Lucy and the Sheikh(46)

“I’ll leave that up to you. Anything come to mind yet?”

He pulled her legs either side of his body until she was sitting on top of him.

“Umm. I’m not sure. Oh look, I can see out of the window easier from this height. I can see the mosque up on the hill and the lights around the—”

He sat up and stole the rest of her words with a kiss. “Focus, Lucy.”

“I am.”

“On me.”

She laughed.

“And how best might I do that?”

“I suggest you get comfortable first.”

She lifted herself up as if to move away and dipped her head to one side as if in confusion. “I’m not sure if this is a good idea.”

“Sit down, Lucy. You’re not going anywhere.”

She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Well, you are the King, I suppose.” And she sat, taking him inside her with one long, smooth movement.

He gasped. “Lucy!” Her name rushed from his lips as he pushed her off. He reached behind him and grabbed a packet. “Now, where were you?”

She narrowed her gaze. “Let’s see if I can remember.” She moved her body. “Here?” She sat close. “Or—”

He lifted her up by the waist and she slipped back over him. “Is this what you wished for, Your Majesty?” He nodded. She moved up slightly and then down trying to contain her own reactions to the slide of him inside her, stimulating her, threatening her control. “And this?”

He growled, his gaze narrowed. She pushed her hands against his arms, gripping his muscles that flexed under her touch. She adored his strength, his manliness. It reflected the inner man: so capable, strong…so many things, but no contradictions. This was a man she trusted. At the thought, the sensations broke through her control and she came, crying out his name into the night. He turned her over and drove into her with the same powerful need, his cry losing itself into her mouth as he claimed it with his own.





Something had happened. Lucy could see it in Razeen’s eyes. He smiled briefly before finishing his coffee.

“It seems I have official visitors later today, Lucy. I’ll be busy this evening. Would you like me to arrange a guide for you?”

She frowned, hurt by his cool words. Was that it? Had their brief time together already come to an end?

“No. Thank you, but no. I have plans this morning. Aakifah, the woman I met in the market, left word. She asked me to call in to see her before I left.”

“I see.” A long silence fell. “You look lost in thought,” Razeen continued. “Care to tell me what’s on your mind?”

She met his gaze directly. “Only if you do.” He looked away first. “No,” she continued, “forget that. I will tell you what I’m thinking. I’m thinking of you.” She frowned and took a deep breath, more a sigh as the air hitched high in her lungs, as if searching for elusive oxygen. “I was thinking that my first impressions of you on the beach that night haven’t changed at all.” Again the pause, and again she filled it. “You are as you first appear.”

He closed his eyes briefly. “That is one thing then, I’m glad of. That I haven’t deceived you in any of my actions, or words.”

She frowned, confused. “No. Why would you? No, what I meant was that you, Your Majesty, are someone to be trusted.”

The silence was even heavier than before. “I think you don’t know me, Lucy.”

“Not well, admittedly. But from everything you do, and from everything I sense, I know you can be trusted.”

He shook his head and rose from the breakfast table and absently scooped up some papers from an adjoining table. Anger filled her. She loved him. She’d realized that in the middle of the night. But she also realized that he didn’t love her. But the hell with it, he would listen to her.

She stood in front of him and dipped her head so she could see his face. “Did you hear me, Razeen? I trust you.”

“You, Lucy, are naïve.”

“You’re kidding me. I’ve been around the world, in all sorts of company, I’ve probably led a less sheltered life than you have.”

“You don’t know the ways of the world like I do.”

“Yes I do,” she frowned. “What is it you’re trying to tell me?”

“Just that,” he twisted round as if impatient with the words he was about to utter, “you can’t trust me.” He gazed at her full and long. “So don’t.”

She stepped away as if struck. “What’s the matter?” She shook her head in disbelief. “Why does me trusting you scare you?”