Page 98 of The Accidental Wife

Shayla

Oh,what the hell am I doing?

It’s moments like this where I really question my integrity when I’m around this boy. I do things I would never usually do, and it’s entirely out of my control. My body just acts on its own accord, and even if my head is screaming at me to stop, something deep inside me doesn’t listen to reason. Like right now, I should pull away, even getting this close to him is wrong. It’s so immoral because he belongs to someone else now. Not that he was ever mine, to begin with, but he was at least single, and whatever we did, we weren’t hurting anyone. I just wish I could find a way to resist him, but it’s just so hard because it doesn’t feel wrong; it feels so right, being this close to him, it feels like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

God, please help me find the strength to put an end to this before I do something stupid and let him kiss me.

“Fuck, Shay, if you don’t pull away right now, I’m going to kiss you.” I hear him murmur. I feel the warmth of his breath on my lips, and I ache to kiss him just a little.

“You can’t,” I sigh disappointedly, lifting my hand I brush my fingers over his lips.

“Then pull away,” He groans, kissing my fingers softly. I honestly want to cry. I want him so much it hurts.

I tried. I swear I tried, but I couldn’t move. “I can’t.” I whimper, and at this point, his lips were touching mine. I was ready to cave in, to hell with it all. The plane suddenly shook, and we jerk apart. I open my eyes and look around, my breathing heavy and back at Cole, who closes his eyes, his jaw clenched so tight it was twitching. He exhales slowly and opens his eyes. Our eyes meet, and we hold our gaze for a moment till we hear the pilot announce that we are preparing for landing shortly. Cole and I tear our eyes away from one another and buckle our seatbelts. I look out of the window, and as we approach Dubai, you could see the lights.

Do we just ignore what happened? I sneak a look at Cole, who is staring out the window, his brows knitted together tightly, lost in his own thoughts. Was he feeling guilty, or was he disappointed we didn’t get to kiss? I’d give everything just to be able to read his mind right now.

The plane touched down in Dubai, and we step off the plane. It was warm and humid at ten o’clock at night; Aimee did say the climate here is hotter than back home. I didn’t even see what Aimee and Jo packed for me; they distracted me with the alcohol and dancing. I’m honestly quite nervous about what I’m going to find in there.

We step off the plane and walk over to a white rolls Royce waiting for us. “Mr Hoult, Welcome back to Dubai. Please...” A young man dressed in a traditional white robe greets us and opens the door for us to get in.

“Thank you.” I smile politely as he takes mine and Cole’s bags and gestures for us to get in the car. Cole gets in, texting someone, a scowl on his face. More than likely texting his girlfriend telling her we’ve landed. I sigh and look out the window as we drive. I can’t believe I’m in Dubai. I feel like I’m dreaming. I sit forward and roll the window down and watch the buildings whiz past us.

“If you’re feeling hot, I can turn the AC on, Miss?” I hear the driver say, and I shake my head smiling.

“No, I prefer the fresh air, thank you,” I tell him and close my eyes when the warm air hits my face.

“First time in Dubai?” The driver asks again, glancing back at me through the rear-view mirror, and I nod smiling.

“Yes, I’m really excited to be here. I’ve heard so many great things about Dubai.” I tell him, resting my head on the side and looking up at all the lights. “I’m mostly excited about the food,” I add, and the driver chuckles. “I find the Arabic culture so fascinating, the music especially. What is this one you’re listening to? It sounds so beautiful. My Arabic isn’t so good.”

“It’s an old song. The title is ‘wahashtiny’; it means I’m missing you. He’s singing about a girl he met and fell in love with upon seeing her for the first time. They break up. Years pass by, and he still misses her terribly and is telling her he still dreams of holding her, and he’s not alive unless she’s with him again.” I swallow thickly and turn my head and look at Cole, who was watching me. I force myself to look away from him and look out of the window again. Sounds a little too familiar.

We pull up at the hotel a little while later. I look up at the giant building in front of us. Wow. We’re staying at the iconic Burj al Arab. We get out of the car, and I stare up at the building in awe. “Wow.”

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Cole says, coming to stand beside me. I nod wordlessly. “Yours will be just as stunning, if not more so.” I look over at Cole and smile at him. He gestures for us to walk into the hotel, and my jaw almost hits the floor when I look around the interior. When I say the pictures don’t do it justice, I mean it. While Cole went to get the keys to our suite, I explore the lobby. I stare up at the ceiling as Cole walks over to me. He looks up at the ceiling then back at me. “What are you staring at?”

“Is it just me, or does that design on the ceiling look like a…” I look around and lean in a little closer. “…a vagina,” I whisper to him. Cole’s lips quirk, and he looks up and starts cracking up laughing.

“Oh, wow. I never noticed it until you mentioned it.” He chuckles, shaking his head. “I am never going to unsee it now. Come on, trouble.” I smirk sheepishly and look at the design as we walk toward the elevator.\

Who in their right mind came up with that design? I muse, shaking my head. Cole arranged for us to have the presidential suite, the largest hotel suite, which had two bedrooms. The suite was insane. As you walk through the double doors, right in front of you is a grand staircase to the second floor. There were butlers holding cocktails, greeting us as we walk in. The room itself was stunning. From the design to the décor, it felt like I was in an Arabian dream. However, I was feeling really overwhelmed suddenly. This was way, way out of my comfort zone.

Cole tips the bell boy, and he bows his head and leaves us. I walk around the suite and frown when I wander to one of the bedrooms. I push the bed, and it spins. I press my lips together and stifle the bubble of laughter at the images I got of people having sex on this bed. It’s a carousel bed. I giggle at the thought and jump when I hear Cole’s voice in my ear.

“Imagine having sex on that thing. I think I would either pass out or throw up. Possibly both.” I laugh.

“You can have the carousel bed. I know you. You’ll wake up early and spin me awake.” I say, walking over to the window, and I hear Cole chuckle behind me.

“You know me too well, sweetheart.” He utters, walking to stand beside me. “Some view, huh?”

I nod, gazing out at the view of the ocean and the palm island. “It’s gorgeous. I can’t wait to see it in the morning. I can stare at that view all day and never get bored,” I sigh, and Cole nods, looking over at me.

“I know that feeling.” I turn my head and look up at him. I feel my cheeks grow hot under his gaze and look away before he teases me again.

“Are you tired?” I ask him, and he shakes his head.

“Not at all. Do you want to go out for a bit?” He suggests, and I nod, smiling at him. Cole returns my smile and nods also. “Okay, why don’t we get changed and go explore a little. There’s someplace I want to take you.”

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