“No. I get it.” Overwhelmed with lust and feeling way too vulnerable, she crossed her arms and summoned what little pride she could. “I’m far too lowly for the likes of you.”

  “Excuse me?” He scowled, running a hand through his disheveled hair.

  “I’m not good enough for you.” She waved a hand around the richly appointed suite. “I get it.”

  “That is not it.” He buttoned his suit jacket and took a deep breath. “Trust me.”

  “Why? Why should I trust you, huh? So far, you’ve brought me here under false pretenses, kept me under your roof by using your influence to get every airline in this place to refuse me passage, and now expect me to betray my dead father’s wishes and allow a forger to copy his work. Does that sound like someone I should trust? I’m thinking no.”

  He mumbled something under his breath in Arabic that she didn’t understand, but she’d bet money was a curse. A small muscle ticked near his jaw his clipped voice ground out rougher than gravel. “I was trying to protect you.”

  “Protect me? From who? From what just happened, I think you’re the one I need protection from.”

  Amare moved so fast that one minute she was standing across from him glaring daggers at him and the next he had locked the door then had her pinned against the wall with his body, anger and desire pulsing off of him in glorious waves. What was left of her rational mind warned that she should tell him to stop. Too bad the rest of her body refused to cooperate. “Tell me to stop.”

  “Stop.” Her words sounded totally disingenuous, even to her. She didn’t want him to stop. Hell, she didn’t want to stop. She pressed closer to him and kissed the light shadow of stubble on his jaw. “Please, stop.”

  “You say one thing, but the words sound the opposite.” He turned so his breath caressed the hair near her temple and his lips skimmed her cheek once more. His hands trapped her wrists against the wall on either side of her head, not hard enough to hurt, just hard enough let her know who was in control. “We should not do this.” Each of his words were punctuated with a kiss or a lick or a nibble of the sensitive skin of her neck. “We should stop.”

  “We should.” She unbuttoned the top button on his shirt and nuzzled the spot at the base of his neck. “Definitely a mistake.”

  “Sir?” Sahir called from the hallway once more.

  Amare pulled back and stared into her eyes for several moments before yelling. “Tell Mr. Collosimo that unforeseen circumstances have arisen and I will be unable to meet with him at present. I will call him later to schedule another meeting.”

  There was a pause from the hallway, then Sahir said, “Very good, sir.”

  Feeling decidedly wicked, Bree traced her hand down Amare’s front, past his muscled chest and taut stomach, past the waistband of his perfectly fitted trousers and straight to his erection, pressed hard and hot against the expensive material. “Circumstances have arisen, huh?”

  In response, he picked her up and carried her to the bed.

  “We’re not going to stop, are we?” She wrapped his tie around her hand and pulled him down with her onto the mattress.

  “No, azizity,” he said as he settled atop her. “We will not be stopping for a long time.”

  Chapter 6

  Except fate did not seem to be smiling on him this day. That was the only explanation Amare could summon when another knock sounded on the locked door. With a silent prayer to Allah for strength, he dropped his head to the valley between Bree’s lovely breasts and called out, his voice harsher then he’d intended. “What?”

  “'Innah 'ana.” It’s me. Taleb.

  Shaking his head, Amare rose from the bed and adjusted his clothes. Of course his brother would show up now.

  “Who is it?” Bree sat up, her cheeks flushed and her eyes still glazed from passion and it took every ounce of will to keep him from not climbing directly back into bed with her and driving them both over the edge into mindless orgasms until only the two of them mattered--not his family’s issues with Nassir, not her painting, not anything but the amazing connection they shared. Taleb be damned.

  Except instead of going away, Taleb would likely pound a hole straight through the door, if his current thumping was any indication.

  Amare loved his family more than his own life, but there were times when he wanted to kill them all. He straightened his tie and smoothed his hair and blinked down at Bree. “My brother.”

  “You have brothers?”

  “Three. Two biological, one adopted. All older.”

  “Ah. So you’re the baby.” She nodded and looked him up and down, amusement in her pretty blue-green eyes. “Makes sense.”

  “What does that mean?” He frowned down at her then called over his shoulder, “I’m coming.”

  Bree rolled out of bed and crossed her arms. “Well, actually neither one of us is, since we got interrupted.”

  Annoyed beyond belief, he stalked to the door and unlocked then pulled it open to reveal a less than pleased Taleb.

  His brother’s gaze darted from him to Bree then back again before he growled in their native tongue, “Who is this woman? She walked in on me after my shower. If she is your new toy, then please keep her on a tighter lease.”

  Amare balled his hands into fists. “Bree, this is my brother Taleb Sharqi. Taleb, Brianna Van Ludhis.”

  “Van Ludhis.” Taleb’s gaze narrowed on Bree. “Are you related to the artist, Peter Van Ludhis?”

  “He was my father.” Bree remained where she was, though her cheeks had turned an even brighter pink that before, Amare noticed. “And I think I owe you an apology for barging in on you earlier. Sorry about that.”

  “I was sorry to hear of your father’s passing. He was a great artist.” Taleb gave a slight bow then rose with a smile, his brother’s wife Claire peering through the doorway behind him. Perfect. Just what he didn’t need. His whole nosy family getting involved. “If there is anything you require during your stay with us, Ms. Van Luhdis, please do not—”

  “All of her needs are being met adequately,” Amare snapped, cutting his brother off. He stepped in front of Taleb to try and block his view of Bree, but it was no use. Even at six-four, Taleb topped him by a good inch or two. He’d not expected his brother and sister-in-law home for another day or two, but didn’t want to take the time to find out why he’d returned early than scheduled. Not right now. He grabbed the door and started to close it in Taleb’s face. “If there’s nothing else.”

  His brother leaned sideways to keep Bree in his sights as long as possible. “We’ll talk later, brother.”

  “Yes.” Amare agreed before clicking the door shut once more and locking it again. “Later.”

  He turned back to Bree and raised a brow. “Do you make voyeurism a habit?”

  “What?”

  “Spying on naked men. Is this something I need to watch out for?”

  “No.” She pushed past him and walked back into the sitting area of her room. “It was an accident.”

  He followed. “An accident?”

  “I got lost.”

  “Lost? You managed to find the kitchen, but can’t find your way back to your room?”

  “It’s a huge house.”

  “Palace,” he corrected.

  “Whatever. I was looking for you and I accidentally walked in on him instead.”

  “I would suggest that you exercise more caution in the future.” He swallowed around the lump of tension in his throat. If Taleb was back, then Karim was back as well, along with their families. He’d have to be more cautious in his dealings with Bree from this point forward to avoid the notice of his family’s meddlesome eye. He stared at the woman across from him and licked his lips, tasting her there. “So.”

  “So.” Her gaze lowered from his eyes to his lips. “What should we do now?”

  He stood and walked over to her, then held out his hand. “I have an idea, azizity. “

  She looked up at him, her gaze narrowed and wary. “What does that mean?”

  “Azizity?”

  She nodded.

  “It means ‘my darling’,” He reached down and took her wrist, pulling her to her feet before him. With his index finger, he tipped her chin up then brushed the same finger down her cheek, “You are so beautiful.”

  Bree smiled and looked away. “No, I’m not.”

  “Why do you say this?” Amare frowned. He was not a man who gave praise or compliments lightly. He forced her to meet his gaze once more. “I am the one looking and I say you are exquisite.”

  “Maybe you need—” She started but he never let her finish.

  Instead, he lowered his head to capture her lips with his once more. His passion had abated little during his brother’s interruption and he’d been eternally grateful for the longer cut of his suit jacket. Otherwise there would’ve been cause for serious embarrassment on his part as he could no longer hide his desire for the woman before him.

  Her desire apparently burned as white-hot as his, if the way she clung and returned his deep kisses was any indication. When she gripped his hips and moaned into his mouth, he damned near took her right there on the chair.

  Impatient, he walked her backward until her knees hit the bed. From there it took only one more step and they both tumbled onto the plush velvet comforter in a mass of tangled limbs and sultry sighs.

  “Amare?” Bree broke their kiss and searched his eyes.

  “Yes, azizity?” Without her lips to distract him he focused his attention on nibbling the sensitive spot below her ear. “Tell me what you desire.”

  “Besides you?”

  Her saucy grin made him chuckle. He was no blushing virgin, but he’d never been with someone who made him laugh, or enjoy himself so much, in bed before.

  “Yes.” He bent and gave her another deep, drugging kiss then ground his hips against her, letting her feel the full extent of his arousal. “Besides me.”

  “No forger.”

  He pulled back from kissing his way down her lovely, long neck and gave her a confused look. “What?”

  “The forger. I don’t want to use him. We can think of something else, right?”

  The last thing on Amare’s mind at the moment was that damned painting. He would’ve agreed to sending it on a rocket ship to Mars if it meant he could keep touching her and tasting her and be inside her lush body anytime soon. “Of course, azizity.”

  He slid his hand down the outside of her thigh then back up the inside, craving more intimate contact. There were entirely too many clothes between them. A problem he intended to remedy immediately.

  With a deft and experienced touch, he quickly removed the silky top and pants she wore, and was delighted to find every inch of her creamy flesh was soft and perfect and delectable. He shrugged out of his suit jacket and yanked off his tie, anxious for skin-to-skin contact.

  While he unbuckled his belt, she ran her hands over his chest. With each button she undid, she kissed the bare skin beneath and an involuntary shiver ran through him. It had been too long since he’d taken a lover to bed and he needed this like he needed his next breath.

  Once the last button was freed, Bree pushed the white silk fabric off his shoulders and placed a kiss directly over his heart then whispered, “Gorgeous.”

  He ran his hands over her lace and silk covered breasts, teasing her nipples through the material and chuckled. “My thoughts exactly.”

  A fresh blush stained her cheeks at his words and Amare’s passion soared. She seemed to have no idea of her value or charms and he vowed then and there, no matter the effort or cost, he would make this woman realize the power of her beauty.

  ***

  Bree bit her lip and moaned deep in her throat as Amare swept his hands down her side’s then reached behind her to release the clasp on her bra. He slowly lowered it down her arms and tossed it aside, his heated gaze never leaving her bare breasts.

  She had lovers and wasn’t usually shy, but the way he was looking at her now—like her body was a precious treasure—had heat prickling her cheeks. She brought her arms forward to cover herself, but he stopped her with one small shake of his head.

  “No, azizity. Do not hide yourself from me.” His voice sounded so tender and kind and full of awe that there was no way she could deny him. She let her arms fall back to her sides and instead concentrated on all the fierce male beauty on display before her.

  Part of her still couldn’t quite believe that this handsome, rich, uber sexy man was in her bed, in her arms, ready to make love to her. He reached forward and traced his fingers over the sensitive hard tips of her nipples and she shivered.

  “Does that feel good?” He did it again, his hot gaze narrowed on her face. “Tell me.”

  “Yes.” Her voice emerged soft and breathless, the word as much a plea as an affirmation. “Don’t stop.”

  “Never.” He pulled her to him and tipped her back over his arm, kissing down her neck to take one rock-hard nipple into his mouth. She threaded her fingers through his hair to hold him in place, arching harder against him to ease the ache between her thighs. “Easy, little one. We have all night.”

  “I need…”

  “What do you need?” he asked, trailing one hand down her stomach to play with the lace around the top of her panties. “You must tell me what you like.”

  “Touch me.” Bree nibbled along his jaw line, her own hand dropping down between them to stroke his erect cock through the front of his pants. If she didn’t have him inside her soon she’d go up in flames.

  “Like this?” He dipped one finger inside her panties and ran it along her wet folds.

  “God, yes,” she panted into his ear. “More.”

  His lips moved from one nipple to the other and he slipped a second finger inside her panties to stroke her gently, spreading her slickness before slipping into her tight channel while his thumb continued to stroke her clitoris. Pressure built deep in her hips and her inner muscles fluttered around him. “You are so beautiful, azizity. I want you to come for me.”

  She groaned and he pushed her thighs farther apart, his fingers spread open inside her to stretch and prepare her for him. He thrust a third finger inside her and pressed harder on her clit and she gasped as her first, hard orgasm quivered through her. This wasn’t like her. She’d never climaxed that fast or that hard or that long with anyone before. Amare kissed her deeply, taking her impassioned cries of release into his mouth.

  “That’s it, kalby. Give yourself to me.”

  Amare laid her back on the bed and pulled off her panties then stood to remove him pants. She watched him through heavy lidded eyes, relaxed and sated and reveling in the long, lean perfection of his body. He smiled at her, all dark and full of delicious erotic promise as he ripped open a condom packet then slicked it on. “Are you ready for me?”

  “Mmm,’ she winked at him then cried out as he practically pounced on her, stretching out on top of her on the bed, body to body, skin to skin. Bree purred at the contact—an honest to God purr. Sex had never been this good before. Never. She couldn’t get enough of him, running her hands over him from head to firm, tight buttocks, loving the feel of every inch of him against her. His cock throbbed hot and heavy against her thigh and she parted her legs in invitation. “What’re you gonna do with that?”

  He raised his head from nuzzling her neck and stared down at her, his brow raised in pure male swagger. “What?” He thrust slightly against her thigh. “You mean this?”

  “Yeah, that.”

  “What would you like me to do with it?”

  Were all Middle Eastern men so sexually explicit, she wondered. She’d always thought they’d be repressed in the bedroom, but apparently not, if Amare was any indication. Of course, he’d spent a lot of time in the west too, so perhaps that made a difference. Either way, she needed him inside her. Now.

  Beneath his frank stare, a sudden bout of modesty struck and she buried her heated face in his chest.

  “I’m sorry, kalby. I didn’t catch that.” He cupped the back of her neck and forced her to look at him. “Don’t be shy. You are a strong, brave, beautiful woman who deserves her pleasure. Tell me how to please you.”

  Bree took a deep breath. If she’d learned any lesson in her hard life, it was you had to ask for what you wanted. She closed her eyes and forced out the words. “I want you. Inside me.”

  “Look at me.”

  His fingers tightened on her nape and she did as he asked.

  “Say it again.”

  “Say what?” She narrowed her gaze and bit her lip.

  The tip of his swollen cock brushed her entrance and she lifted her hips toward him, seeking satisfaction. He pulled back, frustratingly just out of reach, then ran the tip of his cock over her slick folds once more. “Say it again.”

  “I want you,” she panted.

  “Where?” This time he reached down and pinched her clit gently between his thumb and forefinger. “Where do you want me?”

  “Inside me.”

  “Your wish is my command, kalby.”

  He entered her in one long stroke and she cried out from the sensation of fullness within her. Amare kissed her cheeks, her neck, her mouth, pressing her hands to the mattress beside her head as he took charge. Slowly, he pulled out then thrust back into her again, deeper, harder, faster.

  “What does kalby mean?” She moaned low.

  He chuckled near her ear and grasped her earlobe with his teeth before biting down gently. “My heart.”

  She tipped her hips upward to meet his thrusts and locked her ankles around his back, her feet resting against his buttocks, urging him onward. She felt so full and swore she could feel the hard length of him clear to her cervix. With each move of his hips, his pubic bone rubbed against her clitoris and her inner muscles fluttered around him. At this rate, she’d have another orgasm soon. “What should I call you?”

  “How about master?”

  She laughed and so did he. Not only was the sex with him incredible, it was fun. She’d never laughed during sex before, but found it oddly freeing. Everything with him seemed so comfortable, so right. And that scared the hell out of her. Yes, they were both adults and yes, these were special circumstances, with her trapped in his country and his home. But no, this wasn’t real life. As long as she remembered that, she could enjoy this for what it was. A fantastic one-night stand.