by Albany, Cara
Ella suddenly knew he was waiting for her, so that they could both tumble over the precipice as one. Ella grasped at Raz's powerful arms, propped on either side of her, shaking visibly with the strain.
His body moved across her like a taut, muscled wave that only existed to drive her to further heights of pleasure. He ground his hips against Ella with a fierce and yet tender fury. Every press of his mound against her core sent waves of ecstasy tumbling through her body.
On and on he drove, until with a groan he thrust back his head and cried out taking Ella with him. And, with the bone-melting sensation came the real sounds of the waves from outside her room. Like those waves, Ella crashed against the rocks below, spent and disintegrated.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
They awoke in each others arms with the sun coming in through the slatted blinds, casting orange bars on the wall opposite the bed.
Ella opened her eyes and glanced at Raz. She lay on her side, one arm across her lover's chest. He was still fast asleep, looking magnificent in the soft light. His features were filled with a calm repose, even a slight smile of satisfaction creasing the corners of his beautiful mouth.
The rest of Ella's body was snug against his long torso and legs. His heat was reassuring and so very comforting.
Ella thought about last night and felt a rush of emotion surge through her body. She slid her hand down and felt his fullness. Raz shifted slightly, but remained in the sleep of the satisfied.
Ella couldn't help grinning to herself. The room was quiet except for Raz's steady breathing and the distant surging of the waves against the rocks.
This was truly a magical place, she thought, snuggling even tighter against the man who had driven her to levels of pleasure she hadn't thought possible. Ella felt as if she had become a different person. The bone-melting sex had been one thing. But, the sudden sense of belonging she felt right now was something else entirely.
Was it possible that she and Raz could have a longer term future together? He'd said things to her during the night that had her thinking it was a distinct possibility. Raz's mind seemed to be set on making Ella a bigger part of his life.
What would life with a sheikh be like, she wondered. She didn't even think of the wealth, the opulence. All she could think of was being with Raz every day, sharing all the little things together, creating a new life.
Ella sighed and leaned her head against Raz's expansive chest. She could hear his heart beating, a strong emphatic, dominating rhythm. She could hardly believe what had happened in these past few days. Not only had she done what she had originally came to do, she had also fallen for a sheikh.
Fallen in love?
Now, that was something she dared not speak about. It was clear that Raz was crazy for Ella. But, how far would that madness drive him? And, how long would it last? Was Ella just another one of his flings, a lover who would pass in the night?
Ella felt Raz's breathing change, as if he sensed the growing tension in her. She glanced up and saw him open his eyes. He looked down at her and smiled. Ella slid up and placed her lips in front of Raz's, waiting for a kiss, which he duly delivered. It was a soft, tender kiss in contrast to the wild, possessive kisses of a few hours earlier. But, it was welcome.
"Good morning, my princess," Raz said. "Habibti."
Ella gasped at his choice of words. She knew that last word had special significance, and she was surprised that he had used it.
Raz leaned down and kissed her again, silencing any objections she might have had.
Raz's lips were soft and moist, his tongue a gentle probing and very sensual presence inside her mouth.
Their lips parted, and Raz glanced over at the sunlit blinds. "I can see it's going to be a beautiful day," he announced.
Ella propped her head up on one hand and looked at Raz. "It's already mid-morning," she said glancing at the clock by the bedside.
Raz shrugged. "It doesn't matter. I think we can spend the whole day in bed."
Ella smiled in spite of herself. Raz ran a hand through her hair. "You are so incredible, habibti," he said his eyes filled with emotion. Ella couldn't help leaning against his hand as he stroked her. She was his and it felt good.
"What will the servants think?" Ella asked.
"They'll think nothing of it. They've seen it all before," he said turning away from her. It was just as well he did because Ella felt her face redden slightly. Had he just referred to his previous lovers? And so casually?
Ella lay her head back on the pillow and closed her eyes. In a second Raz had leaned across her and was drawing the sheet back, admiring her body with hungry eyes. "Where did we leave things?" he asked with a ravenous look on his face. He leaned down and took one of her nipples in his mouth, suckling gently on it, sending shivers of delight coursing through her body. She arched her back and clutched at his dark hair, tugging firmly on it.
Ella felt his hand start to move slowly down her belly. She knew where that was headed and readied herself for the ecstasy his touch would create in her.
Suddenly he stopped and twisted his head toward the door. He seemed to be listening for something.
"What is it?" she asked.
Raz sat up, his gaze fixed on the door. "I can hear someone arriving," he said.
"Your hearing is better than mine," Ella said.
Raz sighed. "I'm sure I heard someone down in the hall."
Ella groaned, the frustration almost unbearable. She thumped her fists into the mattress.
Raz smiled and kissed Ella. His lips left her wanting more. "Don't worry. When I get back, I'll make up for it. I promise," he said to her.
Ella squinted at him. "Promise?" she said with a grin.
Raz smiled at her. "Try stopping me," he stated firmly.
Raz slid from the bed and paused, looking down at Ella. She stared at him. He looked naked and glorious standing by the bedside. His was the body of a deity, perfect in every proportion. He was finely muscled and tight, and when he bent down to reach his pants, Ella couldn't suppress the moan of frustration that rose to her throat.
Raz grinned back at her. "Like what you see?"
Ella nodded and threw the blanket over her head to stop the painful sight she couldn't touch from tormenting her any longer.
From beneath the blanket, she heard the sounds of him getting dressed and then the door closing behind him.
The silence of the bedroom only highlighted Raz's absence. Ella suddenly felt a surprising ache, now that he had left her alone. For the moment, at least.
Ella sat up on the bed and tried to hear the sounds from downstairs. She wondered who had come to visit, particularly since it was obviously an unannounced call.
Ella waited as long as she could, but then decided she would go downstairs and find out who had come to the palace. She put on her dress and made her way out into the corridor, passing Raz's empty bedroom.
Ella paused at the top of the stairs. She could hear voices from down there. Raz's and another, female voice. Unease curled in Ella's stomach as she started to make her way downstairs. Who could it be?
She reached the last stair and paused. Whoever it was, they were in the sitting room with Raz.
And then Ella recognized the female voice.
It was Raz's sister.
Aliyah.
A wave of relief flooded through Ella, and she wondered why it was suddenly important that Raz was only talking with his sister, and not another woman. Could Ella have dealt with another woman visiting Raz? If not, was that a sign that she and Raz were somehow closer, more seriously involved than even Ella was willing to admit?
Ella stepped onto the mosaic hallway floor, her bare feet making no sound. She was sure Raz had no idea she was standing in the hallway.
Ella took a few steps and started to make out what Raz and Aliya were saying to each other. Ella felt suddenly guilty. It wasn't right she was eavesdropping like this. Ella stopped and turned, intending to go back upstairs and leave Raz to talk with hi
s sister.
But, then one statement caught her attention.
"It's serious this time, isn't it?" Ella heard Aliyah ask Raz.
Ella froze, awaiting his reply.
Nothing.
The silence created an ache of impatience in Ella's middle.
"Well?" she heard Aliyah ask. "She's not like the others, is she?"
Ella heard Raz gasp. "Oh, no. She's not like the others at all," he heard. Ella suppressed a smile.
Aliyah started to speak again. "It's just that mother was talking yesterday. We were wondering where you were. Then Zayed mentioned that you had spoken to him about her. And, mother got really excited."
Raz groaned. "Not again," he said.
Ella frowned. She wasn't sure she liked the way this conversation was going. Maybe she should head back upstairs before she heard something she might prefer not to hear.
"You know what mother's like. She wants us all married off as quickly as possible."
Married!
The word hit Ella like an express train. She reached out and grabbed the stairway banister.
Raz's mother was trying to marry Raz off?
Had that been what all this had been about? Finding a suitably gullible woman to become a convenient wife for the unwed sheikh?
"You know what she's always said in the past, Raz," Aliyah said.
"What's that?" he asked.
"That all of your girlfriends are just pretenders, hoping to become your bride."
Ella heard Raz grunt. "Pretend brides? Now, there's a thing," he said. "Well, she must be happy, now that Zayed and Chloe are man and wife," Raz said to Aliyah.
Aliyah sighed. "She won't be happy until we're all married," she replied.
And then Raz said something that shook Ella to the core. Especially after what had happened only hours before.
"Mother's got a long wait ahead of her, if she thinks I'm going to be wed. It's not going to be that easy."
The words slammed into Ella.
There it was.
The truth.
It hit her with all the impact of a boxer's right hook. Ella grasped onto the banister, unable to believe what she had just heard. Raz had only been playing with her, after all. Ella's suspicions had proven to be correct. It had all been a game, an elaborate charade devised by a bored sheikh determined to ignore his mother's dearest wishes.
Ella's departure would be put down to just another girlfriend passing through, like sand between the sheikh's fingers.
Ella sank down onto the bottom stair. The conversation in the other room continued, but she didn't want to hear any more of it. The words that Raz had spoken felt like glass against her skin.
How could she have been so foolish? Raz had been so persuasive, his attentions so intensely overwhelming that Ella had barely been able to resist him. And now this was the result. The one that she had resisted from the start. She was no more than a notch on his bedpost. He'd never had any intention of making her a part of his life for the longer term.
Ella felt stupid for even considering that such a thing could have been a real possibility.
Ella wanted to go upstairs, pack her bag and leave. She had what she needed. The video files and photos were on her laptop. The samples could be obtained later. Ella had done her best and found what she had come to Qazhar in search of.
The best thing she could do would be to graciously make her exit. Raz wouldn't be surprised, nor would he be disappointed to see her leave. She was sure of that.
Aliyah could drive her back to Qazhar City. It would be so simple.
Then why did she feel like her insides had been torn out?
Ella forced herself to stand and started to walk toward the door to the sitting room. The voices of Raz and Aliyah gradually became louder, but still she couldn't process what they were saying to each other. There was a roaring in her ears, and she began to doubt if she could say what needed to be said.
She was sure her face was deathly pale. Her legs felt unsteady, and there was an unpleasant tingling sensation at the tips of her fingers.
Finally, she reached the door and saw Raz freeze in mid-sentence, staring wide-eyed at Ella.
Aliyah whirled around, and Ella saw the beautiful woman's mouth form into a circle of surprise.
Ella drew in a deep breath and forced herself to smile at Aliyah, who was already starting to move toward Ella, arms open in greeting.
"Hello, Aliyah," Ella said. Her gaze shifted to Raz, who still hadn't moved. Did he look ashamed or simply uncomfortable?
"Ella!" Aliyah exclaimed hugging Ella. "How nice to see you," Aliyah said smiling at Ella. Unless she was mistaken, it appeared to Ella that Aliyah was genuinely pleased to see her. Only moments before Aliyah and Raz had been talking about Ella as if she were of no consequence. It seemed almost unreal.
Ella looked at Aliyah. "This is a surprise visit. Isn't it?" Ella glanced again at Raz, who just smiled nervously. How things had changed and in such a short space of time.
"My mother sent me," Aliyah explained. She turned and frowned good-naturedly at Raz. "She was worried she hadn't heard from Raz. And, she wanted to know how you were doing with all that business up at the border."
"That's all sorted out," Ella said in a flat voice. "There's no reason for me to wait here any longer."
On hearing those words, Raz frowned and took a step forward, but Ella fixed him with a burning, hot glare that halted him in his tracks.
"Really?" Aliyah said turning to Raz once again. Ella was sure there was an expression of surprise on Aliyah's face. Ella saw Raz's eyes narrow at his sister and then he looked at Ella. "Are you sure?" he asked.
He couldn't wait for her to leave, she told herself. Something hard formed inside Ella. She glared at Raz.
"I have everything I need, Raz," Ella said.
On hearing his name, Raz drew in a deep breath. "But, maybe you can stay here a while longer. There is much that I can show you. You've only seen a small part of my estate here," he said.
"I've seen everything I need to see," she replied coldly.
Aliyah cleared her throat. "Well. Isn't this nice," she said hesitantly, looking embarrassed.
Ella looked at Aliyah. "Can I ask you to drive me back to the city?"
Aliyah's eyes widened, and she hesitated. Finally, she said: "Why. Yes. If that's what you want."
"I can take you," Raz said quickly.
Just as quickly, Ella cut him off before he said anything else. "No," she said simply.
Raz's face paled visibly.
"No," Ella repeated. "I think I'd enjoy a chance to chat with Aliyah," she said firmly. "Also, the environmental conference opens today. I think there's something for me to do there."
There was a long and very awkward pause. Eventually, Raz spoke, and his voice cracked with emotion. "If that's what you'd prefer," he said.
Ella nodded vigorously. "It's what I want. Thank you, Aliyah. I'll get my things."
Ella turned and left the sitting room as fast as she could. From behind her, there was only silence. In front of her were the stairs that she would walk up for the very last time.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ella and Aliyah left a very short time later. Aliyah had come in her own car, an elegant BMW. The interior was air conditioned so Ella could settle back into the seat and feel the cool air while gazing out at the scorching hot desert. She leaned her head against the window and tried not to look toward the sea. That reminded her too much of the past two days and nightS. She wanted her mind filled with the emptiness of the desert.
Before they'd left the palace, Raz had tried to come to Ella's room, but she had kept it locked while she prepared to leave. There was nothing to be said, as far as she was concerned. She'd heard all she needed to hear downstairs. Raz had tried to speak to her through the thickness of the door, but the real barrier that had risen up between Ella and the sheikh would never be broken down.
Eventually, Ella had emerged from the room with her bags in hand
. He had tried to say something to her, but the feverish look in her eyes had stopped the words in his mouth. Raz had looked genuinely shocked that Ella was leaving in such circumstances. Raz had stood in the corridor and stretched out a hand to carry her bags for her, but she had firmly declined, gripping the handle of the suitcase tight.
Raz had walked by Ella's side as she had made her way to the courtyard, where Aliyah had been standing by the open door of her car.
Goodbyes had been brief and very polite. There was so much she had wanted to say; so many things she'd wanted to declare to him, accuse him of doing. But, in the end, the wisest thing to do was to get in the car and leave. Which was what she did.
Ella didn't even look back at the palace as the car drove through the gates and on down the road.
Now, she was miles away, and the palace was already beginning to seem like a strange, distant memory. But, what had happened in her bedroom the previous night refused to budge from her mind, no matter how hard she tried.
Aliyah respected Ella's wish for quiet. At least for a little while. But, eventually, Raz's sister couldn't resist the urge to speak with Ella.
"Do you mind if I speak with you about my brother?" Aliyah asked tentatively.
Ella closed her eyes and wished the silence would answer for her.
But, Aliyah wasn't someone to be that easily deterred. "I don't know what happened between the two of you..." Aliyah started to say.
Ella whirled around. "Nothing happened, Aliyah," she interrupted. "Absolutely nothing of any consequence."
Aliyah nodded, and Ella saw the woman's lips purse thoughtfully. After a moment, she tried again. "I know Raz. I know what he is capable of. I've met many of his women friends."
"That's reassuring," Ella said, immediately regretting the harsh tone of her voice.
Aliyah carried on as if she hadn't even heard Ella. "I've seen what Raz can be like. He is a difficult person and a very proud man."
"I think you're right on that score," Ella said. "Difficult isn't the word I'd use."
"But, there are reasons for that," Aliyah said quietly.