His hearty chuckle rumbled up through his interior and radiated into me. “Yes, Just Julie, you are much too inebriated to be left alone tonight. I will make sure you are safe.”
We danced some more and I continued to feel as if Amir and I had known each other all our lives. I was soaking in him, wallowing in some intangible aura of masculine need. I felt like a princess or Cinderella with the intoxicating feeling of being the only woman in Amir’s sights.
We left the dance floor and headed towards Anna and Omar’s table. “Hey girlfriend, I really need to crash. Could you take me home?”
“Your room is only one floor up, Jules. Do you need help with the buttons on the elevator?”
“Verra funneh,” I tried to say, but my tongue was thick and uncooperative.
Amir said something to Omar, who nodded in turn and then Amir took my hand, “I will make sure you are safe. Come with me, beautiful.”
I looked at Omar, “Can I trust him?”
Omar chuckled, “Yes, Julie.” Then he joked and Annacastically told Amir, “It’s her I would be careful around.”
Amir and Omar had a good laugh. I gave Anna my best pleading expression, hoping she might save me from myself—but also secretly hoping she wouldn’t. “Anna, I’m pretty drunk.”
“Yes, you are. Do you need me to protect you from yourself? You do realize you just agreed to go back to Amir’s place?”
I awkwardly waved my hand in the air, “Oh him? I’m not worried about him. He’s about to have the best night of his life.”
Anna looked at Amir, “She’s gonna get sick pretty soon and then pass out. Don’t get your hopes up.”
“Never fear, Your Highness, I will not take advantage of her in this state. At least not tonight.”
I poked Amir’s chest, “No, sir! You will take all kindthes vantage of–oh no.” I gulped down a burp and for a second I thought I might hurl.
I heard Anna, “Yup—she’s gonna be sick soon.”
Amir swept me up into his arms as if I weighed nothing. “Close your eyes, beautiful. I will take care of you.”
That was the last thing I remembered before I passed out.
CHAPTER SIX
When I woke up, I had no idea where I was. I was alone in a huge bed and the silkiest sheets I’d ever felt were caressing my body. My naked body. Oh shit! Did I sleep with Amir and not even remember it? Dammit anyway! I promised myself I wouldn’t do that.
The room was dimly lit, but the windows ar
e blacked out or blocked or I’m underground. I have no idea what time of the night it was. There was one small lamp on in in the corner at a desk. I stumbled towards the door near the desk, hoping it was a bathroom. It was, and I groggily found the toilet and groaned as I peed what feels like gallons.
I sat there on the toilet with my head in my hands and my eyes closed. I hadn’t really noticed much around me, apart from I knew I was not in the room assigned to me at the island resort. I finally cracked open my lids and took in the immense bathroom. It was as big as the entire first floor of our little apartment at college—kitchen and living room combined—and this was just the bathroom.
It was done in stunning black granite. There were ribbons of brilliant blue that traveled throughout the polished black rock that was everywhere. The shower, the floor, the double sink area was also this mesmerizing black and sapphire blue stone that shimmered and was as soft as skin to the touch. The sinks were art deco and sat on top of the counters with copper faucets that looked like they were handcrafted by master artisans.
The walls were mirrors—every flat perpendicular surface was a mirror—and even in the dim light from the lamp just outside the door I left open, I could see multiple representations of me and my naked body. I washed my hands and smoothed my unruly hair. I dabbed at my makeup-smudged eyes with a tissue and eventually made myself a tad more presentable. I scanned the room for a towel, or robe or something, and found nothing.
My head was pounding and I knew I needed water. I went back out to the bedroom, looking for a bottle of water. I stalled as I fully took in the room. And I thought the bathroom was large. Oh my God! The room was enormous, massive, cavernous. Even the king-sized bed set in the middle seemed small in comparison to the room within it sat. I gaped as I took in the polished black wood everywhere and the partitioned windows that appeared to have inset wood panels. I wondered where the switch was that would lower them.
Then my head reminded me I was hung over and I needed water. Considerately, I found a sealed bottle of drinking water on the nightstand, and I immediately took three big sips as I scanned the wall for evidence of a button I could push to lower the window panels.
Amir’s deep voice startled me, “Good morning, princess. I see you found your way around?”
I squealed and crossed my arm across my breasts, “Amir—um, sorry! Do you have a robe? Or my clothes?”
“Nonsense, you shall remain as you are. I find your nakedness a masterpiece.”
I sighed, realizing I must have slept with him last night and not remembered. He wouldn’t be so confident, otherwise. I remained facing away from him and dashed a quick look over my shoulder. Yup, he was in just a robe. I sagged, but said nothing. He strode past me to the wall and pressed open a hidden panel, and when a digital screen lit up, he pushed the window icon. With an almost silent humming sound, the window panels disappeared into the wall. My breath caught, and I forgot about keeping myself covered.