“That you normally try to avoid me at all costs?” he finished for her, standing up and towering over her.
He grabbed her hand when she tried to back up. “Zuri, why is that?” he asked, feeling her finger shake. “Why do I frighten you so much?”
His voice gentled as he pulled her relentlessly closer.
Her lips softened and her body…she was so damn beautiful, he thought. What the hell was it about her that completely did it for him? And what the hell did he do to her that made her pull back every damn time he came around?
If it hadn’t been for that kiss several months ago, he would give up and release her from their engagement. But that kiss had blown him away and, by the equally dazed look on her face, he knew with absolute certainty that she’d felt the same way.
“Because you’re a huge obnoxious–”
She stopped, distracted, when his thumb rubbed over the pulse pounding at her wrist. “So, my size frightens you?”
She opened her mouth, then closed it, staring down at his callused hand cradling hers, fighting back a blush. Tarin might be big, but he held her gently. If she wanted to pull away, she could. He wouldn’t hurt her or push himself on her.
That damn blush made his body harden with white-hot need…something that always happened when Zuri was around. Even with all of her crazy thinking, her vegetarian preferences, and those damn mystery novels, which he knew freaked her out and yet she devoured as many as she could get her hands on, he thought she was the most amazing, sensuous, lively, and incredible woman he’d ever met.
Not to mention, every time they touched, the sparks could light up the city!
“No,” she finally whispered, pulling her hand away. “It isn’t your size. It’s…there’s just something about you that I…”
He waited, wanting to understand, but she gave up, shaking her head. But without her words, without an explanation, he was clueless.
She took a deep breath and stepped back. “Regardless of our personal issues, I am asking, begging, you for help. I know that something is wrong and Jabril is in danger.”
“What do you know?”
“Just that he’s gone and most of his guards are too. There’s a lot of activity in the control room, so I know that his security team is doing something too. They appear a bit frantic and maybe planning something, something big. But they won’t tell me what’s going on. I’m in the dark and that pisses me off!” she gritted through clenched teeth. “I’m not a stupid little girl, Tarin. I shouldn’t be left in the dark like this.”
“You’re right,” he agreed soothingly, trying to calm her temper. “I’ll see what I can find out.” He paused, waiting for her shoulders to relax slightly. Then he added, “Under one condition.”
She frowned warily. “What’s that?”
He leaned against his desk again. “I want you to kiss me.”
She stared at him as if he’d just said she needed to build a rocket and fly to the moon.
“I’m sorry but…?”
He leaned forward until their faces were barely inches apart. “Kiss me, Zuri. Just a small kiss. Prove that you’re not afraid of me.”
She frowned thoughtfully up at him, nibbling on her lower lip. Longing, he realized. Her eyes dropped to his mouth and he wanted to laugh with relief at the subconscious confirmation she felt the power between them too, but held back. If she dared to look any lower, she’d know exactly how her look had affected him and she’d run away.
“I can’t…”
“You can,” he argued softly.
“Tarin…?”
“One kiss, Zuri. Not too much to ask for in return for my help.” He put his hands on the desk behind him. “I won’t even touch you. Besides, if Jabril is truly in danger, I might be in danger as well when I find him. This might be our last kiss. The last time we see each other.”
Zuri’s heart clenched painfully in her chest with the possibility of never seeing Tarin again. The idea was…impossible! Tarin was too big, too powerful! She had to believe that. The pounding pain in her chest warned her that she was in too deep already, but the idea of never seeing Tarin again was so awful, she actually ached at the possibility.
She knew that Tarin was too big to be taken down by mere mortals. What could mortals do to a god? But then again, she’d believed that of Jabril too! And look what had happened? He was gone and no one would tell her where he was, or even if he was okay!
“Don’t…” she started, stepping closer once again. She pressed her lips together and took another step. “Don’t get hurt!” she whispered fervently. “I…I want my brother safe, but I don’t…I don’t want you hurt either.”
“Kiss me, Zuri. Kiss me as if this is the last time you might see me.”
She shivered at the possibility, stepping closer still. She felt the heat radiating from him and her fingers lifted, needing that heat, the reassurance of his strength and power. He was so big! She reached out, tentatively touching the bulging pectoral muscle. “Tarin, I…”
“Please, Zuri,” he interrupted, his voice doing that rough and husky thing that never failed to make her lady parts liquefy.
She contemplated kissing him. Not just what it might feel like, but also how to actually accomplish such a task. Tarin was leaning against his desk, lowering his height, but he was still much taller and she had to lift up onto her toes. Doing that meant she had to hold onto something. Since his legs were spread wide and she stood between them, she couldn’t reach his desk. Nor was she brave enough to put her hands on his rock-hard thighs for balance. That meant that she needed to put her hands on his chest. His firm, muscular, drool-worthy chest and…
She glanced up to find him watching her. Licking her lips, she contemplated his mouth. How did one kiss a man like Tarin? Should she just…?
Oh, please don’t let this be their last kiss, she thought with a surprising sharp pain in her heart. Lifting up on her toes, she stared into his eyes. Every interaction with this man had been focused on getting away from him. And yet, the thought of him not being around for her to annoy or avoid, was too painful to contemplate.
And deep down inside, Zuri admitted a certain fascination at the idea of kissing the man. Yes, she’d avoided him after their last kiss because it had gotten out of control. She’d felt things that…she didn’t want to explore. But being in control…that would be so much better! She could control the passion of their kiss this time! She could…
“It isn’t complicated, Zuri,” he teased. “It’s just a kiss.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Shut up, Tarin!” she grumbled. He’d always been in control, always in charge. She’d tried to be nimble at avoiding his touch, even though she often failed. But now…she was in charge! Oh, how exhilarating!
“Zuri, if this is too…”
“Shut up!” she repeated, but this time, she lifted onto her toes and pressed her lips against his. It was a clumsy move, designed to stop whatever he’d been about to say. But as soon as her lips touched his, everything changed. Her lips softened, she tilted her head slightly, switching from a mashing of her lips against his to a soft, electrified caress.
Back and forth, she experimented with the texture of his lips, exhilarated by the sensation every time her lips touched his. Over and over, she kissed him, his lips softening as well, becoming more active. He leaned in, giving her better access, while she reached up, her fingers diving into his hair and pulling his head closer.
Seemingly of its own accord, their kiss intensified. His lips parted, his teeth nipped at her lip and she gasped, which gave him access to her mouth. He deepened the kiss further, his mouth ravaging hers and she loved it, pressing in against him instinctively.
Zuri couldn’t think any longer. Her thoughts whirled incoherently as she pressed closer, wanting him to touch her, to wrap his arms around her. At that exact moment, his hands closed on her back and slid lower, cupping her bottom through the filmy material of her dress. A moment later, their positions switched. He was now stand
ing over her, his hips pressed between her legs as he perched her precariously on his massive desk. Leaning in, his mouth pulling away from her lips to nuzzle her ear, her neck, moving lower as his hands moved higher. Suddenly, there was no material between his hands and her legs. It was just white-hot skin against skin, his fingers curling against her bottom. Something ripped but she wasn’t aware of anything or anyone, other than his hands against her skin. Nothing was enough and she arched into him, gasping for breath as she pulled his head closer.
And then he stopped! Zuri took a deep breath, her lips feeling swollen, as did certain other parts of her body. Swollen and aching and furious that he’d stopped!
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Resisting the Sheik's Commands (The Diamond Club Book 1) Page 16