Page 30 of Defenders of Jawhara

“Kale, this is amazing!” she said, turning too close to him and finding herself nose to chest with him. She inhaled and made to move backward, but his hands kept her locked tight against him.

Pulling her even closer, he dipped his head and murmured, “I’m glad you like it,” just before capturing her lips with his own. Kissing her deeply for several minutes, he didn’t break the kiss until he felt her hands slide up his chest and wrap around his neck.

Sighing, he rested his chin on her head. “I’ve been dying to do that since you walked into the airport.”

Shira snuggled into his embrace and echoed his sentiment. “I’ve had dreams about you kissing me again.”

Moving them both farther into the room, Kale pushed the door shut behind him with his foot and led her over to the bed. He pulled back the covers, then unbuttoned her shirt, pulling it down her arms despite her protests. She was clad in only a thin camisole, and he did his best to rein in his desire and calm her.

“Shush. You will sleep more comfortably if you’re not fighting your clothing. Remove your jeans, and I will find you a T-shirt to wear to preserve your modesty.” Kale deliberately strode across the room, giving her time to follow his commands and for him to get himself together.

He wanted nothing more than to disrobe himself and join her in the large bed, but he wanted their first time together to be something special. He had learned over the past few weeks that Shira had a history of boyfriends who took advantage of her and treated her poorly. She had tried to hide the hurt those relationships had caused her, but Kale had not been deceived. He intended to prove to her that he wanted her for more than sex—that he wanted her for her mind and the beautiful person she was inside. The physical chemistry between them would be the icing on the cake.

Through the mirror over the dresser, he watched Shira slowly shed her jeans and then crawl beneath the covers, pulling the blanket up to cover her breasts, which were visible through the thin material of her camisole. When Kale turned and tossed her a black T-shirt, she quickly pulled it over her head.

With reluctance, Kale headed toward the door, needing to get out of there before he changed his mind, but she stopped him. “Kale? Did I do something wrong?”

Kale closed his eyes at the hurt in her voice; he had not meant to hurt her feelings. Turning, he walked back toward the bed, sitting on the edge and taking her hands in one of his. She stared at their clasped hands, and he waited patiently for her to lift her head to look at him. He cupped the side of her face with his hand, almost losing his resolve when she pressed her cheek against his palm. He placed tender kisses on her nose, her chin, and then her lips. He caressed her lips with his thumb and couldn’t resist the pull she had on him.

The minute his tongue touched hers, he lost some of his self-control, claiming her mouth in a ravenous kiss that spoke to the intensity of his feelings for her. He pulled her closer to himself, wrapping a hand around her upper back and crushing her breasts against his chest. The feel of her tight nipples against his hard muscles had him gripping her back to keep from reaching for them.

He would take things slow if it killed him. Lifting his head, he placed gentling kisses upon her temple and across her brow, murmuring to her in Arabic.

“Shira, darling, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I want nothing more than to join you in this bed and make love to you until we reach Jawhara.”

“Okay,” Shira agreed, “I want the same thing.”

“No. We will wait. When I finally make you mine, there will be no time constraints, no chance of interruptions, and we won’t be in my brother’s plane. I want our first time to be special and something that neither one of us will ever forget.”

Hugging him, she leaned up and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “Thank you. I want that too.”

Kale helped her down on the pillows and pulled the blanket up to her chin before placing another kiss on her swollen lips. “Soon. I will see to it.”

Shira smiled at him before stifling a yawn. She looked adorable, and he needed to leave before what was left of his resolve disappeared completely. As she drifted off to sleep, he hoped she’d dream of him and their first time that he had promised her. He was a man of his word, and he intended to fulfill his promise.

4

SHIRA

Shira slept the rest of the flight to Jawhara, waking only when Kale insisted she rise and eat something before they started their approach to the airport.

She made use of the on-board shower and then quickly donned her clothing again. She combed her hair out, leaving it to curl naturally, and then rubbed some moisturizer onto her face and neck. Shira hardly ever wore cosmetics. Her alabaster skin and the light dusting of freckles across her nose and cheekbones placed her in a unique class of women who were stunning without any help from the cosmetic industry. A light layer of lip gloss was usually the extent of her makeup regimen.

Exiting the bedroom, she found Kale seated at a small table waiting for her. Rihana served them, and Shira moaned in pleasure at the first bite of the fluffy cheese omelet. There was also fresh-squeezed orange juice, slices of melon, and bagels with cream cheese.

Shira felt Kale’s eyes on her and she glanced up, her face going hot as she read the amusement in his eyes. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. It is refreshing to see a woman eat because she is hungry.”

Shira thought the comment odd, but picked up her glass of juice and drained it before answering. “Well, I don’t know what kind of women you’ve been hanging out with, but I like food. Luckily, it hasn’t found my hips yet. Erin keeps telling me that one of these days my craving for carbs is going to catch up to me, but until then, I’m going to enjoy every bite.”

At the mention of her cousin, she immediately sobered. Looking at Kale, she asked, “Does Kam ever ask about Erin?”

Kale nodded. “Yes, but not from me. Talib gives him daily reports on her activities.”

“But that’s not the same as him talking to her directly. Why doesn’t he just call her?”

“Kamal is very busy dealing with a crisis in the neighboring country of Sumari. He will call her when he can.”

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