SHEIKH'S SURPRISE BABY: A Sheikh Romance

by Knight, Kylie

  She was quiet for a long time. “I don’t know.”

  Milo felt the sting of her hesitation but pressed on. “Look…let me bring you lunch at the shop and we can talk. No strings?”

  Another long silence then “Okay.”

  Milo sighed with relief. “I’ll be there at twelve.”

  ***

  “You’re an idiot,” Yasmin shoved the last piece of leftover pizza in her mouth and glared at her sister. Ori glared back but inside she felt…she was an idiot. So what if Milo knew who she was? Did she really expect to meet someone who would never know? Truthfully, the thing that scared her was his job. Did she really know him well enough, trust him enough not to exploit her?

  “He’s coming over later. We’ll talk but I’m not promising anything.”

  Yasmin rolled her eyes. “Jeez. You need to get laid, sis, you’re way too uptight.”

  “Thank you for the advice,” Ori pushed the thought of Milo’s skin against her own away. Complication. Very, very nice complication. “Look, Yas, just…don’t pressure me, okay?”

  Yasmin sighed and jumped from her seat on the counter. “I’m just saying, don’t throw something – or someone – away before you test the waters. I understand your reticence, I really do.”

  Ori smiled at her fondly and tugged one of her sister’s long braids. “When did you get so smart?”

  “Brown.” Yas flashed her a smile. “Thanks to you. Not everything from that time was bad, Ori, it paid for this place, after all. Just because Milo knows who you are, doesn’t mean you have to go back to that life.”

  After Yas had gone, Ori flitted around the bookstore, helping customers, dusting the shelves. Her mind, however, was fixed on the night she’d nearly ended it all. She’d always told Yas that it was the endless touring, the lack of privacy, the peer pressure to be a party girl. What she hadn’t revealed to anyone was the incident in the hotel bathroom. Lyon’nel (and yes, that was how he spelled his name), the lead singer of her support band, had cornered her. He’d always given her the creeps and she’d avoided him as best she could, without trying to appear aloof and now he’d gotten her where he wanted her. Ori swallowed back a wave of nausea as she recalled his hands on her, her struggle to get away from him…she’d rammed her knee hard into his groin and slipped past him but the damage was done. Never again, Ori thought now, never.

  Milo arrived at noon and she closed the door after him, locking it and flipping the sign. She felt awkward now with this man in whose arms she’d spent a night. What made it worse is that he looked gorgeous. Gorgeous and more than a little pissed. Ori took a deep breath in.

  “I’m sorry. I freaked out.”

  “Yes.”

  Okay, straight shooter. Ori looked down at her hands for a moment then met his gaze. “I walked away for a reason – actually, several reasons. I don’t want any of that life back. None of it. Astoria Vine doesn’t exist anymore, Milo and I…”

  Milo took two long strides and swept her up into his arms, covering her mouth with his, pressing his lips against hers so fiercely she thought she might pass out. His strong hands holding her so tightly, she melted into the embrace, her fingers stroking his hair.

  Breathless, they broke apart and gazed at each other. “That,’ Milo said, his big chest heaving for air, “That right there is the only thing that matters. The only thing.”

  And in that moment, Ori Herd fell in love.

  ***

  Yas fixed him with a beady eye. “This is the part where I tell you not to mess with my sister or you’ll have me to deal with. Now, I realize you’re built like a Sasquatch so you probably think you could win but I play dirty.”

  Milo grinned at her. “You do, do you?”

  “Oh yes.”

  “Shut up, Yas, you brat,” Ori called from the kitchen. She appeared then, carrying three plates loaded with pasta. Yas and Milo fell on them gratefully.

  She had officially been dating Milo for a week now and so far, she would never have known he worked in the music industry. They talked about music, of course, but in the terms of who they loved to listen to, which bands and singers they had in common – Pearl Jam, Tom Waits, Prince – and they spent one entire date sitting on the floor of her apartment playing records on her ancient turntable.

  So far, Milo had been a perfect gentleman, but Ori knew that he wanted more. She knew because so did she; they had kissed, passionately, stroked each other’s skin, had even gotten to the inside-the-underwear part (before a returning Yas had quickly had them scrambling to cover themselves up).

  Tonight, though, Yas was making herself scarce. There was an air of anticipation in the small apartment and when, after supper, Yas gave them a knowing wave and disappeared, Ori suddenly became nervous. Milo grinned at her.

  “Alone at last.”

  He pulled her down on the couch next to him. “Dinner was amazing, thank you.” His lips brushed hers tasting of tomato and basil. Her heart was thumping out a staccato beat, her palms suddenly felt very sweaty.

  She opened her mouth to speak when Milo smiled at her. “I want to take you out to dinner tomorrow night, my favorite place in the city.” He named a place and she nearly balked – it was one of the most exclusive in the city. Milo was watching her carefully.

  “My treat,” he said. “I like to think of myself as an enlightened man but sometimes, let a guy treat his girlfriend.”

  Girlfriend? Wow. Ori tried not to grin. “Deal.”

  Milo leaned over to kiss her, and as it grew in intensity, he pulled her onto his lap, wound his arms around her waist. “Ori…”

  She hushed him with her mouth and got up, holding out her hand. Milo took it and followed her into her bedroom. They took their time, peeling each other’s clothes off slowly, exploring every curve, every inch of the other’s skin. Milo’s body was unreal…his arms thickly banded with muscle, his shoulders wider than her waist, his broad chest, a faint smattering of dark hair that covered his pecs trailing down to the deep vee of his hips. Ori felt tiny, vulnerable as she stood naked in front of him but he kissed every part of her as if in wonder. His lips trailing across her belly and she felt her senses quicken. Milo scooped her onto the bed, covered her body with his.

  “You are so lovely, Ori, every part of you…”

  She curled her legs around his waist, the way he was looking at her giving her a confidence she’d never felt before. “I want you so much, Milo.”

  His hand slipped between her legs and caressed her and in turn, she touched him, stroking and feeling him thicken. Milo kissed her deeply and as he entered her, Ori felt her whole body react, pressing against him, wanting more, needing his skin against hers. The gentle rocking of their lovemaking grew more intense and they moved together as if they were made for each other, their eyes locked on the other’s, green on violet, skin damp with sweat, hot delirious pleasure vibrating through their bodies.

  As she climaxed, Ori whispered his name over and over and he smiled, moaning as he came, kissing her neck, her throat, her breasts. Afterward, they lay, wrapped in the other, kissing tenderly. Milo smoothed the damp hair away from her forehead.

  “Ori Herd…I wish I found you years ago. I can’t believe I spent nearly forty years on this planet without you.”

  She grinned a wicked smile. “Well, when you think that, just remember…for most of those forty years, I wasn’t born.” She shrieked with laughter as he tickled her in mock outrage. He moved on top of her again and she sighed as he kissed her. He smiled down at her.

  “You tired?”

  “Not even slightly.”

  Milo grinned as he made his way down her body. “Good…because we’re going to do this all…night…long…”

  ***

  Milo sat in his office, the door closed and the best-selling and only album by Astoria Vine playing in his headphones. He wanted to feel close to her, even while he was at work, and although he had already a ton of pictures on his phone, he wanted to hear her voice…and what a voice.


  Her singing voice mirrored her low, gruff speaking voice, the depth of tone in it was extraordinary and the range of it – jeez – he struggled to find the superlatives. What took it beyond a good voice, though, was the way it would break, almost a sob at the song’s most emotional parts. Astoria Vine felt every emotion and conveyed them as she sung; he was reminded of Purple Rain, Prince’s masterpiece or Eddie Vedder’s voice on Alive. The album concluded with a cover of Tom Wait’s Jersey Girl – and he loved that she didn’t change the gender of the song. I’m in love with a Jersey Girl….damn, it sent chills through his entire body.

  He didn’t even realize Brandt was in the room until his advisor pulled one of the headphones away from his ear.

  “Hey, you listening to me?”

  Milo, startled out of his reverie, glared at Brandt. He’d known Brandt for ten years, had poached him from another company to come run his music division. The two men had gotten along fine but Brandt’s intense ambition had stopped Milo from ever forming an out of work friendship with the man. Milo knew Brandt would work twenty-four hours for the business but also knew, that if it suited his agenda, Brandt would have no compunction about dropping Milo like a stone. He sighed now as Brandt snuck a look at Milo’s mp3 player.

  “Astoria Vine, huh? Jeez, if we could get an artist like that, I’d die a happy man.”

  Milo looked amused despite his unease at hearing Ori’s old name in Brandt’s mouth. “Well, if we keep trawling in the pool of Disney and Nickelodeon kids for our music stars…”

  “Hey, those kids make up seventy-five percent of our business, Milo. And it’s a rapidly diminishing pool. Download and streaming sales are down. Majorly down.”

  Milo shrugged – he’d heard this all before. “Brandt, I keep telling you, touring is the only place musicians make money now. We need to concentrate on signing actual talent instead of human Barbie dolls and boy bands whose shelf life is less than the average Twinkie.”

  Brandt was wearing his favorite expression – the patronizing mr-billionaire-has-no-idea-about-the-real-world face that made Milo irritated and tense. Whose company was this? He still remembered why he set up the company to begin with – his love of music. It had ruled his life since he was a kid, the one thing he could always, always count on. He still remembered hearing Bowie for the first time, going through the racks of his local independent music store for bargains with the money he earned from chores. Heck, he still got excited by new artists, Florence and the Machine, Adele, John Legend – why wasn’t Brandt bringing those gems to him?

  He asked him straight out and Brandt again wore the supercilious smile of the shark. “Because, Milo, we’re not big enough. We haven’t got the showpiece artists on our roster.”

  “Whose fault is that?”

  “This is a business, Milo. I go with what I know will sell.”

  “And to hell with the quality?”

  “Bring me an Astoria Vine and we’ll talk.” Brandt got up to leave. “Until then, let me run the business that made you a billionaire, Milo.”

  He stalked out leaving Milo annoyed and belligerent. He pressed the intercom. “Dan? I need an hour, no interruptions okay?”

  “Sure thing.” Dan, his p.a., was his usual easy-going self.

  Milo stuck the headphones back on his ears as he opened his laptop and typed in Astoria Vine into a search engine. He figured it wasn’t spying if Ori said she wasn’t Astoria Vine anymore, was it?

  Was it?

  ***

  Ori looked around the restaurant feeling very, very exposed. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t experienced this luxury lifestyle when she was Astoria, she just thought that was all behind her and truth be told, all night, she had been worried someone might recognize her. She looked totally different of course, but her eyes always gave her away if someone looked too close. She’d kept her glasses on deliberately, even if they didn’t quite go with the dress she was wearing. The delicate pink showed off the dark olive of her skin, the tiny seed beads on the bodice throwing small sparks of light onto her skin. Milo, to her amusement and embarrassment, took a double-look when she opened the door to him.

  “Wow. Just wow.”

  She’d had to redo her make-up thanks to his admiration. At least, she smirked to herself now, she knew it was easy to get in and out of this dress quickly. Milo grinned at her, reading her mind.

  “Just a preview of what you can look forward to later, Ms. Herd.”

  She snorted. “Confident, much? Well, we’ll see about that, Mr. Shaw.”

  They both laughed and went back to studying the menu. Ori had no idea what to choose, everything looked absolutely stunning. She leaned over to Milo, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Would this establishment frown on me having two entrees and eating them like a half-starved puma?”

  Milo chuckled and put his menu up to hide what he was saying. “Stop talking like that, you’re getting me hot. Also, it’s the only way to eat at this restaurant.”

  She grinned at him and sat back, ordering the steak when the waiter arrived. Mile ordered the same and a red for them to share then took her hand.

  “Hey…I was wondering if you’d like to stay at my apartment tonight? It’s about time you saw it.”

  Ori smiled and pushed away the instant rejection that came to mind immediately. Old habit. Not this time. “I’d love to. Can we stop by my place and pick up some clothes first?”

  “Of course.”

  They chatted easily throughout dinner – which was exquisite – and when dessert came to the table, they shared the indulgent chocolate ganache, swooning over the sugar rush.

  They were enjoying their coffee when Milo suddenly cursed softly under his breath. Ori looked up to see a man with dark blonde hair, small flat gray eyes and a very expensive suit walking towards them. The man glanced at her briefly and Ori flushed as his gaze dropped to her cleavage. The man clapped Milo on the shoulder and greeted him with fake joviality. Ori hated him already. Milo, clearly uncomfortable, introduced them.

  “Brandt, this is my girlfriend…Orianna Herd. Ori, this is Brandt Villiers, he manages the music division of the company.”

  Brandt aimed his fake smile at her then – as Ori had feared – he rocked back a little when he saw her eyes. Dammit dammit dammit. Ori looked back at Milo nervously. His face was closed, annoyed.

  Brandt cleared his throat. “A pleasure. I won’t keep you, my date is waiting. Nice to meet you…Ori. Milo, I’ll talk to you on Monday.”

  Milo gave a tight nod then, as Brandt walked away, glancing back at Ori as if he wasn’t convinced he’d seen what he’d seen.

  Ori felt sick. Milo signaled for the check and less than a minute later they were in his car.

  “I’m so sorry about that, Ori, Brandt is…hell, he’s a jerk. It’s my fault he recognized you. I was listening to the record today and he came in and we were arguing about talent versus instant noodle-pop music.”

  “You were talking about me?” Her voice was small, tight. He looked at her and reached for her hand.

  “No, sweetheart. We were talking about Astoria Vine.”

  And just like that, she relaxed. He got it, he really did. She lifted his hand and pressed her lips to it. “It’s okay….and, um, ‘Orianna‘?” Her voice amused, she grinned at him.

  “I panicked. What is Ori short for anyway? I know it’s not Astoria.”

  “Gloria.” She smothered a giggle. He looked vaguely appalled.

  “Really?”

  “No.” And he laughed with her. She linked her fingers with his. “It’s Orianthi.”

  “That’s beautiful.”

  “Thanks.” They smiled at each other and then Milo was driving into the underground garage of his building. Ori couldn’t help but be impressed at the stylish Art-Deco style of the old building and when they reached his apartment, the loft style of his home, expensively but tastefully decorated, lots of dark wood and muted colors. She walked around the large living room with huge windows
, long sofas, a bookshelf stuffed with business books – and she noted with satisfaction – a large selection of fiction and vinyl records.

  “You like it?”

  She smiled back at him. “It’s gorgeous.”

  Milo took her in his arms. “You’re gorgeous. This is just…home.”

  “I really love it.”

  “Good. Let me show you around the rest of the place.” He said that with a lust-filled smile and hand-in-hand, they walked slowly to his bedroom.

  ***

  Brandt was waiting for Milo when he got to work and Milo had to bite back the snarl that threatened. He knew exactly why Brandt was in his office, looking triumphant. He waited for Brandt to speak first then, when he didn’t, he met the other man’s gaze defiantly. Brandt grinned.

  “You really going to make me say it?”

  Milo feigned ignorance. “Say what?”

  “You’re dating Astoria Vine.”

  Milo felt his shoulders tense. “No. I’m dating Ori Herd.”

  “Come on.” Brandt sat down without being asked, crossing his legs and smiling that obsequious smile that made Milo want to punch him. “That girl is Astoria Vine, I’d know those eyes anywhere. You’re a sneaky one. How long you been shtupping that?”

  Milo’s jaw set and his eyes burned as he looked at his subordinate. “Watch yourself, Brandt.”

  Brandt held his hands up. “Sorry, bad turn of phrase but tell me, Milo…are you trying to persuade her back into the business? Because that would be…well, I don’t have to tell you that would send us through the roof. We’d be the envy of every record company in America, hell, the world. She may have been away from the scene for a few years but no-one, no-one, has stopped talking about her. That almost never happens – an artist goes on hiatus, the momentum is lost. Not with her.”