Sheikh’s Fiancée (8 page)

Eventually, though, he pulled back, setting her gently on the seat beside him. “We should wait until we arrive home,” he panted, his broad chest heaving beneath his
sherwani
. “I don’t wish to consummate our marriage in the back of a limousine.”

Good point.
“All right,” Alice said softly. She took his hand in hers instead, and a little thrill went through her as his warm, strong fingers curled around hers. God, but who knew she could feel this way about someone she’d known for such little time?

She looked out the window at the skyscrapers that towered above and around them and let her mind drift back to the wedding. The relief and admiration in Karim’s eyes had been unmistakable – he’d wanted this wedding badly, there was no question about that, but he also seemed pleased with her, and there was no doubt that they wanted each other sexually. But more than that, when they’d exchanged their vows, despite Alice’s teasing, she’d felt something in her chest click into place, almost as if something missing that had been put back where it belonged.

Maybe their marriage didn’t have to be a sham. Maybe they actually had a real shot at love together.

As she continued staring out the window, she noticed the skyscrapers began to thin out. But instead of turning left onto the main road toward the palace, they turned right, heading toward the opposite end of the coastline.

“Where are we going?” she asked, turning back to Karim.

He gave her a secretive smile, his amber eyes twinkling. “Home.”

“But the palace is that way.” Alice pointed in the other direction.

“Don’t worry.” Karim squeezed her hand. “It will all become clear soon.”

A little shiver of apprehension crawled down Alice’s spine at that line – did Karim not realize that’s what villains said in movies right before they revealed how they were about to destroy the world? Jesus, but where was he taking her?

Relax. This is Karim, your husband. Not a diabolical mastermind. He’s not going to hurt you.

Alice let out her breath. Of course he wasn’t going to hurt her. She was just letting her overactive imagination get the best of her. He was probably just trying to surprise her with something on their wedding night. The idea made her feel warm and fuzzy inside – if it was true, it was a sweet gesture.

The limousine continued up another street that rose higher and higher until it became clearer they were going up a coastal cliff. Alice looked out her window at the waves crashing down below them against the shore and sighed a little at the way the moonlight danced over the sea. Out in the distance, she could see the sailboat shape of the hotel they’d had the rehearsal dinner at, and her cheeks warmed again as she remembered what she and Karim had done on the rooftop.

As they continued up the winding road, the view of the ocean was replaced by rows of villas perched on large plots of land with palm fronds and pools. Alice’s eyes widened as they pulled up next to a particularly grand one located near the top of the cliff. It was a sprawling, two-story structure with square roofs and Arabian arches. Palm fronds framed the tiled entrance, and the tile disappeared around the three-car garage jutting out from the side, telling her there was more to be seen from the rear.

“Oh my God,” she whispered as it finally dawned on her. “Karim, is this the estate your mother’s family willed to you?”

“It is.” Karim squeezed his hand, quiet joy in his deep voice. “Do you like it?”

“It looks fantastic!” She squeezed his hand back, then practically yanked him from the limo when the driver opened the door to let her out. “Oh my God, you have to give me a tour. Have you seen this place already?”

“I have.” Amusement colored his voice as he followed behind her. “I’ve been working on making the house inhabitable these past couple of weeks so that we could have our wedding night here.”

“House.” Alice snorted as she stared up at the huge structure. “This is a mansion.”

Karim settled his hands on her shoulders, then dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Whatever it is, this is our home now.”

Alice stood stock still, absorbing that as Karim moved around her to unlock the entrance and disable the security system. Holy cow. This was their home now. She knew that the estate came with Karim, that in fact she was marrying Karim
because
of the estate, but she hadn’t thought about the fact that this meant they were actually going to
live
here.

But of course they were,
she chided herself as she stepped into the house after him. He’d told her that one of the reasons he’d wanted the estate was so that he could have something for himself, so that he could start his own family and life that was independent of the palace and his brother.

“Well?” he asked as he closed the door behind her. “What do you think?”

Alice let her eyes wander across the huge open space of the entrance lobby. The floor beneath her feet was cool white quartz, and the ceilings above had clearly been raised, giving the space an airy feel. Beyond she could clearly see both living room, dining room and kitchen – there were subtle room divisions that leant structure to the space, but it was basically an open floor plan.

“It’s beautiful,” she murmured, wandering past the entrance and into the living room. The white quartz tile here was covered by a thick, rich red carpet, and the heavy cedar furniture was upholstered in the same color, but interrupted with stripes of bright colors to add variety. To her left, about thirty feet away, rose a black marble bar that marked off the kitchen from the living room space, and lining the entire wall in front of her was a series of windows that offered an expansive view of the gardens, which she could see included a long rectangular pool and a kind of gazebo. Best of all, she could still see the ocean from where she stood.

“You can see the Indian Ocean from almost anywhere in this house,” Karim said, looping his arms around her waist and pulling her back against him. Alice inhaled his dark, spicy scent as she leaned into him, savoring the feeling of his strong arms as they cradled her. “It’s one of my favorite things about this place.”

“I have a feeling the pool is going to be one of my favorite things,” Alice said, eyeing the rectangular water feature. She loved swimming. “I could make that part of my morning routine.”

“There’s also a hot tub out there, which can be particularly lovely on winter evenings.” Karim dropped a kiss on her head, then pulled back and tugged at her hand. “Come, let me show you the rest of the place.”

They did a brief tour of the kitchen, which was dominated by the black marble island counter top. The sinks were brushed black, and the fitted appliances and shelving were illuminated so that you could find your way around in the dark if you had a craving for a midnight snack without having to turn all the lights on. A spacious and light breakfast room sat beyond, which overlooked the meticulously landscaped garden.

They wandered out the pair of double glass doors into the garden, and Alice inhaled the thick, fragrant hot air laced with the sweet scent of frangipanis and other flowers. The sound of trickling water greeted her ears, coming from several different water features tucked around the grounds along with marble sculptures, and she noted these decorations marked discrete areas where a couple could sit and enjoy some privacy… and perhaps something more. There were various colored lights placed along various walkways to ensure no one got lost in the dark, while still leaving enough spaces in shadows for those who wished them.

“This is like a dream,” Alice said as she stared up at an elegant water fountain carved from black marble. She sat down on a matching stone bench, and Karim joined her there. “I guess marrying me was worth it after all, wasn’t it?”

“Alice.” Karim’s voice was gentle as his hands settled lightly on her shoulders. He turned her to face him, and Alice’s breath caught at the tenderness in his amber gaze. “I may have gained this beautiful estate, but I also gained you. And though I may have done this for my independence, you are still far more valuable than anything materialistic I could have.”

Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, and she closed them as Karim kissed her, allowing the tiny drops to trickle down her cheeks. The day had started off with nerves and tension, but had ended so beautifully it was almost painful. She began to think that if this was how they were to start their marriage, with such poignant words and dazzling beauty, that perhaps there would be more good things in store that were worth waiting longer than a year for.

But as Karim’s mouth moved over hers, those thoughts fell away, replaced by the carnal hunger that had been simmering away on the back burner for as long as she had known Karim. It came into full bloom right now, racing through her blood like wildfire, and she wrapped her arms around her new husband’s neck and drew him close, opening her mouth to him so that she could savor his dark, exotic flavor. The scarf that wrapped around her shoulder and across her midsection slipped away, baring her midriff to the hot night air, but then Karim pulled her even closer, pressing his hard body up against her bare skin.

“I don’t want to wait anymore,” he growled into her mouth.

“Then don’t,” she breathed. “Take me.”

He slid his hands beneath her bottom, and Alice gasped as he swung her up into his arms. She clung to him tightly as he broke the kiss, leaning her head against his chest so she could listen to the thunder of his heartbeat, just as unsteady as hers. His muscles flexed beneath his clothing as he carried her into the house and up a wide staircase, where he then turned left down a hall lined with what she assumed were bedrooms.

Alice lifted her head to feather kisses down Karim’s jaw and neck. She smiled as his breathing came faster and couldn’t help grin when he fumbled once, then twice for the handle of the door at the end of the hall. He finally got it free, then pushed it open to reveal a spacious master suite. Alice caught a glimpse of white quartz tile, dark cherry wood furnishings and red carpets as Karim laid her atop a king-sized four-poster bed, but then she forgot all about it as he tugged his
sherwani
off.

Holy cow, she thought as she sat up on her elbows, gaping at him. The moonlight spilling through the windows traced over every single line and curve of muscle… and there was a lot of it. His shoulders, his arms, his pecs… all of them were covered in lean, taut ropes of muscle, trailing down over carved abs and taut hips. His broad chest was dusted with a fine layer of black hair, and that hair continued down to trail over his hips, disappearing beneath the waistband of his loose, drawstring pants…

“Like what you see?” he asked, his voice a low, husky whisper. His eyes gleamed as he advanced on her, and a shiver of anticipation rolled down Alice’s spine.

“Yes,” she told him, honestly the only thing that was left to her. The hot desire coursing through her body left no room in her mind for witty comebacks. There was only scorching need, a need that only he could satisfy.

Nodding at the unspoken plea in her voice, he tugged his pants down then stepped out of them. Alice’s mouth went dry at the sight of him – he wore no underwear beneath those pants, and in the moonlight she could see his muscular legs in all their glory. His erection rose proud and thick, one of the biggest she’d ever seen, and she licked her lips, wanting to wrap her fingers around the length of him.

Karim stalked toward her like a predator, and Alice scooted back, a current of nerves and anticipation running through her. He covered her with his big, hard, naked body and kissed her deeply, then tugged her up into a sitting position so he could pull her blouse off. It fluttered to the floor in a heap of silk, and her bra soon followed, leaving her upper body completely exposed to Karim’s hungry gaze.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, his amber gaze scorching her skin as he drank her in. His hands slid up her bare abdomen, gliding over her taut skin, and then he cupped her breasts, squeezing gently. Alice gasped as he flicked his thumbs over her nipples, and they hardened beneath his touch. She arched her back as he took one of the sensitive nubs in his mouth, sucking gently, and moaned as currents of sensation ran through her.

He teased her breasts with his mouth and hands for a long time, lavishing attention on each one individually until she was panting with need. Wanting more, she slid her hands down his taut abdomen, feeling the muscles flex beneath her touch, and then wrapped one hand around the length of him. He went rigid as she did so, then let out a sharp exhale as she squeezed.

“More,” he rasped, lifting his head from her breasts to spear her with a hot look.

Alice did as he asked, sliding her hand up and down his shaft with slow, firm strokes. She watched his eyelids slide to half mast, his amber orbs darken with pleasure, and the muscles in his face flex as the sensations ran through him. His cock pulsed in her hand as she squeezed and stroked it, and she felt it grow slick in her palm, almost as slick as the wetness between her own legs.

A shudder ran through him then, and he closed his eyes. “Stop,” he rasped, reaching down and taking her hand from his length. He brought it to his face and kissed each knuckle slowly, his eyes still closed, and Alice felt something stir in her chest, a kind of warmth and tenderness that she’d rarely ever experienced. It was almost as if their connection had deepened, grown a little bit stronger and surer, in this stolen moment in the darkness.

Without a word, Karim placed her hand back down on the mattress, then slid her skirt and panties down her hips and over her thighs. The silk and lace glided over her skin, and anticipation rushed through her as Karim finished removing her clothes. His amber gaze blazed down at her as he took her naked body in for the first time, and for the first time in a long while Alice felt a little self-conscious.

“I don’t know how anyone can be this perfect,” he whispered, tracing the outline of her hips with his fingers. A little shiver raced over her skin, followed by more warmth, and Alice couldn’t help but smile.