Rachel beamed as she walked into the meeting Monday morning. Life was good. In fact, the whole world seemed to glow lately. Glancing over her shoulder, she spotted Tarin talking to one of the directors of the architectural firm. He must have felt her gaze because he paused in his conversation and looked in her direction.
Was it just her, or did his gaze warm when he looked at her? Quickly, Rachel glanced away and focused on…she looked down, trying to remember what she was doing. Right, she was handing out briefings. She’d done this several times over the past few weeks. The briefing outlined the university project’s requirements, although the briefing was just a rough outline of the criteria. Neither the buildings nor the layout of the campus had been designed yet, nor had anyone even offered a layout. This was a multi-billion dollar project so the firms would submit bids to run the effort in Izara starting next month. At least, that was the plan. Rachel wondered if perhaps…?
No, that wasn’t her place. She was here to offer operational and financial analysis support. She’d keep her opinions to herself.
Smiling, she finished handing out the briefings, then took a chair set back against the wall near the window. This was the last company that they’d talk with and Rachel admired Tarin for what he was doing. Not only was he including firms from all over the world to bid on the project, but he was going to them, discussing his vision in their space. Not for convenience. Goodness, it definitely wasn’t convenient for him to travel from city to city talking with each firm individually. Nope, he flew thousands of miles and went over this briefing so many times because he wanted to meet with the potential firms on their turf, to get a feel for their style. He didn’t want anything to be anonymous. He wanted a personal touch.
She blushed as she thought about the way he’d personally touched her just this morning. Tarin had been ravenous and she couldn’t count the number of times she’d climaxed in his arms. With her arms pinned over her head. Or with his mouth. Or…!
Focus! She snapped to attention and looked up, only to find Tarin watching her, his pen pressed against his mouth and…he knew! He knew that she’d been thinking about this morning and…darn it, a blush heated her cheeks again. Drat the man!
She hated that she was so transparent, but when it came to Tarin, she was pretty much lost. Saturday and Sunday, they’d mostly stayed in bed, talking and teasing each other, learning what each other liked, how each of them preferred to be touched and teased. Goodness, he was a tender and demanding lover! She’d only been with two other men in her life and neither of them had really turned her on. Not even close to the way she felt with Tarin
Looking around, she avoided Tarin’s eyes this time and stared intently at the speaker, jotting down pertinent points as they were brought up. These meetings were about the strength of the firm, the way they managed their projects and their building “philosophy”. Sometimes she chuckled at the silly ways they phrased their pitches to Tarin. Some of the firms came up with the most ridiculous catch phrases, but in a weird way, those firms also stood out in her mind. She wondered if that was also true with Tarin. Was it better to have silly phrases that stood out? That showed that they were creative and weren’t afraid to experiment. Or should firms stick with their strengths? That indicated that they relied on solid, tried-and-true building methods.
Her sister did both. Denise was one of those women who had so many strengths, she just…was like a shiny diamond, all flash and hard as a rock. Meanwhile, Rachel considered herself more of an opal. She wasn’t flashy. Nor was she tough and hard. Opals seemed to sparkle from the inside. Their shine was more subtle, but…looking over at Tarin, she realized that she was pretty. She sparkled. Not like her sister, Denise. But in her way, which was just as valuable. It was different, but still beautiful.
Sitting up in her chair, she pulled her shoulders back. She was an opal, someone with a fire inside of her. Just as good as a diamond, but different.
Tarin’s head swiveled in her direction when she shifted, his eyes narrowing for a moment.
Feeling good now that she’d compared herself to an opal, she smiled back at him, feeling confident and powerful. Beautiful. She was beautiful in her own way. Rachel almost laughed out loud when he shifted uncomfortably in his own chair and she knew what he was thinking!
A long time later, after lunch had been delivered and consumed, more conversations about the details of the university project and more pronouncements that this particular firm could accomplish the job with elegance and finesse, the meeting ended. This one had seemed longer than the others, but that might be because she and Tarin were eager to get away.
Unfortunately, even after leaving the meeting, they still weren’t alone. There was still the car ride back to the hotel, although sitting in the back seat, Tarin reached over and took her hand. It felt sweet and innocent, although she knew that it wasn’t. Looking up at him, she felt the spark of need in him mirroring her own.
They were silent during the drive. Neither spoke in the elevator since they were surrounded by his body guards. Outside the suite, she waited for the guard to unlock the door, to check with the guards inside the suite. And then she waited while the guards vacated, finally leaving them alone.
But the moment the door to the suite closed behind them, it was as if the magnetic forces of their bodies took over. She threw herself at him and he carried her to the bedroom, kissing her as she clung to him. Tumbling onto the bed, they frantically stripped their clothes off, touching each other as skin was revealed.
When he entered her this time, she froze, feeling the incredible fullness and it was so blissfully prefect, neither of them wanted to move. Looking down at her, Tarin’s hands curved around her head, tangling in her hair. A moment later, he shifted inside of her, filling her up again, only to retreat. Rachel arched her back when he moved away, then wrapped her legs tighter around his waist. Again and again, he drove into her body, pushing their pleasure higher and higher.
“Tarin!” she whispered, urging him to stop teasing. Unaware she did so, she dug her fingernails into his shoulders and he understood. After being apart for most of the day, there was a driving, demanding need for that blissful finale. He thrust into her, knowing how to move against her to maximize her pleasure.
Rachel arched against his body, taking his thrusts into her as her body climbed to that peak, and…then she screamed as her body throbbed with a release so intense, she was blinded for several moments. Rachel felt him stiffen and she tried to increase his pleasure, but her body was just too far gone, too far into her own climax to help him.
When he collapsed against her, Rachel wrapped her arms around his neck, keeping her legs around his waist. She beamed at the beauty of what he could give her every time they came together like this. It was incredible and wonderful. She loved him. After denying her feelings, even to herself, for so long, Rachel reveled in the knowledge that she loved Tarin el Raminar. She hadn’t wanted to fall in love with him, and when this was all over, she knew that she’d be shattered. But for this moment, she loved him with all of her heart and being.
With that knowledge, she kissed his shoulder. His ear. His neck. Her fingers skimmed up his back to his shoulders, diving into the softness of his hair.
“Are you okay?” he asked, lifting up onto his elbows.
Rachel laughed, stretching languidly. “I’m better than okay now,” she told him, lifting her leg so she could rub her inner thigh along his hip.
“I saw you watching me earlier today,” he growled, rolling over and heading for the bathroom. “I knew exactly what you were thinking,” and he disappeared. She heard the water running and stretched again, pulling the rumpled bedspread higher to cover her nakedness. He might walk around without inhibitions, but Rachel wasn’t so blasé.
“And I could see the answering desire in your eyes,” she replied, smiling as she grabbed one of the pillows.
He reappeared and climbed back into bed. “Yeah? So, that means you were thinking something. Care to share?” he asked, tugging the blanket away so that he could admire her nakedness unhindered. He slid his hands over her stomach in a sensuous, lazy pattern. That was one thing about Tarin that she really appreciated. He loved to touch. A lot of the time, it wasn’t even sexual. He just loved touching her. He preferred to have her snuggled against him while they slept. He loved touching her while they ate, maybe tucking her hair behind her ear, or as was the case Sunday night, they’d ordered pizza and ate it curled up together on the bed with one of his arms around her and his back as her pillow.
She really liked this affectionate side of him. It told her that he liked her not just sexually; he also really liked just being with her. It made her feel all warm and gushy inside, which was a completely new feeling.
“Are you ready to go home?” he asked as he pulled her into his arms.
“No,” she sighed, snuggling closer and resting her hand on his ridged stomach, her head on his shoulder.
He laughed and she felt it all the way down to her toes. “Me neither,” he kissed the top of her head. “Unfortunately, that was the last firm I wanted to talk with, so our preliminary work is done.”
She contemplated that, wondering what would happen when they returned to Izara.
“I don’t want this to end when we go back home,” he told her, reading her mind.
She sat up, gazing into those amazing eyes of his. “You don’t?”
A strange expression slipped across his face. “You think we’ll have had enough of each other after this?” he asked.
She bit her lip. “No. I don’t think that will happen. At least, not on my side of this thing.” She didn’t add that she doubted she’d ever get over him, never get enough time with him. But he didn’t want to hear that. Not from her.
And because she felt so strongly, she needed to show him. Instead of waiting for him to make the first move this time, she shifted, pressing against his chest until he was flat on the bed and threw her leg over his hips. “I don’t want this to end,” she admitted, kissing his chest, letting her hands slide along his muscles, feeling them ripple under her fingertips. “Not yet, anyway.”
Tarin closed his eyes as her soft, tentative lips kissed his chest, hissing when she licked his nipples. Already, he was hard and ready for her. But this was pretty damn nice too. He loved the way she touched him, as if he were something special. Her fingers smoothed over his skin, sliding and exploring, her mouth following, her tongue darting out to taste him. He loved it. He loved every moment of her attention. Hell, he loved her!
Tarin didn’t say that. Not yet. She’d run away if he admitted it. In her mind, it was probably too soon for declarations of love. But in his mind, he’d been in love with her forever. At least since that first day she’d walked into his office, asking sweetly for something Talia needed. He’d watched her flowered skirt swish around her legs, so demure and yet, so incredibly sexy!
He hadn’t known about her love of sexy underwear back then, and never would have guessed. Knowing now, seeing the way other men looked at her, curious, as if they knew that she was more than just another pretty face, but not sure what it was about her that drew their attention, he wanted to laugh and shout with joy because he knew Rachel’s secrets.
She hid herself underneath those flowered dresses and…he even liked that! He loved knowing her secrets and her desires, loved knowing that she gasped when he did certain things.
He’d been floating for several moments, enjoying the way her fingers and mouth moved over his stomach. But he hadn’t been paying attention to her other hand…until her fingers wrapped around his shaft!
He almost bolted upright, but those huge, green eyes looked at him, startled and suddenly unsure. “Yes!” he groaned, trying to give her encouragement. But already, he felt like he was going to explode.
“What do you like?” she asked nervously, but with an eager look in her eyes.
“Like this,” he rasped, taking her hand and showing her how to move it over his erection. He wanted her mouth on him too, but…! “Damn it Rachel!” he groaned, falling backwards as he felt her hot, wet mouth close over him. Her hand moved and her mouth surrounded him, her tongue caressing and…he couldn’t hold back!
“Honey, I can’t…!” he tried to pull away, but her hand tightened on his shaft and she sucked harder and…he lost control. He exploded and he fell backwards, his hands gripping her hair carefully for fear of pressing her down too hard during the throes of a climax that was hard and fast and…mind-blowing!
When he had his breath back, he opened his eyes to find her straddling him, watching him with that sexy smile that he loved so much.
“Oh, you are so going to pay for that,” he warned a moment before he flipped their positions.
“But…I thought you enjoyed it,” she protested, laughing when he grabbed her wrists and held them up over her head, guiding her hands to grip the headboard. His hands immediately cupped her breasts, his mouth covering that sensitive tip and sucking. Hard!
He heard her gasp and didn’t relent, moving from one taut peak to the other, making her cry out and arch her body, which only pressed her breasts deeper into his mouth.
Moving lower, he kissed and teased, all the while, pressing her legs wider.
Tarin smiled when she tried to wiggle away from him. She knew what he was about to do. He’d done it to her before. Many times over the past several days. In fact, he loved teasing her core, watching her body come alive to his touch but not letting her reach that release until…until he’d brought her to the edge over and over again.
“Please,” she sobbed, trying to get away. But as soon as he took his finger away, she grabbed his wrist.
“You’re going to stay still, Rachel,” he warned, trying to hide his smile.
“Yes!” she sobbed, pressing her hands against his shoulders until he felt the small pricks of her fingernails. “Yes. I’ll be still.”
He knew that she wouldn’t be, but it turned him on when she tried…and failed.
Moving closer, his mouth covered that nub, flicking it with his tongue and she screamed, fighting to remain still. He pulled away and she smacked her fists against the covers of the bed.
“I won’t do it again!” she vowed.
He laughed. “Yes, you will. I loved it. And so did you.”
She lifted her head, glaring at him, and he lifted his eyebrows in question. “Then why are you doing this to me?”
He slid a finger along the wet, glistening folds. “Because I like it.”
She gritted her teeth and tried to pull back, sliding away from his mouth.
He knew all her tricks though and grabbed her hips, pulling her back into position. “You know that’s not going to work, love.”
“Please! I can’t take much more of this,” she begged, combing her fingers through his hair. He smirked, lowering his head again.
“I think you can,” and with that warning, he moved closer. But this time, she was too close to the edge and she exploded against his mouth. He loved this, loved feeling her writhe in such an uninhibited way. With his mouth and fingers, he extended her pleasure until she sighed and he pulled back.
Grabbing a condom, he rolled it down over his shaft, then settled himself over her again. “Tell me that you want me,” he ordered, pressing against her opening, but not entering her.
She shuddered, wrapping her legs around him. Damn, he loved this woman!
“I want you,” she whispered, lifting her hips to meet his thrust. “I want you so much!” she gasped as he pressed into her, filling her up until she arched into him, taking him even deeper into her body.
Then he started thrusting, slowly at first, bringing her back to need. All too soon, she was exploding around him, her inner muscles clamping down on his shaft. Her climax took him right along with her and he filled her up, groaning with his own release.