AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My fingers linked with hers, and I led her outside before she decided to tell me to hit bricks.
“This afternoon, I was pretty sure you were about to tell me no way.” I left the statement hanging, waiting for her to tell me what she’d been feeling. She didn’t. When I looked over, she was staring up at me.
“You look amazing,” I breathed. “I’m a most fortunate man.” I blinked. “I mean…”
“Thank you,” she said before I could revise my statement to sound less like I was from far away. Though I hadn’t lived in the States since I was a toddler, my mother was American. Which meant I spoke English fluently, but sometimes, I was told I still had a little bit of an accent. Occasionally, my words were clunky, for lack of a better way to put it.
Now that I’d come to America, and I was somewhat estranged from my family, though my sister and mother called me weekly—sometimes more often—I preferred to embrace the American part of my ancestry.
“There’s a place we can walk to from here.” I glanced down at her sandaled feet and her pink-painted toes. “As long as you’re okay with that. Truly, I think it might be closer than my vehicle.”
“It’s good. I don’t mind walking. It’s so beautiful here.”
Considering how busy the nearby parking lots had been, the sidewalk wasn’t too congested which made it easy for Sariah and I to walk side by side without me having to relinquish her hand.
“So tell me about yourself,” I said. I wanted to know everything there was to know about her. Sure, three hours ago, I’d thought love was a bunch of lies, but now everything about Sariah drew me in. I might have to apologize to my older brother, a prospect I didn’t relish. But I could admit when I was wrong. And I’d been very wrong.
“You first,” she countered. “You’re not from around here. Right?”
“No, I’m not. My mother is American, though. And actually, I was born here. My brother, my sister and I were all born in the States while my father lived here for business. He was from a small, but wealthy country in the Middle East.” While we walked, I told her about my homeland, and how my brother had recently married. I was now the only child in our family who hadn’t wedded, but I didn’t share that with her. Yet.
“Your sister-in-law is from Michigan?” she asked. “Small world. I’m from there, too.”
“That is surprising,” I agreed. “The States are huge. What are the chances?”
“Apparently, pretty good.”
“And you’re here on vacation?” I asked. We arrived at the small beach-side restaurant, and I ushered her inside to the cool, candlelit interior. The lights had been lowered to create a mood, though early evening sunlight still came through the windows. This time of day, however, it hit from the wrong side of the building, so it wasn’t too bright for comfort. In fact, it imbued exactly the needed romantic glow.
“Not really a vacation,” Sariah told me as soon as we were seated. I disliked being across from her. It made it harder for us to touch. But perhaps that was a good thing. I’d hate for her to think I was some weird variety of Sizzle Beach octopus.
“Business?” I asked.
She shook her head, and a few strands from her up-do tickled across her cheeks before she lifted her fingers to push them back into place. I caught her hand.
“Leave it. You’re gorgeous. I’m glad there aren’t many people here. I’d have to glare down all the men.”
A pretty blush tinged her cheeks, and she looked down, still peering at me through her thick lashes.
“You’re smooth.”
“No, I’m truthful. Hasn’t anyone ever told you how perfect you are? They must have. You’re playing me.”
She shook her head again, those pretty, curly strands teasing her skin again. By Allah, I wanted to see them bouncing around her as I tumbled her into bed. As I buried myself inside her.
I shifted in my seat, my pants uncomfortable as they strangled my cock.
“I’m here for a wedding.”
“Obviously, not yours.” At this point, just hours in, I’d probably kill a guy. What would it be like when she’d been mine for years? I couldn’t imagine I’d feel any different.
Her laugh tinkled brightly. “Obviously. I wouldn’t be here with you if I were taken. I’m not that sort of girl.”
I leaned in and ignored everything that told me to play it cool. I couldn’t. It wasn’t in me. I was a man who went for what he wanted, and because of that, I had made my family’s company millions. Now, it was time for something just for me—well, for me and Sariah.
“You are taken. And by next weekend, you will be very sure of that.”
Her eyebrows raised, but she didn’t challenge my assertion. “Does that mean you’re going to be my plus one to this thing?”
