Her Secret by Elizabeth Lennox (1)

Prologue

 

“Woah!” Kate whispered, unaware that she’d spoken out loud. 

Not that it mattered.  The courtyard area of the small restaurant was deserted at this time of the day, most of the other patrons heading indoors where it was cooler. 

The towering man glanced her way and her heart lurched!  Kate wasn’t sure if she should feign indifference or…hide under the table.  Since there weren’t any tablecloths to conceal her, she was probably better off pretending indifference.

Hard to do when a man like that approached!  Magnificently tall, with lithe, muscle bound arms and shoulders, plus deliciously slim hips!  Not an actor.  Kate knew all of the actors in Hollywood and he was definitely not one of them.  Besides, they weren’t in Hollywood.  In fact, she’d purposely found an island as far away from that place as she could. 

He took off his sunglasses to look her over.  Kate suspected he wanted her to do the same, but she couldn’t move.  She was frozen by the weight of his gaze.  He had the most piercing eyes she’d ever seen!  Actors could feign it but this guy…he was the real deal. 

He stopped a foot away from her table and Kate held her breath, stunned by the power oozing off the man even from twelve inches away. 

“Marhabaan,” the man murmured politely, bowing slightly. 

Kate knew she should respond in kind, but her mind blanked, she couldn’t remember a single phrase in Arabic.  “Hello,” she finally spouted, feeling silly. 

“Ah, English,” he smiled, changing to the language.  “May I?” he asked, indicating the other chair at her table.

Kate knew her mouth was hanging open.  Snapping it closed, she managed a nod.  “Please,” she stammered, the word sounding six or seven syllables long since she stumbled over every letter. 

“You are American?”

She blinked, not really sure.  But then the question registered and she blinked again in surprise, although he couldn’t see her eyes behind her sunglasses.  “Yes.  Yes, I’m American.”  Again, more stammering, which made her feel silly.  Why was she stuttering like an anxious teenager?  She didn’t understand it and…well, she intensely disliked it.  Normally, she was cool and confident, priding herself on being elegantly composed at all times.  But something about him was throwing her through a loop. 

He smiled slightly, his eyes warming, and her stomach clenched in reaction.  “We don’t get many Americans out this far.  This is a beautiful island, but remote and hard to reach.  Most guests to Altair stay in the capital, soaking up the tourist attractions.”

She smiled faintly and shrugged.  “I wanted to get away from the crowds.”  True enough, but Kate bit her tongue, wishing she hadn’t said anything.  Now he was going to recognize her and the inevitable flood of annoying questions would begin, as they always did as soon as he realized she was the famous actress.  Bowing her head, she sighed softly and braced for the onslaught. 

“Do the crowds bother you?”

Startled, she looked up into dark eyes filled with understanding.  That wasn’t the question she expected.

She looked away, noticing that the few other patrons in the tiny restaurant were surreptitiously watching the two of them.  But their perusal seemed…different somehow.  This was all very odd, including her reaction to the man.  He was incredibly tall, but so were about half of the other Hollywood actors she worked with.  The other half had to stand on platforms to appear taller than she was.  It was a little known fact of the movie industry that most of the well-known actors in Hollywood were ridiculously short. 

His muscles made themselves known underneath that loose, linen shirt.  But then, most actors had muscles.  She was used to buff guys flirting with her, but they had never made her feel…feminine.  Pretty.  Yes, he made her feel pretty simply by the way he was looking at her. 

She shrugged without looking up, mentally chiding herself for being so silly.  “Crowds are fine, but I prefer my privacy. The views here are amazing.”  Although neither of them were aware of the azure seas reflecting the face of the sky.  A few puffy clouds drifted across the sky, but they went unnoticed, as one’s eye was constantly drawn to the peaceful views of the beaches that made up the edges of the tiny island. 

Never in her life had she met such an enticing man, and she’d definitely met her share of beautiful actors.  Kate had worked with just about every major actor in the industry.  As the youngest actresses to win two Oscars, she was one of the most sought after celebrities in the industry.  An actor that appeared on her arm was almost guaranteed a movie deal.  Night clubs paid her over one hundred thousand dollars just to show up in whatever skimpy outfit her manager had delivered earlier that night, dance to a few songs, and smile for the cameras as she left.  She’d just finished another movie, one that she was sure would be another blockbuster, had gone through all of the pre-release interviews and all of the crazy publicity stunts…she was exhausted. 

Which was why she’d come this remote corner of the world to hide out and relax. 

“May I buy you another cup of coffee?” he asked, glancing down at her empty cup. 

She looked as well, startled to find that she’d finished it without noticing.  “Oh my, um…no,” she replied, shaking her head.  “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

“A bit stronger than what you are used to, no?” he teased. 

She laughed as well.  “Yes, definitely stronger than American coffee,” she agreed, tilting the cup slightly, watching the last dregs of the thick brew ooze like syrup.  The amount of caffeine in the tiny cup was probably ten times what she was used to.  “I probably won’t sleep at all tonight after just the one cup.”

The man chuckled and Kate thrilled at the sound, thinking that it was richer than the coffee she’d just finished. 

“It takes getting used to,” he replied.  “Why are you here instead of in the city, dancing the night away at a club?”

She looked out at the ocean, smiling as a playful breeze teased her hair.  “Oh, club scenes really aren’t all that interesting to me,” she admitted candidly, although, if one were to look at the tabloids, another impression could be derived. 

“What does interest you?” he asked, snapping his fingers.  When the waiter arrived, the poor man almost tripped over himself as he hurriedly approached their table. 

The tall man across from her turned to watch the waiter, obviously irritated, but said nothing. 

“I apologize,” the waiter said stiffly, bowing slightly.  “How may I serve you?”

“Yanzi,” the man ordered and the waiter nodded, bowed again more deeply, backed up a couple steps and bowed again, repeating the gesture until he was at the kitchen doorway.  At that point, he turned around and stumbled over a chair in his exuberance before vanishing into the kitchen.

 “You’re quite intimidating,” Kate observed, turning back to the fascinating stranger. 

The man lifted an elegant hand, dismissing the waiter’s bumbling efforts.  “He is young.”

Kate laughed.  “Yep.  He’s young and you’re…” she stared at him for a long moment, trying to find the right word to describe him.  In the end, she settled on, “Terrifying.”

The man chuckled, the sound rumbling deep in his chest.  “Perhaps I am a bit intimidating, to the locals.”

“A bit?” she repeated archly.  “The poor guy tripped over a chair! That’s like saying a lion meows.”  She leaned forward, elbows braced on the table, unaware of how her body language was conveying her interest.  “You’re clearly an intimidating man.”

He leaned forward as well, resting his forearms on the table between them.  “I don’t scare you though, do I?”

Kate’s lips twitched, not quite a smirk, but close. While she was unaware of the mysteriousness of her expression, he was incredibly aware.  “You’re possibly the most intimidating man I’ve ever not-met.”

A dark eyebrow lifted over his chocolate brown gaze.   “Why ‘not met’?”

Kate shrugged one shoulder slightly.  “You sat down, chatted with me, and ordered something, but you haven’t introduced yourself.”

His smile was devastating, growing more so as it morphed into laughter.  When he laughed, she felt as if she’d won a prize. Something eager and reckless unfurled in her chest.  An urge to reach out and touch the man flashed through her and she pulled back.  Just then, the waiter arrived with a large bottle and two glasses. 

The handsome stranger leaned back as well, nodding to the waiter.  “I’ll pour,” he told the poor guy who looked like he might just drop the bottle onto the hard, concrete floor in his nervousness. 

The waiter hurried off, looking as grateful as if he’d just been given a stay of execution. 

The stranger lifted the bottle and poured clear liquid into the two glasses, handing one to her.  “My name is Talal,” he explained, lifting his glass.  “And you are…?”

She accepted the glass and toasted his.  “Call me Kate. What do you do, Talal?”  She asked, without taking a sip of the drink.  She wasn’t sure what it was, and she wasn’t sure if she was daring enough to try it.  The look in his eyes told her that he knew exactly what she was thinking…and he was amused by her hesitation. 

“You don’t recognize me?” he asked innocently.

She tilted her head slightly.  “Should I?  You’re not an actor.  Are you a producer?”

Both eyebrows lifted at that question.  But he shook his head.  “No.  I’m not a producer.  And if you don’t recognize me, that’s okay.  I’m not a celebrity.  Are you?”

She bit her lip, considering how to answer that question.  In the end, she went with a half-truth, still unwilling to cope with the slew of questions that came once someone recognized her.  “I grew up in Massachusetts.  I went to Harvard and have a degree in psychology.”

“Impressive! Why psychology?” he asked curiously.

It had been an excellent decision, mostly because that area of study made her a better actress, but also because she’d wanted a plan B in case she hadn’t made it in the movie industry.  That had been three years ago and she’d abandoned plan B since plan A, her acting career, had taken off. 

“Because I like human reactions.  I like trying to figure out why people do what they do.”  Unconsciously, she leaned forward, once again unaware of how her body language conveyed her enthusiasm for the subject.  “I love the way the mind works, and scientists are making a great deal of headway into mapping the brain, understanding the different parts of the brain, and how they interact.”

He nodded his head.  “I think it’s a fascinating field of study.  So you’re a neuropsychologist?  What brought you here to this small island in the middle of nowhere?”

Startled, Kate pulled back.  She hadn’t meant to reveal so much about herself and there was no way she could label herself as a neuropsychologist.  Not even a therapist!  She’d only majored in the field but hadn’t practiced the science.  One needed years of industry knowledge before one could really grasp all of the nuances of human behavior. 

“Um…I just needed a vacation.”  She looked down, fiddling with the still-untouched drink.  “I’m sort of in between jobs right now.”  Both statements were the absolute truth, and yet, also lies. 

She only felt slightly guilty at her lie of omission.  Kate was reveling in this man’s attention, enjoying the fact that he wanted to talk to her simply because she was a female he was attracted to, and not because she was a celebrity. 

“What would you like to do with your life?”

“Oh, that’s an easy one.  I want to make people smile,” she told him, leaning back in her chair and lifting her face up to the sunshine.  “I think that happiness is a tough commodity to achieve, and anything I can do to make the world a better place is good.”

“You don’t like yanzi?” he asked, changing the subject.

She frowned curiously, not sure what he was talking about.  “Who is Yanzi?” she asked. 

“It’s the drink you are ignoring.”  He glanced pointedly at the small glass in her hands.  “It’s a locally created liqueur made from the berries here on the island.  I stop by here every once in a while to pick some up.”

“It isn’t sold anywhere else?”

He shrugged.  “I prefer to buy directly from the source instead of patronizing the middle man.  I want the producers to get the profits instead of the distribution centers.”

She smiled, propping her chin on her palm, her elbow down on the table.  “That’s admirable of you.  What other local items are for sale here on the island?”

He laughed.  “Not much.  The people here live a relatively simple life.  They are mostly fishermen and their families.  They grow most of their own produce and fish.  I think there are a few goats on the other side of the island, which provide milk and allow the villagers to make cheese.  Other than yanzi, they don’t have anything exportable.”

She looked down at her glass, lifting it up so the sunlight sparkled through the clear liquid.  “So this is it, huh?  This is their sole source of income?”

“And fish.  The waters around this island are clean and abundant.  Many of the men go out early in the morning to fish, and bring their catch to the market on the mainland.  Once they’re sold out, they come back here, have lunch, drink until they are relaxed, and get ready for the next day.”

“Sounds like a good life,” she replied, wondering what it would be like to have no worries beyond how many fish one caught that morning. 

“It’s a hard life,” he countered.  “Sometimes, the fish aren’t willing to be caught.  And if a storm rolls through, they have no income until the fish return to their fertile grounds.  If a ship comes through and dumps waste, the fish aren’t as healthy for weeks, sometimes months until the ocean cleans itself and the fish population recovers.” 

“Sounds like you understand the trials of these villagers.  It’s admirable that you take such an interest.”

“It’s my job,” he replied.  “Now, please try the yanzi, it is excellent.  Very different from other spirits you might have tried in the past.”

Kate took a tentative sip, her eyes widening with surprise at the delicious berry flavor.  “Wow!  That is delicious!”

He nodded his approval.  “I’m glad that you enjoy it.  Now tell me more about yourself.”

Kate took another sip, amazed at how easily it went down.  Setting the glass back down on the table, she talked about her life, about school, and her volunteer activities.  But she kept out all issues relating to her acting career, reveling in being anonymous.  It so rarely happened these days, this was a special treat. Kate decided that she was going to enjoy her evening with this man without guilt.   

 

Talal watched the woman’s blue eyes light up with excitement and was completely lost.  He knew that there were more than one hundred issues that urgently needed his attention, and yet, he couldn’t seem to pull himself away.  She was enchanting, beautiful clear, pale skin and long lashes that framed those turquoise eyes. He was reminded of a sexy cat, a watchful cat filled with elegance and mystery.  Her knowledge of psychology was proven by the way she watched him, her eyes seeming to take in every nuance of his body language. 

And it wasn’t just her enchanting eyes. Each expression was another delightful surprise.  He doubted that she realized how animated her features were. 

Talal admitted to himself that he wanted this woman. She was different in ways he couldn’t exactly define, but he knew that this woman was going to be in his bed. 

He watched her shoulders drop as she relaxed and enjoyed the strong liquor.  When he could tell she’d had a bit too much, he signaled to the waiter again, ordering several different appetizers, as well as tea. 

As they ate the delicious, simple fare offered by this seaside tavern, he learned more about her.  And with every topic, he found he was more drawn in, more delighted with her. 

“Do you have to be anywhere tonight?” he asked.

Kate blinked, then looked around.  It was dark!

“Um…” she wasn’t sure what time it was, having left her watch back at the small villa she was renting.  But there were no other customers around.  “Wow, what time is it?”

He shrugged. “Does it matter?  Do you have to meet anyone?”

Kate looked at the man in the dim lighting from the overhead string of lights and the moon.  Did she have plans?  No.  None. 

“I have no schedule,” she finally admitted, feeling her heart rate accelerate with that admission.  The slow smile that formed on his handsome features told her that they both knew where this night would end. 

“Let’s walk along the beach,” he suggested, as he stood up and held out a hand to her. 

Kate looked at his long fingers for a moment, hesitating.  But when he started to pull his hand away, she jumped up and took his hand.  She knew that she’d startled him, but he hid his reaction well. 

“Sorry,” she mumbled.

He pulled her closer.  “I understand,” he told her, his voice low.  She looked up into his eyes, startled by how much taller he was.  She was about average height, but normally wore heels…really high heels.  So, generally the men who escorted her to parties and events were about the same height as she was.  Today, she was wearing flat sandals, wanting to be comfortable.  The rocky terrain on this island wasn’t conducive to heels.  She would have been asking to twist an ankle on the uneven pathway that led from her villa to the street.  Also, there weren’t any motorized vehicles here on the island.  It was too small and the roads weren’t wide enough.  Everyone walked where they needed to go. 

But standing here, tilting her head way back in order to see his eyes, she was astounded by how tall he was.

“I want to…walk with you,” she told him, stumbling with the words. 

They walked along the sandy beach, both of them slipping their shoes off and digging their toes into the soft sand.  It was a beautiful night and, as they walked, he asked her more questions.  Eventually, she relaxed and enjoyed his company as they basked in the cool breezes coming off the water.  Somehow, they ended up at the edge of the pathway that led to the small villa she’d rented. 

He lifted a hand, the rough pad of his thumb touching her cheek.  “I make you nervous.  Why?”

Kate wasn’t exactly sure how to respond.  She wanted to be a sophisticated woman of the world, but she couldn’t seem to stop trembling.

In the end, she decided to be honest with him, in the hopes that he would understand.  “I want you,” she admitted, looking up into his eyes.  She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.  “I know I’ve only known you for an evening, but you fascinate me.  I don’t know much about you, but I sense that you’re a gentle and kind man.”  She looked up at him, waiting for him to respond.  But she couldn’t see his eyes in the dim light.  “I think that you want me too.” 

“You’re right,” he replied, his hands stroking her waist, up and down.  “Are you inviting me in?” he asked.

Kate bit her lip, wanting to say yes, to have the courage, but the reality of saying “yes” was just too much for her.  So instead, she stepped closer, her hand shifting from his arm to the middle of his chest, hoping he would understand the unspoken invitation. 

“I’m taking that as a yes,” he growled, but he didn’t move.  “I have a question for you though.”

Kate swallowed painfully, praying that he wouldn’t ask the one question she truly feared. 

“You are a mixture of sophistication and innocence.  Normally, I wouldn’t ask, but something is telling me I should.  Have you ever been with a man?”

He did.  Darn it! 

“No,” she admitted.  With a sigh, she leaned against the wall of her villa.  “I know that some…” she started to say actresses, but moved to a broader term, “women consider bed-hopping a weekend sport, but I’ve never participated.”

He sighed even as he pulled her closer.  “Kate,” he growled. 

She pressed her cheek against his chest, enjoying the thrill of his arms around her.  She was right, this man was extremely gentle as his fingers moved into her hair, his strong fingers massaging her scalp. 

“I can’t come in, Kate,” he admitted.

She froze.  Had she heard him correctly?  Surely, she’d misunderstood!  Pulling away, she tilted her head back so that she could see his face.  But it was shrouded in shadows cast by the foliage overhead.  “You can’t?  Or you won’t?”

“Both,” he admitted.  “I can’t be your first.  It is an important moment and you should save it for your husband.”

The pain lancing through her was brutal and unexpected.  A moment ago, she’d cursed the darkness because she couldn’t see his expression.  Now she was glad for the darkness.  If she couldn’t see his rejection, she hoped that he couldn’t see the pain hitting her now. 

She pulled up every ounce of acting ability she could muster and pasted a bright smile on her face.  “That’s too bad, Talal.  I wasn’t planning to marry ever, but…” she shrugged and stepped back again.  “Good night then,” she turned to her door.  Thankfully, there was no crime on this island, so there was no need to lock her door.  There wasn’t even a lock on the door, just a latch, which she firmly connected as soon as she was safely inside. 

So much for meeting a man that fascinated her. She leaned back against the door, wiping away the tears that filled her eyes now that she was alone. 

Making her way into the beautiful, white washed bedroom, she didn’t bother to take off her clothes.  Instead, she curled up on top of the covers and stared out the window.  The soft, ocean breeze soothed her wounded pride and helped her make sense of Talal’s rejection.  She didn’t like it, but the fact that he’d said no was probably a good thing.  She didn’t know the man.  Not well enough to commit to any sort of physical relationship.  Just because he fascinated her, made her whole body tremble with anticipation, didn’t mean she should offer to have sex with him the first night she’d met him.

Yes, his response was a good thing, she insisted silently.  She didn’t need the complications of a man in her life.  She’d told him the truth about never marrying.  In her world, marriages rarely lasted and any breakup was plastered across the tabloids.  Kate was too private to put herself into a situation where that might occur.  As an actress, she believed that her acting should be front and center, but she was careful to keep her private life sacred.  The tabloids only printed what she wanted them to print and every news story was carefully calculated and timed.  She had an outstanding publicity agent who knew how to make the most of every article posted about her. 

Besides, whoever Talal was, he was obviously an important man.  The waiter tripping over the chairs was a clear sign that Talal was intimidating to more than just herself.  He hadn’t mentioned what he did for a living, but from their conversation, she guessed that he did some sort of consulting work for the government.  Or maybe he did something in marketing?  That would also make sense based on his comments earlier about buying the yanzi directly from the source. 

Trying to figure him out was exhausting and, by the early hours of the morning, she was asleep.  But her sleep was disturbed by dreams of Talal kissing her, holding her tightly in his arms. 

Late the following morning, Kate woke up and sighed as she surveyed the sunshine streaming through the blinds of her bedroom.  Another day in paradise, she thought. 

Another lonely day.

Kate was startled by the revelation.  She hadn’t ever felt lonely before, too busy with starting her career and…well, avoiding the straying hands of the various actors, directors and producers at every must-be-seen-at social event in Los Angeles and Hollywood or flying off to one of the other international hot spots. 

Stepping out of the bedroom, she padded barefoot down to the kitchen where Isla, the amazing housekeeper and cook, was already hard at work.  Whatever the kind housekeeper was making, it smelled amazing! 

“Good mo…” Kate’s greeting halted mid-word when she realized who was sitting on the small patio, sunshine streaming down on his dark head. He looked incredible in another linen shirt and khaki slacks. 

Slipping out of the kitchen where Isla was working, she stepped onto the cool stones of the patio.  “What are you doing here?” she asked, pulling the loose cotton peasant style blouse closer over her breasts. She had only pulled on a pair of shorts and this shirt, disdaining a bra so early in the morning.  Especially since she’d planned on reading in the chair he was occupying until the sun became too hot.  She had no plans to wander around the island today, wanting to lick her wounds after his rejection from the night before. 

Isla lifted two steaming plates and carried them to the patio, placing them on the table.  “I’ll be back later to clean.  Don’t do anything in the kitchen.  Just have a good day.”  With that, the friendly housekeeper disappeared, leaving her alone with the man who had rejected her offer last night. 

Kate wasn’t sure what to say.  How did one greet a man who had turned down a blatant invitation for sex?  She wasn’t sure, always being the one to be doing the rejecting. 

“Come.  We shouldn’t let the food get cold,” he announced, folding the newspaper he’d been reading while waiting for her to emerge.

Kate continued to stand in the doorway, confusion and wariness clear in her expression. 

So when he stood up, she automatically stepped backwards, not sure what was going on. “Why are you here?” she demanded, crossing her arms over her chest. 

He took her hands, pulling her arms down to reveal her full breasts.  Kate knew that her nipples were pressing against the thin, cotton material and pulled back, but he didn’t allow her to hide.  Not today.

“I want you too, Kate,” he told her, his fingers tightening around her wrists.  “Last night, I barely slept, thinking about you here.”  He moved closer, pinning her against the doorframe.  “I can’t tell you how many times I almost came back, wanting to ignore the fact that you are a virgin and it isn’t my right to take that from your future husband.”

Kate was shocked at the thought.  “That’s really old-fashioned thinking, Talal.”

He shrugged. “I’m an old-fashioned man and I’m not going to apologize for it.”  His hand came up to cup her cheek, holding her in place.  “But I also can’t deny that I want you.”  His other hand drew her wrist closer to him.  She gasped when he pressed her hand to his erection, trying to pull away but he held firm. 

“This is what you do to me, Kate.  All night, this has been my curse.”

She could barely breathe as she felt the hardness, shocked and yet…fascinated.  Almost involuntarily, she shifted her fingers, feeling and exploring him. And the whole time, she watched his eyes, fascinated when he closed them. 

“Why are you doing this?” she demanded, pulling her hand away.  His eyes popped open and she gasped at the heat she saw there. 

“Because last night, walking away from what you were offering was possibly the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

She laughed, but it was an angry sound, and stepped around him, shocked by his brazen intensity.  “So why did you?”

“Because I had to.”

She settled into the chair and spread the linen napkin over her lap. She knew she wasn’t going to be able to eat anything, not after that little interlude. Kate almost laughed aloud at the use of “little”.  Talal was not a little man in any way!

Thankfully, he sat down as well. She could breathe more easily once he stopped looming over her.  Well, and it relieved her from being able see the clear evidence of his arousal, which…yeah, she wanted.  Badly! 

“You’re embarrassed,” he observed.  “I apologize, Kate.  I’m used to women who are more sexually aggressive and wouldn’t have hesitated with any kind of touching.”  He spread his napkin over his lap as well.  “I will take things slower, going forward.”

“What do you mean?”

He lifted his fork and stabbed a piece of shrimp and egg casserole.  “I mean, if you are still offering, I will be your first lover.”

She blinked in surprise, not sure what to say. He smiled encouragingly from across the table, waiting for Kate, but the words…what was she supposed to say? 

Honesty.  She couldn’t ignore it.  She wanted to reject his offer, if only to soothe her wounds from last night.  But that would be self-defeating. 

“Yes,” she finally breathed.  “Yes, I would love for you to be my first lover.”

That heat flared in his eyes and she shivered, dropping her fork.  She waited breathlessly for him to pull her back into his arms, carry her off to her bedroom and make love to her.  Right now.

But he only nodded and took another bite.  “Good.  Eat,” he ordered.  “You’re going to need your strength today.”

Kate couldn’t stifle the shiver of anticipation or the stab of fear. She also wondered when this momentous activity would occur.  He didn’t appear to be in any hurry.  In fact, he changed the subject!  She was wondering what sex would be like, finally, and he asked her what she thought about the US president’s latest health care bill.  Huh? 

Thankfully, Kate managed to catch up with him.  She answered his questions, enjoying a spirited debate on health care, family care, maternity leave, and a variety of other subjects, eventually relaxing enough to even laugh with him.  And yeah, she relaxed enough to eat!  She managed to eat about half of the food Isla had prepared before finally leaning back and patting her flat stomach.  “Goodness, she’s a wonderful cook.”

“I agree,” he commented, his eyes drifting lower. Kate suddenly realized that her breasts were almost fully on display, the thin cotton barely hiding anything from the man’s dark looks. 

Yesterday, she would have curled her shoulders and sat up straight, not allowing the material to enhance the outline of her breasts.  But now she trembled as she watched him watch her.  And she felt her nipples peak, lifting the thin material. 

“We’re going out,” he told her, looking up from her breasts.

 “I’ll go get dressed,” she stood up.  As she left, her hips swayed just a touch more than usual. 

 

Talal watched her walk away, his eyes transfixed on the rhythm of her hips and the long lines of her slender back.  He wondered if she knew what she was doing or if her movements were unconscious.  When she glanced back at him over her shoulder, he knew that the enchanting woman was purposely enticing him.

Leaning back once she disappeared, he wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad thing.  Already, she’d distracted him.  He should have been back at the capital yesterday afternoon for important meetings, but he’d stayed all afternoon, talking with her, losing track of time because she was simply too fascinating to walk away from.  And then last night, he’d been in pain thinking about her soft curves and the vulnerable look in her eyes after she’d told him that she was a virgin.  And he’d loved the idea that no man had ever touched her.

Well, no man had made love to her, he mentally corrected.  Of course, another man had experienced her soft sighs and kissed her.  She was just too beautiful to be completely untouched.

Gritting his teeth, he kept himself from following her into the bedroom.  Yes, he was definitely going to make love to this woman.  But he wouldn’t be doing it on her terms or timeline. 

He almost laughed when she came back out in a different shirt, with a bra on, and a shorter pair of shorts, along with some flat sandals.  She’d obviously showered since damp tendrils curled around her cheekbones, but she’d been fast.  Even her makeup was light, not a smoky smudge of liner anywhere, only those captivating, sky colored eyes drinking him in. 

He was relieved she hadn’t dressed up since there wasn’t really any place to go out to.  His plan was to take her out on the water, to talk with her and enjoy her company for a while. 

Then make love to her all night. 

That was the plan anyway.  As she came closer, he took in the outfit more clearly.  The shirt was as blousy and thin as the previous one and, she may be wearing a bra now, but that tiny bit of lace was barely even there. 

It was going to be a long day, he thought. 

“You look beautiful,” he beamed as he stood up.  “Let’s go.”

He took her hand and led her out of the villa, noting how soft her hands were.  “We’re going out on my boat.”

She laughed as she skipped to keep up with his longer stride.  “A boat?  I wouldn’t have thought you had a boat.”

He shrugged slightly.  “It isn’t exactly like the other boats that are around the island.”

“Can we go fishing?”

He chuckled as he helped her down the winding, stone pathway.  “If you want to go fishing, I’m sure we could find some fishing poles.”

“So this isn’t like a fishing boat that the islanders use?” she asked, eager for more information. It wasn’t as if the man didn’t tell her anything about himself, but every time she asked him a question, he answered in vague terms, then turned the question back on her. It would be frustrating, but she was determined to consider their conversations and his lack of details a challenge. 

Kate trailed behind him down the narrow, rocky path, admiring the muscles in his arms and shoulders as he helped her navigate the pathway.  She’d been traveling this path for the past week and hadn’t slipped a single time, but she accepted his help because it allowed her to touch him, to put her hands on his shoulder as she stepped down one stone step to the next whenever he considered the path too treacherous.  It was a gentlemanly thing to do, even though she was fully capable of walking on her own.

As she stepped down off the last step and took in the view of the island’s tiny bay, she gasped in amazement.  Normally, she saw the quaint fishing boats and the white, sandy beaches, the deep blue of the sea.  But today, further out in the deeper waters, was a magnificent ship, easily a hundred times the size of the largest boat in the bay.  It was so large it couldn’t anchor at the dock.

“That’s my boat.” 

“It’s huge!” she whispered in awe.  She would have laughed at her lowered voice if she’d thought about how silly she sounded.  It wasn’t like anyone was around.  And even if they were around, they would all see the boat…um…ship…and would agree the thing was massive! 

Kate had been on plenty of ships in Los Angeles for parties and other social events.  But even those weren’t as large as this one.  It was…

“Good grief, that thing is the size of a cruise ship!” she blurted out. 

He laughed softly, his fingers tightening on hers as he gently tugged her down to the pier.  “Not quite that large.  Only twenty cabins,” he explained. 

She snorted, shaking her head.  “Oh, well, only twenty!” and she shrugged dismissively.  “With only twenty cabins…”

He turned around and Kate laughed at the mock threatening expression on his handsome features.

Unfortunately, there was also laughter in his eyes, which negated any threat that he might be trying to convey. 

“I’m not afraid of you,” she told him, grinning up at him. 

He pulled her closer, looking down into her laughing eyes.  “Good.  I don’t want you afraid of me.”

She stopped, feeling the heat of his body more than the sunshine overhead.  “I am nervous though.  Are we…?”

He pressed a finger to her lips.  “Yes.  We are.”

Kate blinked, trying to keep up.  “When?”

He watched her carefully.  “Is that the nervousness talking now?  Or eagerness?”

She thought about it for a moment.  “A bit of both, I think.”

He nodded.  “I appreciate your honesty.”

That caused her to think of something.  “Speaking of blunt talk, I don’t…” her cheeks turned pink as she tried to figure out the words.  “I’m not on…” she bit her lip, took a deep breath, and tried again.  “I’m not on any kind of birth control. I came here to Altair to relax and avoid crowds and…” she shook her head and looked down at their intertwined fingers.  “It never occurred to me to bring along any kind of birth control.”

Talal realized how difficult it was for her to tell him that.  And how much he liked that about her.  The honesty was just an innate part of her.  It was a rare commodity in his world. 

“I’ll take care of everything, Kate,” he reassured her.  “Just relax and let’s enjoy the day, okay?”

Kate’s bright smile transfixed him.  He stood there for a long moment, just drinking it in. 

“Sounds like a good plan,” she replied, moving even closer to him. 

He wanted to pull her into his arms and press every inch of her against his body.  But he couldn’t do that.  Not here.  Not with an audience.  As ruler of Altair, he knew that every person on this island was watching him, trying to see what would happen between himself and this lovely American woman.  He didn’t know if they approved or not, but suspected many of them were cheering for him.  Not for a long-term relationship.  No, he’d have to marry a woman from Altair for his wife, but he knew that they wouldn’t mind if he had a nice romance with the foreigner. 

He might not see anyone watching him blatantly.  At this particular moment, they all looked very industrious as they bustled about the tiny village.  But he knew, from both experience and a sort of sixth sense, that his people were watching him.  Waiting.  Wanting to know what might happen with the beautiful American.

He also knew that everyone was waiting, mostly impatiently, for him to marry.  Unfortunately for them, Talal wasn’t ready to choose a wife yet. His gaze moved to the woman by his side, admiring the way the sunshine glinted off her dark hair, the soft sprinkle of freckles over the bridge of her nose that he hadn’t noticed yesterday. Or perhaps her sunglasses today were hiding her eyes, allowing him to see more of her than those captivating eyes. 

He was surprised to notice freckles.  She’d looked so serenely perfect yesterday but the freckles…they made her more human, more touchable.  He didn’t need any more reasons to touch her.  Already, he was struggling to keep to his plan, to really get to know this woman.

He took her hand and led her down to the end of the pier where one of his servants was waiting with a speedboat to take them out to his ship.  He shouldn’t be distracted, he shouldn’t need to know about this woman to enjoy her in his bed.  He should simply take her to bed and enjoy her company, as he normally did.

A part of his mind interrupted his mental argument to point out that he was thoroughly enjoying just being with Kate.  He enjoyed her smiles, her laughter…hell, he felt good talking with her and relaxing. 

When was the last time he’d relaxed?  Hell, he couldn’t remember!  His life wasn’t about relaxing!  His life was about responsibility, about ensuring that the people of Altair were protected, both financially and militarily.  That was his job.  His course in life had been dictated by his birth and he’d never questioned it.

“Are you okay?” she asked

Talal turned to look at her, wanting to pull those sunglasses off her face so that he could fall into their blue depths as he’d done yesterday evening. 

“I’m fine,” he replied as evenly as he could, fighting back the need to kiss her.  To make love to her.  Hell, just to hold her.

Privacy, he reminded himself.  He needed privacy and it wasn’t something he was normally afforded.

She lifted a hand to his cheek and he knew that he should pull her hand away.  The public touching violated all of the rules he’d grown up with.  Not to mention, he didn’t want the press to see a woman touching him.  No need for that kind of a picture to be on the front page of every newspaper in the country.

Which is why he took her wrist and gently pulled her hand away from his cheek, even though he wanted to do the reverse, to press her soft fingers against his skin, to show her other places she could touch him. 

He suspected that he’d hurt her feelings, but because of those damn sunglasses, he couldn’t see her eyes.  Talal noticed her lips pressing together though. 

“Not here,” he murmured softly. 

When they reached the boat, the servant standing by reached up to help Kate down but Talal snapped an order to him and he pulled back.  Stepping into the rocking boat, Talal turned and lifted his hands to Kate.  She hesitated for a long moment, obviously not sure what to do after his rejection a moment ago before.

“Come here, Kate,” he commanded, frustration leaking into his tone. 

Once again, she hesitated, even glancing back towards the shoreline.  He knew the exact moment she was about to tell him that maybe this wasn’t a good idea and wanted to blast every newspaper that had ever invaded his privacy. 

“Kate.”  He sighed her name, grabbed her round the waist, plucking her off the pier and setting her in the boat.  “Sit,” he commanded, then turned to the servant who jumped onto the pier so that Talal could take the controls. 

 

Kate fumed, wanting to jump back onto the pier as well.  But the man on the pier efficiently untied the ropes and pushed the boat away as Talal gunned the boat and off they went.  She slipped into one of the soft chairs and glared up at him.  She’d wait until the engine was off before she demanded that he return her to the pier.  No way was she spending the day with a man who didn’t want her to touch him and then treated her so rudely!  No way! 

She held on tightly as Talal expertly spun the boat around, coming in against the landing dock of the huge ship.  As soon as the engine cut off and he tossed the ropes to another waiting servant, he turned to evaluate her expression.  “Not yet. Almost.” He lifted her up onto the landing dock.  A moment later, he was beside her and, before she could even open her mouth, he was pulling her through the door built into the side of the ship. 

Up a long set of stairs, down a hallway, then another set of stairs and another hallway.  Kate kept trying to speak up, to demand that he take her back to the island, but every time she opened her mouth, another servant was standing there, bowing to the man!  Bowing! 

Good grief, she thought with exasperation. 

When he pulled her into a lovely room that had soft, comfy looking sofas and a long bar, he closed the door and…pulled her into his arms.  His mouth covered whatever protests she was trying to utter, silencing her in the most effective way possible. 

She fought her reaction for…oh, maybe a half of a second before her body took over and she melted into his arms, gripping his arms as he bent her backwards slightly, deepening the kiss. 

When he’d pulled her hand away from his cheek, effectively rejecting her touch and her concern, then the arrogant way he’d handled her on the pier, she’d been hurt. Why would he have acted as he had at breakfast if he didn’t want her?

As soon as he lifted his head, she wanted him to do it all over again.  She could feel the evidence of his arousal against her stomach and pressed herself more completely against him, needing more.  Needing to…she wanted to make love to him.

That thought choked her.  Moments ago, she was hurt by his callous treatment.  Now she wanted to beg him to take her to a room with a big bed so that she could finally find out what it was like to be held in his arms. 

“No touching in public,” he explained, his voice rough from need.

“Why?” she asked softly, staring up at him.  Where had her sunglasses gone?  And her hat?  Hadn’t she been wearing a hat?

His hand slid up her back.  Underneath her shirt!  Oh my, his hand felt good.  Hot, rough, and perfect against her skin.  She leaned into his hand, wanting more.

“Because I don’t want to find our picture in the newspapers.”

She blinked, not sure why he would be worried about that.  “Talal, are you really that wealthy?”

His startled expression told her everything, and nothing at all.

“Kate, you don’t know who I am, do you?” he asked, astonished.

She ran a hand over his hard chest, reveling in the muscles under her fingertips.  “I know you’re wealthy or you wouldn’t be able to afford a ship like this.  I know that you’re important and the people on this island adore you.  They just about mopped the stone floor for you yesterday when you walked into the restaurant.”

Kate noticed that his lips pressed slightly when she mentioned that, but she didn’t understand why the island people’s adoration would bother him. 

“You could say that I work for the government of Altair.”  He said carefully, waiting for her understanding.  He saw confusion, then understanding, then horror as she turned to look out the windows towards the island that was quickly disappearing from view. 

“You’re sort of a consultant?” she asked in a whisper.  “For the government?”

“Yes.  I’m a very public figure.  So, now you understand why I can’t allow myself to enjoy your touch when we are in public. I prefer that my private relationships remain private.”

Kate nodded her head, completely understanding.  Any time she went out on the town with another man, she was incredibly careful about any possible body language that might be captured by a photographer.  She’d pulled back many times when a man had touched her too sweetly, not wanting her name connected with yet another leading actor or director.  It became tedious.  Too many times, her name had been bandied about by the media and the rumors would fly all over about how she was romantically involved with one man or another, sometimes several men over the same weekend.  It was horrible.

Bowing her head, she nodded.  “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.  “I should have been more circumspect. I just…” she shrugged and lifted her eyes to his.  “I wasn’t careful and I should have been.”

He saw the tears and could tell that she was genuinely sorry.  “It isn’t your fault, Kate, you didn’t know.  It is my life.  I can’t have the rumors, right or wrong.”

She smiled tremulously.  “Well, actually, I know exactly what you’re going through.”

He took her hand and pulled her over towards one of the sofas, pulling her gently down next to her.  “How can you know?”

She laughed.  “Well, I live a similar life, although, I doubt the consequences are the same.”

“Tell me,” he demanded and she laughed at his arrogance. 

“Now that I know that you’re a public figure,” she teased, “I understand how you came to have that tone of voice.”

“What tone?” he asked, a dark eyebrow lifting with her words.

“That commanding, ‘no excuses’ tone that orders me to obey,” she replied, lowering her voice to tease him by trying to mimic his hard, unrelenting tone.  “You’re used to people jumping at your call, catering to you.”

Talal couldn’t deny it, one broad shoulder coming up as if to dismiss some of her words, while still accepting the truth of what she was saying.  “I have a great deal of responsibility.  Even romantic relationships might have an impact on Altair’s economy.”

Now that she understood, her heart felt much better, less bruised.  “Is that a big problem for you?  Your actions having an impact on your job and how people in the government might perceive you or your actions?”

“Yes.  But I’ve learned to use the press and their invasion of my privacy to my advantage at times.”

She knew exactly what he meant.  “I’m an actress.  So, I’ve done similar things, but probably not to the same effect.”  She smiled up into his dark eyes, teasing him.  “When my manager arranges a date to one of the social events or awards ceremonies, I use the guy as a way to keep myself from tripping over my heels and embarrassing myself.  How do you use the media to your advantage?”

He had to suppress a spark of jealousy when he thought of her on the arm of someone else.  But he realized how ridiculous jealousy was, primarily because he had no right to be jealous, since this could only be a brief affair without any emotional commitment involved.  But also…and he was surprised to find that this was the reason he clung to instead of the first one…by her own admission, her body had never known a man.  His muscles relaxed with that realization and he smiled slightly. 

“I might have a meeting with someone, allow the press small photo opportunities that look like the media won a secret, so that the rest of the world will think negotiations are heading in one direction, when I need to distract everyone from where I really want a negotiation to go.”

She laughed, thinking he was brilliant.  “Do other government consultants do that?”

He chuckled.  “I’m sure they do.”

“Do you think the media know that they are being manipulated?” she asked.  Then laughed.  “I doubt they really care, as long as they have a story to publish.  I don’t think they care when it comes to my machinations. They just want the sensationalized story.”  Her smile widened as she went on, “I’m guessing that the paparazzi are wondering which rehab center I’ve checked into since I’ve been gone so long.”

He threw back his head and laughed.  “Yes, I suppose that could be a problem for you.  How long have you been gone?” he asked.

“Only a week,” she admitted.

“And how long are you allowed to be gone?”

Kate shrugged, feeling her heart pick up its pace at his question.  “I finished my last project two months ago, along with all of the pre-release interviews and the crazy schedule.”

His finger wove into her hair and Kate felt his touch all the way down to her toes.  “Is that why you are on vacation?  Because you are in between projects?”

“Yes.  And to recover.  We were working twenty hour days towards the end of that release.  It was a huge success, but I won’t go through that kind of schedule again.  It was too much.”

“Are your projects normally on such a tough schedule?”

She shook her head.  “No.  This one was rushed.  The director actually wanted to take a bit more time with it, but the studio decided that it needed to be released at a certain time period, they had a window and….” she shrugged as if that explained the rest. 

“Why did they want it released at a specific time?”

She laughed.  “Believe it or not, there’s a season for movie releases.  Every type of movie has a season.”

He was intrigued, as much by her animated features as by the movie industry process.  “Why?”

“The action movies need to hit the theatres either at the beginning of the summer, when all of the kids are just getting out of school and are excited by their freedom, or right before Christmas.  Christmas day is actually a great day to release a movie.”

“Aren’t most people at home with their families?”

She shrugged.  “Apparently, people get tired of being around family by the end of the day and want to go see a movie.”  She didn’t know anything about that, since she’d lived with her uncle growing up.  As a college professor, he spent most of his time researching one thing or another.  He’d always have a gift for her on Christmas morning, but the gift was a surprise even to him since his teaching assistants would be assigned the task of purchasing it.  She kept that information to herself, not wanting this fascinatingly powerful man to know about her lonely childhood.  But that loneliness was what had pushed her into acting.  She’d wanted friends and the high school theatre department was the biggest.  It was also really nice to be noticed.  Having grown up in a giant house where her uncle didn’t generally notice if she was alive or dead, being on stage, having people notice her existence, had been a thrill.  It still was, although she missed her privacy as well. 

“It makes sense to capitalize on the public’s attention span,” he commented. 

He was toying with a lock of her hair and his gaze roamed over her features.  She cleared her throat.  “Yes.  Well…um…the more dramatic movies are released in the fall.”

“Why in the fall?” he asked softly.

Kate stared up at him.  Was he closer now?  She didn’t think he’d moved, but he seemed to be looming over her.  Not that she minded.  She wanted him to make love to her.  Had wanted it last night, all night, and every moment of the morning.  Was it finally going to happen?

“Why a fall release?” he prompted. 

Kate wasn’t sure what he was talking about.  Oh!  Movies!  Right.  “Um…” her eyes dropped to his mouth.  Was he going to kiss her?  “Dramas come out in the fall.”

“So you said.  Why in the fall?”

Please!  She really wanted him to kiss her!  “Because the dramas are the movies that are nominated for the Oscars.  The Academy Awards.”

“And that’s important?”

She looked up, so surprised by his question that she forgot about wanting him to kiss her. 

“Yes. They could make or break a movie or actor.  Just being nominated for an award could launch an actor’s career or generate enough buzz about a movie to bring it back to profitability.” 

“And you’ve won an Oscar, haven’t you?” he asked gently, his thumb sliding over her lower lip. 

“Yes,” she whispered.  “Two, actually.”  Her eyes returned to his lips, she needed his kiss like she needed to breathe.  The eager tingling in her lips was almost painful. 

“That’s impressive,” he whispered. 

Kate was finished waiting.  The question burst from her before she could second-guess herself.  “Are you ever going to kiss me?”

He laughed softly.  “Do you want me to kiss you, Kate?”

She rolled her eyes and pushed away from him, standing up.  “Not anymore,” she told him and took a step away.  She made it one step before he pulled her back to the sofa and right onto his lap.  She tumbled awkwardly into his arms, but he caught her and held her against him, leaning her so that her back was now on the cushions of the sofa and he was once again looming over her.

“We’re taking this at my pace, Kate.  Not yours.”  His eyes traveled down her body, taking in everything, from the delicate blush of her throat to her full breasts heaving under the thin material of her shirt, begging for his attention. 

“I don’t like your pace,” she shot back.  “What’s wrong with speeding things up a bit?”

His finger moved from her cheek down her neck, trailing a path of fire across skin bared by the V collar of her shirt.  “I like the pace.”

“That’s because you’re in control.”

“Exactly.  I’m in control.”

She wiggled, trying to get away, but he slid that tantalizing finger across her breast and she gasped.  Everything stilled.  She stared up at him, not sure what he might do next. 

When she discovered his next move, she groaned as the heat hit her.  That finger, that horrible, tantalizing finger, shifted and moved, circling her nipple.  Not touching it!  Oh no!

“Tal!  This isn’t fair!” she gasped, torn between trying to shift away from that tormenting finger and wanting to lean into it. 

He laughed and even that rough sound filled her with anticipation and eagerness. 

“I never said I was fair,” he pointed out.  “I love how your body is begging me to touch you.  Do you want me to touch you, Kate?” he asked, that soft, deep, tormenting voice sent heat right to her core.  She shifted her hips, trying to entice him in the only way she knew how.  Instinctively, she moved, wanting more. Wanting to discover this man and all of his secrets. Wanting him to discover her right back. At the moment, she’d settle for what it would feel like if he explored her breast.

“I don’t understand…!” she gasped even as she arched her back, wordlessly begging him to touch her nipple.

He smiled, enjoying the way her body responded.  “Because I can.”

She whimpered, not sure how to handle him.  “So, if I were to stop, you would as well?” she asked breathlessly.

He chuckled as he gripped her hips in firm hands.  “I like that you don’t want me to stop, Kate.” Then he did it.  His mouth closed over her nipple and she screamed, her back arching until her hips brushed his lap.  Just as he’d anticipated, the flood of pleasure overwhelmed her and she tried to move away, to break the hold of his lips.  But he wouldn’t let her get away and continued gently but unmercifully torturing the aching peak through the flimsy material.  He wanted to tell her that it would be exponentially better once she was naked without clothing in the way, but he was having a difficult time thinking.  The way she arched into his mouth, her body trembling, he could barely think, had trouble controlling his need to bury himself in her heat.  Part of him roared, wanting to rip her clothes off so that he could explore every inch of her naked body. 

By the thinnest thread, he remembered his plan.  He remembered that he wanted to get to know her, to learn about her. 

It was painful to pull away, to keep his hands from pulling the thin cotton down to discover what color her nipples were, but somehow, he managed it.  Just barely.

Lifting her up, he noted with intense pleasure that her eyes were glazed with passion and she trembled right down to her toes.  He moved her so that she was straddling his hips.  Damn, he thought as he surveyed her body, he could look at her like this all day! 

Of course, there were many things that would be better.  More pleasurable.  But he couldn’t discount the intense pleasure of seeing her almost limp with need.  Her eyes were still slightly out of focus and her fingers were still wrapped tightly around his arms, her nails biting into his skin.  He liked that, he realized. 

“Are you okay?” he asked, then watched with fascination as her lashes fluttered, slowly revealing those beautiful, blue eyes.  He couldn’t believe how stunning she was and he wanted to possess her.  But it would be better at a slower pace.  Better if they both savored the journey. 

“Why did you stop?” she asked, her voice quivering with awareness and need.

“Because we’re going snorkeling,” he announced, standing up with her in his arms, lowering her legs and feet until she was standing on her own.  But he held her steady until he was sure she wouldn’t topple over.

“Snorkeling,” she repeated blankly, as if the word were foreign to her somehow. 

“Yes.  Snorkeling.  These are some of the best waters in the world for snorkeling.  Have you ever tried it?”

Kate stared up at him, trying to make sense of the conversation.  They were going snorkeling.  That meant that he wasn’t going to make love to her.  But…he’d been…and she’d…! 

“What’s going on?” she demanded, her muddled mind beginning to grasp that this man was a tease!  He clearly enjoyed driving her to the edge of reason and then pulling away.  Not fair!

 “It’s called foreplay, Kate,” he told her with amusement.  “Long, extended foreplay.”  He pulled her back into his arms, bending down until his lips could nuzzle the sensitive skin along her neck behind her ear.  The shell of her ear.  “It makes the whole adventure more interesting.”

She inhaled sharply when he hit an extra sensitive spot, shuddering with the thrill until he moved on. 

And then he pulled away again.  “I promise, when we finally make love, we’ll both be ready for it.”

She didn’t like it.  Not one little bit.  “You mean, I’ve waited twenty-five years to have sex and when I finally meet a man who I want to do the deed with,” she gritted, feeling her cheeks flush red with embarrassment, “he wants to go even slower than molasses in December?”

He kissed the top of her head, enjoying her obvious frustration.  “Trust me,” he told her, then took her hand and pulled her out of the salon area.  “Let’s get into the water, shall we?”

Kate went along, but she was unaware of the furious expression in her eyes.  She was trying to hide her frustration, trying not to give him any more power.  Maybe if he didn’t realize how badly he affected her, he wouldn’t continue? 

She wasn’t sure.  After all these years, she’d thought she would know what to do when the time finally arrived.  It wasn’t like she didn’t know about sex.  As an actress, she’d mimicked having sex with her movie partners many times.  She knew what it was like to have a man touch her. 

Well, she’d thought she did.  All those times she’d been almost naked in front of the camera, pretending to react, pretending to make love…that had been nothing compared to the real thing.  There was something about Talal that she didn’t understand.

“Here,” he announced as he opened the door to one of those twenty cabins that he’d mentioned earlier.  “There are bathing suits in the closet.  Find one that fits and meet me up on deck.  We’ll go snorkeling and I’ll introduce you to the underwater world.  Trust me, you’ll love it.”  And with another quick kiss on the top of her head, he left, pulling the door closed behind him. 

She glared at the door for several long moments, not sure she wanted to play along with this foreplay plan of his.  Every cell in her body vibrated with excitement and need.  As she looked around at the luxurious cabin, she almost laughed aloud.  For so long, she’d scoffed at people who complained about sexual frustration, never having experienced it before.  But now…oh, yes.  She got it now. 

And it wasn’t fun!

Pulling open the closet, she peered inside, surprised at the number of items inside.  And they were all in her size?  She didn’t understand, but then again, nothing about this day made a whole lot of sense. 

Shoving most of the outfits out of the way, she found several bathing suits.  A few were one piece suits, but then she found the two piece ensembles and an idea began to form.  Could she do it?  Could she give Talal a bit of his own back?  He wanted to tease and taunt.  He wanted to take things slowly, to enjoy the foreplay. 

Her smile grew wider as she held up a crimson bikini, admiring the effect in the wide mirror.  It would take courage and a whole lotta guts.  But yes, she could do this. 

Stripping out of her clothes, she pulled on the bikini then surveyed her figure in the mirror.  Years of acting had been accompanied by years of physical training.  Her body was slim and toned, muscular in all the right places.  Thankfully, her curves were all her own, which gave her an added boost of confidence.  So when she turned around, looking at her figure at various angles, she knew that she looked good. 

Picking up a towel from the bathroom, she pulled the door open.  At the last minute, she thought about Talal and all of his muscles, the way his eyes heated up when she walked towards him.  Wimping out slightly, she turned back to the closet and found exactly what she was looking for: a cover up.  Thankfully, it was a sheer cover up, made of white linen.  But it still did the job.  Both jobs, actually.  It allowed her to cover up slightly, but still entice.  In fact, when she glanced into the mirror once again, she realized that the thin material was doing a better job of highlighting her figure than just the bikini alone.

With a smile, she grabbed her sunglasses, the towel and then pulled open the door, heading back the way she’d come.  She got lost a couple of times, but eventually found her way up onto the deck.  And there he was.  Goodness, he looked amazing!  He was wearing a pair of swimming shorts and…that was it.  All of his glorious muscles were on display in amazing, magnificent detail.  She stood there for a long moment, just drinking him in.  None of the actors who spent most of their days working out could compare.  He was shockingly strong!  And even had an enticing tattoo on his right shoulder and arm.  She’d never really been drawn to tattoos, but she’d never seen one on Talal before. 

Kate accepted that she was now a tattoo-loving convert! 

What was better?  At least for today, he was all hers!  All of those muscles would be hers to explore when he finally allowed the two of them to make love.

Taking a deep breath and clutching the towel tightly, she approached the man who literally made her drool with desire.  How strange to have been around beautiful people for so many years only to find the most fascinating man halfway around the world.  Life was funny, she thought.

He was talking on a cell phone so she stood back, to give him some privacy. 

Okay, so she was standing there taking him in, she admitted, if only to herself.  She knew that he was gorgeous and, yeah, he intimidated her.  This was going to happen, she realized.  This man was going to make love to her.  And she was going to make love to him!  Could this vacation get any better?

Then he turned, seeing her for the first time and he stopped speaking.  He didn’t move.  Well, his eyes moved.  His eyes moved from the top of her head where she’d piled her hair, all the way down her figure, ending at her red-painted toenails.  Once again, that silly, pointless trembling started up and she didn’t know how to deal with it.  She wanted to move forward, to walk into his arms.  But the way he was staring at her, with that almost angry expression, discouraged her.  She couldn’t retreat either.  Kate wasn’t sure if her feet were going to take her forward or backward.  So she stood there, hoping he would direct her one way or another. 

He did neither.  He ended his call and tossed his cell heedlessly onto a nearby chair, even though Kate suspected that the conversation hadn’t been over.  He stalked towards her, his eyes locked on hers as he came closer.  Closer.  And then he was there!  Less than an inch away, their bodies not touching. 

“So, are we going snorkeling?” she asked, looking up and him and wishing he would say something.  Anything!

He sighed, running a hand over his face.  “I’m not sure now,” he admitted.

 

Talal couldn’t pull his eyes away.  She was gorgeous!  There was just a hint of shyness that made her even more enticing.  There was no arrogance about her.  No vanity.  She knew she was beautiful, but that was as far as it went. 

Not in his mind though!  Hell no!  He had to resist the temptation to pull her into his arms, to carry her off to his cabin and spend the rest of the day making love to her.  He didn’t because…well, because.  Because he was in control, he reminded himself.  He’d deviated enough from his normal routines, from his responsibilities because this woman had taken over his mind.  Now he needed to prove that he was indeed in control. 

It was barely there, but he was still in control. 

“Come,” he ordered, then softened his tone by taking her hand.  “The captain has lowered the back of the ship.  We’re all set to snorkel for the morning.  I asked the chef to make something light for lunch so that we could go back out in the afternoon, if you wanted to explore a bit more.”

She smiled up at him, but he noticed that the smile was still nervous.  The expression didn’t reach her eyes and he hated that he’d done this to her.  He’d scared her with his one word command.  She was such a gentle little thing.  He’d have to remember that so that he didn’t hurt her tender feelings. 

He helped her choose a mask and snorkel, and gave her a brief lesson on how to breathe underwater.  “Sounds pretty simple,” she was excited to get into the water.  With a swish, she lifted the white bathing suit cover-up over her head, dropping it onto a nearby chair.  When she turned back, she smothered a smile at his shocked expression. 

Oh yeah!  This was the payback she was hoping for.  “Ready?  I can’t wait to see what’s down there.”  And with that, she walked over to the edge of the landing dock and bent down, hoping that he was still watching her.  She made a play of sitting down, ensuring that he got an excellent view of her bottom and legs, then reached behind her, pretending to adjust the string that held her bikini top in place. 

“Are you coming?” she asked, glancing at him over her shoulder. 

That spurred him into action. He grabbed the mask and snorkel he’d chosen, bringing them to the landing dock along with two pairs of fins. “Ready,” he agreed and dove smoothly into the water. 

She was surprised by the splash and leaned back, letting out a silly screech when he grabbed her ankle. 

“I’ll help you put on the fins.”  He grabbed one, his hand sliding up her calf, pretending to be helping when, in reality, he was only teasing her.  “Stop squirming,” he ordered and slid the fin onto her foot.  “Now the other one,” he continued, moving his fingers up her calf muscle, along her lower thigh.  Kate couldn’t stop the moan as his hands teased and tortured.  The man was diabolical! 

Finally, the second fin was on and she quickly pulled her mask down over her eyes and nose, following his instructions on centering the mask and putting the snorkel into her mouth carefully.  Knowing she looked ridiculous with the snorkel in her mouth, she slid into the ocean, grateful for the cool water that helped dissipate the heat caused by his teasing hands and burning looks. 

“Right.  This way,” he urged as he took her hand, leading her out into the water. 

For the next several hours, she followed him, enthralled with the new world under the water.  They couldn’t go very deep, but they didn’t have to.  This far out in the ocean, the creatures were more confident and swam closer to the surface.  She eagerly looked every time he pointed one way or another, almost choking on a mouthful of water when he pointed out a sea turtle gliding through the water nearby.  When she did that, he realized how tired she was and they swam back to the boat. 

“Oh my, that was wonderful!” she enthused, pulling off her mask and snorkel after he lifted her onto the landing platform.  When he came up beside her, she threw her arms around his neck, laughing in excitement.  “I can’t believe I’ve never done something like this before!  It was wonderful!” 

She abruptly registered that she was almost naked.  So was he.  And she had her arms around his neck, her breasts plastered against his bare chest.

All of the sexual tension and awareness that had been pushed back while they’d explored the depths of the ocean flooded back, nearly swamping her.  “Thank you,” she whispered, feeling it deep inside of her.  “That was amazing!”

“You’re welcome,” he replied, his voice deeper.  Huskier.  And his eyes showed her that he was feeling that delectable burn as well. 

“Lunch?” she asked, thinking that she’d prefer to head right down to his cabin and explore other amazing things.  Like his body.  Like this sexual tension that neither of them could ignore.  It was like a pulsing, vibrating thing between them.  A live wire than neither could avoid. 

There was a long silence and Kate knew…she could see in his eyes…that Talal’s mind was going in the same direction as hers.  She held her breath, waiting, hoping he would tell her that they wouldn’t be dining quite yet. 

But she was disappointed.  “Shower to get the salt water out of your hair,” he decided, his eyes moving up to her dark locks. 

Kate reached up to touch her hair, beyond trying to hide her frustration.  “I’m obviously not doing this very well if you’re more concerned with the salt in my hair,” she spat, and spun around, furious with him for delaying. 

She’d taken two steps before he’d grabbed her arm and spun her back.  “What’s wrong, Kate?” he asked even as he pulled her closer to him.  “Are you frustrated?”

She wanted to tell him that, yes she was very frustrated.  But standing here with his body pressing against hers, she didn’t have the strength.  For the past several hours, while he kept his distance from her, she’d played the temptress, trying to lure him closer, enjoying his soft, brief touches.  But now, with him standing here, those strong hands pressing her stomach against his increasing erection, she couldn’t form the words.  She couldn’t say what she needed. 

So, she nodded. 

With that single gesture, everything changed.  She’d felt his arousal against her stomach before, but in that moment, it seemed to grow.  Impossibly, she felt it press more firmly against her stomach and she could barely breathe, not sure what that might mean. 

Both of his hands slid lower, cupping her bottom as he lifted her slightly against him.  “I wouldn’t want my lady to be frustrated,” he commented easily, almost as if he were having a nice little chat about the weather, but the heat in his eyes told a completely different story!  The look he gave her was white hot, molten desire and it melted away every fear inside of her.  Lifting up onto her toes, she kissed his chin, the only place she could reach.  Her hands shifted, ever so slightly, and she heard him growl low in his throat.  That sound gave her more courage and she shifted against him, her breasts sliding against the water-slick muscles of his chest. 

“So…?” she began, thinking to say something sexy like, “Are you going to do anything about my frustration?”  But the words caught in her throat as he lowered his head, his mouth capturing hers.

Oh my, she thought.  And that was the last time her brain was able to function.  This kiss was not slow and gentle.  It was devouring, igniting a deep passion she hadn’t even known existed.  Yes, she’d been turned on and impatiently waiting for this to happen all morning.  But the difference in what her imagination could create and reality were like the difference between an anthill and Kilimanjaro. 

When he bent down to lift her into his arms, she felt the world tilt sideways and held onto his broad shoulders, giving him full power over her safety as he carried her deeper into the ship.  She had absolutely no idea where they were going because he moved so swiftly and, every few steps, he stopped to kiss her.  When he finally stepped through the door of a large, luxurious cabin, she didn’t care if it was his or someone else’s.

Unfortunately, he walked right past the enormous bed and she blinked when he flicked the switch on the overhead lights, revealing a bathroom decked out with all of the latest features.  With a flick of his wrist, he turned on the shower, and set her down beside the running water. 

Oh my, those hands!  Kate gasped as he quickly removed the small bits of red fabric that were supposed to be a bathing suit.  When she was completely naked, he stepped back, just looking at her.  “You’re beautiful, Kate,” he groaned, moving closer.  She reached up at the same time that he lifted her higher, his arms pinning her against him and the cold tiles behind her so that he could kiss her without bending down.  She didn’t mind, since he was kissing her again.  And it felt incredible.  So good! 

Then he stopped, pulling away.  Kate wanted to argue, but her mouth wasn’t working.  Especially when his hands slid up her stomach and cupped her breasts.  She’d been expecting that, wanting it, craving it.  But when his long fingers curled around each breast, she whimpered, leaning her head back against the marble wall.  Then his thumbs flicked her nipples and she almost hit the floor.

Gripping his shoulders tightly, she bit her lip, trying to control the need that was now raging inside of her.  But it was impossible, especially with the way he was rubbing his thumbs back and forth.  Then he began pinching her nipples ever so slightly and darts of excitement rocked her to the core.  Hard! 

“No more,” she begged, reaching up to try and tug his hand away.  But he only captured her hands with one of his own, bringing them both behind her back.  He then arched her against that arm so that his mouth could capture her nipple.  Kate screamed, a sound that slowly dwindled to a groan as his tongue laved at the peak, his teeth gently scraping against it. 

She couldn’t take this and tried to pull away, but he was stronger than she was and all she could do was endure, hope that she didn’t explode from the heat surging through her whole body. 

When his hand drifted lower, his mouth still torturing her breasts, he found her heat and she shook her head frantically, embarrassed by how wet she was down there.  “Please, don’t!” but it was too late.  His long finger was already teasing, spreading her wider so that he could discover more of her, torture her even further.  When his finger finally entered her body, she didn’t care about the wetness any longer.  All embarrassment was gone, replaced by an almost frantic need.  Her hips moved, shifted against his hand.  Unconsciously, she wiggled slightly so that his hand, his palm, his fingers, were doing exactly what she needed him to do.  With his expertise, it took only a few minutes before her body exploded, her mind going blank as stars lit up behind her closed eyelids.  The pleasure that flooded her was incredible, throbbing waves washing over her again and again until his fingers gentled and slowly stopped, sliding out of her body.

After a long moment, Kate opened her eyes, blinking owlishly up at the bright bathroom lights.  He was watching every move she made and the blush that stole up her throat to her cheeks caused a primal rumble deep in his chest.  She assumed it was laughter, but her brain wasn’t functioning well enough to be certain.  And right now, she didn’t care if he was laughing at her, or with her. 

“Ready to shower?” he asked.

Kate looked up, noticed the heat that still filled his eyes and shook her head.  “No.  I don’t think I am,” she admitted honestly. 

The slow, sexy smile told her that she was in big trouble.  “Good,” and he lifted her again, taking two steps so that they were both under the warm stream of water.  He turned her around and placed both of her hands against the black marble lining one of the walls in the shower.  Bending lower, he nibbled at the shell of her ear before ordering, “Keep your hands there.”

Kate could feel herself trembling with both anticipation and fear.  “I don’t think I can do that again,” she whispered.  But already, she could feel her body ramping up, needing that release even though she’d just experienced it moments ago.  Just from him touching her?  That seemed outrageously wrong, but her body tilted slightly, allowing her bottom to press more firmly against his groin.  Her body was inviting him in the most fundamental way and she wasn’t even aware of it.

Talal was though.  He stood up, his erection straining towards her opening, but he wouldn’t allow himself that pleasure.  Not yet.  Looking down at her slender back, he ran a hand down her spine, smiling as she hissed and arched at the touch.  His fingers moved up and down, watching her, learning about her body and what she liked, what didn’t seem to turn her on at all, and what she didn’t really like.  He almost laughed out loud when she moved her bottom away from his fingers.  That was definitely something she didn’t like, he thought.  But he would teach her all of the pleasures her body could provide. 

Just not tonight, he thought. 

Moving lower, he let his fingers slide along the backs of her thighs and found another sensitive spot.  Grabbing the soap, he worked his way over every inch of her skin, starting with her calves. She looked down at him and he almost laughed with delight at the desperate look in her eyes.  She was so open, so honest with her reactions.  He was used to women who were more experienced, less open, and definitely less honest.  Kate didn’t even know that she might want to hide some of her reactions to him.  Nor was he going to tell her, either.  He liked that she was open and forthright.  It allowed him to pleasure her even more thoroughly.  It also allowed him to know what she didn’t like so that he wouldn’t do it again. 

Standing up, he moved the bar of soap over her back, then pulled her against his chest, doing the same thing to her front, paying extra special attention to her breasts.  She shifted against him, completely unaware of how her body rubbing against his would affect him. 

Or maybe she did know and was…!

No. Looking at her features, he knew that she was not aware of how she was making him feel, of the increasingly painful ache of his erection as he held back as long as he could. 

Talal teased and tortured while enjoying every one of her soft sighs, her exclamations of pleasure.  She was all his, he thought. 

With a twist, he spun her around, leaning her back against the tiles again.  “Relax,” he commanded. Kneeling down, he lifted one of her legs over his shoulder.  Then using his thumbs, he spread her glistening folds wider, allowing her barely a moment of understanding before his mouth closed over that throbbing, swollen nubbin. 

She grabbed his shoulders, then his hair, trying to tug his mouth away from that sensitive place.  But he ignored her feeble attempts, concentrating all of his efforts on that small bud of nerves.  When he slipped one finger, then two inside of her, that was about all it took.  Once again, she was screaming her release and this time, he tasted her orgasm as he continued his ministrations, drawing out her pleasure as long as he could.  When her body slowed, he pulled back, gentling until she almost sobbed before he completely separated from her. 

Standing up, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, showing her how much he enjoyed her response.  She was limp now, but he definitely wasn’t done with her.  Turning her around gently, he took the shampoo and gently massaged her dark locks.  When he rinsed them out, she was pressing herself against him, a soft smile on her beautiful face.  Conditioner came next and then he was done waiting.  This woman had let her hands drift over his body during the hair-washing process and he was more than ready for the final act. 

He quickly shut off the water, and grabbed a towel.  With gentle hands, he dried off every inch of her, kissing every place that he dried and bringing her back up to a fever pitch.  With every sigh, every groan and moan, she brought him right along with her.  Her sounds turned him on more than he’d ever thought possible. 

Tossing the towel away, he carried her into the bedroom.  Arranging her on the bed, he stood and grabbed a condom.  Coming back, he stood over her, watching her writhe against the comforter as her sexy tongue darted out, wetting her lips. 

“You’re mine,” he growled, pulling her legs apart, a wolfish grin as he enjoyed the moment.  The dark curls that hid her femininity drove him mad with desire.  Settling between her legs, he couldn’t resist another taste.  Just one, he promised himself.  Just a small…

His mouth closed over that nubbin more aggressively this time, sucking and licking, his tongue flicking in an irresistible rhythm.  When she lifted her hips up, offering herself to him, begging him, he pulled back.  With the condom rolled down his length, he moved higher, kissing up her body to her mouth, absorbing her cries as he slowly pressed into her. 

She’d said she was a virgin, but he hadn’t quite believed her, not until this moment. How tight she was.  He slowed, moving gently back and forth until her body became used to his invasion.  Then deeper, back out, deeper still.  With every thrust into her heat, he watched her features.  She was struggling and he didn’t like that.  “Relax, Kate.”

He felt her body relax and he groaned in response.  It was such a turn-on when she followed his commands.  Pulling her hands up, he put them on his shoulders.  “Guide me into you.  Tell me how deep, Kate.”

She shifted her hips, pulling him in deeper.  Deeper still.  Sweat broke out on his forehead as struggled to control his need to bury himself to the hilt in her heat. She felt so good! 

When he reached the barrier, he was humbled and amazed that she’d given this gift to him.  And it actually hurt him when he pressed through and saw the slight pain flash across her face when the membrane broke before she closed her eyes.  Then he was fully buried inside of her, holding still, fighting the need to move.  He waited, feeling her body shift against his, and still he waited. 

Her azure eyes flew open, wordlessly begging for more.  Pressing into her, he pulled almost all the way out, and pressed slowly back into her heat.  Over and over again, he pressed into her, watching her features to make sure that he wasn’t hurting her.  And looking for signs that she was close.  When he couldn’t hold back any longer, he shifted his body and pressed a thumb against her nub, moving his thumb in time with his thrusts.  That pressure spilled her over the edge. She screamed her pleasure, wrapping her legs tightly around his waist as she ground herself against him while her body throbbed in climax.  He released his own control and slammed into her tight sheath once, twice…three times and then he joined her in heaven. 

 

Kate could barely breathe, but was beyond caring.  She was floating. The experience had been incredible and she wanted nothing more than to start it all over again.

Well, maybe later.  Much later. 

Slowly, her body relaxed, the floating feeling drifting away as the waves of intense pleasure receded.  Unfortunately, in their place came embarrassment.  Flooding through her, she was almost ashamed of how uninhibited she’d been during that whole time. 

“Stop it right there,” she heard him say, but Kate couldn’t open her eyes.  Biting her lip, she tried to turn away, but he was still on top of her, pinning her down.  He wasn’t hurting her, keeping most of his weight on his elbows, but he wouldn’t allow her to hide.  “I need to use the restroom,” she fibbed unable to look him in the eye.

“No you don’t,” he contradicted before disengaging and disposing of the condom with a tissue.  She tried to slip out of the bed but he stopped her, pulling her on top of him.  “Tell me what’s wrong.”

She choked on a laugh, and hid her face against his chest.  “Nothing.”

He chuckled.  “You’re a horrible liar, Kate.”

That fired her temper just a bit and she glared down at him.  “I’m a good liar!” she retorted, then realized what she’d just said and glared at him. She could tell that he was trying to swallow his laughter so she smacked his arm.  “Okay, go ahead, laugh at me.  That was a stupid comment, I realize it.”  His whole body laughed as he wrapped his arms around her, rolling her over again.  Pinning her down, he pressed a knee between her thighs. 

“You’re adorable,” he told her, kissing her sweetly. 

She rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck.  “And you are wonderful,” she replied back, all of the happiness coming right back, blocking out her embarrassment.  “I’m not sure why we couldn’t have done this at my villa this morning.”

He chuckled even as he shifted her leg higher up onto his thigh.  “Because you would have been self-conscious, worrying about your housekeeper coming back to make lunch, or the groundskeeper working outside the open windows.”

Kate looked up at him, then away, cringing.  “I was loud, wasn’t I?”

Talal skimmed a hand over her back, his body reacting to the memory of just how loud and uninhibited she had been.  “Yes.  But I liked it.”

She scoffed.  “You did not.  I was obnoxious.”

“You were hot,” he countered immediately.  “I like that you were vocal about what I was doing to you.”

She laughed, rolling her eyes.  “I wasn’t vocal, Talal.  I was loud!”

He pulled back so that he could survey her naked body once again.  “Semantics,” he dismissed.  “I liked it.”

He saw the blush form over her breasts and knew exactly where her mind was going.  “I liked all of it, Kate.  I love tasting you when you…” he couldn’t finish that sentence because she’d slapped a hand over his mouth.  He only pulled her hand away and kissed her, telling her without words what he liked. 

“But now, you are hungry,” he announced and stood up.  “Let’s get something to eat.” 

He tugged her into the shower, not letting her hide herself in sheets.  They took a quick shower and dressed, and he led her up to the deck where a lovely meal was set up in the shade.  As they ate, they talked about various subjects.  Kate was fascinated by his responsibilities, and he was just as intent on learning about the trials and tribulations of being an actress.  They laughed and ate, and then he took her back down to his cabin and made love to her all over again.  When he was finished this time, she was too exhausted to do anything more than curl up against him and fall asleep.