“I don’t think I can.”
“Sip it.”
She sighed. “It wasn’t the alcohol, was it? You really are this bossy all of the time.”
“It comes with the job.” He smiled, the urge to laugh again not easy to stifle, but he did not think she would appreciate it.
She finished the glass of water and put it down.
“Good. Now, go take your shower.” If he timed it right, Yusuf would arrive while she was in the bathroom.
Sayed didn’t understand this need he had to protect her, but he had no doubts it would embarrass Aaliyah greatly to face Sayed’s security staff the morning after.
She seemed discombobulated enough by her one-night lover’s presence.
She took a tighter grip on the sheet, her expression mutinous. “I’ll wait.”
“I am not accustomed to having my instructions disregarded,” he told her, lacing his tone heavily with censure.
“Poor you.” She appeared anything but sympathetic. “I’m sure you will survive it.”
“You were not this stubbornly shy last night.”
She glared up at him. “I was drunk.”
“You told me you were not.”
“I wanted you to make love to me.”
“So, you knew enough to make the choice,” he said with some relief.
“Of course. I’m not a child.”
He tugged on the sheet. “Are you sure?”
Affront was written all over her lovely face.
He shrugged, lifting one brow. “Only, your refusal to get out of the bed seems a bit childish to me. After last night.”
Color stained her cheeks, but determination firmed her chin. “Fine. Get me one of the hotel robes from closet.”
“I assure you, I saw everything last night.” He did not know why he was teasing her, but couldn’t seem to help himself.
“It’s not the same.”
“No. You are right. We do not have the luxury of time to do anything about our nudity and the inevitable reaction to it this morning.” He indicated his semierect sex with a small wave of his hand.
“Sayed!”
“What? You will not pretend you did not enjoy our lovemaking.”
“Stop talking about it!”
“But why?” he asked in genuine confusion. “I do not mind telling you, it was amazing.”
Yanking the sheet with her, she jumped up from the bed and wrapped herself in it before he got much more than a glimpse of honey skin and a couple of well-placed love bites he had very fond memories of giving her.
His breath expelled in a telling but unstoppable whoosh. “You are quite beautiful.”