Lucy and the Sheikh

by Diana Fraser

  The cars tore through the empty streets as the khamseen hit. The series of gates slid open and the cars sped up into the palace. The trees were bent double and sand filled the air. Razeen pulled up beside the door and quickly wrapped the scarf around him. As soon as ghostly apparitions appeared, completely swathed like mummies, Razeen called “now!” and Lucy jumped out before stopping, stunned by the massive wall of heat that hit her. For one terrifying moment she saw nothing but the whirl of sand that robbed her mouth, nose and lungs of moisture, despite the wrapping. Then suddenly Razeen grabbed her hand and pulled her inside. The doors were banged shut and they stood coughing in the main hall. Servants bustled around them, but Razeen sent them away. “Don’t rub your eyes! Come.” He took her by the arm and pulled her coughing upstairs to his suite of rooms.

  They passed no one. Everywhere was empty, people having retreated to their homes and lodgings within and without the palace to make sure they were secure. There was none of the usual sounds of people, chatter, office equipment, phones ringing, only the horrible keening of the wind as it battered and glanced off every surface. Lucy looked down, blinking as she tried to clear her eyes. But no tears emerged from her eyes, despite the irritation, because the air was too dry. But she saw the sand shifting under doors, through the narrow gaps in the shutters of the window. Everywhere, the desert was threatening to overtake the city.

  Once inside the apartment, Razeen led her to the bathroom, unwound her scarf and filled the basin with water. “Here, splash your face.”

  She plunged her face into the running water and opened her eyes under it, allowing the water to drain out the fine grains of sand that had settled onto her eyes and skin. She stood up and pushed her wet hair from her face.

  “You OK?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve never, in my life, seen anything like that before.”

  “It’s not something anyone gets used to, not even the locals find it easy to cope with. And it can last many days, up to fifty. But not this time. Everything stops for the khamseen.”

  And Lucy’s heart nearly did, too. He stood before her, the scarf roughly pulled around his neck, his shirt gaping with his exertions, sweat slicking his neck and body despite the dry heat, his eyes intense and reddened by the sand. She swallowed. “Everything?”

  “Nearly everything.”

  She took a step toward him. “Thank you, Razeen. Thank you for taking me to Maia. You must have thought it stupid, but—”

  He placed a finger against her lips. “Not stupid. Not stupid at all.” He leaned forward and touched her lips with his own. It was a brief kiss, hardly a kiss, but it was enough to make Lucy lose her train of thought. He stepped back abruptly. “I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry, I—”

  “Razeen, we made love in the desert, we’ve made love at the Lodge. You may kiss me.”

  “It’s not the same now.”

  She frowned and shook her head in confusion. “What do you mean?” He turned away and pushed his fingers through his hair. Her hand reached out and bunched the loose material of his scarf, trying to make him face her. He looked down at her then and tucked a stray strand of wet hair behind her ear, his gaze shifting from the hair to her cheeks, jaw and eyes. She saw something in his eyes she’d never seen before. “What are you saying?” she repeated softly but with an urgency she saw he registered.

  “I knew I shouldn’t have kissed you.”

  She frowned and pulled away. “You regret it?”

  He didn’t speak for a few moments. “Only because it’s not fair on you.”

  She frowned, puzzled. “We’ve made love before. What’s changed?”

  “I saw how much it hurt you to see your sister there. You believe you’ve lost her. I don’t want to lead you to believe I can offer you anything other than now.”

  “I know that, Razeen. I…” She knew that he was being fair, that he’d never promised her anything more than a few weeks together, but somehow things had changed. But while the thought of leaving Razeen had suddenly become more painful, the thought of not having him in this moment was worse. “I also need to leave at the end of the week when Alex returns. I’ve found my sister; it won’t take me long to write a report for you on the diving resort—if you still want it. There’s nothing to keep me here any longer.” She paused and bit her lip as she watched his face intently. “Is there?”

  He shook his head. “No. I can’t offer you anything more.”

  She frowned, wanting, more than anything to know why he couldn’t, but unable to ask. She drew in a long, dry breath. “Then let’s take what we have. Now. Forget everything else. There’s just us: a man and a woman.” Outside the wind howled and the wooden shutters rattled.

  He nodded. “Just a man and a woman.”

  She lifted her hand to his lips. “A woman who would like to be kissed again.”

  No smile drifted across his face, no lightness lit his eyes, he just dipped his face to hers and pressed his lips to hers. She closed her eyes the better to feel the caress of his lips. Time slowed and every sensuous caress, every small movement of his lips against hers was felt more fully than anything that had gone before. Too soon, he pulled away.

  He took her by the hand and led her to the bathroom where he turned on the taps of a huge bath. Then he slowly undid her abaya and slipped it off her body, shedding the fine sand that clung to ever fiber of every surface. Then he unbuttoned her shirt until it hung open loosely. He slid his finger down, tracing an unknown line over her cleavage and down to her stomach where his finger hooked into her skirt. His hand trailed around to the back fastening as he brought her to him and kissed her once more. This time there was a sense of rising passion in his kiss. He pulled away her skirt and it fell around her ankles—she hadn’t even noticed he’d undone it—and she stood only in her bra and panties. He moved his hands over her body appreciatively, in a smooth caress.

  “My turn.”

  With trembling fingers she undid the fastenings on his robe, shirt and trousers and pushed them away. He stepped out of his clothes and she slumped against him, weak with need, her forehead pressed against his chest as she inhaled him. She swept her hands over the muscled contours of his body before coming to rest on his stomach, her fingers smoothing the hairs that trailed down into his shorts. She kissed his skin, tasting the sandy-salty texture, and felt his body tremble with desire. He lifted her in his arms. She wrapped her legs around him and he stepped into the bath.

  She gasped in relief as the water slid around her body and she lay back. It was as deep as a pool and she floated away, anchored by his hands around her ankles. Her hair snaked out behind her and she dipped her head back under water, feeling immense relief, not just at the shedding of sand and dust, but also at the return to what she felt to be her natural element.

  But she only had a minute to enjoy the sensation before he pulled her to him and their sexes—both covered with underwear—bumped gently against each other. She wrapped her legs around him and brought her mouth to his in a kiss that was long and slow and made her forget everything else but the heat that pounded through her veins.

  Too soon he pushed her away. Trembling, she stood before him as he pushed her panties down. He kissed her stomach before turning her around and unhooking her bra. Then he trailed his hands down her back, over her bottom and she closed her eyes as his hands slipped around to the front, caressing her sex, finding that place where she needed to be touched and further, down, to the place that was moist and waiting.

  Her legs shook as he moved his fingers over her, lingering when she gasped. With his other hand he gripped her waist and pulled her down to him. Somehow he’d taken off his shorts and he was hard under her bottom. She shifted slightly and he pushed both her legs wider, allowing his hand greater access. She continued to lift her hips, moving her bottom along his shaft, feeling his tension mount along with hers. Then he suddenly stopped.

  She lay back against his chest, turned her face toward him and kissed his nec
k. “Don’t stop.”

  “I want to see you, Lucy. I want to pleasure you, but I also want to make love to you. And I want you to be safe.”

  She turned and he held her firmly under her bottom as he lifted her out of the water and laid her gently along one of the deep, shallow steps that lined the bath. His hips were level with hers and he leaned over her body, his gaze raking its length before kissing her neck, her breasts, her stomach and her sex. Slowly he pushed open her legs, raking his fingernails up the length of her long, slender legs, tracing the tan lines left by her bikini, leading his finger to a place that was moist and ready for him. She shifted her hips, angling them, showing him her need for him.

  He smiled and kissed her once more, dominating her mouth with his own. She helped him pull on the condom and caressed him until he could wait no longer and he pushed deep inside her. She cried out as she came in an explosive climax, her flesh pulsating around him, massaging him, urging him to lose himself inside her. But he didn’t. He kept up a long, slow rhythm that quickly took her to the edge of a second climax. But only to the edge because he made sure he controlled them both. Only when the time was right did he release them both into an oblivion of bliss.

  The first thing she noticed when she awoke was the silence. And when she opened her eyes, she saw the peculiar light had disappeared giving way to the inky black of night.

  Automatically she reached for the compass and rolled out of bed—she vaguely recalled Razeen carrying her there at some point in the night—and gazed out at the lights of the city and harbor. She examined the compass, only just visible in the dim light. It was still broken. Lucy waited for the panic to begin. But it didn’t come. Strange. She placed it back on the table and surveyed the city once more.

  Darkness had fallen over the city. The differences in color between the city, the land and the sea were no longer there. Only the shapes remained, mused Lucy. The sea was flat and whispering, the city angular, jumbled, and subdued in the post-storm lull. She turned away from the window and glanced across at Razeen who was watching her.

  “What’s on your mind?”

  “Why would you think anything is?”

  “The way you are standing at the window, rubbing your arms as if you’re cold on this hot night. The way your brow is slightly furrowed. What are you thinking of?”

  She shrugged. “I’m just looking at the city and the sea, thinking…” she pursed her lips quickly, suddenly realizing she couldn’t tell him what she was thinking. Because how could she tell him that it had changed in her eyes, that he had changed in her eyes. How could she tell him that she didn’t need the compass any more? You didn’t need to find out where you were when you weren’t lost.

  “Thinking?”

  She shrugged as she tried to think of anything other than the deep pounding of her heart that contained so much for the man who’d found her and given her bearings to her. “How beautiful it is.”

  He frowned as if realizing he’d been fobbed off with a half-truth.

  “And of Maia,” she added quickly, needing to change the subject. “And of what a fool I’ve been, dragging you into this, wasting your time. I’m sorry, Razeen. But I’m also incredibly grateful.”

  “Come here.”

  “Another order from His Majesty?”

  “Yes.”

  She walked over to him—trying to contain a smile at his expression of pure lust—and stood beside the bed. His hand reached out and snuck around her bottom and pulled her closer to him.

  “Grateful, you say?”

  “Yes,” she said suspiciously.

  “Exactly how grateful?” A sly grin rested on his lips.

  She grinned back. “Extremely.”

  “And how do you intend to express this gratitude? I’m not sure verbal acknowledgement is adequate.”

  She pretended to look concerned. “What do you suggest?”

  Suddenly he’d slipped both hands around her body and she was pulled down flat on top of him. She wriggled against his hardening form, feeling its ridge in her stomach. She shifted up his body a little until he was also touching her where she needed to be touched.

  “I’ll leave that up to you. Anything come to mind yet?”

  He pulled her legs either side of his body until she was sitting on top of him.

  “Umm. I’m not sure. Oh look, I can see out of the window easier from this height. I can see the mosque up on the hill and the lights around the—”

  He sat up and stole the rest of her words with a kiss. “Focus, Lucy.”

  “I am.”

  “On me.”

  She laughed.

  “And how best might I do that?”

  “I suggest you get comfortable first.”

  She lifted herself up as if to move away and dipped her head to one side as if in confusion. “I’m not sure if this is a good idea.”

  “Sit down, Lucy. You’re not going anywhere.”

  She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Well, you are the King, I suppose.” And she sat, taking him inside her with one long, smooth movement.

  He gasped. “Lucy!” Her name rushed from his lips as he pushed her off. He reached behind him and grabbed a packet. “Now, where were you?”

  She narrowed her gaze. “Let’s see if I can remember.” She moved her body. “Here?” She sat close. “Or—”

  He lifted her up by the waist and she slipped back over him. “Is this what you wished for, Your Majesty?” He nodded. She moved up slightly and then down trying to contain her own reactions to the slide of him inside her, stimulating her, threatening her control. “And this?”

  He growled, his gaze narrowed. She pushed her hands against his arms, gripping his muscles that flexed under her touch. She adored his strength, his manliness. It reflected the inner man: so capable, strong…so many things, but no contradictions. This was a man she trusted. At the thought, the sensations broke through her control and she came, crying out his name into the night. He turned her over and drove into her with the same powerful need, his cry losing itself into her mouth as he claimed it with his own.

  Something had happened. Lucy could see it in Razeen’s eyes. He smiled briefly before finishing his coffee.

  “It seems I have official visitors later today, Lucy. I’ll be busy this evening. Would you like me to arrange a guide for you?”

  She frowned, hurt by his cool words. Was that it? Had their brief time together already come to an end?

  “No. Thank you, but no. I have plans this morning. Aakifah, the woman I met in the market, left word. She asked me to call in to see her before I left.”

  “I see.” A long silence fell. “You look lost in thought,” Razeen continued. “Care to tell me what’s on your mind?”

  She met his gaze directly. “Only if you do.” He looked away first. “No,” she continued, “forget that. I will tell you what I’m thinking. I’m thinking of you.” She frowned and took a deep breath, more a sigh as the air hitched high in her lungs, as if searching for elusive oxygen. “I was thinking that my first impressions of you on the beach that night haven’t changed at all.” Again the pause, and again she filled it. “You are as you first appear.”

  He closed his eyes briefly. “That is one thing then, I’m glad of. That I haven’t deceived you in any of my actions, or words.”

  She frowned, confused. “No. Why would you? No, what I meant was that you, Your Majesty, are someone to be trusted.”

  The silence was even heavier than before. “I think you don’t know me, Lucy.”

  “Not well, admittedly. But from everything you do, and from everything I sense, I know you can be trusted.”

  He shook his head and rose from the breakfast table and absently scooped up some papers from an adjoining table. Anger filled her. She loved him. She’d realized that in the middle of the night. But she also realized that he didn’t love her. But the hell with it, he would listen to her.

  She stood in front of him and dipped her head so she could see his fac
e. “Did you hear me, Razeen? I trust you.”

  “You, Lucy, are naïve.”

  “You’re kidding me. I’ve been around the world, in all sorts of company, I’ve probably led a less sheltered life than you have.”

  “You don’t know the ways of the world like I do.”

  “Yes I do,” she frowned. “What is it you’re trying to tell me?”

  “Just that,” he twisted round as if impatient with the words he was about to utter, “you can’t trust me.” He gazed at her full and long. “So don’t.”

  She stepped away as if struck. “What’s the matter?” She shook her head in disbelief. “Why does me trusting you scare you?”

  He gripped her arms. “You said you’d be here for a few more days only. Do I understand you correctly when you say you want no more than that?”

  “Why? Do you think I’m going to start making demands on you? Razeen, I don’t stay in one place. It’s not me. I’m just saying I trust you, not that I want to marry you.” She flung off his hands. “Look, forget I ever said anything. Forget last night too, while you’re at it. It was obviously a mistake.”

  The blood-red sun was beginning to fill the sky behind him, making his face even darker, more unreadable than before. “I’m sorry, Lucy. You misunderstand. It was not a mistake, from my point of view. It’s just that I don’t wish to see you hurt.”

  “You flatter yourself. You give yourself too much power. I can look after myself. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get ready to go out. If that’s all right with you, that is? I have Your Majesty’s permission?”

  “Of course you may go. Providing you take someone—”

  Lucy didn’t hear his last words. The slam of the door behind her swallowed them up. It didn’t matter. He had no power over her as a King or a lover. She’d do as she damn well pleased. Just as she always did. That was what life was all about, wasn’t it? Experience, fun, moving on. Not being dictated to by anyone.

  As she walked through the gardens, now being hosed down to remove the dust and sand that settled everywhere, a residue of the storm, her mind rested on Maia and doubt swept through her. Maia had always been more adamant than her about moving on, taking life lightly, but she’d changed. Part of Lucy felt betrayed and yet part of her felt doubtful now. Especially now she realized the depth of her feelings for Razeen. Not that they made any difference to her future. Maia might be able to ignore her past but Lucy couldn’t ignore hers.