***
The bath smelled heavenly; it was scented with rose petals, jasmine, and sumptuous oils. The bubbles were brimming and steam was rising from it, although Amanda wasn’t even sure that bath was the right word. The tub before them was massive, at least eight-by-eight feet. It could have been a small pool, and quite the sight to behold with intricate, brightly colored tiles, set in a cavalcade of shapes from octagons to diamonds.
Amir stood before her on the other side of the bath. Slipping off his robes, he let the fabric fall to his feet and stepped away from it. Amanda watched all of this, licking her lips with anticipation and interest. She’d been right in her estimation of his body—his shoulders were broad, his skin so tawny and gleaming, and the ridges of his eight pack so apparent that she could have done laundry on them. His hips narrowed and all of his rippling, taut muscles led to a thatch of black hair over his groin. Already springing from it was his manhood, rigid and ready for her.
Licking her lips again, she divested herself of her own dress and started into the bath, relishing the heat of the water as it kissed her skin. Amanda watched as he entered the bath as well, his erection visible even through the bubbling water. It had been too long since the lap dance and far too long since yesterday, since he’d made her come and shattered her.
She needed him again.
Needed to feel more than just his fingers in her channel.
Their bodies met in a collision of passion and exhilaration. Amanda pressed herself up against his body, feeling the girth of his manhood against her belly. Amir smelled not only of the perfume of the bathtub, but also of sandalwood and his own musky scent, something that was pure male and called to her most atavistic self. It was a good thing they were already in the bubbling liquid because she was wet already.
So very prepared for him.
“I want to taste you,” he said, purring in her ear.
She wanted to taste him, as well, and she was glad for the playful way physics behaved in water, the positions they could play with as they floated. Together, even as they pawed at each other, they moved their way to the ledge of the tub, a shelf for sitting and laying down on its edge. But now she had a very good idea what else it could offer. Amir laid down first, and she wanted to climb him like a jungle gym to feel those ropey muscles in her hands.
“I want you to straddle me, Amanda. I’ve been dying to taste you since last night, since you came on my hand and coated me with your ambrosia.”
It surprised her that she had no shame left, not when she could gaze upon Amir’s naked body with urgency. Sliding up on his skin, almost in a trance, Amanda shimmied backward over him until she positioned herself—her womanhood—over his waiting mouth. He suckled at her rosebud, teasing it first with delicate pressure from his teeth before he drew the sensitive nub as deeply between his lips as he could.
Rolling her eyes back in her head, she gave herself over to the sensation, gave in to the feeling of heat swirling throughout her body, starting from her innermost channel. It was like a trickle of lava coursing through her veins. But she had to be fair. Angling herself as best she could, she lowered her mouth to his manhood, taking his thick member between her lips. At first, it was so difficult to concentrate as his tongue continued its assault on her pulsing pearl. Amir laved at it with a skill she couldn’t have possibly imagined, and it was a very good thing they were both laying down, because she felt her knees give out from under her and her leg muscles turn to nothing under high onslaught.
Still, she was always a big believer in fairness, and she wanted to pay her part. Twirling her tongue around the tip of his hardness, she took in the taste of him, the raw masculinity of him. Then she went to work, doing her best to suck and lave at his member. Even as she twisted her tongue creatively over his shaft, Amir continued to flick his tongue at a pace that couldn’t be human against her rosebud.
It was no longer just a trickle of lava in her veins. Now it was a rushing current, an atomic heat surging through her very being. Then his tongue plunged deep inside of her and she screamed, feeling the volcano erupt even as she shivered under his talented tongue. But she couldn’t break her focus, and even as her body trembled with her orgasm, she worked harder, playing with his member until he came for her as well, his seed spilling out into her mouth.
When it was done, both of them rolled into the water and cleaned themselves, breathing as if they’d run a marathon. She glided through the water for a bit, taking a lap in the pool-sized tub before she rejoined him. A million thoughts were echoing through her head, and not one of them was about Senator Jackson. She had so many other things in her mind: the ecstasy still flowing through her limbs, the adoration she felt for Amir and his honesty, the hidden depths and kindness of the sheikh she’d not anticipated before, and the unfamiliar sensation of hope bubbling through her chest and to the rest of her limbs.
Part of her wished she didn’t have to leave for wherever Harris sent her next. And yet, another voice was speaking in her ear, reminding her that she never did what she wanted, what made her happy. She worked for what she thought would make her late mother proud. It had been so long since she felt this good. Dear God, had she ever felt this good?
Couldn’t she be irresponsible a bit longer?
Did it even matter anymore?
She finished her lap and came to rest again on top of her sheikh, grinning a bit at the way his length teased against her rear. He was already semi-hard again, and she loved how eager he was for her. She’d never had a man in her life be that eager, or been looked at by any lover like she was a steak he was waiting to devour.
“You look like the cat who ate the canary. What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking,” she said, “that maybe I can just call my editor and tell him I quit. I want time to finish my investigation on my own time, and I’ve found something worth staying for a lot longer in Abu Dhabi. I could stay a few more weeks, at least, before I work back home in DC to take Jackson down.”
Amir’s face went stony, and Amanda’s heart fell even as her mouth went as dry as the Sahara.
Did I over-presume? God, I didn’t come off like Fatal Attraction, did I?
Amir held that expression for exactly five seconds before breaking out into a wide grin and kissing her, his mouth plundering her own like a miner seeking the deepest hidden treasures. “I think I’d like that very much, Miss Sinclair.”
Soon, they were swept up in the passion of the bath again, and soon after, of all that they could do with the expanse of a king bed at their mercy.
Chapter Seven
He was humming to himself. It occurred to Amir that it was cheesy as hell to be doing so, but he couldn’t help it. He’d had an amazing night last night with Amanda, trying everything they could think of, and he was glad for her eager attitude. Oddly, for the first time in a long time, he was even thrilled by the prospect of her perhaps taking a long vacation before she returned to DC to continue her investigation of Senator Jackson. Usually, he’d avoid entanglements, but there was something in Amanda that called to him, and he couldn’t wait to have her with him at the palace for even more sessions to enjoy together.
It was then that his mother swept in.
Part of him wanted to roll his eyes. She was smiling at him and positively buzzing around the room. With effort, he suppressed the urge to roll his eyes—the rest of him knew that it was a sign of disrespect to the current sheikh and inappropriate for a son to behave. Still, she’d been hinting so gleefully about his attraction to Amanda the other day, and now she was venturing into his office in order to speak with him. As if that didn’t seem highly suspicious at all.
“Mother,” he said, standing and going to kiss her cheeks. “How are you?”
“I’m splendid, darling,” she said, continuing to flit about the room as if she were a hummingbird. Her sleek, graying hair was pulled back in a long braid and she was wearing her tennis skirt. Clearly, she was about to meet som
e of her friends for a game. Never be fooled; it was blood sport between the wealthy elite of Abu Dhabi. “But I wanted to see how you were.”
“I’m doing quite well myself.”
She smiled, a Mona Lisa expression that let him know she understood exactly what he’d been doing lately. “I can see. I heard that the chef was preparing a breakfast for two this morning.”
“You’re too nosy,” he added, leaning back against his desk. “Miss Sinclair and I…”
“You may have found a woman to hold your attention for more than five minutes.”
“I think it’s a far stretch from there,” he said. “You don’t have to be so excited to see me settled off and married.”
“You’re in your mid-thirties now, and it’s not just me. I’m told every day by your nieces and nephews the same thing. They all want to know when they’ll have a little cousin to play with.”
Furrowing his brow back at her, Amir also crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t need this same routine. I happen to have found a potential girlfriend…maybe. She’ll be staying here for a few weeks. This is not about wedding bells or children. I don’t feel ready for that yet.”
“All of your brothers…they moved on from Farana’s loss.”
He stiffened. “She wasn’t their twin. This isn’t about her.”
“I think it is. You were both so young. After she died, I was scared to have children again, to ever be open to that kind of pain again. I didn’t want to risk inviting that pain in again. But I did, and then I had three other sons I love so much. If you’re scared of having a family again because they might be gone one day, then you’ll miss out on everything else.”
“I feel it’s still my fault. I wanted to explore that part of the palace, all the disused places and old antiques. I didn’t realize she’d get that mold in her lungs.”
His mother crossed to him and put a hand on his forearm. “We never blamed you. You were a child.”
“And it hurts. The loss of her hurts. I can deal with fun and maybe even something once in a while a bit more stable, but I can’t lose people I love. It’s the biggest agony of all. Besides, the reporter and I have a certain repartee. She has business in the States, and I have…”
“A country to think of and a duty. You’re not just helping build our financial and building empire, but there’s a country and a lineage you owe. Besides, darling,” she said, stroking his cheek, her brown eyes brimming with concern, “I hate to think of you alone forever. You block the chance of pain out, and you end up blocking all the good out as well.”
“Maybe, Mother, but protection is what I’m interested in. I want to block myself from anything that horrible again.”
She shook her head and picked up her tennis racket from where she left it in the corner of the room. “Alright, Amir, Mother can see when she’s pressed too hard.”
“Really? Since when?” he joked, arching an eyebrow.
“You know what I mean! I’m going to be late to tennis, and I’ll be damned if I let the sheikha of Oman beat me this month. Now, think over what I’ve said,” she said as she left.
She was a whirlwind, but he couldn’t ignore her advice.
Amir didn’t have much time to focus on his mother’s words and unsolicited advice, because almost as soon as she was down the hall, Mafir slipped in the door. That was actually advantageous as he was about to summon his manservant anyway. It didn’t matter that Amanda didn’t want help. She could say anything she wanted, but he’d be a damn fool not to have some of his security team on her. Right now, some of his best agents were determining if the senator currently had her bugged, and learning whatever other information the ass had gathered on her. He’d started with the espionage route, but in a few weeks, he was far from opposed to sending her back to the States with a guard at her disposal.
It was common sense, what was truly safe and smart.
“Sir—”
“Mafir, I’m glad you came. I wanted to talk to you about Miss Sinclair.”
“Then you’ve seen? Good because I think we may have a problem on our hands,” he said, crossing quickly to the television and flicking the machine on.
Amir frowned but watched the image flicker to life. Mafir grabbed the changer and sped through the usual news and finance channels and instead settled on a vacuous entertainment news network. He was about to ask his servant what in the blue hell he thought he was doing, when Amir saw a familiar but blurry image on the screen. Blood boiled in his veins, and he knew that some employees of his were merely going to wish that there were still dungeons and hands being chopped off in this nation. It would be far less painful than the blackballing and lawsuit for breach of privacy he planned to unfurl on them.
“What?” he roared.
“Then you didn’t know,” Mafir said dryly, which galled Amir even further. How could his servant be so calm when the video feed from the gallery—heavily edited for broadcast television but still revealing—was playing on a loop on some gossip channel? “Sir, I think we need to call a press conference as soon as possible. I’ve summoned your press secretary, and she’s already thinking of how to start with damage control.”
“Damage control?”
“Well, some people are scoffing again at the whole project, as if it’s a lark for you or some excuse to seduce women. You need to go into damage control now. You know how important the launch of your property is, how crucial all of it is.”
“I need to talk to her, see how she is.”
“You can, but give it thirty minutes. You need to preserve a billion-dollar casino’s opening first, my sheikh,” Mafir said, shoving the phone into his hand. “Take care of your business dealings first. Never lose sight of what matters.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do.”
***
The phone was blaring in her ear, startling her out of her sleep, and damn it, she needed it after being kept up all night with the best sex of her life. Amanda rose up in bed, pushing herself out of the mountains of silk sheets before she grabbed her cell. Blinking blearily down at it, she noticed that the caller ID said “Margery.” Good, she still had till tomorrow to file her gallery story, and once she prepped that, she’d talk to Harris about taking a bit of time off. Who cared about some gondola attraction opening in Venice? She just wanted to try and assess her life, which seemed to be swept up in a whirlwind.
The fact that doing it in Amir’s bed for a few weeks was merely a bonus.
Of course, that’s not completely true. Last night was the best sex I’ve ever had.
She thought of everything they’d done both in the tub and out of it, the completion she’d felt when he’d fully made love to her. They’d been swept up in a rush, but the passion had carried them through so much in this very bed, and for hours. Her mouth was split open in a wide grin just thinking about it.
“Hello? Hey, Margery, what’s up? Do you know it’s still sort of early here?”
That was a lie. It was close to noon, but she hadn’t fallen asleep before 4 a.m. It still felt early to her.
“Oh my God! You have no idea what’s going on, do you?”
Her heart started thudding, and her mind flashed back to her actual reality and the uphill battle that was facing her once she went back to the States. “Did Senator Jackson try something on you? You’re not blackballed or anything, are you?”
“No, but I mean…when I said that you should have a fun date with Sheikh Bahan, I didn’t mean that you should…oh, Amanda, what have you done?”
What is she even talking about?
Her heart was pumping hard in her chest and she felt beads of sweat collect at her temples. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s everywhere. You and he got up to some very intense things at the gallery opening party. Someone must have snuck footage, or I don’t know what, but it’s been all over the gossip sites on the web and even E! is talking about it.”
Her stomach roiled
, and she wanted to vomit. This wasn’t possible. The security detail had been watching them. Besides, Amir owned everything in Ali Babba’s. Had this all been some sick setup? Was this some game he played? If he owned the cameras and the security stuff, did he save some special footage as a kink?
Acid started to burn in her throat even as tears strayed down her cheeks. “I…this can’t be happening.”
“Baby,” Margey said. “I don’t know what’s going on over there, but it’s just wall to wall. You need to come home, and we’ll figure this all out. I’m so sorry. I know that I encouraged everything with the sheikh, but just get back and we’ll figure it all out.”
“I’ll do that,” she gasped out, hating how tinny and thin her voice sounded.
Standing up, she clicked her phone off and rushed out of the bedroom. She just needed to confront him. She stomped through his quarters until she finally came to his office. He was on the phone, speaking in rapid-fire Arabic with someone. When she got there, she noticed that he had the TV tuned to one of the infotainment channels, where there was a scrawl at the bottom of the screen about both of them.
“Did you do this?” she demanded, her body shaking with her anger.
Amir flinched at the sight of her and finished the conversation quickly. Then he crossed the room to her. “Are you okay?”
“No! How long have you known about this? Do you sneak pictures and video from your casino cam of all your conquests?” she demanded, reaching back to slap him. This time, unlike the first out on the balcony, Amir was distracted and her hand thudded against his cheek and beard with a heavy smack.
Amir’s head snapped back and he rubbed at his face. “I didn’t. Someone in my video security team is extremely fired. I’m trying to figure out which bastard did it, leaked that to the tabloids for cash. When my legal team is done with him, he won’t have anything to his name.”
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