Chapter 2
Zayed’s mind was racing with questions. And need. And lust. And a whole host of other emotions. He should be used to some of them by now. The lust had been present ever since Tara Treon walked into his office for a job interview. With her bright smile and those adorable freckles sprinkled across her up-tilted nose, not to mention her sweet, rosebud lips and those enchanting green eyes…Zayed had been lost.
In this moment, her terror and the lingering memory of her frightened retreat from the meeting, Zayed wanted to pull Tara into his arms and hold her, tell her that she was safe from whatever had scared her. But he wasn’t sure how to protect her from…a hamburger delivery.
“Are you hungry, qatah aghira ?” he asked, his rough voice soft and compelling.
He noticed her lips moving, repeating the endearment. Tara spoke Arabic well, but her understanding of the language was more focused on business and political vocabulary. The endearment “kitten” wasn’t something that she’d ever encountered. He almost laughed as he watched her agile mind work, but tried to focus on the message still displayed on the cell phone. The phone was obviously a burner phone since it was cheap and old. Hell, Zayed wasn’t even sure if one could buy a flip phone anymore. He estimated that the phone was probably ten years old. How did it even work?
“No,” she replied and he noticed as she stiffened. “I’m not hungry.”
Those mesmerizing green eyes narrowed, and he swiftly turned the phone around, revealing the message. She winced, barely casting a glance at the text before redirecting her gaze. As he observed, Tara rubbed a still-trembling hand over her stomach, reigniting the ever-present desire in his mind.
Had his longing for this woman ever truly waned? Over the past two years since Tara had entered his life, he'd managed to suppress the desire, keeping it at bay. Yet, it lingered beneath the surface, a persistent force that tested his sanity daily. Her most innocent gesture reignited the simmering passion, causing him to envision her in a more intimate light.
Was it intentional? Was Tara deliberately using such distractions to divert his attention from the coded message's meaning?
His eyes narrowed on her lovely features. Mentally, he berated himself for such a ridiculous possibility. Tara was one of those rare women who had no clue how beautiful and enticing she really was. She was completely oblivious to the impact she had on the male species. Despite her obvious attempts to diminish her femininity with drab, ill-fitting clothes. The grey dress she wore today had a curved collar that cupped her neck and the dull material draped down over her body, the hem falling to the middle of her calves.
And yet, the dress couldn’t fully hide her lush curves. Quite the opposite, in fact. The material taunted the male species, himself in particular, by floating around those curves, brushing against them, hinting at what was underneath, but that he couldn’t have!
In that moment, he realized something amazing. He was no longer betrothed! Princess Ciara, the woman he’d been betrothed to for the past ten years, had finally broken off the contract. She was now engaged to marry Sheik Falk, one of Zayed’s good friends!
Reminding himself of his betrothal over the past two years had become a habit. But now, he didn’t need to continue restraining himself. He didn’t need to keep holding off on pursuing the one woman who intrigued and enticed him more than any other ever had!
Tara! Tara Treon was going to be his!
As he observed her in the moment, he recognized the fear in her eyes. It served as a stark reminder that she was in jeopardy. Over a hamburger?
He read the message again; “Just letting you know that the hamburgers are ready. They are on their way to your destination. Enjoy!”
No, this wasn’t about a hamburger. It couldn't be that simple. Clearly, someone was en route to Pitra, having discovered that Tara was here.
Someone dangerous.
But who? And why?
Stuffing the phone into his pocket, he waved towards the other end of the hallway where his office was located. “Let’s talk,” Zayed commanded. He turned and started moving down the hallway towards his office.
It took him several steps to realize that Tara wasn’t by his side. Turning back, he saw her timidly peering around the corner, as if she was worried that someone was going to jump out and grab her.
Turning back, he stopped right in front of her and took her hand, his fingers sliding against the softness of hers.
“Tara, no one is going to hurt you. I guarantee your safety.” He lowered his head so that no one could overhear. “I will protect you with my life, Tara.”
She gasped and started to pull away from him. But he tightened his grip on her fingers, shaking his head. “No, don’t try to deny that you are in danger, qatah aghira. ” He ran his thumb over the top of her hand. “I can see the fear in your lovely, green eyes. I can also feel the way you’re trembling.” He tilted his head slightly. “Or is that trembling because you are afraid of me ?”
“No!” Tara gasped and took a small step closer. “You would never hurt me. I know that, Your Highness.”
Nodding his approval, he straightened up. “ Jyid .” He took her hand and gently tugged her out of the odd sanctuary. “You’re going to tell me what that message meant and I’m going to fix the problem for you. And then we’re going to talk about other subjects more to my liking and yours.”