Zaid. Not when it was clear he wouldn’t welcome them.
They set sail immediately, the idea being to island-hop for the next two weeks.
Nashwa and Aisha had remained behind this time, and although Esme found herself missing their effervescent presence, she welcomed the peace and quiet and the chance to bathe and clothe herself without their well-intentioned interference.
She was still fighting the emotions that seemed to bubble just below her skin when the door to the opulent shower cubicle opened and a very naked and aroused Zaid stepped in.
She had a mere second to school her features, but the weeks since they had first made love had done nothing but sharpen the edge of her desire, and by the time he prowled over to where the water cascaded over her body, every atom of her being was on fire for him.
‘Is it irrational that I am jealous of the water caressing your body?’ he enquired huskily as he lowered his head to trail a kiss across one shoulder.
She jerked back, bumped her shoulder on the wall. ‘What...what are you doing in here?’
His eyes narrowed. ‘If you have to ask then something’s seriously wrong.’ He prowled closer.
She had nowhere to go, so she held out a warding hand. ‘I know we’re on our honeymoon, but...’
‘But?’
‘I... Zaid, you don’t really want me—’
‘Take a very good look, habiba. The evidence speaks for itself, I believe.’
Her hungry gaze swept over him, her face flaming when it lingered on the proud, rigid parts of his anatomy.
‘I...don’t mean that.’
He sighed. ‘We got off to a rocky start, I admit. But whatever problems we need to iron out, let’s not make this one of them. Okay?’
She knew she was weak when it came to him. Esme discovered just how weak when her body, independent of her mind, lunged into his arms.
He made a rough sound in his throat, then took her mouth in a hot, carnal, demanding kiss. Like the first and second time, he set her aflame with just his mouth. But now she knew what else was coming. And she could barely contain herself. Boldly, she caressed him, driving him to the same fever pitch he’d inspired in her.
On a wild whim, she grabbed the gel she’d just used, squeezing a few drops into her palm. The moment he broke the kiss, she stepped back and glided her hands over his torso. The surprise on his face was followed instantaneously by encouragement. Hard on the heels of that came a rough, thick curse before he was bundling her out of the shower and drying them off.
When they reached the bed, he lifted her high, his gaze upturned to hers. ‘Now I truly make you my wife.’
‘And you my husband.’
The arms that laid her reverently on the bed shook a little. The kiss he bestowed on her lacked a little of his usual smooth finesse. But she didn’t care.
The magnificent man she’d fallen in love with was making love to her. Yes, there was pain in her heart, but for now there was bliss too. And she intended to hold onto that for as long as possible.
That was her last thought before Zaid kissed his way down her body. Before he lingered on the flat plane of her belly where their child grew.
Before, after praising her through her first climax, he rose above her and took her body with his.
Unhurried, exquisite, their union brought tears to her eyes and a gruff shout from Zaid when he reached his own peak. Then, arms wrapped around each other, they slid into sleep.
It set the tone for their honeymoon.
By day they ate, sunbathed and explored the islands. And by night they made love after sharing mouth-watering meals on the top deck and talking long into the night.
Besides his bodyguards, only Fawzi and another member of his staff accompanied them. Their presence barely registered, although Fawzi had taken to bowing from the waist when he walked into her presence.
When she commented on it, Zaid laughed.
‘And why does he look disconcerted whenever I speak to him?’