In Pursuit of His Wife(4)

He kissed her cheek. "I know, and I'm bent on making up for my neglect.  Can we for once stop thinking and allow ourselves only pleasure for a  while?"

"But-"

He brought her head around and kissed her soundly. "Let me make love to you, Sira. Please."

She should issue a protest, she should be more resistant, yet she had  become too caught up in the anticipation of how she knew he could-and  would-make her feel. Too sexually charged over witnessing a side of him  she had never seen before this evening-the jealous side, willing to  defend her honor.

After she complied, he whispered, "Take off your panties."

This time she didn't hesitate to follow his directive, and after she  lifted her hips and slid the lace down to her thighs, she no longer  questioned the wisdom in allowing this to happen. After all, he was not a  stranger. He was her husband, and she had been without intimacy for  much too long.

While Nasira watched, Sebastian moved to the apex of her thighs and  began to stroke her. A flood of heat and dampness caused her breath to  catch in her chest. He knew how much pressure to apply. How to tease her  into oblivion. The moments seemed so surreal-both of them in the back  of a truck out in the wide open spaces of Texas, a warm breeze blowing  across her face, her husband's hand between her legs bringing her closer  and closer to the threshold of orgasm. She wanted badly to keep it at  bay, to keep her eyes open, but all to no avail. When Sebastian slid a  finger inside her, whispered a few words some might find crude, the  climax crashed into her, bringing with it a series of strong spasms.

Nasira was barely aware that Sebastian had taken his hand away, but  very aware when he moved beside her. When she heard the rasp of a  zipper, she opened her eyes to see that he had shoved his slacks down  his hips, revealing what the spontaneous foreplay had physically done to  him.

"I need you, sweetheart," he whispered. "Come here."

She needed him as well. Much more than she should. "You want us to lie  down in the back of this truck? I question the comfort in that." She  also questioned her own sanity.

He grinned. "Who said anything about lying down? I am relinquishing control to you and hoping for a memorable ride."

Awareness over what he had intimated sent Nasira's pulse on a sprint.  Every word he uttered seemed to be a jolt to her libido. Every  suggestion added fuel to the building fire. Realizing the fit of the  dress might not allow for enough room, she hopped to her feet to face  her husband. She boldly unzipped the dress, pulled it over her head,  tossed it and the bra into the bed of the truck and then pushed the  panties down where they fell to the ground. She was totally, unabashedly  naked and remarkably ready to finish this interlude immediately.

With that in mind, she climbed back into the truck on her knees to  straddle Sebastian's thighs. Yet he thwarted that immediate plan when he  said, "Wait."

She didn't want to delay another moment. "Why?"

"Birth control," he grated out.

Of course that would be his primary focus, and it should be hers as  well. She lowered from her knees and sat on the gate, hugging her arms  to her breasts. "I have not resumed taking the pills. I had no reason to  do that."

She saw dismay in his expression before he stood and pulled up his slacks. "And you should have informed me immediately."

She suddenly felt very exposed, both physically and emotionally. She  also sensed a hint of accusation in his tone. "If you are intimating I  planned this so you could impregnate me, I was not the one who drove  here for the purposes of seduction."                       
       
           



       

He released a rough sigh. "You're right, and my apologies for doubting  your motives. However, if you consider our past, you certainly shouldn't  blame me for my concerns."

Furious, Nasira came to her feet and grabbed her discarded clothing.  "Obviously allowing this interlude under the circumstances has been a  colossal mistake."

She glimpsed anger in his expression before she pulled the dress over  her head, heard it in his voice when he said, "The sounds you made alone  indicated you certainly enjoyed it."

"Evidently I am not immune to your charms," she said. "But mark my  words, this will not happen again until we come to terms with our  issues. And we have several, including your lack of trust in me and your  resistance to having another child."

He slid out of the truck to tuck in his shirt. "We have a month to work out our differences and reach a compromise."

If they could work anything out. Nasira was not certain they could.  "Presently I need to return to the house and you need to return to  wherever you are staying for the duration."

He streaked a palm over his nape. "Actually, I haven't a place to stay  at this point in time. It appears there are no rooms in the inns due to  some rodeo event in the area."

Of all the irresponsible, ridiculous excuses. "You did not make arrangements before you decided to travel here?"

"It was a spontaneous plan."

An illogical plan in her opinion. "I can't very well have you in my  room under my brother's roof. He is well aware we're having problems,  and I prefer we not sleep in the same bed until we've had more time to  work on our issues."

"I will take whatever room they have available if you don't wish me in your bed."

"There isn't another room, Sebastian. The house is still undergoing renovations and I have the only accommodations left."

"Then I suppose I shall sleep in the truck until other arrangements can be made."

Oh, for heaven's sake. "All right. You may stay in my room as long as  you have no expectations and you leave before first light. I truly do  not wish to explain your presence to Rafiq or to have him assume we've  been...you know."

"I'm certain Rafe has engaged in...you know, since his intended is living with him."

"She is also pregnant," she added, curious to see how he might react.

"Really?" he said with little enthusiasm. "I didn't know the old boy had it in him."

"He does, and he is very protective of Violet, as well as me. On the  other hand, he is not particularly fond of you at the moment. He assumes  you have done something to wound me."

"And clearly you have allowed him to have those assumptions."

"Like it or not, Sebastian, your behavior for the past few months has been very hurtful to me."

He sighed. "And that is why I'm here now, to atone for my  transgressions. Regardless, I promise to remain on my side of the bed  until you are ready for me to fully atone."

When he suggestively winked, Nasira realized having Sebastian in her  bed would not be wise for many reasons. "I will make a place for you on  the floor."

He had the nerve to kiss her hand. "Whatever you wish, fair lady."

She wanted not to be so attracted him. She wanted not to want him, yet  sadly she still did. "It is late," she said as she wrenched from his  grasp. "And one more thing. When we arrive, be quiet. I prefer not to  wake the household."





Two

"What is he doing here?"

Sebastian had barely entered the two-story foyer before being verbally  accosted by his brother-in-law. "I'm accompanying my wife to the  bedroom."

With her hand on the banister, Nasira sent a sheepish glance in Rafe's  direction. "He does not have a hotel room for the night. However, he has  promised to leave first thing tomorrow morning."

Rafe gestured toward a formal floral settee. "The sofa is available."

Angry over the suggestion, Sebastian dropped his bags on the ground. "I  won't fit on the bloody sofa. And if you recall, I'm still married to  your sister and I have every right to sleep with her. Once you're  married, you'll soon learn that problems can and will arise in every  union    ."                       
       
           



       

Rafiq took a step toward the stairs. "She does not want you here."

"I invited him, Rafe," Nasira said. "But only for the night. Now if you  will excuse us, we are both exhausted from the evening's events."

"Quite memorable events," Sebastian added knowing he would probably incur his wife's wrath.

Rafe pointed at him. "I do not wish to see you here when I awaken."

Sebastian saluted. "Yes, sir, commander sheikh."

Without looking back, Nasira hurried up the stairs and paused at the  landing before regarding Sebastian again. "Are you coming?"

He suddenly realized he should attempt to turn Rafe into an ally, not  an enemy. "In a moment. I'd like to have a word with your brother."