Her Royal Bed

by Laura Wright

  Alert now, Jane straightened in her seat. “How would you know that?”

  With a dismissive flip of the hand, Sakir uttered, “I have ways of finding out information.”

  The heat from the fire seemed to intensify as Jane absorbed this news. If all Bobby Callahan had been able to manage until now was a date or two, then she was in luck. Aside from the dates they’d shared, Bobby had actually sought her out—at the mall with Rita—and had shared his personal history with her. Those were not the acts of a casual affair.

  “Jane?”

  She looked into her brother’s dark eyes with their wary expression, and grinned like a teenager. “So, he had no serious girlfriends in the past, huh?”

  Realizing that the information he’d given her as a warning had only managed to spur her on, Sakir shot her a penetrating stare. “You do not take this matter seriously.”

  “Oh, believe me, Sakir, I take this very seriously.”

  Clearly he didn’t believe her, because a moment later he was shaking his head and muttering foolish threats. “I am afraid I will have to forbid you from seeing him again.”

  Unable to stop herself, Jane burst out laughing. “Oh, c’mon, Sakir.”

  “I am in earnest.”

  “You’re talking like it’s the nineteenth century and you’re my guardian.”

  “As your brother I have the right to make decisions, even demands.”

  Suddenly Jane’s laughter died, and so did her smile. She looked at him. Really looked. He wasn’t kidding. And this wasn’t a quirky brother-sister squabble over what was best for Jane. This was Sheikh Al-Nayhal making an edict.

  Her gaze fixed to his, Jane spoke gravely to her brother. “Understand something, please. You have no rights over me. I love you, Sakir, but I’m an adult.”

  As if he hadn’t heard her, Sakir continued, “While you are under my roof—”

  “Please don’t go there.”

  “Jane.”

  “I’m serious, Sakir. That’s a dangerous road to take.”

  “So is the one you are traveling on,” he snapped. “Our father would not allow this—”

  “I have no father,” she interrupted, her tone dotted with a sourness she never knew she possessed. But the truth of the matter was she would never consider the wishes of a parent who had not been in her life—or a brother who hardly knew her, yet believed he knew what was best for her.

  “You may not have known the great sultan,” Sakir said tightly. “But he would not have allowed such a thing to continue, and I’m afraid I cannot allow it, either.”

  They stared at each other, stubborn green eyes to dictatorial ones. Finally, Jane stood and nodded. “I’ll leave first thing in the morning.”

  A dark-red stain moved over Sakir’s face. “I will not allow that, either.”

  She said nothing, couldn’t say anything with the lump of misery in her throat. Her new family was causing her tremendous pain, forcing her to look at difficult choices.

  But the choice to walk away from Sakir, in that moment, was the easiest one she knew she’d ever make.

  “We’re a couple of sorry saps.”

  “How do you figure that?” Bobby asked. He and Abel sat on the porch steps, stars flickering in the sky above, beers in hand, just as they’d done almost every night since the older man had come to work at KC Ranch.

  Gloom curled through Abel’s voice. “Another night with no women.”

  “Speak for yourself. I was out last night,” Bobby reminded him.

  “And where’s that pretty little filly tonight?”

  “Back at Al-Nayhal’s.”

  Hearing the irritation in Bobby’s voice, Abel rolled his lips under his teeth. “You know, that Tara’s a nice-looking woman.”

  “You think so, do you?”

  “I do. Nicest-looking woman I’ve seen since…” Abel’s voice drifted off and he looked slightly pained at the near mention of his ex-wife, and understandably so. He’d loved her something awful.

  “Maybe you should do something about it,” Bobby suggested, thinking that the man deserved some home and hearth after what he’d been through.

  “Maybe.”

  “What’s the problem?” Bobby asked, his tone threaded with a challenge. “You scared to go under the knife again?”

  Abel tipped his beer bottle back and took a swig. “Too old to get my guts ripped out.”

  “Yeah, I can see that.”

  Catching the grin on Bobby’s face, Abel chuckled. “But then again, I don’t want to end up like you, either.”

  Shifting on the creaky wooden step, Bobby shot Abel a glare of reproach. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “One woman to the next. You hardly get to know ’em before you say adios.”

  Bobby gave a defensive shrug. “Haven’t found the right girl, that’s all. Not that it’s any of your business.”

  As usual, Abel ignored the last comment. “Jane looks pretty right to me.”

  To Bobby, too.

  Damn her.

  Visions of tangled legs, wet fingers and a strange familiarity that went far past the physical, shot into his brain.

  Damn her.

  There was nothing wrong with good old-fashioned sex. Nothing wrong with a day of fun out on the lake. Nothing, except the ties that bind you, force you closer, worm their way inside your brain and stop you from thinking about anything else.

  That’s what was happening with Jane. He couldn’t think about anything or anyone else. He wanted more—more of her hands on him, more of the laughter in her eyes, more of that heart that practically sang with compassion and truth.

  On a trashy curse, he shoved his empty beer can into Abel’s hand and mumbled, “I’ll see you later.”

  As he stalked down the path to the driveway, Abel called after him, “Where you going?”

  “Need to clear my head,” Bobby shot back over his shoulder.

  “If it were only that easy,” Bobby heard the man say with a dry chuckle as he headed for his truck.

  The weight of him pressing down on her body nearly had her breathless.

  Wet, wonderful kisses blanketed Jane’s mouth as she wrapped her legs around his waist and thrust her hips up. Bobby entered her slowly, inch by glorious inch, and she reveled in the sweet invasion.

  Then, in a red flash, they were fully clothed and Bobby was ripped from her by Sakir. In one disjointed movement, Sakir plowed his fist into Bobby’s gut. A low groan erupted from Bobby’s throat, and he went at Sakir like a defensive lineman. Jane watched helplessly as the two men fought without fear and without tiring for what seemed like an eternity.

  Suddenly she was Bobby, and she was the one fighting her brother with all the strength of a man. She felt his bone-crushing blows to her jaw and ribs. She felt the sadness, horror and adrenaline that kept her from running, kept her fighting even when her body cried in pain, even as tears washed her cheeks….

  “Hey, hey there, darlin’.”

  Jane’s eyes flew open; she was instantly relieved of her nightmare. She was in her room, the scents of fresh bed linen and night air curling through her senses.

  But there was something else.

  Someone else.

  Her heart smacked against her ribs and she sat up, stared into the blue gaze of the very man she had been dreaming about. “Ohmigod, Bobby.”

  “Shhh…” he said, placing a finger to her lips, looking around at the door and the window.

  Jane glanced at the clock. Eleven forty-five. Then back at him. “How did you get into my room?”

  “Through the window.”

  Not sure she’d heard him correctly, she tilted her head to see past him to the open window. “I’m on the second floor, and there’s a guard and dogs.”

  “That’s right.” His gaze, so dark and intense, slipped to her mouth. He reached out, traced the edge of her jaw with his fingertip. “That’s how badly I needed to see you?”

  Reality dawned. He was really here, in her room
, on her bed. “Is something wrong or—”

  His finger moved up, flicked gently over her lower lip. “Nothing’s wrong, darlin’. I just needed to give you something.”

  “What is it?”

  “This.” With gentle hands, he eased her back to the mattress once again. His eyes filled with wicked intent, he hovered above her, his thigh nestled between her legs.

  “And this,” he uttered, his mouth greedily descending on hers.

  Ten

  All that Jane wanted was to have him inside her.

  Ever since that night—that party at the Turnbolts’—she’d wondered if those delicious quakes and shivers she’d experienced lying beneath Bobby, the way her blood had roared in her brain like a starved animal, had been real, or just a product of her overly romantic thought processes.

  Jane gazed down and sucked air between her teeth, her skin hot and electric at the sight before her. Bobby lay cradled between her legs, blazing a trail of kisses from her knee to her trembling inner thigh.

  Her womb ached at the sight—there was no other way to describe the feeling, but it was one she’d never experienced before. Strong and pulsing, running straight from brain to blood.

  She realized that the Turnbolts’ party had been just a prequel to this night. A fusion of not just two bodies, but two souls, two minds and, if she got her way, two hearts.

  “You’re so sweet, Jane,” whispered Bobby against the hot skin of her thigh as he nuzzled his way, nipping and suckling, to the center of her.

  Perhaps it was a purely sexual urge, perhaps she was desperate to connect with him, but Jane rose up on her elbows to watch him. With gentle hands he splayed her thighs and dipped his head.

  Electric heat shot through her as tongue met the hard band of her sex. The groans and breathy sounds didn’t feel as though they were coming from her, but the strain of her throat proved otherwise. Her gaze moved over Bobby. His hands on her hips, the pads of his fingers digging deliciously into the flesh of her buttocks, his dark head buried between her thighs.

  His tongue was creating a trail of fire as he raked up and down the hooded tangle of nerves. His movements were ruthless and hungry, and Jane felt her hips lift, felt them pump against his mouth, move and jerk out of instinct alone.

  She let her head fall back, her hand fisting his hair, slamming him harder against her.

  Bobby had never had a woman take what she wanted in such a bold, open way. As Jane pumped and writhed against his mouth, she left no doubt of her need for him, and he adored her for it.

  “Please,” she breathed.

  “How do you want this, darlin’?” said Bobby, his groin tight, his cock straining against the zipper of his jeans as the salty tang of her invaded his nostrils. “My mouth or my—”

  “I want you. Inside me.”

  That’s what Bobby wanted, too. Maybe he was a fool for caring so much, for needing this woman the way he did. But he couldn’t help himself. As he slipped on a condom, he realized how much he wanted to remember tonight, the way he’d loved her, the way he’d given himself to her as he knew he could never do out of bed.

  But all his thoughts and sorry hopes vanished as Jane wriggled beneath him, her hips arching with a need that hadn’t yet been fulfilled. Bobby’s gaze slipped to the entrance to her body, glistening wet and pink. Fear mingled with the rock-hard need possessing every muscle in his body. Joining with her, pushing into the tight, scalding glove of her body, meant more to him than he’d ever thought possible.

  For one brief moment, he thought about burying his head once again between her beautiful thighs, sending her to the heavens with his tongue and fingers. But her eyes were on him, burning with a raging fire that ran through his blood, as well.

  She spread her legs wide and reached for him. “Please, Bobby.”

  “Yes. Yes, sweetheart.” With one sure thrust, he pushed through the tight passageway and found heaven.

  “Bobby,” she uttered, her muscles closing around him in a gentle fist.

  Bobby’s mind went numb, blood pounded in his ears. All thoughts of revenge and guilt and lust and hope seeped out of his mind and left him with nothing but a soothing euphoria.

  His mouth tucked into her neck, his erection poised deep inside her body, he whispered, “Tell me you’re not going to leave this time.”

  “No. I’m not going anywhere,” she said, clinging to him, pumping her hips slowly, urging him to move.

  And he could deny himself no longer. He rose up and slammed back down. Over and over, he thrust inside her. Damp flesh slapping against damp flesh. The sound, mingled with Jane’s cries, drove him mad.

  Bobby knew they could be heard, and muffled the sounds of her pleasure with his mouth. A red haze blanketed the room, coated his mind. And he shook, hard and long. Felt Jane shudder, the muscles around him quaked as she climaxed. Then he was coming, intense and hot, his own shout of pleasure softened by her deep kiss.

  Minutes rolled by, maybe longer, Bobby wasn’t certain. He felt drained, and as though he never wanted to move again. He couldn’t recall ever feeling so satisfied, so alive. And the feeling scared the hell out of him.

  “Bobby?”

  His gaze found hers, sleepy and lush. “Yes, darlin’?”

  She cupped his cheek in her palm. “There’s something I’ve got to ask you.”

  “All right.”

  Her smile was slow and not a little bit sensual. “Were you infiltrating the enemy’s fortress tonight?”

  He matched her smile, though his gut twisted with a twinge of guilt. “It’s no secret that I’m not welcome here. And yes, I feel some satisfaction that I got up here, to you, without being detected. But believe me when I say that my reason for climbing that tree was all about seeing you, darlin’.”

  “You missed me?”

  “Damn right.”

  “Good.” She kissed him, slow and sexy, then whispered, “But maybe you should go now.”

  Rolling to his back on the bed, Bobby chuckled. “Not the thing a man wants to hear right after making love.”

  The playfulness in her eyes vanished, and her shoulders fell. “I know, but I can’t handle another confrontation tonight.”

  “What do you mean, another?”

  She sighed. “Sakir and I got into a fight earlier.”

  “About me?”

  She gave him a grim smile. “No, about me. He wants to impose his brotherly wisdom on me.”

  Irritation slammed into him as her discord became his. “He wants you to stay away from the cowboy on his land.”

  “Wants is the relaxed version,” said Jane. “He actually demanded that I never see you again, as if I was twelve.”

  “Maybe to him you are,” said Bobby, suddenly feeling as though he’d made a mistake in coming here tonight. He hated that he’d caused her pain, caused a rift between her and her brother. He was actually beginning to despise himself more than he did Sakir.

  “So, what did you tell him?” said Bobby, self-recrimination making his tone sharper than he wanted. “Because this won’t be our last meeting.”

  Her eyebrows rose at the obvious possessiveness in his tone, but she didn’t refute it. “I told him I was an adult, and that I’ll make my own decisions, choices and mistakes.”

  Mistakes. The word cut through Bobby like a chainsaw.

  With a shrug, Jane said, “I just need some space from him, that’s all.”

  Bobby glanced around. “Well, this house is big enough for it.”

  “I don’t think so. I told him I was leaving.”

  Bobby was so shocked he actually sat up. “What?” he said angrily. “Where are you going?”

  “Probably to a hotel for a few days.”

  Relief that she wasn’t leaving town altogether spread through him like warm honey, and he relaxed momentarily. But only momentarily because a realization assaulted him. He wasn’t angry over the thought that her absence meant his plan failing. No, he was angry at the thought of days and nights without
her.

  He was in the deep end, swimming with sharks.

  Big trouble.

  “I have the baby’s party on Saturday to plan,” Jane was saying. “So, I have to stay close.”

  “You’re still going to do that party?”

  “Of course I am,” she said strongly. “Daya is my niece. Granted, this whole thing with Sakir puts a damper on matters, but I’ve never been one to walk away from a commitment.”

  No, he’d just bet she hadn’t.

  “You’re not going to any hotel, Jane.” The words and their meaning were out of his mouth before he could take them back.

  She sighed and moved away from him to the edge of the bed. “Don’t you start, too.”

  “I’m not bossing, Jane, I’m asking you to stay with me.”

  The smile she granted him could have lit a dark, Texas sky. “Bobby, that’s sweet of you, but—”

  “The hell with sweet,” he barked good-naturedly, shoving off the bed and coming to his feet. “It’s purely selfish. I may’ve made it sound like it was easy before, but if I have to climb up that trellis one more time I might just end up losing my best bits.”

  As she watched him yank on his jeans, she laughed. “And we can’t have that.”

  “No, indeed.”

  She inhaled deeply, shrugged. “I don’t know. My mom’s got to be with—”

  “You and Tara can stay in Abel’s house,” Bobby told her quickly. “It’s private, but close enough to the main house for whatever you might need.”

  “Bobby, I don’t know…”

  “Yes, you do.” He grinned, tucking in his flannel shirt. “It’s a damn good plan and you know it.”

  Bobby watched as ten different emotions crossed her face while she weighed the pros and cons of such an offer. Then finally, she smiled. “Okay.”

  “Good. I’ll be by for you around seven.”

  “No. We’ll come to you.”

  Understanding her need for independence right now, Bobby nodded, then leaned over and gave her a kiss before heading out the window and down the trellis. A grin tugged at his mouth. He couldn’t have asked for anything more. Jane close by, at his home and on his land, and the sweet knowledge that they were both making Sakir Al-Nayhal pay for his commands and arrogance.