Pregnant With the Sheik's Heir (The Abbot Sisters Book 2)

by Elizabeth Lennox

  Because of his hold on her hand, Rayne had to follow. But the whole time, she worried about the two of them running into Pepper or Sloane. Or Josh! Oh good grief! These two alpha males couldn’t meet! That wouldn’t be a good thing. Josh wasn’t related to her in any way, but he acted as if he were a big brother to her and Pepper. His overly protective nature had reared its head on more than one occasion over the years.

  And if Josh found her walking through this beautiful hotel with a con artist…? He’d be livid!

  “Really,” she insisted, trying to slow their progress. “I don’t need you to walk me to my door.”

  He paused in the middle of the hallway and looked down at her. She could smell the earthy, male scent of him mixed in with something lemony. It was more than a little intoxicating. Or perhaps it was the man that was intoxicating. She wasn’t sure, but it was a powerful sensation.

  “Rayne, I am walking you to your door. If you object, then we will walk faster. But it is happening. I don’t leave my dates to get home alone. Ever!”

  His voice was firm, but she still objected. “We’re not on a date.”

  He turned and started towards the elevators again. “What would you call our interaction tonight?”

  “A chance meeting. We drank a glass of wine and…” she gasped and turned back toward the bar. “The bottle of wine!”

  He looked down at her, startled by her exclamation. “What about the wine?”

  “We only had a glass each of that bottle!”

  He blinked, obviously confused by her reaction. “Yes. And?”

  “We didn’t finish it!” She turned and hurried back into the bar. She rushed over to the table just as the waiter lifted the more than half-full bottle of wine out of the bucket of ice.

  “I’ll take that,” she said to the waiter. The man was startled, but he quickly corked the bottle and handed it to her.

  “I’ll have glasses sent up to your suite, Ms. Abbot,” he said to her with a slight bow.

  Rayne froze, startled that he knew who she was. “Um…no need,” she said. “I’m just giving this to the…him,” she explained. “Kular bought the wine. Not me.”

  With that, she turned on her heel and hurried out of the bar. Kular was standing where she’d left him when she emerged with the bottle in her hands. “Here,” she said as she thrust it towards him. “You don’t want to waste good wine and I suspect that bottle cost a pretty penny.”

  With that, she headed towards the elevators, determined to get upstairs and safely behind a locked door.

  A strong hand on her arm slowed down her progress and she swung around, almost bouncing off Kular’s hard, muscled chest. She put out her hands to catch herself, but as soon as her hands touched him, she couldn’t stop herself from getting a better feel.

  His eyes were just as hard as the chest under her fingers! “I said I would walk you to your door, Rayne. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

  She licked her lips, trying to hide her shock at feeling his chest, as well as the desire to run her fingers over his body, to explore and discover what could make him feel just a fraction of the need she felt.

  Which in itself was a shock! She didn’t do this! Desire was unheard of! She simply wasn’t the kind of woman who felt desire…and yet, at this moment, she felt out of control. Needy. Almost desperate to feel his lips against hers.

  “Kular, I…?” She wasn’t sure what she wanted to say. Everything was confusing right now.

  “Let’s walk,” he suggested, his voice gruff, his dark eyes moving over her face as if he were memorizing each feature.

  He released her arm, giving her a bit of space. Not enough, but she’d take anything right now, needing to breathe.

  Silently, they walked side by side to the elevators. Several big men stepped into the elevator with them, but she only had eyes for Kular. She held her breath until they reached the top floor, where Josh had reserved a suite for the four of them.

  “This is it,” she whispered, bowing her head as she waited tensely for the elevator doors to open up again.

  Stepping out, she opened her mouth to tell him goodbye, but he put a hand to the small of her back, leading her over to one of the two sets of doors on this floor.

  “Which one?” he demanded gruffly.

  “That one,” she said, already taking the passkey out of her clutch, intending to unlock the door and get inside as quickly as possible.

  Kular had other intentions. Taking the key out of her hands, he pulled her around and pressed her back against the wall. “Have dinner with me tomorrow,” he commanded.

  Rayne looked up at him, her body tingling with…fear? Yes, she was terrified of what this man made her feel. But it was more than just fear. That sensation was mixed with equal parts anticipation. He was going to kiss her. Rayne knew it with every fiber of her body!

  “I can’t.”

  “Can’t?” he asked softly, his eyes moving over her features as if trying to memorize them. “Or won’t?”

  She wanted to laugh, feeling a bit light headed. “Can’t. I have plans.”

  He didn’t believe her, but for the life of her, she couldn’t remember what Josh had planned for the next night. If Kular would just…step back, then maybe she would be able to think. Logic, her personal mantra, had disappeared when he’d stepped into her space.

  “I’m going to kiss you, Rayne,” he warned.

  She stiffened and started to shake her head. Kiss her? She could barely control herself while he was just pressed against her! No way could she remain impassive if he kissed her!

  But before she could speak, his mouth covered hers. For perhaps one second, maybe half a second, she resisted. After that moment, she was gone. His lips moved over hers with persuasive force and she shivered, her hands creeping slowly up to wind around his neck as his hands tugged at her hair, pulling her head back so that he could deepen the kiss. Over and over, his lips caressed hers until his tongue slid across her lips and she gasped. That’s when his tongue slid into her mouth, deepening the kiss even more.

  When he lifted his head, she stared up at him, willing him to kiss her again.

  “I can’t, love,” he replied to her unspoken question. “Not unless you’re willing to come back to my suite so that I can kiss you more thoroughly.” He kissed her briefly, but pulled back. “And if that happens, then you should be prepared for marriage because I have no intention of letting you go.”

  She wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but was warmed by the soft kiss of his lips against her forehead. He took the key from her hands and swiped it across the black square that released the door’s lock. The click of the lock releasing was her only indication that she should move. But it still took a gentle shove from him before she entered the suite.

  With only a backwards glance, she closed the door. Not because she wanted to, but because it seemed like the safest thing to do under the circumstances.

  With a sigh, she leaned back against the door, closing her eyes against the sensual tingling that swamped her with desire.

  “Are you okay?”

  Rayne’s eyes whipped open. Her older sister was just a ghost in the dark, draped in white nightgown, her hair floating down around her shoulders. It was so rare that her sister actually let her hair down that Rayne blinked, overwhelmed by how beautiful she looked.

  “I’m fine,” Rayne whispered, clearing her throat as she pushed away from the door.

  “You look…odd,” Sloane said.

  Rayne glanced down at the glass of milk in her sister’s hands. “Having trouble sleeping again?” she asked, changing the subject.

  Sloane looked down at the milk, then up at Rayne. “Yes, but you’re not okay, are you? What happened? Did someone say something to you? Did they hurt you?”

  Sloane moved across the floor of the suite, a raging tigress, ready to pounce on anyone that dared to hurt her sister.

  Rayne laughed softly, comforted by her sister’s love. “I’m fine,” sh
e replied. “It’s just been an overwhelming few days. I went to the bar and had a glass of wine,” she told her sister honestly. “It was mostly empty. No one said anything rude or embarrassing to me.” Rayne walked over and hugged her sister gently. “I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed and you should too. You know Josh has a full day planned for us tomorrow.”

  Sloane muttered something that might have been agreement. “Goodnight,” she called out, then disappeared into the bedroom off of the main room, closing it softly so that she didn’t wake Pepper. One sister’s interrogaton was enough after a night like tonight.

  Chapter 2

  “Stop it!”

  Rayne wanted to poke Kular, who was staring at her, but he was too intimidating. She’d been sitting here on the hotel’s beautiful stone balcony overlooking the pool, the gorgeous, sparkling ocean in the distance. Then Kular had come out, looking tall, powerful, and incredibly masculine! She wanted to scream!

  Goodness, he knew exactly how to anger her!

  Okay, maybe not angry. She might just be angry because she hadn’t slept well last night, but that was his fault too! He’d kissed her! She’d tried to sleep, tried to push him out of her mind, but the irritating man had invaded her dreams, leaving her all hot and bothered! If he’d just kept away from her, not kissed her, not acted so…sexy and…just…ugh! She was tired and grouchy and his big, muscular chest looked like a perfectly adequate target!

  He was just a con man or…or some guy who lurked around the public areas of these expensive resorts, looking for wealthy women. He’d steal their money or…or seduce them into…doing something that they shouldn’t.

  Rayne was too smart for that, she told herself. She’d read about men like him. She knew that they were charming and handsome, but dirt poor, out to make a quick, easy buck. What he didn’t know was that Rayne didn’t have any money. Her bank account balance was pathetically low. So his pursuit was pointless!

  “What would you like me to stop doing, jamali?” he asked as he sat down across from her.

  Rayne’s fingers tightened into a fist as she forced herself not to react to the smooth, deep timber of his voice. The words had a melodic accent that only added to their appeal, but she wasn’t a fool. She wasn’t going to fall for a suave, handsome man! The women in her family had been duped by too many men over the years!

  She leaned forward, unaware of how her blue eyes sparkled with fury. “You know what you’re doing. And I want you to stop.”

  His soft laughter caused her nerve endings to tingle alarmingly. “Stop admiring a beautiful woman?” he offered.

  She couldn’t have stopped the disgusted snort even if she’d wanted to. But in this case, she didn’t want to. She wanted him to know that she wouldn’t fall for his pretty words. She was smarter and stronger, unwilling to succumb to ridiculous words that meant nothing. He might have teased her about marriage last night, but since they’d just met, she knew that it was just his shtick, which he probably used on women all over the world.

  Sighing with frustration, she rubbed her forehead. “Look, I know your type. And I think you should just try your con on someone else, okay?”

  Those lips…the same lips that had driven her wild last night, the lips that obliterated her common sense, curled upwards with amusement, which irritated her further. “What is my con? And what is my type?’ he asked, obviously entertained.

  She let her eyes move over his broad shoulders covered in a loose, obviously expensive cotton shirt. The material couldn’t hide the ripped muscles and flat stomach.

  “You’re bored, indolent, and useless. You’re the type of man who uses and abuses women, who consider them conquests. Once you’ve conquered a woman, you move on to the next. You may or may not be wealthy, but you’re good enough at convincing the world that you’re a worthy individual. When in reality, you just flit from one place to another, looking for your next adventure and someone else to trick out of whatever money they might give you.”

  She lifted her chin, daring him to deny her accusation. Because she was braced for his anger, Rayne wasn’t prepared for a startled, full-bodied laugh.

  Rayne prided herself on being in control, of doing the right thing, and staying cool under pressure. There was no way she could have gotten through the last eight years after her mother had passed away without that shield.

  Nor would she fall into the same situation her mother had endured! Three daughters. Three sperm donors. All of whom ran at the announcement of pregnancy. All bastards of the worst kind!

  So, why did this man’s laugh make her stomach tighten with awareness? Why did those amused, dark eyes leave her knees feeling a bit wobbly?

  No! She wasn’t like her mother! Straightening her shoulders, she glared at him and lifted the menu, pretending to read while huffing with indignation.

  Nor was she prepared when Kular accepted a menu offered by an efficient waitress, nodding his thanks.

  Even hiding behind her menu, Rayne couldn’t seem to pull her eyes away from his tall, lithe frame as he shifted in the plush chair and leaned back against the cushions, relaxing as if he had nothing more to do today than charm her out of her funk.

  She couldn’t read the menu, so she tossed it down onto the table, deciding on a cup of coffee. She doubted she’d be able to eat anything anyway.

  He must have decided on his own breakfast at the same moment, because he tossed his menu down on top of hers. “Tell me about the man that made you so cynical?”

  Rayne shifted on her chair, glaring at the man who dared to look too closely. “There isn’t just one man,” she replied honestly. “I’m afraid that there have been a series of men who have disappointed me and my family. Men are fickle bastards, aren’t they?”

  His eyes moved over her features. “You didn’t sleep well either?” he asked softly.

  Rayne resisted the urge to fidget under his intense perusal. “I’m fine,” she lied.

  He smiled again, shaking his head. “You’re not fine. You’re exhausted and feeling the same unsatisfied desires that I am.” He leaned forward quickly, crossing his arms at the wrist as he looked at her. Even through the dark sunglasses, she could feel the intensity of his gaze. “Come back to my room right now and let us satisfy this need.”

  Rayne gasped, looking around to see if anyone had overheard. Never had she met anyone who so completely accepted his desires like this man! When she was assured that they were relatively alone, she looked back at him, shifting her napkin on her lap. “Stop saying things like that!”

  “Like what? That I want you?” he offered. “That we’re both suffering and it’s pointless to suffer like this when I have an empty suite where we can find relief?”

  “We’re not animals!” she hissed. “We don’t just…” she waved a hand in the air, “go off and rut like dogs!”

  He sighed, leaning back again. “You are a virgin,” he replied, those sexy, firm lips curling up slightly. “That’s good. I’m not normally a jealous man, but I am pleased that I will be your first lover.”

  She gasped, pulling back askance. “You will not be my first lover.”

  He lifted a dark eyebrow in response. “Do you honestly believe that we can get through another evening together without touching?”

  Rayne’s mouth fell open at his brazen words. “We’re not…I’m not…!” she stammered to a halt, wondering if he was serious. When he didn’t laugh or say, “just kidding,” she suspected that he was completely serious!

  “We are not having sex!” she whispered with a hiss, glancing around to make sure that the waitress wasn’t nearby.

  He leaned forward as well, taking her hand and turning it over, ignoring her attempts to pull her hand away. With magic fingers, he drew a pattern on her palm, smiling when she shivered. “Rayne, trying to fight this attraction isn’t going to help in the long term. We need to face it, not run from it. Honesty is the best way forward.”

  Her eyes narrowed at him. “I’m being perfectly honest when I tell
you that there is no way in hell I will have sex with you. Not now. Not ever.”

  He sighed, but released her hand as the waitress arrived. “What can I get you for breakfast?’ she asked politely, her gaze shifting from Rayne to Kular, almost as if she could sense the tension and wasn’t sure if she should interrupt.

  Rayne hid her hand under the table, and lifted the menu again, thinking she should eat something simple, and then run away. Looking at the options, she was astounded to discover that the prices here were astronomical! How could anyone charge twenty-five dollars for pancakes? Or thirty dollars for eggs and bacon? Were the eggs hatched by a golden goose?

  She laid her menu down on the table and sighed. “I’ll just have coffee,” she told the waitress, reverting back to her original decision.

  The waitress wrote that down, and turned to Kular. Obviously, he wasn’t as concerned about the prices. “I’ll have pancakes, the fresh fruit platter, and three eggs over easy along with sausage and bacon,” he told the woman.

  She smiled brightly at him, obviously anticipating a huge tip, and walked away.

  “You need to eat something,” he admonished.

  She sighed, ignoring the hunger pangs telling her that he was right. “Sounds like you’re eating enough for both of us.” She couldn’t hide the envy in her eyes, but tried to pretend she wasn’t starving. Unfortunately, she had massive debt from college and didn’t start her new job until next week. Sloane had fronted the money for her apartment in San Diego, so Rayne wasn’t going to ask her sister for money for food. And besides, Josh had paid for their transportation here to Monaco as well as their hotel suite. He’d told her to charge everything to the suite, but she couldn’t do that. Instead, she’d have a cup of coffee, then walk down the street, find a small grocery store and grab something cheaper.

  If that stupid casino guy hadn’t taken their winnings last night, she’d have about a hundred dollars to spend on food. But since she had no idea where that money had gone, she was basically penniless at one of the most luxurious resorts in the world. She had a credit card that she could use, even though she absolutely hated to be in debt.