Chapter 9
Ciara rolled over, a smile already on her lips as she stretched sore muscles. Two days in Falk’s arms. They’d barely left the bed all weekend. She felt as if she’d been completely ravished.
“The success of a man’s role,” a deep voice murmured into her ear. “A woman waking up with a smile.”
She laughed and opened her eyes, beaming up into Falk’s dark gaze. “Good morning.” She covered her mouth with her fingers. “Sorry, I probably have morning breath.”
Ignoring his laughter, Ciara pushed the covers off and hurried into the bathroom. “I’m just going to take a shower, okay?”
He came in while she was loading her toothbrush with toothpaste. He was gloriously naked and Ciara couldn’t help but watch with admiration as he stepped up to the other sink, doing the same.
When she stepped into the shower moments later, he followed, even swatting her bottom. “Hurry up woman, before the other hotel guests use up all the hot water.”
She smiled and closed her eyes, tilting her head back as she stepped under the warm spray. She didn’t feel as if she were hogging the water since there were two overhead shower spouts as well as steam spigots that kept one warm while showering. “Is that even a possibility?”
He stepped under the other spray and shook his head. “Not a chance. I don’t allow my guests to suffer needlessly.”
“It feels decadent to use this much water, but I love it.”
His arm wrapped around her waist and he pulled her against his chest. “And I love the way you look when you’re all wet and slick.”
Ciara groaned, closing her eyes as those now-familiar feelings started to amp up. “No!” she told him firmly, reluctantly pressing her hands against his chest. “No more! You’ve sexed me up all weekend and now I’m walking funny.”
He only chuckled and reached for the soap. Ciara watched, regretting that she truly was very sore. Falk was a magnificent lover, but he was also highly demanding. Plus, she wasn’t sure if her body could take another round of orgasms. Her mind would need a few more days to recover.
They chatted about general things, like what they wanted for breakfast, while they both finished their shower. Ciara was just wrapping a towel around herself when he said something that obliterated her good mood.
“You’ll have to break off your betrothal to Zayed.”
She froze. Memories of her nanny pinching her when she followed orders too slowly popped into her head. Valiantly, she tried to tamp down on the rising fury. But it was pointless.
Turning, she slipped into panties and a bra, stalling for time. She’d just pulled on a knit wrap dress when he came out of the dressing room. “I’ll call your brother and set a date.”
Another command? This one was a bit more ambiguous. “Why would you call my brother?” she asked, trying to suppress her childhood coping mechanism. “Is there something you need to speak with him about?”
“Our wedding,” he replied smoothly, completely unaware of her building anger.
“We’re getting married?” she asked, still trying to control her juvenile reaction. It wasn’t working. “I didn’t know that we were engaged.” She lifted her purse, pretending to examine the contents. “When did that happen?”
He turned, attaching a cufflink to his starched, white dress shirt. When he looked up, his eyes were dark with incomprehension. “Of course we’re getting married, Ciara. There could be consequences to what we did this weekend. We’ll get married immediately.” He turned back to the dressing room, reaching in to grab a dark blue jacket. “In fact, you should just come home with me to Itim. It will be easier to make the wedding arrangements if we’re together.” He looked around, patting the various pockets on his suit as if looking for something. “We should have a quiet, quick wedding.”
Ciara stared at him, her anger no longer feeling juvenile. In fact, her anger was becoming much more mature as she listened to Falk give her orders, assuming that she’d fall right in line with his decisions.
“That’s an interesting idea.”
He finally seemed to notice the bite to her words and turned to look at her. “Ciara?”
Ciara looked up at him, tucking her leather clutch purse under her arm. “I have to catch a plane, Falk. Let me know when you’ve finished making decisions for me. I’m eager to hear what you’ve arranged.”
And with that, she turned and walked out of the bedroom. She worried that he was going to stop her. Thankfully, he didn’t and she was grateful for that. Jessy and her bodyguards immediately surrounded her as she stepped into the elevator. No one said a word on the trip down to the hotel lobby. Nor did they say anything when she smiled tightly at her driver who was holding the door of a black SUV open, ready for her to slip into the back seat.
She made it all the way to the airport and into her private office before the tears started. Angrily, she wiped the tears away. “You can’t cry!” she hissed to herself. “You knew he was like that. It was one of the reasons you stayed away from him all this time!”