The sommelier returned with the wine, doing the whole tasting ritual before pouring it. Maya watched, fascinated as Jahlil took a sip of the white wine, her eyes focused on his lips, wondering, not for the first time, what it would be like to be kissed by Jahlil. They talked about their trips and the weather, her job and the latest horses that were for sale around the world. They discussed world politics for a brief moment, but she quickly changed the subject to something more benign, sensing that Jahlil was uncomfortable, concerned about revealing something he shouldn’t.

  The wine was…wet. Maya ordered food and she might have eaten some of it, but by the time the waiter took her plate away, she couldn’t say what she’d eaten. Chicken maybe? It had been white. But that might have been a cream sauce.

  “Would you care to see the dessert menu?” the waiter offered, extending a small, elegant menu board to each of them.

  Maya shook her head. “No, I don’t think I could eat anything else.” She smiled at the waiter. “Thank you though. Everything was delicious.”

  The waiter bowed away from the table and she turned back to Jahlil. “Thank you for dinner,” she said softly.

  “It was my pleasure,” he replied easily. “Would you like to dance?”

  Maya turned to look at the couples dancing in the distance. A small band played and a majority of the couples were older, so they mostly just swayed to the beat of the music.

  “No, I don’t think so,” she told him honestly. “I think I’m a bit tired after traveling today.”

  “Of course,” he said, and stood up, politely extending his hand to her. She took it, shivering as his strong fingers closed over her hand.

  “Are you cold?” he asked, gallantly slipping his jacket off and draping it over her shoulders.

  Cold? She felt as if she was on fire! She didn’t want his coat, she thought. She wanted his arms! She wanted his whole body touching her! But instead, she satisfied herself with snuggling into the warmth left over from his body heat. And the jacket still held the scent of his aftershave. And him! Goodness, his scent was intoxicating! She wished she could bathe in it, revel in every part of him!

  Instead, she walked beside him, the guards again surrounding them as they walked out of the restaurant and stepped back into the waiting elevator. It seemed as if his guards moved with a bit more…assertiveness than normal.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked, stepping closer to his side.

  “Why do you ask?” he asked, his arm wrapping around her waist.

  Maya shrugged. “I don’t know. There’s just so much tension in the air.” She watched his features carefully and saw the exact moment that he decided to lie to her.

  “Everything is fine,” he said.

  She knew that wasn’t true. But she also knew that he wasn’t being honest because he was trying to protect her. Just as she’d done on the way down to the dining room, she leaned her head against his shoulder. “I wish that you wouldn’t do that,” she murmured.

  “What’s that?”

  “Hide the truth from me,” she said, her voice soft, non-accusatory. “I’m not a child, Jahlil.” She huffed a bit, then pulled away from him. “I can handle whatever is going on.” The doors to the elevator opened and she walked into the suite ahead of him. “You don’t need to protect me from the truth.” With that, she slipped out of his jacket and laid it carefully on the back of the sofa. “Thank you for dinner.” And then she walked into her bedroom, softly closing the door. Instead of slamming it, as she desperately wanted to. She wanted to scream and throw a fit. She wanted to rush back out into the living room and pound on his chest with her fists until he acknowledged that she wasn’t a child that he needed to protect.

  Until he noticed her! She wanted him to acknowledge that she was a woman! A woman with a woman’s needs and desires!

  But she couldn’t do that. She knew that Jahlil had a lot going on right now. He definitely didn’t need a temperamental female putting additional burdens on his shoulders.

  In the bathroom, she stripped off the dress, wishing she could wad it up and throw it away. Instead, she carefully hung it up in the closet, furious with herself for hoping that Jahlil might see her as a woman instead of a child.

  Jahlil sipped his scotch, welcoming the burn as it slid down his throat. Tonight had been…both a disaster and a revelation. He ached to hold Maya in his arms, to kiss and make love to her, to discover every one of the secrets her body held, to learn everything that could make her cry out with pleasure.

  And yet, she’d retreated from him. He’d probably offended her by staring at her in that stunning dress. He’d treated her badly and he’d have to apologize tomorrow.

  Downing his scotch, he poured himself another, contemplating tomorrow when he’d get to sit across from her at breakfast. And yes, he knew that he’d get to share at least one more meal with her. Maybe more if he could apologize prettily enough to soothe her temper over tonight’s lapse in manners. Maya always woke up in time to share breakfast with him, so at least he’d have that.

  It wasn’t much of a consolation, but it was something.

  He had no idea how long he’d been sitting here, but he heard the door open and turned his head. The suite was dark, the only light coming from the moonlight shining off of the ocean and sifting through the windows onto the white furniture.

  It wasn’t a surprise when Maya padded out of her bedroom, heading for the kitchen. Milk, he thought. She was going to warm up some milk. She was having trouble sleeping again.

  Even as he thought it, she reached for a glass.

  “Need some help?” he asked, standing up.

  She gasped and spun around. The sound of glass shattering broke the quiet of the night.

  “Don’t move!” he ordered, already knowing that she wasn’t wearing shoes. Maya didn’t like slippers, except during the winters. And even then, she usually wore thick socks. She’d always said that she liked to feel where she was going and shoes got in the way.

  “I didn’t realize that you were out here,” she gasped, looking around at the floor. Glass was everywhere.

  “I apologize for startling you.” He moved swiftly across the suite. “Just stay there and I’ll find a broom.”

  He dove into a small cupboard and came out with a broom and dustpan. She laughed, wondering how he even knew how to sweep.

  “Are you sure you know how to use that?” she asked archly.

  He looked at her, the light from the moon making her glow. He could see the teasing in her eyes and relief surged through him.

  “I think I can figure it out,” he shot back, a mocking tone to his voice now. “Just don’t move.”

  Quickly, he swept the shards of glass up, sweeping everything into the dustpan, then dumping it all into the trash bin.

  “How did you even know where those things are?” she asked, stepping away from the counter.

  “Stop!” he ordered, lifting his hand. “There could still be bits I can’t see.”

  Maya stood still as he leaned the broom and dustpan against the wall.

  “How am I going to…?” She stopped when he bent down and scooped her up into his arms, her feet flying into the air. “Oh!” Maya yelped as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Well, that’s one way to deal with it!”

  “You don’t weigh enough, Maya,” he grumbled, carrying her into the living room. He turned his head, looking into her eyes. In that moment, whatever teasing admonishment he might have uttered dried up. The look in her eyes, the way her lips softened as she looked at him…everything disappeared in that instant.

  In its place was desire. Hot, heavy, painful desire! Jahlil had never experienced desire like this before. Yes, he’d wanted Maya as his own from the very first moment he’d laid eyes on her. But he’d controlled that desire over the years.

  Until now.

  At this moment, as her body slid down against his as he released her legs, he couldn’t have stopped the kiss from happening. Not even an explosion could have stopped him as he lowered his head. Maya could have stopped him, he supposed, but her fingers curled into the material of his shirt, pulling him down even as he lowered his head.

  At the first brush of his lips against hers, desire flamed white hot, nearly blinding him. He lifted his head, looking down at her to see if she was offended. But her eyes were closed, her lips soft and slightly open, as if waiting for another kiss.

  Because he was a gentleman, he kissed her again. And again. Every time, the kiss deepened until he was ravishing her mouth, his tongue mating with hers, doing all the things that his body wanted to do.

  Groaning, he pulled her against his throbbing heat, needing to feel all of her against him. She gasped, but when he would have pulled away, she shivered, pressing closer in a way that he understood.

  Mindless now, he lifted her back into his arms, but his gentlemanly instincts vaporized under the heat of his passion. This was raw lust. He cradled her bottom in his palms, pulling her more fully against his aching erection. His last ounce of propriety was used up as he carried her into his bedroom.

  Once the door was closed, he moved quickly, stripping off her clothes. He wasn’t aware of her pulling at his own clothes, but moments before he tumbled her back onto the bed, he found, with relief, that they were both naked!

  “Tell me to stop!” he groaned, pinning her hands above her head, lacing his fingers through hers.

  “Please don’t stop!” she sobbed, wrapping her legs around his waist, exactly as he’d imagined so many times. But the reality was one hundred percent better!

  His eyes moved lower and he wished that the lights were on so that he could properly see her breasts and her nipples. But he managed, finding them with his mouth as she arched into him. Sucking and teasing, he tortured one breast until she screamed. Smiling through the lust, he moved to the other, not stopping until she ripped her hands from his and pulled his head away. For a brief moment, he thought she was asking him to stop. But then her hands guided him back to the first breast and his relief was so intense, all thoughts vanished from his mind. Not that there were many anyway. Not with the way she tasted and the way his hands filled with the softness of those breasts.

  He should be more reverent, perhaps. But her thighs rubbed against his hips and he abandoned her lovely breasts and those delicious nipples to explore his way down her amazing body. He kissed his way lower, moving over the soft curve of her stomach, smiling when she giggled when he found a ticklish spot. Then he kissed that spot again before moving lower. When he smelled her arousal, he almost surged back up so that he could thrust into her. But this was Maya! He needed all of her! He needed to know the taste of her.

  Moving lower still, he breathed in the heat and scent a brief moment before his mouth moved closer. Just a small taste at first. But she was too delicious and he was a glutton. His mouth covered her, teasing that nub with his lips while his tongue explored her core, lapping at every delicious drop of her arousal. Needing to hear her scream, needing proof that she was with him, he latched onto that small nub, sucking and teasing, then sucking again until…his hands wrapped around her hips as she ground herself against his mouth, her body throbbing with an intense release that he could literally feel with his hands!

  It was the most erotic moment of his life. Before her body could come down off of that climax, he lifted himself up and thrust into her! She was so wet, so hot and shockingly tight, he had to close his eyes as…thrusting harder, he froze! She was a virgin?!

  Looking down at her, he noticed a tear escape from her eye and his body ached, but for a different reason now.

  “I’m sorry, Maya!” he groaned, bending to kiss that tear away. “I’m so sorry!”

  “Please, don’t stop!” she begged, wrapping her arms around his neck as she lifted her hips, pressing against him. “Please, you feel so wonderful and I’ve waited so long for this. I don’t want you to stop!”

  Jahlil was humbled by this utterly unexpected gift. She hadn’t ever been with Sandoor. She was all his!

  Slowly, he started moving inside of her. Gentle now, he shifted ever so slightly, easing himself out of her tight sheath before moving slowly back into her.

  “Faster?” she pleaded, then bit her lip in that delicious way.

  Jahlil was more than happy to comply. Thrusting faster, but still as gently as his clamoring lust would allow, he moved deeper into her. Cradling Maya with his arms, he used every ounce of his expertise to bring her closer and closer to that blissful release again. Ignoring the desperate need for his own climax, he focused on ensuring that she found her pleasure. And when her body arched, her mouth opening as a silent scream left her, he felt her inner muscles clench spasmodically around his shaft.

  Jahlil was able to hold out for another moment, but she felt too incredible, too tight and perfect. His own orgasm was a rush, draining everything out of him as he thrust into her faster and faster. Vaguely, he knew that she shivered once again with another, smaller climax coming over her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close as she sighed with happiness.

  A long time later, Jahlil lifted his head, looking down into her lovely features. She was beaming and relief surged through him. “Are you okay?” he asked, running a finger down over her features.

  She laughed, arching her back ever so slightly. It was enough. His body hardened and her eyes widened. Her laugh was a delight to his ears and he kissed her lingeringly. Amazed, he started thrusting, trying to ease the desperate need in him. He suspected that Maya would be too tender for another round immediately, but her fingers slid into his hair and she lifted her head to kiss him, her hips lifting to match his thrusts.

  When he tried to pull away, her legs tightened around his waist, holding him in place. “Don’t go,” she pleaded, her eyes closed as she rolled her hips.

  After that, he was lost in the haze of lust, unable to unwind enough to give her a moment’s peace. She was just that perfect, that gloriously sensual.

  But Jahlil was also determined to make this time even better. Pulling back, he pressed his thumb against that nub, shifting so that every one of his thrusts brought her closer to that beautiful peak. Again and again, he listened to her soft sighs, her cries until he found the exact, right position. And then he thrust faster and faster, bringing her closer to that pleasure. When she cried out, he absorbed the sound into his mouth as he kissed her, his mouth and tongue mimicking his shaft as he feasted upon her.

  Chapter 10

  Maya woke up to the feeling that something was very different. First of all, she was lying on her stomach. She never slept on her stomach! She was a side sleeper, pulling her pillow in close and hugging it throughout the night.

  Sunlight? What in the world? Her bedroom was dark. It was winter in Boston.

  Then the previous day, and the long, sensuous night, came rushing back to her. Slowly, her confusion shifted to delight. She’d made love with Jahlil! After so many years of yearning for him to realize that she was a woman, that she…loved him, she finally knew what it was like to feel his passion. She knew what it was like to be a woman in Jahlil’s arms.

  Sitting up, she looked around. The bed was a mess! The pillows were scattered across the floor. Vaguely, she remembered resting her head on his chest as she fell into a deep, exhausted sleep. Maya couldn’t remember sleeping so well in…well, ever! She pushed her hair out of her face, impressed at the tangles that probably looked like a rat’s nest at this point.

  “Goodness,” she whispered into the morning sunshine.

  Eagerly, she pushed the sheets away and headed into the bathroom, marveling at her sore muscles. There was a bit of unexpected tenderness in odd parts of her body as well, but she ignored that. “Nothing that a hot shower can’t fix,” she whispered, then gasped when she saw her image in the bathroom mirror. Her cheeks were red from Jahlil’s rough beard, her hair was indeed going in every direction, and her lips were swollen.

  Regardless, Maya felt…blissful! Is this what good sex did to one’s psyche? If she’d known that, she might have…?

  “No,” she whispered, stepping into the shower and turning on the warm water. “It was Jahlil,” she said out loud.

  A long, hot shower revived her. Unfortunately, it didn’t do much for her fear of facing Jahlil after last night. But seriously, why would she be nervous? He’d done things to her last night and…well, she’d touched him in ways that made her cheeks turn pink, but everything had been amazingly wonderful!

  In other words, she shouldn’t be embarrassed or nervous.

  After pulling on a pair of shorts and a tee shirt, she stepped out of her bedroom, needing to face Jahlil and get the first “morning after” awkwardness out of the way.

  Moving towards the living room, she half hoped that he’d already left for his meetings. But the clock showed that it was still relatively early. Jahlil generally ate breakfast around now.

  Sure enough, as soon as she stepped out of the hallway, she spotted him sitting on the wide veranda, reading a newspaper and eating breakfast. Actually, he was only sipping coffee. No breakfast had been delivered yet.

  Jahlil felt Maya’s presence before he saw her. Turning his head, he watched as she approached the table and the elation that he’d felt last night and this morning upon waking with her in his arms, dissipated at the wary look in her eyes.

  Standing up, he waited for her to come forward. “Good morning,” he said, bowing slightly. She deserved his respect, at a minimum.

  “Good morning,” she replied, smiling tentatively.

  “Are you hungry?”

  She glanced at the table that held only his coffee cup. But as soon as the words left his mouth, a servant came forward, placing a mug in front of the other chair, as well as a plate and some muffins and biscuits with soft butter in a basket.

  “Goodness, I’m always amazed at the service around you,” she teased, taking the seat on the opposite side of the shaded table from him.

  “Would you like something else?” he inquired, his movements stiff and formal.