If how I’d been subsisting these past months was any indication, he didn’t care if he lived or died. I was now on a mission to make sure he cared and grabbed a hold. Even if it meant holding his comatose hand for months, I was going to make him aware of how much I loved him.
Our reunion in Dubai with Anna and Omar was somber, and I could tell Anna had been crying.
“He’s become such a dear friend,” she sobbed. “He was Omar’s friend before, but now we are all so much closer.” She hugged me and her tears began anew. “Jules, I know you had a plan, but he really needs you.”
“I know. That’s why I’m here. I was so wrong to deny him. I’m heartbroken,” I said through my own tears.
Anna seemed shocked at my change of heart. “I was sure you wouldn’t change your mind. You’re so stubborn sometimes. So independent.”
I shrugged, “I’m learning a lot about myself. I’m trying to change.” Her expression was priceless and full of disbelief. I sarcastically interjected.
“What? A girl can have three or more opinions on a subject within a given moment.”
“Yeah, but we never admit it!”
I shrugged again, and then Omar cleared his throat. “Julie, I am delighted you were able to accompany Melinda on this trip. Would you like to rest or…”
I blurted, “Sorry for interrupting you—Your Highness—if it’s possible, I would really like to see Amir as soon as possible.”
He seemed relieved and gave me an agreeing nod and motioned with his arm that we could leave immediately. I kissed Anna goodbye and rubbed her belly quickly. She rubbed mine and blew me a kiss as the elevator doors dinged closed.
Omar spoke sincerely, “You broke his heart. When he returned he was half a man.”
“I felt the same way.”
“I do not understand why you sent him away. Why you did not marry him. At the very least, for the child.”
Omar seemed genuine in his questioning tone, and I knew I had no choice but to be honest with him.
“I was wrong, Omar. I could tell you all that went through my mind—the stubborn streak I possess—my fierce determination to make my own way and never need another—at least never admit that I need another. I could tell you all that and still it would make no sense. It doesn’t make sense to me—at least now it doesn’t.”
I put my face in my hands and cried. Omar pulled me against his chest and rubbed my back. I sobbed, “I was such a fool. I only hope it’s not too late.”
“Amir is a strong man. I believe there is yet time for you to repair the damage.”
“I hope so.”
Omar walked with me to the private room at the lavish hospital. He patted Amir’s chest and affectionately gripped the other man’s hand. Then he leaned down and kissed his best friend’s cheek. I really did like how the men in this culture weren’t afraid of showing the others closest to them how they really felt. For all their stoicism and macho bravado, down deep they seemed very tender and loving.
Omar gave me a nod and handed me a small cell phone. “If you wish to return to the penthouse, just call and I’ll send a driver.” Then he left.
I wasn’t sure how to approach the body of the man I loved. He seemed so fragile laying there with tubes and instruments connected all over his face and arms. I slid the chair next to his bed and slid my hand into his left one. Other than it not being cold, it felt dead. I began sobbing again. Then I tried to talk to him.
“Amir? It’s me, Julie. Before I apologize, I want you to know how much I love you. How much I missed you. I was so wrong. I want to be with you, and I’m so sorry! I will surrender to your will in all this. I will do as you ask and move here. I will give you an heir who you can raise, and if you want more children, I’ll give you more. Anything you want, Amir—you are my greatest love. I know this now…”
New tears choked out my words, and I ended up laying my head next to his limp hand on the bed.
His finger twitched, and I kissed it. The doctors had told me he would randomly twitch or move, and I shouldn’t expect him to resurface for at least another week. So, I laid there with my lips pressed to his hand, and I sobbed. Then with an ironic chuckle I told him.
“Guess what? You were right. It’s a boy. We’re going to have a boy, my love. Your son—your heir. I hope he looks just like you. You are so beautiful. I love you, Amir.”
Chapter Eight
They brought in a cot, and I ended up staying with Amir the entire week. Today the doctors were going to remove the breathing apparatus and hopefully bring him out of the coma. His back was broken, and although it appeared as if no nerves had been severed, they were unsure if he would end up paralyzed. The bruises on his face and chest were healing, but he was still almost unrecognizable. There was one scar down his jaw which was stitched together, so it looked angrier than it would have without all the black spider legs crawling up the side of his face. They said it had been deep, and he would remain scarred the rest of his life. I suppose it would add to his masculine charm and hopefully make for a good story.
Anna and Omar were also there, and as we waited in the hall I wrung my hands and paced. I’d never really cared about another person this much. However, now that I’d given in and given up my will, and admitted how much Amir meant to me, I was a mess of worry. I felt totally unprepared for this scenario; I wasn’t exactly the nurturing, caregiver type.
“What do I do if he doesn’t recognize me? What if he’s amnesic like the doctors said was possible? What if he can’t walk?”
I was near hysteria when the doctor appeared. I studied his face for any indication of hope. His features were relaxed and unconcerned, although he wasn’t exactly buoyant.
“He is awake, although we are uncertain how aware he is of the accident. He seems to have some feeling in his feet, but that as well, will need time and physical therapy. Don’t be alarmed if he seems agitated for a while. As the drugs wear off, he will become more cognizant.”
Okay then. Why was I terrified to meet his eyes? I hesitated at the door, and Omar pushed it open from behind me. “We’re here with you,” he said reassuringly.
Anna picked up my hand and held it as we entered together. Amir scanned all three of us, and when his eyes landed on mine, he smiled. He actually grinned at seeing me. Then he flinched and winced, but that was enough, and I rushed to him. I gulped and croaked my way through declarations of love. He weakly gripped my hand in return and traced this thumb across my knuckles.
Omar and Anna told him how much they both loved him, and then they left us alone. Initially, he’d been speaking Arabic and Omar had translated the few uttered words. Now in a cracking voice he said, “I love you, Julie.”
I flung myself against his chest and cried all over him.
“Me too, Amir. I love you so much. I am so sorry!”
“What does this mean?” he asked.
“I surrender. I will devote my life to you. To our son.”
“It is true then? I thought I’d hallucinated. It is a boy?”
I nodded and sniffed, “Yes, a strong, healthy boy. Your heir, my love.”
His expression clouded, “I do not want your pity, Julie. If you are here only because of this—this—my state of weakness—I do not want you this way.” He coughed and groaned.
“No, Amir. I was near breaking down in Boston. I was useless.” I offered him a sardonic chuckle.
“So much for my independence. I wasn’t working or even trying. I’d given up. I was going to call you—tell you about the baby—I wanted to apologize, but I didn’t know if you’d take me back.” I picked up his hand and kissed the top of it. “I was prepared to beg you, though.”
He chuckled again, “I highly doubt that.”
“No, I was,” I whined.
He cupped my cheek and looked me in the eyes, “I told you I would be here when you were ready. You took your sweet time.”
In that instant, I knew he was going to be fine—his humor was showing through all the med
ications and his incapacitated state.
“I’m so sorry.”
“I suppose I’ll have to punish you for making me wait,” he joked again.
“Okay! If that would help me make amends—then fine,” I said stoically. Then in a more hesitant tone I asked, “What does punish mean to you?”
He curled his lips again, “Ahhh bless Allah above, my female—cease amusing me. It hurts too much.” I kissed his hand again.
“I ache to hold you, my love.”
I studied the small bed and all his tubes and the simple fact his breathing was still incredibly labored. “I don’t see how.”
“Call the doctor. We shall get a larger bed.”
I began to argue the point with him, but he insisted with a quick statement that made my heart swell. “I am King. They will do as I say, or I’ll have their heads.”
My powerful man was still in there, and I knew he was going to be just fine. Eventually.
***
Time passed slowly, but Amir began to get incrementally better. After two more weeks in the ICU, only a nose incubator remained attached to his body. He couldn’t walk on his own, though, and today I was wheeling him around the hospital and to the arboretum. He loved the orchids.
“I do not like you serving me. Why do you insist on this? Let the servants push me.”
“You have to let me be useful or I’ll go insane.”
“I am anxious to walk on my own two feet,” he stated as if it would happen tomorrow. So far the doctors think it will happen, but not for at least a few months, and not without some really intense and, they say, painful physical therapy.
“Your PT starts on Monday,” I told him conversationally.
He grunted and waved his hand. “I learned to walk when I was a baby, this is ridiculous.”
We got to the indoor gardens that I must say are spectacular, and I parked him next to a bench. I sat on the bench and picked up his hand.
“Just do what the doctors say. They think you can make a full recovery if you really work hard.”
He huffed and nodded. “I am not afraid of working hard.”
“I know. But you realize there will be failures along the way? Setbacks and some stuff you will no doubt find humiliating?”
He waved his hand, “We will call it humbling.” Then he grinned, “Nothing could be worse than how I felt when I left you in Boston. I shall survive and endure through this next phase of recovery.” He furrowed his brow and asked, “Are you staying here?”
I froze at his question. I’d been deliberating over whether I should fly home and give birth in the States. My pause made him narrow his gaze. I fumbled through my answer.
“Um, I’ve been trying to decide what to do. I’d like our baby to have dual citizenship, and that won’t be possible if he is born here.”
His face relaxed, “If that is your only concern, I can arrange for a representative from the US embassy to sign off on his birth certificate. At least, I can if we marry.”
“Oh, I had no idea it worked that way.”
“I make it work anyway I please. Or did you forget I rule an entire nation?”
I shrugged again, “I never think of you in those terms. I’m sorry. You realize I’ve never even set foot in your country?”
“This is true. We shall remedy that soon enough. When I have permission to fly home, we will set up in my palace, and I shall do my therapy at home, with you at my side. I am anxious to watch as our child blossoms in your womb.”
I cringed at that statement. “Yeah, there is always that,” I said with a hint of despondence.
“Why are you still anxious about the boy? I consider him the greatest blessing of my life.” He stroked my hair, “To have created a child with a golden beauty such as you? He will be a demi-god.”
I snorted, “He better not be a spoiled brat! If you turn him into a tiny punk, I’ll be really upset.”
He chuckled, “A tiny punk. That is priceless, my jewel. No, I will insist on a disciplined upbringing such as I received. It is good for a child to know his boundaries and limitation. We are in agreement.”
“Okay, good. Glad we got that ironed out,” I said with a bit of a pout.
“What is bothering you today? I sense unrest in your heart,” he astutely asked.
“I’m not really sure.” Then I crumpled my mouth, and I placed his hand on my belly, over the silky fabric of my dress. He spread out his fingers and palmed the small round bulge in my groin.
“Maybe it’s just this.”
His chin quivered with emotion, and he dramatically leaned towards me, running both his hands over my belly.
“This is joyous, Julie! You are ripe, my love.”
He continued to fondle my tummy, and within seconds he cleared his throat and looked around the deserted gardens before leaning back. His hand went to his crotch with a motion that I needed to notice something, which I did with a lip bite and quick bat of my lashes.
“Look what you do to me. Look at how my body responds to you, even in its wounded state! It wants you!”
He was hard and tenting the loose gown with his immense length. I licked my lips. Ever since he woke up, I’d been growing increasingly hornier by the day. I brushed it off as my raging hormones, but now, with him jutting and wanting me, well you could say my body just responded pornographically. I whispered, like it was a secret and someone was listening to us, “What did the doctors say? Can you?”
His body language told me he didn’t care what the doctors said. His voice was low and hungry. “What will happen? You can’t break me, Jules. If you do not permit me entry, I will wither and die. I’ve ached for you since you crawled into bed next to me. Now get your gorgeous swollen body over here and give me some love.”
I blushed and again looked around. One of his men was at the door and I made eye contact with him. I gave him a curt nod, and I guess he understood because he turned and pulled the doors closed and, with his back still to us, he blocked the entrance. I licked my lips again in anticipation.
“Yes Sir.”
Chapter Nine
Ever since Amir woke up, I made a concerted effort to dress in a way that pleased him. Modern clothing for women is easy to find and affordable, even on my non-existent budget. Plus, the available designs and options are plentiful. I’d dipped into the baby’s bank account and bought a dozen casual, yet still very comfortable dresses. Most hit me mid-thigh, some were more flowing, and all were very attractive. I was trying harder simply for him, trying to give him what he’d requested; what I knew would please him.
I blushed as Amir lifted the hem of his hospital gown and exposed his hardness. His tone also changed to one of command, and no hint of his weakened, injured self was evident.
“You have been a good girl. I notice these things. Show me what’s mine, princess.”
He continued sliding his hand up and down his hardness. My entire body watered in preparation. I lifted the hem and exposed a delicate pair of lace panties. He grinned and licked his lips. “Remove those and show me. Then you will ride me.”
I obeyed him and in a tiny voice, after my panties were around my ankles, I asked, “Your back? Are you sure?”
He chuckled deeply, “Consider it part of my therapy.” He lowered the arms of the wheelchair, and I leaned down to kiss him. Both his hands went to my face and I felt his urgency as it traveled through me. His hands wandered first to my swollen tits, and he palmed them and closed his eyes in bliss. Then his huge hands traveled to my hips, and he guided me over his lap, holding his cock upright and watching as I slowly sheathed him, settling onto his lap until the crisp hairs of his groin rubbed against my silken folds.
“Yes—you are my rebirth—always,” he shuddered out as I took one tentative roll of my hips.
Goosebumps traveled up my thighs and down my arms and my lungs tightened. Whenever he was inside me, I felt more alive than I’d ever felt before. Now it was only intensified because of the long absences.
&nb
sp; “Oh Amir—missed you so much.”
His hands went to the swell of my hips, and he ground himself against me, using my hips as levers. I helped and rolled, sliding him partially in and out of my center as we both began to tremble. “I must release,” he growled in frustration. “Cannot wait—forgive.”
“Yes—yes—yes!” I cried as my own orgasm startled me with a quick jolt of electricity that sent my clit throbbing. I rubbed at my apex, wiggling my nub until we were both gasping.
“Amir please!” I sobbed out between shaky inhales.
He grunted when he came, and he sounded frustrated that it had been so quick. His ejaculation elicited my own, and I made a rapturous sound as I crumpled against his chest. His hands wrapped around my back, and my hips bucked as the rush of pleasure stole over me. We stayed locked there, with him inside me and still hard and me twitching with aftershocks.
He kissed my neck and apologized for the quickness. “Worked for me,” I muttered. He bumped his chest in amusement and agreed.
“It was too long. Never again will we part. Promise me this, Julie, tell me you are mine.”
I bit his neck and then kissed where I’d dented the skin, “Yes Amir—I give in—I won’t leave you again.”
“Tell me who I am.”
“You are my sheikh. I am yours—you are mine.”
Chapter Ten
Another two weeks in the hospital, and Amir was released. Omar insisted we stay in his penthouse, since he still had a hospital room set up from when he’d been severely injured the year before. The best thing about all their wealth was how wonderful and easy it was to get the best help available. A full time nurse and also a full time physical therapist were now on staff. Both of them would return with us when we went to Amir’s palace in Abu Dhabi.
Anna was three months farther along in her pregnancy, so she’s really showing. She was also glowing like a freakin’ sun! Her radiance could power a planet. Her obvious joy at being a mommy was almost infectious. I was getting there, and with Amir’s continued persistence that he adores my ever-growing bump, I might actually be convinced. Right this second, Amir and I were alone in his room, and he insisted I sit across his lap on the couch so he can fondle my belly.
The Sheikh's Surprise Mistress 2 (Jatar Sheikh Series Book 6) Page 3