she ate spicy foods. He loved listening to her breath when she fell asleep on the way back from shows. He loved the way her hand felt in his, her long slender fingers and smooth skin. And he loved the feel of her soft cheek underneath his lips.
There was more, so much more to this complex, beautiful woman. It wasn’t one thing, it was everything. In fact, he was pretty sure he might be falling for her, and that thought scared the hell out of him. Sadiq had never felt this way about anyone before. He had never been in a serious relationship, and he was pretty sure he just wasn’t cut out for that kind of thing. That was just one of the reasons there was such a big rift between him and his family.
Sadiq had learned that in order to protect himself, he would be safer to not get involved with anyone at all. That’s why he had earned the reputation for being a playboy. He hadn’t set out to be that way, he just didn’t want to commit to anyone. He didn’t feel like he could commit, and he was terrified of letting a woman down.
With Hannah, though, it was different. Even though he knew he shouldn’t get involved, couldn’t get involved, he wanted desperately to tell her how he felt. He was finding it increasingly hard spending time around her, so much so that for the last few weeks of Hannah’s tour, he didn’t go to any of her shows at all. He didn’t like it one bit, but he knew that that was how it had to be.
THIRTEEN
After her conversation with Naasir, Hannah had come to understand the growing distance between her and Sadiq a little better. She knew that no matter what Sadiq was thinking or doing, she needed to protect herself, too. She had no intention of letting herself get hurt again. She had been down that road with Harvey and she didn’t want to go there again.
Hannah was in her suite at the palace, picking out an outfit for one of her final performances, when Fatima entered her room.
“Miss Green,” she said as she walked up to help her get into her gown.
“Yes, Fatima?” she said.
“We must get moving. It’s a long ride to get to your show. This one is across the other side of the country, remember?”
Hannah looked at the clock on the wall and cursed under her breath. She had completely forgotten that they would be traveling nearly two hours to get to the club she was scheduled to perform at.
“Of course, you’re right. I forgot. Give me just a minute and I’ll be ready.” She smiled warmly as Fatima left the room.
Hannah looked in the mirror and ran her hands down her burgundy mermaid dress. “I might not have Chloe’s curves,” she said to herself. “But damn I make this dress look good.”
“Yes, you do,” Sadiq’s voice floated to her from across the doorway.
Hannah turned quickly and looked at Sadiq, embarrassed at what he had just overheard.
“Sadiq! I didn’t know you were here? I mean, of course you’re here, it’s your house…palace, I mean.” She was stammering and she knew it. Why was she so nervous? She had seen him a hundred times before. He looked just like he always did: damn good and extremely handsome.
Sadiq smiled, knowing he had her squirming. “I’ll be going to the show with you tonight, Hannah—if that’s okay with you, of course.”
Hannah shook her head. Why was he asking her permission? “That’s fine. I mean, of course that’s fine. It’s your show. Well, I mean, it’s my show. That’s not true… it’s—”
Sadiq walked over and took her hands in his. “Shh,” he said as he turned her around to face the mirror. He stood behind her and ran his hands up the back of her dress and under her hair. Hannah felt tiny electric shocks shoot through her body as his hands moved over her skin.
She looked at him in the mirror, standing tall and muscular behind her petite frame, silently teasing her with his thick, luscious lips and musky scent. “May I?” he asked as he reached over and grabbed the necklace lying on the dressing table.
Hannah nodded, unable to speak, paralyzed by his touch. She felt the heat rise in her stomach and move its way through her as he draped his arms across her chest and slid the necklace into place on her collarbone. He brought the chain around the back of her neck and expertly clasped it.
Oh, how he wanted to put his arms around her, pull her in close, feel the full length of her body against his. But he had already gone too far. And she had let him. He closed his eyes and breathed her hair in once more before stepping back.
“Ready?” he asked as he cleared his throat.
“Yes, yeah,” Hannah said shakily. Oh God, how am I going to make a two-hour limo ride with this guy? She smiled at him quickly as he escorted her out the door and through the palace to the waiting car.
Naasir smiled at Hannah as she approached him. “If you don’t mind me saying, Miss, you look especially lovely this evening.”
Hannah just smiled. Usually she would come back with some quip like “Yes, Naasir, I do look lovely.” Not tonight, though. She was too shaken by how close she had just come to giving in to her emotions.
Hannah and Sadiq made small talk as the car drove along through the desert landscape. They spoke about the few performances she had left, and how her experience had been in El-Shakanish, each of them doing their best to ignore how they were really feeling about Hannah’s imminent return to the States.
That evening’s performance was taking place in a small town in eastern El-Shakanish, at an underground club known as The White Rabbit. As usual, the limo pulled up to the back door of the club and Hannah stepped out. She turned to say goodbye to Sadiq and was surprised to find him getting out behind her.
“May I escort you in?” he asked as he placed his hand on the small of her back.
Hannah didn’t know what to say as her feelings welled up inside of her. Words escaped her and all she could do was nod.
Sadiq smiled, glad he was able to touch her again. His body yearned to feel hers, her hands, her neck, her skin. Even being able to touch her through her gown was enough. He just needed something. He knew being around her was dangerous, but he couldn’t help himself. His only fear was that she didn’t feel the same way. She hadn’t said a word indicating that she had feelings for him. He just had to wait and see.