Chapter 9
“What’s all this?” Kerry stood beside Malik with her jaw dropped as she looked into the guest bedroom that he had converted into an art studio.
He turned and smiled down at her. “It’s a studio. For you.” He’d wanted to do something special for her and Malik didn’t think she would appreciate jewelry or a new car.
“Seriously? But…why?” Her blonde brows furrowed adorably and those green eyes sparkled like emeralds in the brightly lit room.
“Why?” Silly girl. “Because I wanted to. Because you deserve it.”
She walked in, fingering the easel and the new paintbrushes and pallets, the canvases in different sizes and even the padded stool. She looked at everything reverently before turning to him with tears in her eyes. “This is amazing, Malik. Thank you.”
He smiled and went to her, wrapping her in his arms and dropping a kiss to her forehead. “You’re most welcome, Kerry.”
Pulling back, she smiled. “No one has ever done anything like this for me.”
“You deserve more than this,” he told her with all the sincerity he could muster.
Her smile dimmed slightly. “This isn’t because of the other night, is it?”
“Of course not, though you deserve all of my wealth for the amount of pleasure I experienced that night.” Malik smiled the same way he did every time he thought of that night. The way she gave herself so fully to him had both humbled and aroused him.
She giggled and smacked his bicep. “Yeah, well, I’d give it right back for the same reason.” She winked and it hit him straight in his groin.
This. This was how it should be between a man and a woman. Light and carefree, sensual and fun. He’d had the studio done for her, not out of obligation and not because she had expected it, but simply because he wanted to. And the smile she’d beamed up at him was more than enough payment. “How about, instead, we close the door and do it all over again?”
Kerry pressed her body into his, hands twined around his neck so she could draw him closer to her sweet cherry lips. “Later. One of us is still working. Slacker,” she called after him with a laugh as she strolled from the room and headed back to the area set up for Aram’s lessons.
“Not much longer. Don’t forget about dinner,” he called after her. He couldn’t get enough of her. It was as simple—and as complicated—as that. And tonight he planned to romance her. He’d already asked Tisha to watch Aram so they’d have some alone time.
After a quick shower he dressed in a light-colored suit, perfect for a romantic night on the beach. He found his son set up at a game table with Tisha playing cards. “Who’s winning?”
He smiled. “I am, Father!”
“Wow. Make sure you’re a gracious winner, Aram.”
He rolled his eyes and sighed. “I am winning now but I have not won yet.” Tisha chuckled and winked, pulling a precious giggle from his son.
“You look quite handsome tonight, Mr. Nourani.”
“Yeah, Father, you look hamsome!”
Malik laughed at his mispronunciation and ruffled his hair. “Thanks to you both.”
“Tisha is making burgers for dinner! With bacon!”
To his son that was the best possible news and probably the only thing that could distract him from the fact that he hadn’t been invited to dinner with the grownups. “Save me a bite?”
“I’ll try... Father?”
“Yes, Son?”
“Do you love Kerry like I do?”
Tisha coughed to cover her shocked gasp and Malik coughed because his response got stuck in his throat. “Why do you ask?”
He shrugged. “You look at her funny and I saw you kissing.” Then his little boy, his sweet son who someday would be king, scrounged up his face and proceeded to make kissy-face noises.
“Wow. You and I will have a talk later. Over my bite of your cheeseburger,” he teased.
Aram shrugged. “If any is left, Father.” The adults laughed again and Aram blushed furiously.
“Can I be in on the joke?”
The laughter stopped and all eyes turned to Kerry, looking like a dream come true in a sinfully tight black dress that left more of her legs on display than it hid. The top was sleeveless and lacy, almost see-through and the skirt was black leather.
“You look beautiful.”
“Thanks, Malik,” she said, doing her best to hide the pink stain that crept up her body.
“You look like a model, Kerry!”
She bent down and pinched his cheek. “Thank you, Aram, what a sweet thing to say.” Then she kissed his cheek and Aram looked away with a suspicious blush. She stood and looked at Tisha. “Save me a burger?”
She frowned. “Aren’t you going out to eat?”
“Yes, but if it’s one of those fancy places princes and movie stars go, I’ll be hungry later.”
“I’ll try not to be too offended by that,” Malik said with a mock-offended tone that made everyone laugh. “Right, well let’s be off, shall we?” Holding his arm out, Malik felt his whole body relax when Kerry looped her arm through his and leaned against him.
“Shouldn’t we be going through the front door or is old age finally catching up with you?” She laughed at her own joke, laughing even louder at the fake scowl he sent her way.
“If we were leaving, yes. But we are having a romantic moonlit dinner and we have plenty of moon back here.”
Kerry gasped. “This is so beautiful, Malik.”
Turning her in his arms, heart racing so fast he was sure it was trying to gallop right out of his chest at the look of adoration on her face, he said, “Nothing is as beautiful as you are in this moment, Kerry.”
* * *
I never stood a chance. That was the only thing Kerry could think as she let Malik romance the hell out of her right there on the beach behind his house. She’d never stood a chance at not falling for him. When they made love for the first time, she now realized, her heart had been lost to him. She was a fool to think she could be with him in every way yet keep her heart protected.
Her heart didn’t need protecting, not from Malik. She loved him and that love was a gift, whether he wanted it or not. “What have I done to warrant all this romance?”
His mouth curled into a smile. “I thought it was time I did something to show you what you mean to me.”
And what do I mean to you, Malik? She wanted to ask with everything in her, but she was scared. Terrified, actually, that he would say something innocuous like, I care for you. She didn’t think she’d be able to handle that so she simply said, “Thank you.”
Malik stood and removed his jacket, giving her a glimpse of a sliver of smooth bronze skin at his throat. The off-white suit hung perfectly from his imposing frame, highlighting his dark skin while the blue shirt made her fingers itch to touch him. “Let’s take a walk, Kerry.”
She took his hand with a small smile, kicking off her shoes and letting her toes curl in the cool sand. “I’ve lived here for years and this is the most time I’ve ever spent at the beach.” She’d worked too much during school and after, so when she did have free time the absolute last thing she wanted was to battle L.A. traffic to the beach and spend what little cash she had on parking.
“Such a shame when you wear a bikini so beautifully.”
“Charmer.” She bumped his shoulder with hers. Well, it was more like his elbow since she wasn’t quite that tall.
“Kerry I know you’re worried that I don’t want the things you want and, considering our age difference, that’s a smart concern.”
Gee thanks, she rolled her eyes.
“But I care about you, Kerry. A lot. I don’t know what the future holds, but who knows what will happen? I thought I’d still be married now and look how that turned out.”
Not helping. He went on and on, every word like a knife straight to her heart. Piercing it and slicing it open until it bled all over this pristine strip of beach. It took some effort but Kerry finally managed to swallow the tears back down. “So what are you saying, Malik, you want me to wait for you?”
Stopping abruptly, Malik turned to her, grabbed her hands between his and smiled. “Would you?”
Hell yes. “How long?”
He shrugged. “I can’t say, Kerry, but aren’t things between us just about perfect?”
No. No, they absolutely were not. She took a step back. Then another. Head still shaking, she couldn’t bear to look at him so she turned to the ocean, small waves pushing against the shore while stars reflected magnificently on the water. Kerry wrapped her arms around herself, to protect from the evening chill or Malik, she didn’t know. “No, Malik, they aren’t perfect. I knew this would happen,” she said more to herself than to him. “I’ll never learn, will I?”
“What are you talking about?” He reached for her but she stepped back, still determined not to cry in front of him.
“I’m talking about the fact that I broke my own rules. I said I would give you all of me for one night and I kept giving because I fell in love with you. I even told myself it was okay because you would grow to love me, too. But you won’t, will you?” She shook her head, not really expecting an answer. “I know. It’s my fault. I’m sorry, Malik, but I need to be alone right now.” She turned and continued walking up the beach and away from the man who held her heart in his hands.
Too bad he doesn’t want it.