by Leslie North
Hussain broke the kiss and shifted to her neck as she tilted her head back and closed her eyes to the evading pleasure that landed wherever he touched her. His kisses were mesmerizing as she shivered against him. His hands found their way around her back as he stroked her up and down. Finding her zipper, he drew it down as his warm hands found the skin beneath and he continued to caress her. Everything was happening so quickly, but she was not complaining. Kissing Hussain felt good. Touching him felt better. Him touching her felt best of all, as he slipped her dress off her shoulders.
Rubbing her hands on his arms, her fingers found the buttons on his shirt before sliding her hands under it. He groaned against her neck as she stroked his chest. She rubbed her legs together as she felt her own arousal grow.
Tugging his shirt out of his waistband, she pulled it off him and gasped at the sight of his ripped body. It looked as if it had been carved out of stone. It was perfect in every way. Hussain laid her down on the bed and covered her body with his as he ran his hand through her hair and searched her eyes.
“You are so beautiful,” he told her. Cassie smiled and covered her eyes with her hands suddenly feeling shy. His intense gaze made her knees knock as she felt his erection press against her leg. She felt heat creeping into her face as she chanced a peek at him. “Since when have you been shy?” he asked her.
“I am not shy,” Cassie lied.
“Your mouth says one thing but your blush betrays you.”
Hussain gently caressed her face with his index finger as he looked at her. Staring up into his eyes made Cassie realise what it felt like to be cherished as he gazed upon her much like someone would look at a treasured possession. Swallowing hard, she looked back at him, unsure what to do.
“What’s the matter, habibti?” he asked her as he continued to touch her face. Shaking her head, Cassie had no idea how to describe the feelings that were unfurling deep inside her. She may have lost her memory, but she knew without a doubt that no man had ever looked at her the way Hussain was looking at her now. Unsure if she could even speak, she cupped both sides of his face and leaned up to kiss him.
She had thought that she was done with tears, but a few escaped through her closed eyes as he felt them splash against his lips. Licking at the salty substance, he kissed away her tears as he held her tightly to him. Hussain leaned in and covered her lips with his.
“No more tears, habibti,” he crooned against her lips. “Let us enjoy this moment together.”
Nodding her head, Cassie kissed him. Parting her lips, she nibbled against his lower lip as he groaned in approval. Shifting onto one elbow, his hand began to roam freely over her body as she explored his mouth. He still tasted of coffee and strawberries from the cupcake he ate earlier. Sliding her hands around his back, she ran her nails lightly up and down as he shivered above her in response. Opening startled eyes, he looked down at her to see her face flushed with arousal as she smiled seductively up at him.
While Hussain had been with many women, he surprised himself at his own response to her. This was a woman that if he were not careful, would capture his heart and he might just be willing to give it to her. Grasping her chin, he kissed her again, this time taking control. Their tongues danced together, twisting and turning, as they pressed their bodies tightly against each other. Sliding his hand back down her body, he cupped her breast as he felt it swell against him. Her nipples had stiffened to hard peaks as they pressed against his chest. The sensation made Cassie shiver against him as goose bumps blazed a trail across her body.
Surprised at her own response to him, she reached her hand down to stroke his erection as he leaned up to give her better access. She gently wrapped her hand around his member, biting her lip against her increasing arousal at merely touching him. The skin was so soft and smooth as it bounced against her hand. Squeezing gently, Hussain groaned in response as he captured her hand and together they both lightly stroked him. Cassie moaned at the intimacy of that act as she positioned her legs. Lifting her hips, he slowly pressed between her folds as he pushed inside her. She was so ready for him, as he groaned at how well they fit together.
Lifting himself up, he held her gaze as he began to pump in and out of her. Taking a languid pace, he studied her face as he watched her arousal shift with each stroke. As he pumped in, her own muscles would grasp at his as he slowly pulled back out, his powerful erection bumping against her g-spot as she quivered beneath him in response. Adjusting his angle, he managed to rub against her clit with each inward stroke, which had Cassie closing her eyes as pleasure coursed through her.
As Hussain moved deep inside her, Cassie’s body was alive as sparks lit up everywhere he touched her. Looking up at his face, she melted at the adoring expression he gave her as his soft smile lit up his eyes in a way that was creating feelings deep inside her that she had not experienced before. Not wanting to spoil the moment by analysing it, she held his gaze as she stayed in the moment.
As they stayed that way, locked in the present, Cassie did not realize that she had been moaning as Hussain began to pick up speed, varying his stroke lengths from long to short. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she lifted her hips, meeting each thrust with one of her own. As pleasure ignited a fiery path through her body, her moans turned to cries as she called out his name.
Shortening his thrusts, he groaned loudly as his own pleasure gripped him and he came deep inside her, the spasms from her orgasm milking his.
Cassie smiled up at him as she kissed him. Sliding onto his side, Hussain pulled her with him, not yet ready to let her go as he continued to touch and kiss her.
Chapter 9
The following night, two couples came over for dinner. Hoping that more of her memory would return, Cassie was disappointed that she did not recognise them.
“The twin brothers are our cousins and those are their partners,” Adilah whispered to Cassie who had been standing in the doorway of the drawing room feeling out of place.
“Thank you,” she said to her with a smile. It was as if Adilah knew what she was thinking before she even said it. “That is a lovely dress you are wearing,” she added as she saw the long green dress that complemented her so well.
“Thank you, and you look lovely as well,” Adilah replied. Cassie was wearing a white knee length bodycon dress with a flower pattern. It baffled her as to why everything she owned was body hugging and not suitable for work. Cassie laughed.
“I look okay.”
“You look amazing. I bet it will drive my brother crazy!”
Cassie shifted awkwardly. She had not seen Hussain for most of the day, which worked out well for her because of the previous night's events. She had been feeling vulnerable after the incident at the bakery, but Hussain had been so gentle and loving that he was able to sweep away all her anxiety, if only for the night.
He had ignited feelings deep inside that felt foreign to her as she placed her hand on her stomach to calm the sudden butterflies. While she had appreciated the distance he gave her, she worried that it was nothing more than a fling for him. Shaking her head, she knew that could not be true based on the looks he was giving her, but still she worried.
“He would probably control what I wear if he could,” Cassie joked.
“He might end up doing that you know,” Adilah replied as Cassie sighed heavily.
“He has issues.”
Adilah laughed. “Come in. I want to introduce you to everyone,” she said as she linked Cassie's arm with her own. The two of them walked into the drawing room. Hussain had been speaking to the twins when he saw Cassie and Adilah walk into the room. Cassie and Hussain immediately locked gazes both searching for something in the other’s eyes.
Adilah turned to Cassie. “Why are you and Hussain staring at each other like that?” she asked in hushed tones.
“Erm, what? Nothing,” Cassie replied and quickly broke eye contact. The two women that Adilah had pointed out as the partners of the twins turned to look at Cassie and
Adilah and smiled.
“Hi, Adilah,” said the mixed race one as she kissed both her cheeks. She turned her attention to Cassie. “I'm Tanya” she said with a smile and hugged Cassie.
“Hello, I'm Cassie,” she replied. Tanya was the same height as she was. She was pretty and curvy. She had thick, curly dark hair. The other one was shorter. Like Cassie, she also had brunette hair. She too was very pretty with big grey eyes. Both women were dressed casually in jeans and t-shirts.
“I'm Rene,” she said and hugged Cassie.
“Nice to meet you both.” It seemed liked everyone was friendly except for Hussain.
“She is Hussain's new assistant,” Adilah explained as the women looked at her sympathetically.
“And how is that going?” Rene asked.
“So far, I have only been to two meetings with him.”
“When you get past the controlling side of him, he is a very nice guy,” Tanya offered.
“I think it runs in the Tazeem family,” Rene joked as the women all laughed.
“The man in the blue shirt is Joshua and the one in the white shirt is James,” Adilah pointed out to Cassie. “Wave to the pretty lady!” Adilah called to the twins. They both did as they were told. Cassie smiled and waved back.
“So you are American?” Tanya asked her. “I am hearing a Jersey accent,” she added. Cassie shrugged her shoulders.
“I am American but I am not sure where from originally,” she said. Before they could ask what she meant by that, Adilah explained her bump on the head and amnesia.
“Oh that is terrible,” Rene replied as she rubbed Cassie's arm.
“That must be so frustrating for you,” Tanya added.
“It is. I have tried everything that I could to regain my memory but it is not working. I am beyond frustrated,” Cassie answered.
“Don't force it love. It will not work. Just enjoy your time here and let it happen naturally,” Tanya advised as she smiled at Cassie. Adilah looked at Rene and gasped.
“Oh my gosh, Rene!” she cried out and grabbed her left hand. There was large emerald-cut diamond with a gold band sitting on Rene's finger. “An engagement ring!” Rene smiled.
“That was actually one of the reasons why we came here,” she said. Cassie admired the diamond, which looked to be at least eight carats. It was gorgeous and no doubt expensive. She could not understand why she felt the urge to touch it. She wished she could take it from Rene's finger without her noticing, but that was impossible, as she shook herself inwardly at such an odd reaction.
“Congratulations,” Adilah told her as she hugged Rene. “I cannot wait for the wedding,” she added. Tanya and Rene both laughed.
“Adi, we just got engaged. Let's not start planning the wedding yet.”
“Will the wedding be before or after the birth of the baby?”
“I am not sure at the moment, there’s so much to do.”
“Congratulations on expecting and getting engaged,” Cassie told her.
“Thank you,” Rene said and then chuckled. “I’m not sure which bothered the queen more that we got engaged or that I am pregnant.”
“The queen?” Cassie asked.
“Yes, didn’t you know? James and Joshua are princes and she was not thrilled that her two youngest fell in love with American women,” Tanya informed her.
“Wow, talk about a true fairy tale,” Cassie told them with a smile.
“Tell me about it,” both Rene and Tanya said at the same time before laughing.
One of the maids walked into the drawing room and announced that dinner was ready. As everyone sat down, Cassie found herself next to Hussain. Smiling shyly at him, she still was not sure what to say to him or how much he wanted anyone to know about their change in relationship. They had yet to speak about it and she was feeling insecure enough about everything that she was loath to bring it up first in case he did not feel the same way that she did.
“They look good together, don't they?” Tanya commented nodding towards Cassie and Hussain.
“That is what I was trying to tell them yesterday,” Adilah said. Hussain narrowed his gaze at Tanya as Cassie shifted awkwardly in her seat. They had not even spoken to each other since he had left her room that morning.
“You guys do look really good together,” Rene told them. She placed her hands on her chest and smiled.
“Enough of that,” said Hussain. Everyone at the table laughed.
“Miss Milton, you will have an interesting experience being around the Tazeems,” James told her as he winked. Rene and Tanya looked at each other.
“It seems that they have something different to say about that,” Cassie said cheekily. James looked at Rene and then at Tanya. Joshua sat there next to Rene quietly.
“They love being around us,” James said.
“Do we?” Tanya asked.
“Especially you,” he winked at her. Tanya laughed and looked away.
“So not true,” she took a sip of her drink.
“I have to agree with James on this,” said Joshua.
“Exactly,” said James before he and Joshua did their twins only handshake.
Adilah rolled her eyes. “The men in our family are full of themselves” she said to Cassie.
“Especially James!” Tanya pointed out making Cassie laugh.
“And yet you love me so much,” James told her and kissed her on the cheek. She pushed him away playfully.
“That is what he thinks.”
“Oh come on, you fell head over heels for him rather quickly,” Hussain pointed out.
“Hussain! Whose side are you on?” Tanya cried out as everyone laughed at her.
They all had dinner and joked around as they shared stories about how Rene and Tanya came to live in the palace. Cassie felt comfortable being around them as they made her feel at home. She noticed that James was the more talkative twin; however, they were both so sweet to their partners as they showed them how much they loved them. She could not help but feel a pang of jealousy as she wondered if anyone had ever loved her that much.
As they were eating and talking, there was a moment when Cassie's leg accidentally rubbed against Hussain's. She froze as she was reminded of the previous night. She did not even dare to turn to see Hussain's reaction. Suddenly feeling hot, she picked up her glass and gulped down her drink.
After dinner, Rene and Tanya both hugged Cassie before they left as they wished her luck in regaining her memory. The twins were also sympathetic towards Cassie as they bid her farewell. After everyone left, Cassie escaped back to the safety of her room.
She could not bear being near Hussain, at least not yet. She had so many emotions churning around inside her that she worried that she might say the wrong thing. He had awakened feelings inside her that she was unsure if she’d ever felt them before, which was yet another reason why she was desperate to get her memory back.
Chapter 10
Cassie walked into the elegant dining room the next morning dressed in a black and white knee length bodycon dress and black pumps. She had yet to get over how lavish everything was as she glanced at all the original oil paintings that lined the walls. Hussain was already at the table, reading his newspaper when she joined him.
“Adilah has not come down yet?” Cassie asked as she sat down. Hussain did not respond to her and kept reading. “Hey! I'm asking you a question,” she told him as she tapped on the newspaper with her hand. Hussain lowered the newspaper and looked at her.
“What?” he asked.
“Adilah. Has she come down for breakfast yet?” Cassie asked him in a singsong voice.
“What? No greeting for me?” he asked batting his eyelashes at her as though he were a schoolgirl.
Rolling her eyes, Cassie crossed her arms, as she looked him up and down, “How old are you?” she questioned.
“Thirty-three,” he replied as he continued to bat his eyelashes.
“Hmmm…” she responded as she tapped at her lower lip. “You are quite i
mmature,” she told him in a severe tone.
Snorting in response, he went to pick the paper back up, but Cassie stopped him. Glancing around, she leaned over to kiss him on the cheek, but he turned his head and she kissed his lips. Looking at him in surprise as he grinned at her, “Good morning, Hussain.”
“Good morning, Cassie,” he responded.
“Will Adilah be coming down for breakfast?” she asked again. Hussain folded his newspaper and placed it to the side.
“She has already gone into work.”
“You could not have said that the first time?”
“And miss that kiss? Never.”
Cassie laughed as the maids came in with trays of food. They placed them on the table and bowed to Hussain before they left. Cassie poured herself some coffee and then added milk and two spoons of sugar. Taking a sip of the coffee, she smiled as she swallowed. It tasted delightful.