His mouth caressed, his teeth nipped, and when she gasped at the unexpected sensation, his tongue met hers, coaxing her mouth to more fully participate in the kiss. It was erotic and…somehow innocent. He didn’t touch her anywhere other than her lips and with his hands, but she felt him echo through her, all the way down to her toes!
Unfortunately, he pulled back far too soon, gazing down at her. She could feel his erection throb against her stomach, but before she could react, he resolutely stepped back.
“Thank you, Amanda. I wasn’t looking forward to tonight. However, you made the evening incredibly enjoyable.”
And then he bent down and picked up the key card that she must have dropped during their kiss. With a swish, he released the locks on the door and pushed it open for her. “Sleep well,jamila.”
He handed her the key card with a final smile and walked away.
Amanda smiled dreamily, as she half danced into the hotel room and closed the door. That man was…beyond incredible!
Chapter 5
The scream shattered the silence and it took Amanda several moments to realize thatshewas the one screaming! She screamed while backing frantically away, not sure if her eyes were playing tricks on her. Yes, that had to be it. Thishadto be a dream!
No, a nightmare. Yes, this was just a nightmare!
Suddenly, Amanda realized that she’d closed her eyes. Opening them reluctantly, she stared down at the man lying on her carpet, trying to make sense of the trickle of blood that had dribbled from the wound in the middle of his forehead. A gunshot wound! Yes, she knew that much, at least.
Fumbling, she searched for something, not really sure what. But the hotel phone tumbled to the floor. She bent down, pressing her back against the wall in a futile effort to get away from the dead man. The wall didn’t cooperate with her efforts and she could barely speak when someone greeted her with a friendly, “How can I help you, Ms. Thomas?”
How could someone sound so friendly when there was a dead body in her living room?
“Dead!” she muttered, trying to speak through numb lips. She took a breath and tried again. “Dead body!” she gasped. “Dead! Help! Dead body!”
There was a pause, then the receptionist asked, “Ms. Thomas, are you saying there is a dead body in your suite?”
“Yes. Dead. Help!”
The friendly voice disappeared, replaced by a much more efficient voice. “Ms. Thomas, this is Jordan Effeson, the night manager. Could you repeat what you just told my staff member?”
“Dead body!” she shrieked, clutching the phone with a white knuckled grip. “Help! Dead body!”
Daniesh was whistling as he walked through the lobby. He didn’t notice the massive flower arrangement or the elegant décor in the lobby. It was well past midnight and he wanted…to go right back upstairs and make love to Amanda. She was…glorious! Her smiles and enthusiastic conversation had made the evening so much more endurable. No, more than endurable. She’d made the evening fun!
He chuckled as he thought about how she’d whistled and clapped after his speech while everyone else in the room merely applauded politely. He’d looked so astonished by her break in high society protocols, but had only chuckled at the awkward moment and sat down.
Apparently, Ms. Amanda Thomas came from a far more exuberant background.
There was a commotion behind the receptionist desk. He glanced in that direction, but didn’t concern himself with whatever guest crisis was happening.
“Home, Your Highness?” his chauffer asked as one of his guards stood beside the door of the limousine.
“Definitely,” he replied. There was a distant sound of sirens in the background, but Daniesh ducked into the back, inhaling the lingering scent of Amanda’s soft perfume. Thankfully, she didn’t wear that cloying, miserable scent that so many women thought was enticing. Amanda chose a light, floral scent that made him smile.
The limousine drove away and he peered out at the quiet streets. Normally, the streets of Paris were clogged with traffic. It was such a dramatic change to see the streets clear of the normal congestion. It took only a few minutes to get back to his house. Once in his bedroom, he got ready for bed, then stretched out on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, wondering what Amanda was doing. Was she staring up at the ceiling, thinking of him? Or was she building another plot line? Was he going to be the next person she ‘murdered’?
He chuckled at the possibility.
Then he remembered his condition.
Amanda…she wasn’t for him. No woman was for him! Amanda was young and beautiful and definitely wanted children. Unfortunately, he couldn’t provide her with children. He couldn’t give her what she needed most.
Chapter 6
“And you’re telling me that you don’t know the man?”
Amanda huddled in the uncomfortable chair of the scary police interrogation room, pulling her black trench coat closer around her. “I’ve never seen the man before in my life,” she asserted for the tenth time. Why did these detectives not believe her?