and her heart to Kade. “Yes, Kade.”

Those words were sweeter than any he’d ever heard. Her surrender to the passion flaring between them touched his heart and stirred his longing for her. Kade couldn’t believe after more than two months of resisting her, resisting this thing between them he was finally free to touch her, to taste her, and take her body and join it with his until they could no longer breathe for wanting each other. He wasted no time when his mouth was upon her, placing slow—excruciatingly slow—open mouth kisses along her neck until her legs tightened around his middle. “You taste so good,” he told her as his mouth trailed down between her breasts and over to focus his mouth on that tight bud calling out to him.

She hissed when his tongue curled around that peak, taking her passion to heights until now unknown to her. She panted and writhed when he kissed a trail to her other breast, her hips grinding against him and legs tightening to pull him closer. “Kade oh yes!” Before she could say more she felt her bikini top hit the water and float away, his warm strong hands replacing the white fabric. “Kade, you are…yes,” she moaned beneath him.

Kade couldn’t get enough of her sweet responsive body. It took all the restraint he had to go slow, to savor the moment between them. He was close to bursting from the tight black swim shorts she requested he wear as her warmth cradled him. His hands snaked down her body of their own accord, a finger slipped inside the bottoms and then inside her body and he growled his appreciation. She was wet and hot, tight and so eager. “Ava, I want you.”

Rolling her hips against that finger her fire was quickly raging out of control and she knew she was moments away from her climax. “Kade,” she squeezed his shoulders and her tongue swiped his neck. “Yes Kade, yes. I. Want. You.” She did. Goodness she wanted him, his body in this moment more than she wanted more between them. Since this is all there could be, she would jump in with both feet and enjoy every blissful moment.

Her breathy words washed over his body in gentlest sexiest caress and his control snapped. With one tug of a few strings her bikini bottoms went the way of her top and Kade lined himself up with her and pushed in gently. “So, tight,” he groaned and allowed her a moment to adjust to his size.

“Don’t stop.” Her words were frantic, hands gripping and scratching at his back, her teeth sank into the tendons where neck and shoulder met. “I want you Kade. Want this.” She screamed when he pulled out and thrust in again. Over and over he did this, picking up speed and slowing down, torturing her with his erratic pace. She loved it, her body craved it, craved him. He gripped her hips hard and pounded into her body again and again until she was screaming as wave after wave overtook her body in violent shudders. “Kade, yes. Oh, yes. Yes!” His thrusts continued, her orgasm still going. Each time she felt herself coming down, he would lift her back up until she was floating on that precipice waiting for him to take her over.

Then, he did.

Grunting and groaning, Kade finally stilled with a firm grip on her hips as he spilled into her. Never had he felt so much during sex, or for a woman in general. Ava was one of a kind and not just because she’d given him the most powerful orgasm he’d ever experienced. She gave everything of herself to him and he was humbled by it. By her. He didn’t know when it had happened but sometime in the past couple of months, Kade had fallen for the sweet little photographer a decade his junior. “That was amazing, sweetheart.”

Ava couldn’t speak. She couldn’t move. She could only think and feel. Think about the way her body was still buzzing for him, think about how in one interlude Kade Steele had claimed her body and stolen her heart. She could feel him still throbbing inside her, felt her heart pounding rapidly as it worked to figure out this unfamiliar feeling. Love her body whispered and she knew it was true but none of that mattered. This was sex, plain and simple. She realized he was staring at her, waiting for a response. “I-I-I’ve never felt anything like that before.” She’d had sex before but she had never given herself so freely to a man, had never made love before.

Wrapping her hair around his hand, Kade tugged until she was at the perfect angle to fuse their mouths together in a kiss that had him growing hard inside her again. He growled when she squeezed him, “Neither have I, sweetheart.” And he knew he was in real trouble. Over the next few weeks Ava found herself living a lie. Each day she got up and went to her studio or to the outskirts of Rainbow Springs in search of something amazing. She’d nearly finished the Businessmen Bachelors calendar and she’d already started selling the prints that would supplement her income. She went through every day smiling when the old ladies in town told her how glad they were she’d finally settled down Kade and how much they were looking forward to the wedding. She gushed lovingly when Helena Henderson called for recipe tips and advice on marital bliss.

Then at night she would open her body and her heart to Kade without thought to the pain that was sure to come. Soon. Tonight was their third dinner with the Hendersons and she knew, based on hints Helena dropped, that Bruce had made a decision. Kade would very likely soon own Cakes A-shakin’ which meant their fake relationship was almost over. She hadn’t fooled herself that their arrangement was anything more than temporary but her stupid heart hadn’t gotten the memo.

Times like this, when she felt herself bursting with love for Kade she would repeat, temporary, temporary, temporary until she beat her heart into submission. She checked herself out in the mirror, the purple shirt dress was cinched at the waist by a silver belt and she wore matching flats. It was pretty and comfortable, and tonight that was enough.

Her pistachio and lavender macaroons were fresh from the oven and she was ready. Kade might not love her back but she would do everything she could to make sure he got what he wanted tonight.

When the doorbell rang she greeted the Hendersons with hugs and kisses, while Kade offered a stern handshake. Helena followed her into the kitchen with a bowl of red wine mousse she’d brought. “Oh Helena this looks fantastic! Do you mind if I steal a taste?”

“Please do. Make sure it’s edible before we serve it,” she laughed nervously.

Eyes closed, Ava let loose an erotic moan at the taste of it. “Maybe you should have kept this for you and Bruce,” she winked with mischief shining in her eyes.

“Really?”

“Definitely.” She absorbed the affection in Helena’s hug. “I hope we can still be friends once the deal is closed.” She knew she shouldn’t have said that the moment the words flew out of her mouth. “I’m sorry I didn’t meant to presume.”

“Nonsense Ava. You’ve been like the daughter we’ve always wanted and we’d be honored to keep you in our lives.”

It was inevitable to stem the flow of tears but she dabbed discreetly with a smile. “Thank you.” She’d shared with Helena the death of her parents and most recently of her grandmother so the woman knew she had a craving for family.

“You might find you have your own family sooner than you think.”

“Oh I don’t think,” she stopped because she couldn’t finish that sentence truthfully. It had just hit her. She’d had sex with Kate dozens of time in the past few weeks and neither of them had mentioned a word about protection. Oh no, oh no, oh no! She sagged into the nearest chair. Please don’t let this be true. She looked to Helena, “Please don’t say anything.”

“Of course not, dear.” She dabbed at Ava’s eyes. “Now let’s get out there before they spend all night talking business.”

The rest of the meal was fairly uneventful yet entertaining all the same. She tried to avoid Kade’s gaze just in case he saw the truth in her eyes but she kept up her role as the devoted fiancé. Bruce turned his attention to her and she listened with a serene smile on her face.

“Ava, as I’m sure you know, I had my doubts about Kade. About him taking over the business I built with my wife. Tell me why I should sell to him.”

Ava’s smile brightened in Bruce’s direction but her gaze turned to Kade. She looked at him with all the love she felt shining in her eyes, radiating from every pore. She told Bruce everything. “Kade is a man of honor even when it’s difficult. He works harder than anyone I know and he genuinely loves what he does. He takes an interest in every business he owns. But more than that Bruce, Kade is a great man. He treats everyone around him like an equal and he doesn’t take himself too seriously. Most of all Kade has a way of making everyone in his orbit feel important, loved, special and that is a skill not many people have. It’s what I love most about him.” Helena dabbed the corners of her eyes and Bruce’s face was a blank mask. She turned her gaze away from the scowl growing on Kade’s face. “At least that’s what I think, but maybe I’m biased.”

Bruce smiled. “I’m sure you are biased as his fiancé and all, but I’m sold. You’ve a good woman there, Kade. Marry her soon.” He stood holding a glass in his hand. “I’d like to make a toast to Kade and Ava, may your love last long and grow stronger every day. To Helena, get ready to spend the next decade traveling the world because I’m selling Cakes A-shakin!” She squealed at the news and draped herself over her husband. “Kade we’ll talk tomorrow about the details.”

That was it. This was all over. “Congratulations,” she told Kade and pressed her lips to his.

They saw the Hendersons out and Ava was ready to turn in but Kade was giddy with excitement and she wouldn’t abandon him at this moment when he’d just gotten what he wanted. “You were fantastic Ava! The best fake fiancé I ever had,” he smiled and squeezed her tight around the shoulders. He laughed, “All that stuff about ‘that’s why I love him’ it was fantastic! I can’t thank you enough Ava.”

Her heart sank to the ground and shattered into too many shards to count at his words. Of course he’d never believe she really loved him because he saw her as a friend and convenient bed partner. “I aim to please,” she said with more bite than she intended. “I’m tired Kade, I’m going to bed.”

Something was wrong with Ava. Kade knew it from the moment she had emerged from the kitchen with Helena. Her eyes were glassy with tears and she was more subdued than normal. Her words at dinner left him shaken and hopeful that she was doing more than acting but she’d gone to bed in her room. Alone. He hated that he was thinking about this when he was set to close the deal he’d been working on for months.

“What’s on your mind, son?” Bruce Henderson strode into his office and took a seat, giving Kade a quizzical look.

“Nothing.” He sighed heavily. “It’s Ava, she was strange last night.”

Bruce nodded knowingly and stroked the early stages of what Kade assumed was his retirement beard. “Son I’d guess that your fake fiancé has fallen in love with you and just realized it.”

Kade nodded and then his entire body froze. “Fake fiancé?”

Bruce’s laugh was deep and booming. “You thought I didn’t know?” Bruce told Kade how he’d done his homework and knew Ava was a recent addition to his life. “You were too affectionate that first night. Dead giveaway. Helena was so nervous during her first business dinner part she barely ate or said word.” His laugh was wistful at the memory. “But I can tell you now, that sweet girl is deeply in love with you and terrified you won’t love her back.”

“No Bruce, you’re wrong.”

“No son, you’re blind or dumb. Helena told me the girl lost her parents as a child and most recently the only other family she had. It was her poor luck to fall in love with a playboy she’s not sure could love her back. But you can and you do.”

It wasn’t a question from Bruce. Did he love Ava? Yes, without a doubt. “Dammit Bruce.”

Again Bruce laughed. “You’re welcome son. Now send those contracts to my lawyer so I can take my wife on a cruise around the world. And Kade? Good luck with Ava.”

Most of his day after Bruce’s visit was spent staring out the window thinking about the fact that Ava was in love with him. Could it be true? She hadn’t said anything but Bruce seemed so sure. He stood and grabbed his jacket. He needed to see Ava.

“Ava you can not sulk around here forever.”

“Sure I can,” she told Sophie without even looking up. “As long as I’m cheery when clients show up, who cares?”

“For starters, I do. You won’t tell me what happened with you and Kade yet every time I see you your eyes are red and glassy from crying, you’re quiet and you look like someone ate your kitten.”

Ava glared at her friend. “Look I was stupid okay and now I’m embarrassed and heartbroken. I need to work through it and I will.” She knew the last few weeks she was a nightmare to be around because she was weepy, emotional and tired all the time. Kade was only part of the reason why but she wasn’t ready to share that just yet.

“There’s nothing wrong with falling in love. If the idiot doesn’t love you back, then he’s as dumb as he is hot.” Sophie wrapped Ava in a hug and kissed her cheek. “What did he say when you left?”

That was the part that broke her heart all over again every time she thought about it. She’d packed up and left the morning after dinner with Bruce and Helena. She couldn’t stay there loving him and him thinking it was all a big joke. But the joke was on her because it had been a month and Kade hadn’t called or texted or stopped by. He hadn’t even arranged a time to do a full photo shoot so she used one of the few shots she had.