Sheikh’s Fiancée (9 page)

“I could say the same of you,” she said, reaching up and wrapping her arms around him. She kissed him deeply, tugging him back down to her, and this time she opened her legs and hooked her ankles around the backs of his thighs. And when he slid himself deep inside her, they both moaned at the same time.

Alice lifted her hips to meet Karim’s thrust, taking him even deeper inside, and she closed her eyes, savoring the feel of his cock inside her. He was so thick, so hard that she felt fuller than she could ever remember, stretched to the brink, and the knot of pleasure deep in her lower belly grew at the sensation of him inside her. Digging her hands into his hair, she kissed him deeply as he began to thrust inside her, savoring all of him. The taste and the feel and the scent of making love with her new husband for the first time was something she wanted branded in her brain cells, as a memory she could take out and hold when things got tough.

No matter what happened between her and Karim, they would always have this.

The clouds outside the window shifted, and moonbeams streamed through the window, illuminating Karim’s magnificent body in strokes of silver. She slid her hands from his hair to stroke his face, watching the light play across his sharp cheekbones and strong jaw. She’d been with many handsome men in her life, but few as exotically good-looking as him, and she liked looking at his face.

The glow in his amber eyes darkened as he quickened his thrusts, his face tight with strain as he pushed them both toward climax. Sweat beaded on his dark skin, across his brow, trickling down his arms and the sides of his face, mingling with the perspiration that coated her own skin so that their bodies glided against one another every time they came together. The pleasure building in Alice’s core finally came to a head, and she threw back her head and cried out as waves of ecstasy rolled through her body. She clung to Karim fiercely, her body shuddering, and then he stiffened in her arms, his cock pulsing inside her as he came as well.

When it was over, he buried his face in her neck, bracing most of his weight on his knees as he laid on top of her. Their harsh breathing was the only sound that filled the air as they lay there, and Alice stroked Karim’s sweat slicked back as she stared up at the gauzy canopy that stretched over their four-poster bed.

“That was amazing,” she finally said, after Karim’s breathing had slowed and she’d caught her own breath.

“It was.” Karim lifted his head, a twinkle in his gorgeous amber eyes. His white teeth flashed in the darkness as he grinned, and Alice’s heart fluttered, warmth spreading through her chest again.  He looked so boyish when he grinned like that, so handsome and carefree, and it tugged at something within her heart.

“Maybe we can do it again sometime,” Alice suggested, arching her back as she stretched her arms overhead. Her limbs felt loose and relaxed – that had been some orgasm.

“Sometime?” Karim echoed, rolling them over so that she was splayed on top of his big, hard body. “Why not now?”

And as his lips met hers, Alice couldn’t think of a single reason to refuse.

Chapter Nine

“So how’s the honeymoon going so far?” Sheridan asked when Alice answered her phone.

Alice sighed happily as she leaned back in her chair and looked out at the Seine River glittering the late afternoon sunlight in the not-so-far off distance. She was sitting at an outdoor café near the Triangle d’Or, one of the most exclusive shopping areas in Paris, enjoying a cup of coffee and a croissant as she waited for Karim to meet her for dinner. A warm, gentle breeze toyed with her bright red hair, bringing with it the smells of the city.

“It’s perfect,” she said, a grin tugging at her lips. “I spent the morning touring the Louvre, and the entire afternoon shopping at the Triangle d’Or. I’m so glad I ordered my stuff to be delivered to our hotel room – I’d be buried under a mountain of shopping bags by now.”

Sheridan laughed. “Knowing you, I’m sure that’s the case. You’re a fashion buyer, Alice. That’s what you do for a living.”

“Sure, but usually when I buy in bulk I do it for Armani, not myself,” Alice chuckled. “Truthfully, I probably wouldn’t have spent so much if Karim hadn’t given me his credit card and told me to buy whatever I wanted.”

“Ah, so your new husband is generous as well as handsome, is he?” Sheridan teased. “Some would say you struck gold.”

Alice sighed. “Well, it’s more like I helped Karim strike gold.” But that fact didn’t bother her as much as it used to. “Still, we haven’t ripped each other’s eyeballs out these past two weeks, so maybe there’s hope for us.”

The day after their wedding night, Karim’s family had held a huge feast, which was traditional and the third part of their wedding, and then they departed for their honeymoon, a two-week tour of Europe that they’d largely made up on the fly because Alice hadn’t been interested in following the itinerary Azisa had planned. Maybe she was marrying Karim as a favor, but this was her marriage, and she wanted to have
her
honeymoon. It was already bad enough that she saw Azisa’s face smiling out at her from almost every fashion magazine she passed. Even though she had no reason to be jealous of the woman, she still didn’t need her in their marriage.

Karim hadn’t argued with her at all; in fact, he’d been perfectly content to sit back in their private jet and let Alice tell the captain where to fly. So far they’d been to Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and now France, which was one of their last destinations before heading home. She and Karim had spent a great deal of time together, but he’d had meetings, both on the telephone and sometimes in person if they were in a city where he had a contact, such as right now. During those times, Alice was more than happy to wander the city by herself, shopping and touring and soaking up the sights.

“You know, I really do hope things work out between you and Karim,” Sheridan said, her voice dipping lower as she grew serious. “You both deserve to be happy, and from what I can see, you two get along pretty well.”

“That’s true,” Alice admitted, and then took another sip of coffee. The dark, rich flavor flowed smoothly over her tongue, tempered with just a little bit of cream and sugar. “And the sex has been really good so far. I wouldn’t mind sticking it out with him if things work out.” But the butterflies in her stomach started up again at the thought, and she shifted in her chair. Would that actually happen? Could she trust Karim with her heart? She had no reason not to think so, but…

“Oh yeah?” A naughty tone entered Sheridan’s voice. “He’s hasn’t stalled out in the performance department at all?”

“Sheridan!” Alice exclaimed, pretending to be scandalized. “I’m not sure it’s appropriate for you to be having such thoughts about your brother in-law.”

“Oh please,” Sheridan scoffed. “Stop stalling and tell me about it. Have you two tried having sex in the hot tub yet? The first time Kahlid and I – ”

“Oops, gotta go!” Alice chirped as she spotted Karim approaching the café through the crowd of shoppers. “Karim’s here. I’ll catch you later, Sheri.”

She hung up on her best friend, who was still spluttering, and grinned at having the last word. That grin widened as Karim smiled back at her, and she at back in her chair and admired the view as he approached her. He wore a dark suit with a crisp white shirt that was open at the collar, revealing just a hint of the broad, muscular chest beneath it. A pair of wraparound shades hid his eyes from her, lending him an air of mystery, and the light wind tousled his dark, wavy hair, making him look sexy and roguish all at once.

“My dear wife,” he sang as she stood up to greet him. “How are you this fine afternoon?”

Alice laughed as he wrapped his arms around her and spun her around, just beyond reach of the tables and chairs. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him heartily, enjoying the feel of his mouth on hers and his dark, spicy scent mingling with the fragrant air.

“I’ve been having a fine afternoon until you came along,” she teased, tweaking his nose as he set her down

“You wound me, my love.” Karim pressed a hand to his chest, pretending to look hurt. “I suppose I will have to make it up to you by showing you a good time this evening.”

“Well, I guess it can’t hurt for you to try,” Alice teased, taking the arm he offered.

They walked up place de Madeline together, and into Caviar Kaspia, one of the most renowned seafood restaurants in Paris. The exterior was charming, a white building with a blue-and-white awning jutting out over the sidewalk so that diners could find it easily, and big glass windows that allowed those seated at window tables to enjoy the best views of the neoclassical Madeliene church just across the street.

As they walked inside and the maître de walked them over to one of those window seats, Alice allowed her eyes to roam over the traditional décor, studying the light, wood-paneled walls, the taupe figured carpets and seating, and the cases dotted with works of art and porcelain. The large, square table they were seated at was covered in sea-green linen that complemented the décor, and delicate china plates and silverware already awaited them.

“So what do you think of this place?” Alice asked Karim after the waiter had taken their order for drinks and they settled in.

“Hmm?” Karim asked as he lifted his glass of wine.

Alice smirked. “You know what I mean,” she said, looking around the room. “What do you think of the architecture?”

She played this game with Karim everywhere they went, from churches to hotels to museums, asking his opinion about the architecture and how he might build things if he was asked to redesign it. Usually he would launch into animated explanations, and she loved learning about the design of buildings and watching the excitement and passion play across his face. But this time he sat back in his seat and gave her a rather smug smile.

“As much as I’d love to talk about architecture, I think it’s time we talk about you.”

Alice nearly dropped her glass of wine. “What?”

“I said, let’s talk about you.” Karim leaned forward, pinning her with his amber gaze. “I’ve enjoyed the last two weeks with you very much, Alice, but every time we sit down to have a conversation, I always seem to find that I spend the most time talking.” He reached for her hand across the table and stroked his thumb over her knuckles. “I want to learn more about the woman I married. I know that she loves the Beatles, has a passion for fashion, and a zeal for life that’s admirable. But I also know that she has no family, and though I’m sure I can dig up whatever I want about you, I’d much rather hear your story from you.”

A heavy weight settled on Alice’s chest at the mention of her family and her past, but the look in Karim’s eyes was so tender that she couldn’t just push him away the way she did when men asked about her past. Besides, he was her husband. And yet…

“It’s not easy to talk about,” she hedged.

“Still, I’d like for you to try.” Karim gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Please, I won’t judge you. You have to know that.”

Alice let out a sigh. “I lost my mother when I was nine years old,” she told him, turning away so she could stare at the church outside the window. It looked more like a Greek temple than a church, she mused, her eyes traveling up the row of thick stone columns and across the pedimented roof with its neoclassical carvings. “My father I never knew, he ran off before I was born, but my mother was a seamstress who worked in a tailor’s shop. She didn’t make a lot of money, but she made enough to get by. What she couldn’t give me in money or possessions, she more than made up with her love.”

Alice swallowed the sudden lump in her throat, and blinked her eyes. She could see Karim watching her out of the corner of her eye, but she knew that if she met his compassionate gaze right now that she would give in to the urge to cry, so she continued gazing at the church, tracing the outline of the columns with her eyes.

“When I was seven years old, she came home from her job with tears in her eyes. I was at the kitchen table doing schoolwork, and I remember jumping out of my chair and throwing my little arms around her, asking what was wrong. She looked so haggard, her hair a mess from the wind, her pale face lined with stress and fatigue, but she smiled at me and told me not to worry and to help her with dinner. I didn’t find out until a week later that she had cancer.”

“Oh, Alice.” Karim squeezed her hand. “I’m so sorry.”

Alice shook her head. “It’s no one’s fault,” she said quietly, tearing her face away from the church to look down at their entwined hands. “For a long time, I tried finding someone else to blame after she was gone – the doctors, my father, God, anyone. But sometimes these things happen and there’s no one to point the finger at.” Alice sighed. “She died a year later, but she never stopped trying to live. When she wasn’t working at the tailor or taking care of me, she would stay up late at her sewing machine and work on her own designs. She loved fashion, and she had great vision. I think that if she’d lived long enough, she could have made it.”

“Is that why you decided to work in fashion?” Karim asked, his voice incredibly gentle. “Because of your mother?”

Alice nodded, a smile curving her lips slightly. “I didn’t have my mother’s talent with a sewing machine, but I did have her eye, and I was determined to do her proud. That determination allowed me to keep my head up while I went through the foster system, and I put myself through school and an internship and eventually found myself at Armani.”

“That’s very impressive.” Karim lifted her hand to his mouth so he could kiss her knuckles. As usual, the feel of his lips on her skin sent tendrils of warmth through her veins, and her mood lifted. “Many people bow under the face of tragedy, but you used it to lift yourself up. I’m not sure if I could have done that myself if I’d been in your situation.”

“I don’t know about that,” Alice said, her smile widening. “From what I’ve seen, you’re pretty ambitious. And I’ve snuck a few looks at the designs you work on in your sketchbooks. You’ve got real talent.”

Karim’s cheeks actually pinkened beneath his dark skin. “You’re too kind.”