The Question (27 page)

Rashid smiled at her lazily. “I didn’t want to give you more than you can handle.”

His words sparked her temper. “I can handle anything you can dish out.”

“I’m not so sure about that, seeing how nervous you were about everything.”

Gail saw red. “Handle this.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, trusting him to keep her above water. She pressed her lips against his, licking at their seam, requesting entrance. When he wouldn’t open his mouth, she nipped his bottom lip. When his mouth opened in reaction to the slight pain, she thrust her tongue inside.

As soon as she tasted him, she was lost. Passion rose up and overwhelmed the prideful anger that motivated her actions. Gail explored the interior of his mouth, trying to learn all its secrets. Rashid let her have her fun then he took control of the kiss.

Now this was the lover Crystal had bragged about.

He wrapped his arms around her and propelled them away from the side of the pool. Gail clung to him as they sank beneath the surface of the water until the need for air drove them back to the top. She broke surface not too far from Rashid and treaded water, trying to catch her breath.

Rashid’s intense stare caused her to look down to see what he was looking at. The top of her bikini was gone. She spun around in a circle, searching for it. She finally spotted it floating several yards away in the water.

When she glanced back at Rashid, he had a predatory look on his face. Some imp of mischief whispered in Gail’s ear and with a provoking laugh, she challenged, “If you can catch me, you can have me.” Then she dove deep.

Rashid was such a strong swimmer; he could have caught her immediately. Instead, he toyed with her, building the anticipation. She wondered if this was how animals felt. The chase was heightening all of her senses. She completely focused on Rashid, aware of his every move.

A stroke of brilliance crossed her mind, and Gail lunged for the side of the pool, determined to change the playing field. In the water, Rashid had the advantage. On land, it fell to her. Rashid caught her against the side of the pool before she could climb out, trapping her with his aroused body.

“Gotcha! Turn around,” he whispered into her ear.

Gail slowly turned until she faced him. His face was a tight mask of arousal, an expression she’d seen only once before. He lifted her until her breasts cleared the water. “Wrap your legs around my waist.”

Gail immediately complied.

He cupped her breasts and rubbed her nipples with his thumbs. “I’ve dreamt about these, so many times. Every time I saw the babies nursing here,” he squeezed her nipple for emphasis, “I wanted to nudge them aside and take their place.” He dropped his mouth and latched onto her nipple.

Dear Lord, it wasn’t a fluke, she thought as fire streaked from her nipple straight to her womb. She clutched the side of the pool, her body racked with sensation. He drew deeply on her breast, like he was hunting for milk. He squeezed, tugged, and gently pulled on her other nipple, doubling the sensory overload racking her body.

“Rashid, please, I…argh!” Gail’s back arched as she orgasmed. Then she felt him there, pressing into her core. When he removed her bottoms, she didn’t know.

He pressed steadily into her. “You’re so tight. Relax, you’re fighting against me.”

“Can’t help it,” she panted. Spasms still rocked her, causing her vagina to tighten and release around his shaft.

Rashid held her firmly by the hips while he pushed until deeply embedded. Once in place, he held absolutely still, his body as tense as a rock. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers. His move slid his shaft deeper, drawing a moan from both of them.

“Rashid, what are you waiting for?” Several moments passed and he still hadn’t moved.

“I’m giving you time to adjust. You’re so tight. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Gail tightened her inner muscles around his cock and moved her hips, stroking him with her sheath. “I’ve adjusted. Please! MOVE!”

He moved, slowly at first, then increasingly faster as she talked dirty to him, urging him on.

“Yes, just like that.” She dropped her knees and dug her heels into the small of his back, opening her body for his possession.

“So good,” he groaned into her ear. “I can’t hold back. Trying to make it last,” he panted. “Too tight. Your pussy is like a vise.”

“Don’t hold back. Let go.”

His grip on her butt was bruising in its intensity. The water hampered his forceful movements, slowing them down. He drove deep and held, grinding against her as he came. His head dropped onto her shoulder as he panted for breath. “That did not go as planned. I intended to wow you with my prowess. Instead, I lost control like a teenager with his first girl.”

She ran her fingers gently through his hair. “We have all night and the rest of our lives to get it right. I’d rather have honest passion than practiced expertise.”

He leaned back and looked her in the face. “You mean that, don’t you?”

“Yes. I don’t expect sex between us to be perfect every time. It would be nice to orgasm each time we have sex. Multiple orgasms would be wonderful, but not realistic. Between hormonal fluctuations and just life in general, sometimes I will, and sometimes I won’t reach climax. I know this. The important thing is that we both focus on giving each other maximum pleasure.”

“I make this promise to you: I’ll always make every attempt to put your pleasure before my own.”

“And I promise to do the same.” She felt bereft when his softened penis slid from her body.

“And now, my lady wife, I suggest we head to our bedroom where the rest of our wedding night awaits.”

“Gladly, Sir Knight.” She laughingly followed him out of the pool and into the house.

* * * *

The rest of the week passed in a sensuous haze of pleasure. Rashid made good on his promise and it became a competition between the two of them to see who could bring more pleasure to the other. Rashid was a skillful, but serious lover. Gail made it her business to teach him how to play. Laughter rang out, as well as moans and groans of pleasure and completion when they retreated behind the closed doors of her bedroom, the study, the den or anywhere else the urge to make love hit them.

Only occasionally did the troublesome thought cross her mind that she was sleeping with another woman’s husband. She pushed it aside to the best of her ability and didn’t mention it to Rashid. She was happy, and that was all that mattered. She should have known it wouldn’t last.

* * * *

December—three months later

“A little to the left.”

“That’s where it was a minute ago.”

“Just a little left this time. Last time you went too far.”

Rashid moved the bare Christmas tree again and stood back from it.

“I don’t know…what do you think?”

“I think this is where I set it the first time.”

“Maybe if you move it…”

“Gail…” he growled, casting an annoyed look in her direction.

She couldn’t hold it in anymore. She fell back on the couch giggling. He was so gullible. For the last fifteen minutes, he’d been moving the tree into the same three positions.

“You imp! You’re doing it on purpose.” He dove onto the couch.

“Umph,” she gasped as his weight landed on top of her.

“I ought to beat you.”

“Oooh, hurt me baby.”

“I have a much better idea.” His hand snaked up her ribs and tickled.

She squirmed beneath him, laughing hysterically. “Stop! Stop! I give.”

Gail twisted and turned, trying to avoid his marauding fingers. Then she bucked beneath him in an attempt to throw him off. When she was unsuccessful, she tickled him back.

“Oh, no you don’t,” he laughed.

He captured her hands and pinned them above her head. When he had her trapped beneath him, he grinned down into her laughing face. Lightening quick, their laughter turned to passion. Gail rose, meeting Rashid’s descending mouth halfway. His mouth was a breath away from hers when a high-pitched, singsong voice shattered the mood.

“Rashid! Babies! Mommy’s home!”

Eyes opened wide, she stared at Rashid from inches away. She must be hearing things.

“Rashid! Carmelita! Where is everyone?”

A look of absolute fury crossed Rashid’s face. He almost fell off the couch in his haste to confront Crystal.

“Senora Crystal?” Gail could hear the confusion in Carmelita’s voice.

“Carmelita! There you are. Have Miguel get my things out of the car. I suppose my husband’s at work? Where are my babies?”

The door to the den crashed against the wall. “What the hell are you doing here?” He stormed into the foyer as the door ricocheted off the wall and slammed shut behind him.

Gail shakily got off the couch and straightened the pillows. Rashid was yelling at the top of his lungs. Crystal’s strident voice was a sharp counterpoint to his deeper tones. Gail hovered in the den. What to do? This was not something she wanted to get in the middle of.

This reckoning was a long time coming. Crystal had a lot to answer for. Rashid had every right to be furious. On the other hand, at this moment, she didn’t doubt that he was perfectly capable of killing Crystal. With visions of the police hauling her husband off to jail, Gail cautiously opened the door.

She could have flung it open and they wouldn’t have noticed.

“You leave, take off for a year and think you can just waltz in here and pick up where you left off? Have you lost your mind?”

“It’s only been eleven months and I had to leave. I wasn’t well, but I’ve had treatment and I’m all better now. I’m ready to be a wife to you and a mother to our children,” Crystal said tearfully.

He took a threatening step towards her. “If you think…”

“Rashid!”

Both heads snapped in her direction.

“Gail? What are you doing here?”

“My wife lives here.”

Crystal looked horribly confused.

“Rashid, we all have a lot to discuss. Bring Crystal into the den. Standing here yelling won’t accomplish anything. Crystal, good to see you again. I was beginning to think you were dead.” Too bad she wasn’t, Gail thought to herself, then inwardly flinched at the uncharitable thought. Apparently, she was just as upset as Rashid, but someone had to be calm or things would escalate dangerously out of control.

She spotted Carmelita lurking in the doorway to the kitchen, a worried look on her face. “Carmelita, would you bring refreshments into the den?”

“Right away, Ms. Gail.”

“Rashid. Crystal. After you.” She held a hand out, indicating they should enter.

Rashid looked ready to argue. Gail narrowed her eyes in warning. With a snarl, he turned and stalked into the den.

“Gail, I don’t understand. Did he say you two were married?”

“Come into the den. We can discuss it there, beginning with where you’ve been for the last year.”

“Eleven months,” Crystal corrected.

“Whatever.” Gail turned and walked inside.

Rashid stood at the window, his hands gripping the sill so tight that his knuckles showed white.  Crystal came and sat at the other end of the couch and looked around. “It looks different in here.”

“Lots of things changed while you were gone. I’ll tell you about them in a minute. But first, I want to know why you left and where you’ve been for all this time? Rashid hired a private detective to find you and came up empty.”

Carmelita came into the room with a pitcher of tea and some appetizers on a tray. “Thank you. Can you make sure we’re not disturbed?”

“Si, Ms. Gail. It’s nice to see you, Senora Crystal.”

“Thanks, Carmelita. It’s good to see you too.”

They were silent until she left the room, closing the door behind her.

“Rashid, would you like a glass of tea?”

“No.” Gail poured him one any way and set it on the tray. “Crystal?”

“Yes. I am rather thirsty.”

Gail poured two more glasses and handed one to Crystal. Then she sat back with her tea, projecting a calm she was far from feeling. She gave Crystal enough time to quench her thirst before prompting her again to explain.

“I’ve been in a private clinic just outside of Vegas, getting help with some emotional issues I couldn’t deal with.”

Gail glanced at Rashid who had his back still turned to the room. “What kind of issues?”

“I’m ashamed now to admit it, but I was so jealous of you. There you were, pregnant with the babies I begged you to have for me, and I hated you for it. I wanted a baby so bad.” She threw a quick glance at Rashid’s back. “I even tried to trick Rashid into getting me pregnant, but he wouldn’t cooperate.”

“That’s why you checked into the clinic?”

Crystal nodded. “I really think I had some type of breakdown. I knew I needed help. There’s no way I could have been a good mother to my babies the way that I was.”