by Lisa Torquay
At first, Tariq did not make sense of what she meant, but it hit him in a second. He took her by her shoulders and brought her close; their bodies clashed together. “Who said I don't love you?” Eyes narrowed, his brows pleated, jaw ticking. “I love you like I will perish tomorrow!” His velvety voice hot.
She became so stunned by his revelation that her lips went agape. “I—I—”
“Discard you?” What kind of man did she think she married? “When even a couple of days away from you is like hell?”
Shock and a fiery happiness burned inside her. “You love me!” She breathed, finally finding coherent words. Her hands finding support on his chest, lest she melt down in a puddle.
“Of course I love you, you stubborn woman!” Their fast breaths mingled. “Only in my country we don't keep on saying it like the silly milk-sops you know. We act, we demonstrate in our everyday lives!”
“Oh, is that so?” Like a dumb ninny, she found herself incapable of saying more complex sentences. Her heart swelled with overflowing emotions.
He merged his fingers in her soft hair and pulled her head to him, kissing her ardent. Their lips glued together for long moments, savouring one another. “Why do you think I seek you in bed like crazy?” He demanded on her lips. “This is the only way to express how desperately you've taken my heart!” His arm locked her tighter. “Have you ever heard of a man so distempered while touching a woman?”
A naughty glint entered her eyes. “I love your distemper!” Her hands revelled in his obsidian sleek hair. “In fact I love all of you, you irritatingly autocratic man!”
“Irritating, is it?” His eyes smiling as he hauled her in his arms and carried her to bed.
She gasped with the movement. “Yes, and irresistible, magnificent, maddening!” she stated as he set her on the bed, coming over her and her legs entwined around his.
“Hm… Such a high praise will make me full of myself.” He teased as his fingers lowered one side of her chemise and his mouth found her breast.
She groaned, sneaking her hand inside his open-necked shirt. “As if it’s something new for you.” She mocked weakly.
“But I have reasons for that.” His fingers rolled her nipple, tantalizingly. “I’ve married the most desirous, blistering rebellious woman in the kingdom!” His lips captured her other breast.
“You don’t tell me.” She moaned at the sensations he provoked in her.
“Oh, yes, and the most beautiful, most intelligent and determined, too.” He bunched her chemise up her legs.
Her hand encountered his breeches’ fly, freeing his rampant erection, eager to enjoy it. “Thank you, sir!” She affected and arched for him when he slid deep in her, bringing intense pleasure to both of them. She delighted with him filling her so completely, and gasped.
“I love you to insanity, Lucinda Lancefield Al-Fadih!” He whispered as they soared sky high with delectation.
EPILOGUE
A year later.
Richard Omar Lancefield Al-Fadih was born a little less than nine months after his parents’ wedding, endowed with a tuft of obsidian hair and pepper-mint green eyes. Tariq and Lucinda had decided to settle in their new villa in Syracuse since it presented a multi-cultural set and would accommodate both their backgrounds. Tariq had given a big party to welcome his first born. All his friends attended. Lucinda’s parents travelled to Sicily with her siblings and Adriana came, as well.
Adriana and Lucinda rekindled a blossoming friendship. Her friend helped her with the Sicilian usages and Italian language, of which Lucinda had learned only the rudiments.
Lucinda and Tariq still had their temper clashes as both displayed strong personalities. But during that year they got to find more and more compromises for their wishes and began to be better at negotiating their points of view. They talked more and incurred in less upheavals. Their fiery personalities still found rough ground, and, when that happened, they couldn’t resist each other. Their nights always dynamite, their days full of surprises.
Tariq spent time travelling with his caravan although he tried to do it less often and let Aziz help him more. He kept his villa in Tunis and the family enjoyed trips to it in the less hot months. Lucinda loved it, as it brought searing memories. More recollections came with each trip to the other shore.
Lucinda had also been busy. She started writing books on her trips and just received a positive answer from a publisher. It got hectic as the last details of her first book found their way through working.
What she wouldn’t deny was that she felt happy beyond imagination. The fears which assailed her before Gretna Green proved to be unfounded and everything worked out for the best.
By the time they’d returned from Scotland, they found London abuzz with their elopement. The gossips and the papers trumpeted them as one of the most romantic couples of the decade with a love that overcame cultural differences and geographical obstacles. They became a study for travellers and ethnographers. Lord and Lady Lancefield couldn’t be more satisfied with it, their social connections improved. Lucinda, too, as her family hadn’t suffered any damage in their reputation.
Lucinda climbed up the stairs almost in a run to the nursery. She’d just received calls, but she wanted to go to her son. As she reached the nursery door, Tariq stood in it with Richard Omar in his arms. Head bent, one hand caressed the baby’s cheek suavely, totally charmed by the little boy. His big frame in such a stark contrast with the tiny bundle he held a rush of tenderness invaded her heart. Her shoulder touched the door jumble, as she watched the two most important men in her life. Alright, three if she counted her father.
There should be no denying Tariq made the three of them possible. With his exasperating single-mindedness, he found her in London, came clean with her parents and took her to Gretna Green. And here they were in their Sicilian villa in a cosy family life. They had had to compromise on things they took for granted in their own cultures, but it proved worth every effort. Lucky them if they found a middle ground upon which to build their happiness. A difficult task, no less. Little by little, though, it all fell into place.
Tariq chose this moment to lift his head and look at her. His cognac eyes intent on the delicate face. “We did a good job.” He drawled, rearranging the baby to make it more comfortable.
She breathed a small laugh. “Too good, I’m afraid.” Her green eyes lifted from the bundle to her husband. “If he’s to grow as handsome as you, the girls in this city will be in danger.”
“Don’t forget he’s got your pale skin and your unforgettable eyes.”
“Explosive mixture, no doubt.” She joked.
Explosive was the term, Tariq agreed silently. Like their love for each other. “And if he finds a little English lady who tears his feelings to pieces, then the boy is in real trouble.” He walked towards her.
“Are you in trouble, Mr Al-Fadih?” She asked when he halted two feet from her.
“Oh, yes.” With his free arm he embraced her. “For life!”
Her arms rounded the both of them, her hand enjoying his sleek obsidian hair, as their lips joined.
“For life.” She responded against his sensuous mouth.
The End
About the Author
I come from a multi-cultural family. I graduated in History and got a Master degree in British Empire. I have worked as an English and History teacher at high schools. I got married to a
Norwegian and moved to Norway, where I have lived for three years. Writing has been my passion since I was thirteen.
Other books by Lisa Torquay
Please visit your favorite ebook retailer to discover other books by Lisa Torquay:
Build It Higher (Contemporary Romance)
Her Irresistible Guardian (Contemporary Romance)
For the Earl’s Taking
The Lady and the Desert Scoundrel
The Forbidden Duchess
Claiming His Estranged Viscountess
Igniting the Countess
Duke of Treason
The Lass Defied the Laird (Explosive Highlanders 1)
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