Chapter 4
The rest of their time in Paris was a blur filled with a trip to Versailles, where Zadir had stolen kisses from her in many of the hidden alcoves in the massive gardens. They’d attended a very lavish, formal dinner party hosted by Annette and Pierre where the men wore tuxedos and Shala had to buy a new gown. It had been wonderful, filled with artists, musicians, poets, academics and a few businessmen. They’d eaten seven courses, which Zadir found hard to focus on when Shala began moaning her enjoyment. His gaze bore into her until she’d looked at him, licked her lips and promptly blushed to the tops of her ears.
The more time Zadir spent with Shala, the more he liked her. She was refreshing and not jaded by the hardships of life. He envied her about that but he also loved to watch her because of it. Her eyes lit up and they looked almost gold when she was excited. They darkened to hardened amber when she was aroused, that was his favorite color, and they were a light yellow when she was sad. Zadir hoped he never saw another yellow day again.
Paris had been magical. He couldn’t think of a time he enjoyed the city more. Experiencing all the major sites with her was like seeing them for the first time. His personal favorite had been Versailles, but she’d braved the catacombs with just a few squeals, bought fancy French lingerie which he hoped to see someday soon. They’d eaten good, very good, and he enjoyed every moment. She asked the waiters a million questions and they happily answered every one with a smile. Just a little bit in love with her by the time they walked away. I know the feeling.
Zadir stared out at the early morning landscape at the small airstrip. They were already seated and ready to go, Shala was already asleep and using his arm as a pillow. Her shoes were kicked off and her feet tucked up and facing the other direction. His arm rested around her, one finger gently stroking her arm as she slept.
He smiled when the sun found he way out among the clouds trying to turn the day grey. Paris had been very good for the progression of his relationship with Shala. He’d gone slow with her so he didn’t scare her off. Steamy kisses that had him spending long minutes under an ice cold shower spray were as hot as it had gotten, but she’d initiated a hot and heavy make out session just last night. He hadn’t made out like that since he was a teenager but damn it had been fun.
But it was more than her hot little body pressed up against his and it was more than how she tasted. She believed in him, for what reason he didn’t know, and he thanked the heavens every single day that she did. He’d won over the French siblings and they’d made a deal. The Crown Jewels now belonged to Alzari Holdings, well it would once the lawyers sorted everything out. It had been a great trip for so many reasons. They were now on their way to Mallorca where he would purchase a soon to be bankrupt solar panel manufacturer. Jovanbar wasn’t oil rich like many of her neighbors, so Zadir wanted to make sure they profited heavily once the world realized where the future of energy would be.
He was so pumped up after making the deal for The Crown Jewels that he couldn’t wait to negotiate the solar plant. Deciding to let Shala sleep, he pulled out his tablet and did as she’d suggested. He did his homework, making sure knew everything there was to know about Sun Energy Makers. He hadn’t found much, but they would land in an hour and he could get more information then. Sitting back in his seat, Zadir thought about this part of the job. The preparation it took just to start negotiations was incredible. It was a part of the CEO’s job he’d never contemplated, but it was turning out to be far more important than he’d realized.
“I have more intel for you, let me just grab my bag.”
Zadir looked over at the sleepy brown eyes smiling up at him, but instead he was damn near eye level with her luscious round rump. She was stretched so far to reach for her bag in the seat across the aisle that she was giving him quite a show as her skirt rode higher and higher on her thighs. “Shala,” he groaned.
“Here we go,” she said with a triumphant smile. A few swipes and taps later, and she’d sent him an entire e-dossier on Sun Energy.
“Wow, this is extensive.”
“Now you see why I asked so many questions when you sent the itinerary,” she asked playfully.
He nodded. She really was spectacularly organized and her intelligence gathering would rival any nation’s intelligence gathering agencies. Zadir realized he wanted Shala on his team and in his bed. “You left no stone unturned.” He shivered thinking of what she could dig up on him if she chose to.
She shrugged. “We have a large security company on retainer at AH, may as well make them earn every cent.”
“When did you get so feisty? I like it!” He laughed at her bewildered expression. “Face it, Shala. You’re no longer the quiet little thing you used to be. You’re witty and sarcastic, got a major case of bad attitude sometimes that you cover with your good girl persona.”
“I am a good girl.”
“Yes, but you can be a very naughty girl as well. Can’t you?”
Could she? She’d never stepped into the role of bad girl. She couldn’t even believe that’s how Zadir saw her. No one saw her like that, ever. “I don’t know.”
“Well I guess we can find out together.”