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Wrapping my arms around his neck, I crawled over him and straddled his outstretched legs. He groaned when my center rubbed over him. His hands clenched on my hips to drag me closer.
“This isn’t the snack I intended,” he muttered against my lips before hungrily tasting me again.
“You’re way better than chocolate.”
Tarek growled. One hand came up to cup the back of my head. I was lost, consumed by the kiss, and everything else slipped away.
“Fuck,” he breathed, ripping his mouth away and leaning his forehead to mine. “You make me forget myself.”
“I like it.”
“I know you’re only here for the week, but I don’t want to rush. This feels…” He closed his eyes and took a deep, slow breath. “Too important. Bigger than one week.”
“I’m not leaving,” I admitted. My eyes widened, and I barely stopped my gasp. Until I’d spoken it, I hadn’t realized I’d firmly decided that. “My family is here. I don’t think I can just head back to Michigan. I don’t have anything there anymore. I can find a job here. A place to stay. And…we can…see where this goes?”
His brow furrowed, concern coloring his features.
“What is it?” I asked. Had I overstepped? Assumed too much? I moved to climb off him, but he gathered me closer to his chest.
He sighed. “I’m only supposed to be here until the end of summer. At that time, I’m expected to head home and resume my position in the company.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Not as a lifeguard, I assume.”
He chuckled and kissed the top of my head. “No. I’m the chief operating officer of the family’s company, second to my brother. We’re in oil. Not lifeguarding.”
I leaned my head to his shoulder and closed my eyes, just listening to his heartbeat beneath my ear. “Then I guess we have to the end of the summer.”
“You’re sure?” he asked, and I wondered if he’d expected me to kick him out after he revealed that. To tell him it wasn’t worth us investing the time. That wasn’t how I was built, though. Maybe, in the end, I’d lose him, but until then, we’d explore the magnetic connection that had pulled us inexorably together.
“I’m sure.” I cupped the back of his head and pulled him down for another kiss. “I want you, Tarek. We don’t have to rush, but when the time comes, I’m yours.”
Chapter Eight
~ Tarek ~
My phone buzzed, pulling me awake. I buried my face in Sariah’s hair. We’d slept together, but hadn’t had sex. Last night, we’d eventually snacked on the cookies I’d brought. While we’d cuddled, she’d told me about her family and quizzed me about mine.
Speaking of… I knew who’d be calling me at this unholy hour. My brother, Zayn, didn’t seem to fathom that though it was noon at home, it was only five AM here.
Sariah stirred, and I kissed her temple.
“You’re leaving?” she murmured.
“My brother is calling me. I need to go take his call, but I’ll be at the picnic with your family later today. Go back to sleep,habibi.Rest. I will see you this afternoon.”
“‘Kay,” she muttered into the pillows, not opening her eyes. Allah, she was adorable.
Grabbing my phone off the side table where I’d left it, I headed out to the hallway then dialed back my brother.
“The internet has a really good tool to do time conversions,” I growled at him.
“What? I waited until after five.”
“I’ll keep that in mind when I call and wake up your pregnant wife tonight.”
Now, it was Zayn’s turn to growl. “Don’t even think about it. I see the fresh ocean air hasn’t improved your attitude.”
I thrust a hand through my hair. My jaw cracked with a wide yawn. It had been a late night—too late for engaging in an early morning battle of wits with my older brother. “Did you want something other than this?”
