Chapter 13
Kaia stood outside of Riaz’ office doorway. He’d said he could help her with this jittery feeling, so she was going to take him up on his offer of assistance.
“Are you going in?” Riaz’s assistant asked, more curious than irritated by Kaia’s hesitation.
She glanced at the man, then rubbed her sweaty palms down her jeans. She was becoming thoroughly sick of these jeans. Yes, they were cleaned every night. But the other women working in the palace’s administrative offices were glammed up in impressive business suits or fashionable dresses. They all wore heels and makeup, did their hair in sophisticated styles.
Kaia had never bothered with makeup, except for the nights when she and Tara had played with the stuff just for fun. They’d done up their faces in gaudy colors and drew lipstick well outside the lines of their lips, just to make the other laugh. It had been more clownish than artistic.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, I’m going in.”
The guard opened the door and Kaia reached down to touch Dibi’s fur. He snuffled her hand a bit, letting her know that she was going to be okay. Or maybe he was thanking her for the attention?
As soon as the door opened, Riaz looked up from what he was reading, his dark eyes sharpening as he looked at her standing in the doorway.
“Kaia? What’s wrong?” Riaz demanded, tossing the papers he’d been reading onto his desk. He stood up and rushed around the desk to take her hands in his. “Tell me what’s wrong, love.”
Kaia took a deep breath and stared down at their mingled hands. His grip was firm but gentle. She knew that she could pull away if she needed to. That was the reminder that she needed and Kaia breathed easier.
Looking up at him, she swallowed hard. Then felt Dibi pressing his body against her leg. Support. The dog wasn’t just a guard dog. He was an emotional support animal. What a sweetie!
“Would you…sit down, so I can talk to you?” She felt his grip on her hands loosen. “Please?”
“Tell me you’re okay,” he urged, releasing her hands, but without moving to sit down.
“I’m okay,” she replied. “I’m not hurt.” That was a clarification. She wasn’t “okay”. In reality, she felt as if she might explode. “I need a favor. And I can’t ask you for this favor when you’re towering over me like this.”
Riaz’s eyes searched hers for a moment, but in the end, he nodded slowly. She saw the muscles in his jaw tighten and knew that he was upset, but wasn’t sure why.
Maybe, this was a bad idea.
He was striding over to the leather sofa when he stopped and looked at her. “I know how I can help, if you’d just–”
“Please?” she whispered, and he stopped. That muscle in his jaw flexed and Kaia tensed, praying that he would listen to her.
He sat, but she could tell that he didn’t like the passive role. Kaia almost laughed at the situation, but she was too tense, just thinking about what she was about to ask him.
“Kaia, if you’d just–”
She lifted her hands while her eyes pleaded with him to stop speaking.
“Riaz, I…need a favor and…it’s hard for me to speak. So, if you could just…?”
“Fine,” he grumbled, sitting down and leaning his elbows on his knees as he waited impatiently for her to explain this favor.
Kaia tried to figure out the best way to ask politely. Nervously, she stood in front of him, unconsciously twisting her fingers together. In her mind, she came up with what might be the perfect way to ease into what she needed to ask him. But in the end, she just blurted out her request. “I think I need sex.”
There! She’d said it! She’d actually spoken the words out loud.
That’s when Kaia realized her eyes were squeezed shut! With a huff of impatience, she opened her eyes and looked at Riaz. He hadn’t moved. In fact, he was staring at her, although the impatient, angry expression had been replaced by a stunned gaze.
“I know that sounds horrible,” she continued, reaching her hands out in a pleading gesture. “I know that men become grumpy when sexually frustrated and they force their partners to help them ease their stress through sex.” She turned and paced two steps to the right. “And perhaps that’s what I’m doing.” She turned and paced the two steps back to her original position. “I don’t mean to use sex to manage my emotions.” She moved another two steps to the left. “I don’t think that’s what this is.” And again, she moved back to her original point. “In the past, I’ve been stressed about Ethan or finances or trying to figure out which city to hide in next, but I’ve never felt this overwhelming need to have sex before.” She sighed, her head bowing slightly as her shoulders drooped. “I don’t really understand why you make me so jittery. But I’ve read about sexual frustration and,” she exhaled and lifted her head to look into his dark eyes. “And I think that’s what I’m experiencing.”
Before she could say another word, Riaz jumped up and pulled her into his arms. She was just about to speak, but his mouth covered hers in a kiss that stole her breath away. He held her with one arm wrapped around her waist while his other hand cupped her cheek, his fingers diving into her hair as he held her head so that he could deepen the kiss.
And his lips! Dear heaven, she’d thought that his shoulders were her favorite part of his body. But his lips, the way he nibbled and teased, caressed her with his lips made her want to giggle! No, his drugging kisses made her want to explode! Could a woman climax from just a kiss? Kaia was starting to think it was possible!
Before she’d had enough of his kisses, Riaz pulled back. Kaia was too stunned to speak, to protest, to do anything. She wanted to argue with him, to beg him to kiss her again and again.
Instead, Riaz took her hand and said, “Come with me.”
They were out in the hallway before she realized what was happening. “Where are we going?” she hissed, almost running to try to keep up with his long legged stride.
“You asked me for a favor,” he told her, slowing down. “I’m granting you that favor.”
He didn’t slow down as Kaia’s heart soared with excitement and relief. The ornate mosaics that decorated the palace hallways flew by in her peripheral vision. In the back of her mind, she recognized the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Her sneakers squeaked as her feet hit the marble floors. But none of those sensations were important enough. The only feeling that mattered was the heat coming from the connection of her hand with his. That, and her racing heart. She was going to do this! She was finally going to have sex!
All her life, she’d worried about this moment, wondering if her first sexual encounter was going to be painful. She’d worried that sex would be brutal and the man would be a selfish ass. She’d read about other women’s experiences, how they’d found the act painful and…unfulfilling.
But her first sexual experience was going to be with Riaz. Looking at the grimly determined expression on his face, Kaia knew without a doubt that the next twenty minutes was going to be thrilling. She knew that sex with Riaz was going to be…not fun and light-hearted, but fulfilling.
The door to his suite opened and he pulled her through. Dibi and Marta had been following them and they quickly slipped through the door before Riaz could close them out. Dibi huffed a bit, indignant that Riaz had tried to close the door without him inside, but the two dogs wandered around a bit, more relaxed in this space.
Kaia was trying to take everything in, not wanting to miss anything during this first time with a man. No, not just with a man. Her first time was going to be with Riaz. Sex with him was going to be nice.
He led her into the bedroom and over to the bed. Only then did he finally stop and look at her, pulling her closer. “Now, say all of that again,” he ordered, his voice rough.
Kaia felt breathless, but doubted that her racing heart and pounding lungs was from the race down the hallway. She stood in front of Riaz, trembling but eager.
She wanted to tell him that she trusted him, that she was eagerly looking forward to sharing this experience with him. But all she could manage was, “I want you.”
He didn’t hesitate. His arm pulled her closer and she let out a startled squeak, her hands sliding over his chest and she rose up onto her tiptoes, tilting her head back. “Will you kiss me the way you just did in your office?” she whispered.
Riaz slowly leaned in and those lips didn’t brush against her this time. His lips touched hers in a heavy, intoxicating kiss that left her even more breathless. But Kaia wasn’t going to be a passive partner in this experience. She’d always been aware that life could change in a split second. She never knew if she would be in the same place from one moment to the next. So, Kaia wanted to truly enjoy this first time with Riaz.
Her hands slid from his chest to his shoulders, her fingers seeking out the heat from his skin. The shirt buttons were annoying, but somehow, she managed to release some of the buttons while kissing him back. His tongue invaded her mouth and she gasped, then mimicked his actions. Her tongue explored his mouth, her lips teased and nipped and she felt the excitement soar as his arms pulled her higher. Suddenly, Kaia realized that she was literally in his arms. His hands cupped her bottom, holding her firmly against his body.
“Yes!” she hissed, pulling back to try and focus on the damn buttons. Riaz’s mouth moved to her neck and her fingers stilled, her attention completely focused on the way his teeth scraped against her skin, sending shivers of need down her spine.
It was too much, and yet, Kaia couldn’t pull away. She needed more. She needed his shirt gone! But the buttons were too complicated for her fumbling fingers now.
With a growl, Riaz lowered her onto the bed. He gave her one more kiss, then he stood up and tore off his clothes. Kaia stared at him, stunned by the glory being revealed to her. She’d known that he was strong and powerfully built, but the lithe muscles revealed when his shirt was discarded were like something out of a fantasy! His shoulders and arms were packed with muscles. He had a light dusting of hair over his chest that tapered to a darker line down his belly. That fascinating line disappeared behind his belt buckle and…!
Kaia lost track of that line when Riaz lowered himself over her, his big body covering hers and Kaia’s hands explored the newly revealed muscles. She loved touching him! Loved feeling all of that barely controlled power under her fingertips!
“You’re beautiful, Riaz,” she whispered to him, then looked into his eyes. They were on fire for her!
“As much as I love this tee-shirt, would you mind if I took it off?” he asked, his hand sliding underneath to glide over her bare stomach.
She tensed at the intimate touch, but nodded. Kaia had always thought that she’d be nervous at this point. And yes, there was a touch of nervousness. But the more overwhelming emotion was excitement. And eagerness. Interest!
Oh, and there was definitely need. Her body trembled, needing to be touched, to make this urgent sensation stop.
“Yes,” she whispered.
She lifted her back and head so that he could pull the well-worn cotton away.
Then her nervousness hit her. She didn’t spend money on fancy underwear. Kaia had wanted to save her money so that she could get her and her sister to a new, safe place. Away from Ethan’s grasp. So, her underthings were plain cotton.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
His dark eyes lifted, startled. “Why are you sorry?” he rasped out.
“I just…” her hand floated to her breast, covering the pathetic cotton bra.
Riaz chuckled, then lifted her hand away so that his mouth could close over the tight nipple pressing against the thin cotton. “I love your body, Kaia. I don’t give a damn what you’re wearing, although I’d love to spoil you by dressing you up in whatever would make you feel pretty and daring.”
Kaia could barely listen to his words because his mouth was so distractingly hot as it covered her nipple. Then he pulled the cotton cup away and…dear heaven! His tongue was scorching! It teased and tortured her nipple, pulling an incoherent sound from her.
She pulled his head away and they stared into each other’s eyes for a long moment. “I like that,” she admitted.
His smile widened and he pulled her hands away from his head. Without uttering a word, Riaz moved to her other breast, teasing the tip with equal fervency.