The Sheikh's Secret Heir Read online

  After covering herself in cloth, she climbed out of the pool and approached him. “Quite frankly, I don’t appreciate you working me into a sexual frenzy, then stopping without any explanation.”

  After setting his clothing aside on the table, he pulled on his underwear to cover the fact he was not quite recovered. “As much as I would like to make love to you again, I cannot in good conscience continue and, in turn, be the reason for your regrets in the morning.”

  She sighed. “It’s very difficult for me to fight this, but I don’t want to complicate our situation more by making a wrong decision.”

  “Our situation does not have to be complicated. We are two vital people who enjoy intimacy.”

  She sent him a frustrated look. “But what happens after we return to Bajul? Do we pretend our first night together and this trip didn’t exist?”

  Truth be known, he could not tolerate the thought of not seeing her again. He found her intriguing, fascinating, and since their meeting, she had never been a thought away in his mind. Yet he feared he could never measure up to her ideal of what a man should be.

  “I would be remiss if I made promises to you that I cannot keep at this point in my life. Knowing that, should you decide you would like to explore further intimacy, I would welcome that decision. Consequently, you may rest assured I will not pursue you again.”

  “All right,” she said as she started away then paused to face him again. “If you’re okay with forgetting what transpired between us, so be it. But I, on the other hand, will carry the reminders with me for years.”

  After Kira disappeared into the house, Tarek dropped down on a chaise to ponder the puzzling comment. He despised the thought that he had wounded her so deeply that she would forever have his careless disregard imprinted on her soul. He hated that he had not seen through her guise about accepting a casual relationship. She still retained a certain amount of innocence, whereas he had become jaded when matters of the heart were involved.

  He needed to stay away from her, yet never touching her again seemed unthinkable. More important, she had begun to stir emotions he wanted to ignore. Perhaps he could not love her for the long term, but he could find some way to prove that he was not the ogre she believed him to be. That he did value her. He would have to achieve that objective without a hint of seduction, and that mission would prove to be quite the challenge.

  * * *

  “He wants me to do what?”

  Athena walked into the private elevator leading to the third floor and waited for Kira to enter and the doors to close before responding. “Tarek has asked that you select the finishes for the owner’s suite.”

  Of all the strange requests. “Shouldn’t he be doing that? Better still, shouldn’t you? After all, you know him better than I do.”

  “One would think,” Athena said. “But he insists you should take charge of this.”

  From Athena’s slightly acid tone, Kira could tell the woman wasn’t the least bit happy. “Fine, but I would really appreciate your input as well.”

  “My pleasure,” she said as she threw open the wooden double doors with dramatic flair. “Here we are.”

  Kira stepped inside the massive suite, which was well lit due to the bank of glass doors, much like those back at the villa. The view of the surf hitting the private beach below was no less impressive. Aside from a huge king-sized bed with a bare mattress and a black bureau on one wall, the room was as empty as the kitchen. At least the walls had been painted white.

  Athena crossed the room and gestured Kira to the double dresser. “These are a few samples the designer left for you to review.”

  Kira leaned over and studied the samples, then pointed at one opaque tile. “This is out because Tarek doesn’t like green.”

  “Perhaps you know him better than you assume.”

  She sent Athena a weak smile over one shoulder. “Not really. I just remember him mentioning it in passing during one of our conversations.”

  “I am surprised since green is often associated with money.”

  Kira ignored Athena’s cynical tone and turned back to the samples. “I believe the gray glass tile works well for the shower, white porcelain tile for the floor and Carrara marble for the bathroom vanity. The darker bamboo for the bedroom flooring would be a nice contrast.”

  “I agree,” Athena said, actually sounding as if she did. “What would you suggest for the color palette in the bedroom?”

  When Kira straightened, her head began to spin. “I think...I need to sit down.”

  Looking concerned, Athena surprisingly took her by the shoulders and sat her down on the bed. “May I get you something?”

  “Some water,” Kira croaked as she waited for the dizziness to subside.

  “Did you have breakfast?” Athena asked.

  She shook her head. “I had some pineapple juice.”

  “Then I will return with some proper food immediately. In the meantime, feel free to lie down.”

  After Athena left, Kira kicked off her sandals and stretched out on the plush mattress, one arm draped over her eyes. The lack of sleep certainly hadn’t helped her predicament, nor had her and Tarek’s interlude last night. She’d come so close to telling him about the baby, yet she’d lost her courage at the last minute. Maybe the time had come to let him in on the secret. Or not. She needed more time, a better opportunity. A more private place where they would be guaranteed privacy. She couldn’t imagine anything worse than to have someone walk in on them when she was saying, “Oh by the way, Tarek, I’m going to have a baby....”

  “Are you not well, Kira?”

  Speaking of the prospective daddy. She uncovered her eyes to see Tarek standing at the footboard, holding a glass of water. “I’m fine. I didn’t sleep well last night.”

  He rounded the bed, perched on the edge of the mattress and offered her the glass. “Perhaps you should return to the villa to rest.”

  Kira scooted up against the headboard and took a sip of water. “I’ve barely done anything today aside from picking out a few tiles, which leads me to a question. Why do you want me to decorate your suite?”

  “I value your judgment.”

  “I still believe you should provide your input, in case I’m off base.”

  “As long as it is not green, I will be satisfied with your choices.”

  “You spoke to Athena.”

  He cracked a half smile. “How else would I have learned of your illness?”

  “I’m not ill, Tarek. I’m....” She couldn’t tell him here, or now for that matter. She needed more time to prepare. More time to know if telling him would be the right move to make. “I’m just a little fatigued.”

  Fortunately, he didn’t look skeptical, but he did look concerned. “Then you should definitely return to the house to rest. However, I do have a task for you this evening if you are feeling up to it. One I believe you will enjoy.”

  Task could cover a whole spectrum of possibilities.

  “I’m positive I’ll be fine by then. I do have a question, though. Does this task require wearing all our clothes?”

  He hesitated, leading Kira to believe he was warring with himself over a proper response. “Yes, it does. Dress in formal attire and meet me at the entry no later than nine p.m.”

  Kira experienced a nip of panic over eating that late, and not having a thing to wear. “I brought only a few casual outfits and business suits.”

  He came to his feet and held out his hand. “Then I shall have something appropriate sent to the villa. Do you have a color preference?”

  She allowed him to help her up, but continued to grip the water glass with both hands to quell the urge to touch him. “I’m sure I’ll be happy with what you pick, and I’m almost certain it won’t be green.”

  His smile arrived full-th
rottle, bright as the sun and sensual to a fault. “I will have Athena choose the dress.”

  Lovely. That meant she could be wearing metallic rags. “All right. Can you give me a hint as to what we’ll be doing this evening?”

  “I will say only that you will have a memorable experience.”

  Knowing him, and herself in his presence, she had no doubt about that.

  * * *

  “Exactly how well do you know Kira Darzin?”

  Seated in his private office at the resort, Tarek continued to scan the expense report, intent on ignoring Athena’s inquisition. “I see we’ve gone over budget on the kitchen redesign.”

  “Your newest protégée is to blame for that. I ask again, how well do you know her?”

  He set the binder aside on the desk and leaned back in his chair. “She is not my protégée. She is serving as my advisor.”

  Athena began to pace the room like a captive animal. “I have known you to be a lot of things when it comes to women, but never naïve.”

  “What is your point, Athena?”

  She paused to face him, her hands tightly balled at her sides. “I believe she is bent on sabotaging you by insisting on unnecessary changes to the resort’s plans. Everything she has suggested will cost you more money.”

  Athena was more ruthless than he when it came to expenditures, even though it did not affect her bank account. “Why do you believe she would do this?”

  She began pacing again. “Revenge, perhaps. I suspect you have angered her and she is attempting to punish you by targeting what you cherish the most. Your fortune.”

  He kept a choke hold on his anger. “These accusations you are making are absurd, Athena. The price of the alterations to the original kitchen configuration is minimal in light of the overall cost to build this resort. Your allegations stem from a personal vendetta.”

  She appeared shocked by his assessment. “I have no idea why you would believe that.”

  “Kira mentioned that you confirmed we were lovers. Perhaps this attack on her motivation is your retribution for the wrongs you believe I have committed against you.”

  “And your indictment tells me that this woman matters more to you than you care to admit. And since you have such faith in Ms. Darzin’s abilities, perhaps it would be best if I resign my position, effective immediately.”

  Tarek shoved his chair back and stood. “You would leave in the middle of a project you encouraged me to begin?”

  “Actually, yes. I’m certain you and your new charge will work very well together, until you tire of her as you tired of me.”

  He refused to wage a war of words with her. “I will see to it you receive suitable severance for your efforts.”

  Athena’s smile was laced with sarcasm. “How generous of you. And as soon as you take off your blinders, you might want to pay more attention to your new lover’s behavior. She could very well be harboring a secret that would not please you.”

  Before Tarek could offer a rejoinder, Athena rushed out of the room like a tempest and slammed the door behind her. He knew how Athena operated when she did not have her way. She would attempt to come back, apologize and return to business as usual. This time, he would not take her back, nor would he give any credence to her suspicions. He would sense if Kira was hiding something important from her. Unlike Athena, she did not have a deceptive cell in her being. She had demonstrated that to him through her insistence he be completely honest with her, and he had yet to answer that request.

  No matter. He was more than ready to sever all ties with Athena, despite the hardship it would create on their deadline. This turn of events would change all aspects of his current project, yet he felt optimistic he had the answer to the dilemma—as long as he could demonstrate to Kira how much he needed her.

  * * *

  She needed to finish putting on her makeup, but first she needed to answer the summons.

  As she tightened her white terry bathrobe, Kira crossed the room and opened the door to Alexios, who was clutching a vinyl garment bag. “Your attire for the evening, madam,” he said.

  She couldn’t wait to see what Athena had picked out and, in some ways, dreaded it. “Thank you, Alexios. And tell Ms. Clerides I appreciate her assistance in choosing the dress.”

  He sent her a puzzled look. “Mr. Azzmar selected the attire, not Miss Clerides.”

  Even more intriguing. Apparently the rebuffed ex-lover had intentionally declined making the purchase. “I see. I’ll thank him later. Is he here now?”

  “He is currently placing his routine call to Morocco. He told me to inform you he will be awaiting your arrival at the entry.”

  “Thank you, Alexios. Tell him I shouldn’t be too long.”

  “As you wish, Madam,” he said before heading away.

  Kira closed the door and pondered what the servant had said. Could that call be the one Athena had mentioned? Of course, logic said Tarek was speaking with the staff at the Moroccan mansion. Or that he had a silent business partner. Or another woman waiting in the wings.

  She had no cause to be suspicious and hated that Athena had put those thoughts in her head, probably intentionally so.

  Discarding her concerns for the time being, Kira laid the bag on the bed, unzipped it and removed one of the most beautiful full-length gowns she had ever seen. A shimmering fitted silver gown with a plunging halter neckline and an equally low back, along with a box containing matching high-heeled silver sandals.

  She was admittedly floored by Tarek’s choice and extremely surprised to find he’d chosen her correct size with both the dress and shoes. Maybe a lucky guess, but she predicted he’d had one of the staff check out her closet for reference.

  After laying the gown across the bed, she returned to the bathroom to finish fixing her face, then pulled her hair back from her forehead and secured it with pins. Now for the finishing touch—putting on the one-carat diamond studs, the only souvenir from her previous relationship since she’d tossed the engagement ring at him during their breakup. Was that appropriate, wearing earrings another man had given her? Possibly not, but what Tarek didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Except for the whole baby issue.

  She could spring the news on him tonight. Or not. She still needed to learn more about him, ask a few leading questions in light of what she’d recently learned, and then decide if he deserved to be a daddy. Wanted to be a daddy. The answer to both could be a resounding no.

  Recognizing time was slipping away, Kira shrugged out of the robe and stepped into the dress. She then walked to the floor-length mirror hanging on the back of the door to do a closer inspection. No panty lines since she’d opted to go without them. No angle that made her butt look too big. No unsightly belly bulge. A perfect fit. A few weeks from now, she wouldn’t be able to say that. A few weeks from now, her child’s future would be resolved. She hoped.

  She perched on the edge of the bed, slid her feet into the heels and grabbed the small black clutch. Now that she was appropriately dressed, Kira set out to find her billionaire prince and prepared to be wined and dined, minus the wine. Tonight she would pretend this fantasy date was the real deal. Tomorrow she would return to reality.

  Six

  “Madam, your chariot has arrived.”

  After Alexios moved aside, Kira stepped out the door and confronted one more pleasant surprise. Not a chariot per se, but close enough. A white carriage, attached to a matched pair of gray and white dappled horses wearing purple feather plumes and piloted by a dignified driver, sat beneath the portico. Standing beside that fancy form of transportation was a gorgeous man wearing a black tuxedo and an overtly sensual smile surrounded by a slight shading of whiskers.

  Once she had the presence of mind to move, she felt as if she floated toward Tarek, caught up in some surreal, romantic fantasy. She almost
asked him to pinch her when he took her hand and helped her into the carriage. She almost pinched herself to make certain she wasn’t dreaming this whole unexpected scenario.

  Instead, when Tarek slid into the seat next to her, Kira kissed his cheek to show her gratitude. “This is absolutely wonderful. The dress, the transportation, everything. You’re definitely off to a good start, but what’s next on the agenda? Perhaps a moonlit cruise on the Mediterranean?”

  He slid his arm through hers, as if they were on a real date, and grinned. “You will see soon enough.”

  Could the man be any more cryptic? “You could at least give me a hint as to where we’re going.”

  “The resort.”

  She couldn’t quell the disappointment over Tarek’s type-A personality. “You apparently can’t begin playtime before you do a little work first.”

  “In a manner of speaking, we both have work to do.”

  Wonderful. “If that’s the case, our attire is probably overkill.”

  “Not necessarily. You will simply have to trust me.”

  Oh, that she could. When she’d initially met him, she’d sensed he was a womanizer but aside from that, believed he was trustworthy, at least on a business level. Now she wasn’t at all certain due to his refusal to discuss any significant details about his past, but she’d give him the benefit of the doubt until proven wrong.

  Kira opted to forget her cares and take pleasure in the ride. As they made their way down the winding road leading to the resort, she relished the feel of the warm breeze blowing across her face and studied the darkening sky. She thoroughly enjoyed the scent of Tarek’s exotic cologne, which reminded her of sandalwood incense. She truly liked the fact they were so cozy in this Cinderella coach, and was concerned that she could get carried away when Tarek began stroking her bare arm.

  She imagined a few other strokes in less-than-obvious places. She fantasized about throwing caution to the wind just to experience his mastery one more time. She began to wonder if she’d entirely lost her marbles, as her mother used to say.

  Before she had time to ponder her sanity any further, the driver pulled up to the resort and brought the carriage to an abrupt stop by the front doors. Tarek climbed out first, took her by the waist, lifted her out and set her on her feet. Yes, she had definitely stepped into a fairy tale.