The Sheikh's Troublesome Bride (The Jawhara Sheikhs 2)

He wanted nothing more than to disrobe himself as well and join her in the large bed, but he wanted their first joining to be something special. He had learned over the past few weeks that Shira had a history of boyfriends who took advantage of her and treated her poorly. She had tried to hide the hurt those relationships had caused her, but Kale had not been deceived. He intended to prove to her that he wanted her for more than just her stunning body – that he wanted her for her mind, and the beautiful person she was inside. The chemistry between them would be the icing on the cake.

Shira slowly shed her jeans and then crawled beneath the covers, pulling the sheet up to cover her breasts which were visible through the thin material of her camisole. When Kale tossed her a black t-shirt, she quickly pulled it over her head, confused with his odd behavior. When he didn’t join her on the bed, but headed towards the door, she stopped him, “Kale? Did I do something wrong?”

Kale closed his eyes upon hearing the hurt in her voice, he had not meant to hurt her feelings. Turning, he walked back towards the bed, sitting on the edge and taking her cheeks in his hands. Lifting her eyes up to meet his own, he placed a tender kiss upon her nose, her chin, and then her lips. He caressed her lips, using his thumb to pull her chin down and open her mouth to his invasion.

The minute his tongue touched her own, he lost some of his self-control, claiming her mouth in a ravenous kiss that spoke to the intensity of his feelings for her. He pulled her closer to himself, wrapping a hand around her upper back and crushing her breasts against his chest. The feel of her tight nipples against his hard muscles had him gripping her back to keep from reaching for them.

He would take things slow if it killed him. Lifting his head, he placed gentling kisses upon her temple and across her brow, murmuring to her in Arabic.

Shira’s mind was swimming in the feelings his kiss and his touch had aroused. She was no stranger to the chemistry that existed between a man and a woman, but the feelings Kale created in her were as foreign as the words he murmured near her ear. Never before had she felt this way about a man. It was if her previous experiences were all gray and Kale was the rainbow – full of bright colors and sunshine.

She lifted her hand up to caress his cheek, marveling at the smoothness there and briefly wondering how many times a day he needed to shave.

“Shira,

I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I want nothing more than to join you in this bed and make love to you until we reach Jawhara.”

“Okay,” Shira agreed, wanting the same thing.

“No. We will wait. When I finally make you mine, there will be no time constraints, no chance of interruptions, and we won’t be in my brother’s plane. I want our first joining to be special and something that neither one of us will ever forget.”

Shira was so touched that he was thinking about a future and not just getting her into bed, she felt tears threaten to fall. She had been attracted to Kale’s character before, but now she was enthralled with him. Hugging him, she leaned up and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, “Thank you. I want that too. “

Kale pushed her down in the pillows and pulled the sheet up to her chin before placing another kiss on her swollen lips. “Soon. I will see to it.”

Shira smiled at him and watched him leave the room. She drifted off to sleep dreaming of Kale and the joining that he had promised her. He was a man of his word and she couldn’t wait to find out how he intended to fulfill his promise.

Chapter 4

Shira slept the majority of the flight to Jawhara, waking only when Kale insisted she rise and eat something before they started they approach to the airport.

She made use of the on-board shower and then quickly donned her clothing again. She combed her hair out, leaving it to curl naturally and then rubbed some moisturizer into her face and neck. Shira hardly ever wore cosmetics. Her alabaster skin and the light dusting of freckles across her nose and cheekbones, placed her into a unique class of women who were stunning without any help from the cosmetic industry. A light layer of lip gloss was usually the extent of her makeup regimen.

Exiting the bedroom, she found Kale seated at a small table waiting for her. Rihana served them and Shira moaned in pleasure at the first bite of the fluffy cheese omelet she was served. There was also fresh orange juice, slices of tropical melons and bagels with cream cheese.

Kale watched Shira with amusement as she ate, unused to women actually admitting to having an appetite. Most of the women who found themselves in the royal social circle were stick thin and thought a cracker and miniscule slice of meat was a meal.

Shira felt Kale’s eyes upon her and glanced up, her face going red as she read the amusement in his eyes. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. It is refreshing to see a woman eat because she is hungry.”

Shira thought the comment odd, but picked up her glass of juice and drained it before answering, “Well, I don’t know what kind of women you’ve been hanging out with, but I kind of like food. Luckily, it hasn’t found my hips as of yet. Erin keeps telling me that one of these days my craving for carbs and sugar is going to catch up to me, but until then, I’m going to enjoy every bite.”

At the mention of her cousin, she immediately sobered, looking at Kale, she asked, “Does Kam ever ask about Erin?”

Kale nodded his head, “Yes, but not from me. Talib gives him daily reports on her activities.”

“But that’s not the same as him talking to her directly. Why does he not just call her?”

“Kamal is very busy dealing with a crisis in a neighboring country. He will call her when he can.”

Shira wasn’t satisfied with his answer, but decided to wait and take the issue up with Kamal once she arrived in Jawhara. “When will we land?”

Before Kale could answer, Rihana returned to the cabin and cleared away their dishes, speaking to Kale in Arabic before leaving to the front of the plane once again. “We are getting ready to make our approach to the airport. The captain would like us to buckle up. Come, sit with me on the couch.”

Kale waited for Shira to settle on the couch and buckle her seatbelt before joining her and doing the same. Taking her hand in his, he began to trace the creases in her palms, pretending not to notice the shivers and goosebumps his touch elicited in her.

Shira tried to pull her hand away from the teasing touch, but Kale held firmly to her wrist and continued his light caresses. Taking a deep breath, she lifted her head to tell him to stop, only to find herself caught in his gaze.