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“Hardly.” Before she could say a word, he’d swept her up into his arms and carried her into his villa, across the living room in three long strides and into the bathroom. He kicked the door shut behind them then stepped into the shower, swimsuits and all, pressing her warm back against the cold white tiles. Rehaj jammed the water on and the cold spray made her gasp. He covered her mouth with his, capturing the tiny sound.
The water heated fast, along with her need for him. He quickly untied her bikini top and cupped her naked breasts in his hands, teasing their sensitive peaks until she cried out with want.
“Please, baby.” Ani could barely catch her breath, that’s how badly she wanted him. It had never, ever been like this with anyone else. “I need you inside me.”
With a growl, he kicked off his swim shorts and tore away her bikini bottoms. Then his hands were on her, his long talented fingers stroking her, delving inside her slick channel, making sure she was ready for him. “I need to be inside you, mahbubi.”
“Yes!” She wrapped her legs around his waist as he hoisted her higher against the wall. He reached over to grab a condom from the dispenser on the wall and put it on, then positioned himself at her entrance. Ani dug her nails into his broad shoulders as he thrust inside her, filling her, completing her, driving her insane with desire. “God, yes! Rehaj. Baby.”
He buried his face in her neck—kissing, licking, nipping—as he drove them both higher and higher towards ecstasy. It seemed an eternity and far too short all wrapped up into one. When Rehaj reached between them to stroke her swollen clit, she cried out and came hard around him. He soon followed, mumbling curses and endearments into her ear.
Breathless and shaking, they came down slowly from their incredible high, warm water sluicing over them from the shower. Ani felt boneless, weightless, yet her old insecurities nagged. If she’d looked messy before, she couldn’t imagine what Rehaj saw now. Probably a drowned rat. There went the old confidence, down the shower drain.
She lowered her legs from around him slowly, her knees threatening to buckle beneath her from the strength of her orgasm. Ani swiped the wet hair away from her forehead and stared at the center of his chest, unable to meet his eyes. If she did look as bad as she feared, she didn’t want to see the disappointment in his eyes. She’d gotten more than enough of that from Marcus to last her a lifetime. “I, uh. I should probably go back to my villa and fix my hair and face.”
Rehaj snorted, his arms tightening around her. “That is a joke, right? Believe me, my sweet, you have never looked more beautiful to me than you do right now.”
“Really?” She dared to blink up at him then and saw nothing but sincerity in his eyes. Her heart did a tiny flip and something inside her, tightly clenched, unfurled. She wasn’t ready to put a name to it yet, but it felt a lot like love.
“Really.” Rehaj kissed her sweetly then shut off the water before reaching outside the stall for a clean towel. “Now let’s get dried off and dressed. I fear I am famished after pleasing you all night and day.”
Ani laughed. It felt so good to be around him. He didn’t judge her. He didn’t think less of her because of her insecurities. He said all the right things at all the right times. A tiny warning bell went off in her head as she let Rehaj dry her off. Maybe he was too perfect. She’d fallen hard and fast once before with Marcus and that had led to disaster.
Still, as she followed Rehaj out into the bathroom and slid her arms into the thick terrycloth robe he held for her, she brushed those thoughts aside. They were here for two weeks. Beyond that, who knew? Real life didn’t exist here. This was fantasy. She should enjoy it while it lasted. There’d be time enough for worries later.
7
The five days passed by in a haze of warm sun, surf, getting to know each other better, and steamy nights filled with unbelievable passion. Ani was riding high on a wave of endorphins she’d never experienced before. Life with Marcus, in the beginning at least, had been an adventure. So many new places, new faces, new things to learn and do. But the longer they’d been together, the more bored he’d become. His boredom had then turned against Ani, in the form of constant nitpicking and general nasty remarks. Her insecurities about her looks and her past with her mother’s anxiety issues had surfaced anew and grown claws. She’d become obsessive about always looking perfect, always being perfect, in the hopes Marcus would one day suddenly fall in love with her again like he had at the start of it all, but he hadn’t. In the end, it was her failure to be perfect that had cost her everything.
With Rehaj, though, she felt freed. He never criticized her looks or her actions or really anything about her. He made her feel safe and protected and respected. He made her feel like she was good enough just as she was. And yes, after discovering his royal heritage, she’d had more than a few moments of doubt, but he never lorded his position over her, never made her feel as if he was any different than anyone else.
As she strolled along the beach after attending an afternoon meditation session, Ani hoped that she could provide him with the same comfort he’d given her on the island. She knew he enjoyed her body and the sex between them, but she wanted to soothe the man inside him too. She’d seen him, when he tho
ught no one was looking. The way his easy smile faded into a darker frown. The way the faint lines around his eyes and mouth deepened with stress. Sure, he hid it well, especially from her, but it was there. She wished he would feel comfortable enough with her to talk about his life back home. Ani didn’t know a thing about being a sheikh, but she could imagine it would be hard. Having a whole country watching you, depending on your decisions. Then there was his family. He’d not told her much about them either, other than the number of siblings he had. There’d definitely been affection in his voice when he’d mentioned them, but again, also a hint of stress. She longed to share his burdens, even if only for a few more days on the island.
A rustle sounded in the thick foliage and she glanced over, expecting to see a bird or some other creature. The wildlife on this island was incredible too, with birds and reptiles of all varieties. But when she peeked through the palm fronds and waxy green leaves, all she saw was a quick blur of black, then nothing. Odd. That shape had almost reminded her of some kind of camera, but then that wasn’t possible, right? No tech allowed during Recover Love.
She shook off the strange prickle on the back of her neck and climbed the steps to Rehaj’s villa. She’d all but moved in with him after that first night of lovemaking and they’d sunk into a relaxed routine of being around each other twenty-four seven. To say they were compatible was an understatement. Too bad neither of them was looking to get involved.
Stopping on the deck to brush the sand from her feet, Ani’s ears perked up at the sound of Rehaj’s voice. He was speaking to someone, his tone stiff and official, but who? Had he gotten reception on that old burner phone he’d showed her that first day? Or was it one of the staff?
Ani peeked her head inside the door and peered into the living room to find Rehaj alone, pacing the room as he read from papers in his hand. A speech. A very good speech at that.
She cleared her throat to alert him to her presence then swallowed hard as those dark eyes locked on her. Her heart skittered in her chest and familiar warmth spread outward from her core to her extremities. Would she ever not go weak at the knees from just his gaze? Ani hoped not.
“Hey,” she said at last, easing into the room. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt. Meditation’s over so I thought I’d come back here and see if you wanted to take a nap with me or whatever.”
He raised a dark brow at her. “Or whatever?”
Heat rose in her cheeks and she grinned. “What are you doing?”
“Oh.” Rehaj waved the papers in his hand dismissively. “Nothing. Just practicing for a speaking event I’ll be attending once I return to Djeva. Why?”
“No reason.” She sat in one of the chairs, legs curled under her. “You’re really good. Very persuasive. Sounds like a government matter?”
“Yes.” He raked a hand through his hair. “And thank you. I admire those who can command an audience. Not that I’m that accomplished. And yes. When I return home I need to give an important presentation to my eldest brother’s advisors to try and convince them that I am the appropriate choice to lead them.”
“I’d follow you anywhere.” Oops. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. Eyes wide, she gave him a small smile. “I, uh, meant that you should have no problems getting others on board. If you can loosen up a bit.”
