Wild Desert Princess (15 page)

“I agree that you are too thin. Baby, you are my woman, the barer of my children and nothing is more beautiful to man than that. I want to watch you grow bigger with my children. Will you let me be a part of all of that?” Jahan slid into the bed beside Chia, curving his long, lean strength protectively around her.

“You want to go into the delivery room with me? Are you sure, Jahan?” Chia raised hopeful eyes to his face, seeing
the love and commitment there.

“Yes, I want to be there to see ou
r children come into this world. Honey, I want to be there offering you any kind of support I can.” Jahan lifted his hand and cupped the soft skin of her cheek, his eyes darkened and become hooded as his desire surged through him again. He needed to make love to his wife.

Chia felt his arousal at her hip and instinctively arched into the hard flesh. I wish we
could make love,” she admitted softly. "I have missed you."

“As
I have you, my love. I can barely wait until the doctor gives the all clear before I take you again. Until then I can offer you a tiny bit of relief if you trust me.” The words were painful for Jahan to utter. He realized he could take nothing for granted in his relationship with Chia.

“It has never been an issue of trust between us
, Jahan. I have always trusted you. Even if I lost sight of that for awhile.” Using the hand free of the IV, she carefully reached between their bodies and released his hard cock from the confines of his pants. The turgid flesh sprang free into her hand and she heard his low groan as she circled the thick shaft with her fingers.

“Oh God, baby. You are going to push me over in just a few minutes,” he gasped into her neck.

“Good,” she grinned and quickly stroked the straining shaft until Jahan’s body tensed and warm spurts of his release sprayed her hip.

Jahan caught his breath as the incredible sensations as her warm fingers brought him the sweetest orgasm he’d had since he touched her body last. “I love you, Chia. Never doubt that
.
I have loved you since we were children. I'm sorry I have messed this up so badly.”

Chia heard the sincerity in his husky voice and realized she had the means t
o make his dreams a reality. “And I love you. This has been my deepest fantasy since I was a little girl. I just wanted to grow up and be yours.”

Jahan’s hand moved carefully over her enlarged breasts, caressing the large globes until Chia began to squirm on the bed. Charting a slow path down her body, he lingered on her stomach and then his fingers slipped through the silky curls that covered her mound, delving into the moist silken folds of her pussy.

Chia began to burn, her blood rushed through her veins to pool in a molten mass of heat at the core of her sex. She shifted slightly, and spread her thighs, opening herself more to his touch.

Jahan watched Chia’s face as his fingers moved in slow circles over the swollen flesh
of her clit, feeling her body quiver and tense. He gently inserted his fingers into her sheath and stroked as her release crested and trembled in his arms. “Oh, my” she panted and burrowed closer to him.

“Baby, I love watching you come apart in my arms. You are so responsive.”

“There has never been another man who makes feel as you do. I felt the same when I was twelve. But didn’t know how to handle it and drove you away from me. I thought you couldn’t stand me.” Chia blinked away the tears of hurt and humiliation. She had felt so cheap and rejected.

“Honey, please don’t.” Jahan raised up on one elbow and cupped her cheek in his hand, licking the tears from her thick lashes. “If you knew how much I wanted you then. God, you were so young and already had a lush woman’s body. It took everything I had to walk away from you. I
’m sorry I hurt you with my cruel words. Hell, I was seventeen. I had to wait until you were grown before I could act on my desires. Then you were off at college and apparently having a great time partying and taking lovers. I nearly went insane at the thought of another man taking what was mine.”

“But Jahan, you always acted like you couldn’t wait
to be away from me. I thought you hated me and thought I was a slut.”

“Honey, I wouldn’t claim you until you returned from college. It was the only way I knew to stay sane. Instead I ended up hurting
you when I should have initiated you gently the first time. I was too rough and forced a response from you instead of coaxing you gently. I have made so many mistakes. It was never my intention to hurt you so.”

“Jahan, you have always been the only man I want to make love to. I wanted you to be the first. I’ll admit I wanted it to be less about domination, but you have shown me true passion. Please don’t blame yourself anymore.
We have both hurt the other far too much. Now it is time to become a family.”

Jahan tightened his arms around her, careful not to hurt her. He buried his face in her soft, scented hair. Tears streamed unashamedly down his cheeks. “You are so wonderful. We are a family and nothing will come between us.”

At last Chia felt safe in her husband’s arms. She rested quietly and finally slept.

Chapter
Twenty-Three

Malek
shifted slightly, careful not to disturb Amanda. She had clung to him throughout the night, her tears soaking his chest. His heart ached for her pain. For it was his pain as well. He had hurt her almost irrevocably and had compounded his error by forcing her passion.

For long hours into the night the
y had talked and for the first time in a long time he had actually listened to her words.

It had been so long since they had actually disagreed, he had ignored all her protests and fallen back into the arrogance he had thought he had put behind him long ago. He had damned near lost the true love of his life and the love of his only child.

Thank heavens Jahan and Chia had worked through their problems. His baby meant the world to him and he feared for her health.

Amanda stirred and opened one red-rimmed eye, staring at the broad expanse of
Malek’s hair roughened chest. “Good morning,” she mumbled, watching warily to see if they had truly worked out their problems. She could not imagine her life without Malek.

“Morning
, ‘Manda. Are you feeling better, sweetheart?” Concern etched lines in Malek’s face.

“I glad we’ve talked. For so long I was afraid we could not even do that.”

Malek pulled her close and whispered in her ear. “I love you, Amanda. I pray I will never fall into that same trap again.”

“Thank God,
Malek. I wasn’t sure how I would survive without you in my life,” she admitted with amazing candor.

“It would never have happened, love. No matter where you went, I would have followed you. And then I would have charmed you until you forgave me.” He flashed her a cocky grin and winced when she dug her nails into his belly.

“What if your infamous charm had not succeeded?” she teased.

“They I would have gone down on my knees and begged you until you would have taken pity on me,” he told her only half teasing. For her knew he would have indeed gone down on his knees in order to bring her back into his life.

“That might have been worth it just to see you on your knees at my feet.” She couldn’t resist one last jibe and convulsed with laughter as he tickled her ribs.

Malek
took advantage of her softened form and proceeded to show his wife just how much he loved her and how much he had missed her in his bed.

Across town Anya was fighting her resolve to keep Jamal at arm’s length. She had not forgotten or forgiven his terse order over her wet clothing. She waited for him to apologize and realized he had forgotten the whole incident.

“Damn it, Anya. Why are you acting like this? I thought there was a connection between us. What has happened to put this distance between us?” Jamal was frustrated. He wanted Anya with a passion he had never felt for any other woman. He wanted her to be his wife not just a fling.

“You don’t even remember how we parted. The words
that flew out of your mouth when you saw my wet clothing that day.” Hurt darkened Anya’s eyes and she struggled not to let him see how she ached for what might have been.

Chagrined, Jamal saw beneath the cold mask to the woman he had hurt. “I’m sorry. I became los
t in the negotiations.” He was unsure how to make things right. Then he remembered the hard thrust of her nipples beneath her thin shirt.

Anya shook her head sadly and moved a step away from his enticing male presence. His scent intoxicated her. She felt her will power falter. “I went through one relationship where I was of secondary importance. I will not place myself in a similar situation.”

Anya gasped as Jamal stepped nearer and crowded her against her living room wall. Using his larger body, he teased her senses. “This is nothing like your engagement, Anya. He was a jerk. He wanted to control every aspect of your life. “Jamal boldly pressed his hotly aroused body into her sleek curves, groaning at the intense excitement she roused in him.

“And you do not? Please! Jamal, you ordered me to cover myself in case another man saw me. That sounds pretty damned controlling to me.
” She snarled and stepped under his arm before she jumped on him and seduced him.

“Not as you mean, Anya. I was jealous. I did not wish anoth
er man to gaze upon your charms, not when I wish the sole right to your delicious curves.” Seeing the panicked look in her eyes, he stopped and waited.

“I would not deliberately show my body to other men, Jamal. It is not my style. How could you be jealous? We have no understanding between us. You barely know me.” She forced herself to say the words, although she’d known the first time she had seen his darkly handsome face that he was the man for her.

“I don’t know why. I only know as soon as my eyes lit upon you, I felt as thought the other half of my soul had come home. I want to wed you, Anya. Will you at least consider it?”

He pulled her into his arms, careful not to spook her.

“I will think on it if we can date first. I wish to get to know the man I am considering for my husband.” In her heart she knew the decision was made. She would take the time to know him and prayed she was not making a mistake.

“Thank you, love. It will be most difficult to go slowly when all I wish is to carry you up to the nearest bed and make you mine. I shall endeavor to restrain my passion and win your heart.” He sighed softly and allowed her to feel his erection before he moved away.

Anya’s face flamed at his bold ways. Her body heated and moistened in preparation for his possession. Breathless she pressed a soft kiss over his firmly chiseled lips, stepping away. “You should leave now.”

Jamal agreed ruefully. If he stayed, he would not guarantee that he would not try to make love to her. He didn’t want to ruin any progress if might have made. “I will see you in the morning, if I may pick you up and take you to the hospital.”

A brilliant smile radiated from Anya’s lips. “Oh, yes, Jamal.” He had asked, not ordered, had not assumed. He had actually asked.

Stunned by her glowing beauty, Jamal could only nod in bemused wonder as she urged him out the door. He had been aware of her dark serene beauty, but he had no idea how truly gorgeous she was when she was happy. He vowed then and there to do everything in his power to make her happy every day for the rest of their lives.

In yet another part of the city, Miri was having her first fight with Ben. It was nearly tearing her apart. She had been so sure he was different that Jamal or Jahan. He had never shown her his arrogance or his temper. She found it hurt almost more than she could stand to realize she only knew one side of him.

“What is wrong with you?” she demanded hotly, silently cursing her petite frame. She hated having to crane her neck to look up at him. It gave him a definite advantage.

“You kept Chiandra’s location a secret from me. She was in the desert when I came to get Jamal wasn’t she?” Ben glared down at Miri’s defiant form. Lord, she was magnificent when she was mad. He felt his body grow hard and bit back a curse. It had been difficult beyond belief to deny himself the sweet possession of her body before the wedding.

“I didn’t lie, I just omitted
telling you. It was a matter of honor,” she told him fiercely and blanched as she revealed more than she wanted. She hadn’t told him of her near rape and didn’t want him to know. She still felt shame and feared she had done something to cause it. Turning, she hid her face from him, afraid he would see her guilt. She did not wish him to know what James Duvall had nearly done to her.

Ben stepped nearer, his anger fading at Miri’s pained vulnerability. “What matter of honor, Miri? What is it you can
not tell me, your husband-to-be?” He turned her carefully, his heart aching at the tears sparkling like diamonds on her long lashes.

“I can’t Ben. I’m so ashamed. Maybe we should call off the wedding. I am not fit to be your wife,” she sobbed, burying her face in his chest. She was afraid he would not want her if he knew what had happened.

“Tell me, Miri,” he demanded firmly and settled into a chair with her curled up on his lap.

“I’m afraid,” she whimpered, tears coursing down her cheeks.