A Sheikh for Christmas Page 12

  In fact, she cared so much for him that she was willing to let him go, if that’s what was best for him. But not tonight, not until she’d had him inside her one last time, felt him shudder to climax in her arms and cuddled by his side in the afterglow. She’d never been with a man like Daveed before, had never experienced the level of passion she felt in his arms, and her intuition told her she never would again. So tonight she would have him, savor him as he wanted to savor her, then hold the memories of this evening close in her heart during all the cold winter nights ahead.

  He nuzzled her breasts and stroked the heat between her legs, his fingers gently preparing her for him, but tonight she didn’t want all the foreplay. She wanted him, so deep inside her she didn’t know where he ended and she began. Mel cupped Daveed’s cheeks and forced him to meet her gaze. “Please. I want you inside me. Now.”

  The same desperation throbbing within her was reflected in his eyes and he rolled off of her to grab a condom from the nightstand. Once he’d put it on, he moved over her again and kissed her deeply. “I need you too, habibaty. So, so bad.”

  She raised her knees so they rested on either side of his slim hips then rocked her hips against him, savoring his low, rough groan as her wet core slid along his hard length. “Do it!”

  “Fuck, yes!” Daveed entered her in one long thrust then rested atop her, trailing kisses along her cheek to her ear while she locked her ankles around his butt, digging in her heels to urge him on. When he began to move inside her, withdrawing nearly to his tip before pushing back into her again, it sent sparks of desire throughout her body.

  “You feel so amazing inside me,” she said, matching him thrust for thrust, her body bowing upward as his lips returned to her hard nipples. They found their rhythm and soon both of them were teetering on the edge of orgasm.

  Daveed changed his angle of penetration slightly so that there was friction on her swollen clit each time their bodies strained together and that was all it took. Mel threw her head back and cried out as she climaxed hard around him.

  He didn’t last much longer. A few frantic thrusts then his whole body tightened and he gave a guttural moan as he came hard inside her. Afterward he collapsed atop her, his head resting between her breasts as they both drifted off into a deep, sated sleep.

  * * *

  Early morning light was streaming through the blinds in the guest room when Daveed blinked his eyes open again. Somewhere during the night, he must’ve switched off the lamp on the nightstand and pushed Mel’s bag onto the floor because they were both sprawled across the entire bed now, their limbs entwined beneath the fluffy down comforter. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, all signs of stress and worry erased. Hard to believe he’d only known this gorgeous woman a few days. She’d somehow taken up residence in his heart, filling a hole he hadn’t even known existed. With her he felt completed, confident, ready to conquer any challenge. How he would live without her now was beyond him, but he would. She deserved the full package. A man who was settled, who had a home and a life of his own, not some wandering spook like him who never knew where he’d be from one month to the next. She deserved a true prince, not a man who walked away from his title and his family to pursue a life of danger and uncertainty. In other words, she deserved better than him. Walking away from her now would ensure she’d get it too. No matter how hard it would be, he’d walk away from Melody, because it was the right thing to do for her.

  Wanting to touch her soft skin one more time, he reached over to trace a finger across one of her golden eyebrows then hesitated as a buzzing sound issued from somewhere on the floor.

  Shit. His phone. Carefully, so as not to wake Mel, he rolled over and fumbled his hand over the side of the bed to grab his jeans. There was only one person who would call at this ungodly hour. Sure enough, when he clicked on the device, a text from Heath popped up onscreen.

  Hit dead end on Aileen’s trail.

  Her boss won’t talk & left for extended holiday.

  All firms clean too.

  Got nothing else.

  Any ideas?

  With an exasperated sigh, Daveed leaned back against the pillows and scrubbed a hand through his hair. As if sensing his disappointment, Mel rolled over and blinked her eyes open to squint up at him.

  “What is it?” she asked, her voice husky from sleep.

  The sound sent a thrill of awareness through him before he tamped it down. He’d sworn to help Murphy and Heath find Aileen and he always kept his promises. Unfortunately, he wasn’t sure what else to try at this point when every lead they got seemed to get them nowhere.

  He exhaled slowly and rolled his neck. “I got an update from Heath on the investigation into Murphy’s sister’s disappearance. They’ve hit another wall.”

  “Oh, no.” She pushed herself up to sit beside him, clutching the sheet to her breasts. “That’s awful. He’s got to be worried sick by now.”

  “Yeah, he is. The longer people are missing the less chance we have of finding them.”

  “What about those firms we went to the other day? Did any of them know anything about her?”

  “No. And they all checked out too. Heath ran them through his father’s contacts.” Daveed put the phone down and rubbed his face. “Murphy went over to try to talk to her boss at the newspaper, but he’s gone now for the holidays and refused to talk to us anyway. We got nothing at this point.”

  “Huh.” She frowned and crossed her arms, slumping against the headboard. Her hair stood out in disarray around her head and Daveed didn’t think he’d ever seen anything more adorable in his life. “I don’t know. I still think one of those firms knows something they’re not telling us.”

  “Good luck getting in there again. Heath said they’re beefing up security for the holidays, so that basically means our chances of slipping past the security guards again without a pass has gone from slim to nil.”

  “A pass.” She tapped a finger against her full bottom lip, drawing his attention to her mouth once more. Not that it had ever gotten far away. Next thing he knew, she was climbing out of bed and taking the sheet with her. Good thing he still had the comforter to keep him warm. She rushed out of the bedroom then returned a few moments later with the previous day’s paper. Mel tossed it down on his lap then climbed back onto the bed to kneel beside him. “I think I have a way to get us back in there again.”

  He switched on the bedside lamp and stared down at the front page of the business section. There was a picture of the atrium from the skyscraper and a headline stating that the eco-energy firm in the building was holding a press conference that day to announce their new plans for the upcoming year. “Okay. They’re holding a press conference. That might create a distraction, but we’d still need to get past all the extra guards to get inside.”

  “Not if I get a press pass to attend.” Her small smile widened into a wicked grin. “Heath isn’t the only one who’s got connections, you know. My father knows all sorts of people around town. Let me make a few phone calls and see what I can come up with.”

  11

  Two hours later, Daveed sat with the guys at a restaurant across from the skyscraper at 124 West 52nd Street. Media vans lined the curb of the street in front of the building, with their antenna raised and satellite dishes aimed skyward. Mel had been inside for about a half hour now, having managed to snag a press pass from some friend of her father’s, who worked for a local village paper. Hopefully, no one would look too closely at it, since he doubted any security guard would buy that the Quilting Corner Register would be at all interested in covering a story about new advances in hydro-thermal energy.

  “God, they got that placed bedecked in so much Christmas crap it looks like a holiday hard-on,” Murphy said, scowling into his coffee. “Bah humbug.”

  Heath snorted. “If anyone’s got a reason to be anti-Santa this year, it’s you, buddy.” Then his smile fell and his expression turned deadly serious. “We’ll find Aileen, I swear. Before the holiday to
o, if I have anything to say about it.”

  “It’s not Christmas without her, man,” Murphy said. “It’s been just the two of us for years now.”

  Feeling the heartache himself, Daveed reached over to pat his buddy’s arm. “Heath’s right. We won’t rest until we find her. You have my word too.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  “So, what’s the deal with you and Mel?” Heath asked, his gaze far too perceptive for Daveed’s liking. “You guys a couple now or what?”

  In my dreams. Daveed hung his head. “No. Not a couple. I wouldn’t do that to you. Besides, we’re too different. She deserves someone who’s settled and secure and can give her what she deserves and that’s not me right now.”

  “First off, don’t bring me into this.” Heath sat back, coffee in hand. “There was never anything between Mel and me other than our arrangement. You know that. And second, if the two of you click and are compatible, don’t underestimate that. After watching my old man go through yet another divorce from a woman he has nothing in common with, I’d take a good connection and compatibility any day of the week. And if you’re lucky enough to have more, then that’s awesome.” He chuckled. “Quit selling yourself short, Sheikh Rafik. Mel would be lucky to have you.”

  At the use of this nickname he loathed, Daveed flipped Heath off. Murphy laughed and some of the gloom surrounding them dispersed. They were about to order breakfast when Mel came bustling in through the front doors, all but bursting with excitement. She slid into the empty chair at the table, her smile triumphant.

  “I did it!” she said, nearly squealing. “I know who’s got more information on Murphy’s sister. It’s the energy company. They know something about what happened to Aileen.”

  Daveed frowned. “Someone talked to you?”

  “Not exactly.” Mel shrugged out of her pink coat and gave him a look. “But I managed to get upstairs during the press conference and checked out those two firms again. I went to the law firm first and told the receptionist I was with the Times and that I was there to investigate the disappearance of journalist Aileen Coen. She didn’t bat an eye. Just picked up the phone and called out a couple of the attorneys there who gave me the whole “no comment” spiel. Typical lawyer crap. They acted completely bored by my appearance.” Mel winked. “So then, I went to the energy company. This time, when I told the receptionist who I was, she freaked out. I barely got Aileen’s name out and she was running from her desk back into the offices. She never did come out again. While I was standing in their lobby alone, I took a good look at their directory too. Only five people work in that huge cushy office.” She looked around at the guys then threw her hands up in exasperation when no one seemed to respond. “C’mon. Five people for an entire floor? I don’t know that much about start-ups, but downtown Manhattan real estate is expensive. Isn’t it a little weird they’d have that kind of money to burn on space they don’t use?”

  “Hmm.” Heath frowned. “Does seem weird. We’ll check it out.” He stood and pulled on his coat. “Murph, you want to come with me?”

  “Sure.” He downed the last bite of his doughnut then pushed to his feet as well. “Daveed, you coming with us too?”

  “He’s got other things to deal with,” Heath said. “Take care, you two. I mean it.”

  Daveed watched them go, his appetite gone. Beside him, Mel perused the menu, chattering away, but he was only half listening. Heath and Mel had made up. Heath had all but given him his blessing to pursue Mel, if he wanted. They had a new lead on Aileen. It seemed the day was looking up. Then Mel’s last words penetrated his jumbled thoughts.

  “…stuff from the apartment and I’ll be out of your life for good.”

  * * *

  It damned near killed her to say those words, but she did it. Even managed to flash him a quick, if shaky, smile. Mel swallowed hard, gripped the edge of the table, then scooted out of the booth. She needed to get out of the diner and fast, if she was going to keep it together. Her eyes and throat burned from unshed tears.

  “I guess this is it then,” Mel said, extending her gloved hand. “Thanks again for everything. Letting me crash at the condo, coaching me through finding a new job…” Making love to me so sweetly that I’ll never, ever forget you…

  Daveed looked a bit dazed as he reached over and shook her hand, a furrow deepening between his dark brows. “I can come with you and help—”

  “No, no.” She took a step back from the edge of the table. This was hard enough the way it was. If he came with her, she’d end up breaking down in front of him and then Daveed, being the gentleman he was, would feel obligated to comfort her and maybe offer to let her stay longer and then she’d never know if it was because he truly cared for her or if he was doing it out of pity and oh, damn.

  Her chest squeezed with sadness and she blinked rapidly against the moisture gathering in her eyes. I won’t cry in front of him again. I won’t. She forced what she hoped was a confident smile and backed toward the exit. “I only have the one bag. It’s fine. I hauled it there myself, I can haul it over to Shayma’s too.” Mel raised a trembling hand in a small wave goodbye. “See you around.”

  She darted out the door and into the wintery New York day. Typical weather on the Eastern seaboard. One minute the sun was shining, the next gray clouds had rolled in and it was spitting snow.

  As she walked, Mel tried to console herself with the fact that she’d done what she’d set out to accomplish this morning: getting the guys more information on Aileen’s possible whereabouts and now moving on with her life. It’s what any self-supporting woman would do. Daveed had never promised her more than a fling while she was staying at the condo. To expect more now was silly. And she’d vowed to leave her silly days far behind. As she walked on ahead through the lightly falling snow, she gave in to her tears at last, craving the release of all her pent-up emotions. And sure, she got some strange looks from people passing by. She didn’t care. Let them look. She was done living her life to please other people. Done with living her life by someone else’s rules. If she gave herself one gift this Christmas, it would be the gift of freedom.

  Her new job at the MAC store started the following day. She’d stay with Shayma, save her money, get a place of her own. Maybe someday, if she sold enough cosmetics, she could even enroll in some night classes at NYU, go back to college for her dream career in marine biology. Mel waited at the corner for the light to turn green, a sea of tourists flocking around her, all of them with rapt expressions as they stared up at the holiday decorations.

  “Melody?” a deep, male voice called out from behind her. “Mel, wait please.”

  Daveed.

  All it took was a few rough words spoken in his low timbre and her knees went all weak and tingly. She closed her eyes and sighed. Time to admit the truth. She had it bad for her reluctant sheikh. Even though it was stupid and crazy and wrong, she loved him. Way more than she ever thought possible.

  The light changed and the crowds pushed forward, carrying Mel along in their wake. She glanced behind her and caught a glimpse of Daveed’s gorgeous face, snow stuck in his dark hair and his warm mocha eyes looking as soulful as she’d ever seen them.

  Part of her wanted to stop and run back to him. But if she did so now, she’d either get trampled or run over by the traffic. Already car horns were honking and the light had turned yellow and when she looked across the street again, Daveed was gone.

  Heart aching, she leaned against the nearest building to catch her breath. A candy store, she noted absently. Too bad sugar was the last thing on her mind right now. Deep down, she knew that no matter how badly she hurt now, it was just as well. They’d made a clean break. Now they both had a chance to start over again. An opportunity to…

  “You are a hard woman to catch, habibaty.”

  Stunned, Mel looked up to see Daveed standing in front of her beneath the store’s cheery red and green striped awning. In the window beside her brightly colored, animatronic lollipops twi
rled alongside dancing truffles with huge grins and swaying candy canes. “You didn’t have to—”

  Daveed held up a hand, stepping closer to her to avoid getting jostled by the masses of shoppers entering and exiting the candy shop. “I know I didn’t have to. I wanted to.” He looked as dumfounded as she felt. “That first night, when you showed up on my doorstep looking like a drowned designer rat, I never would’ve imagined that beneath all those layers of makeup and hair and questionable fashion, there was a woman who would steal my heart away.”

  Hope swelled inside her at his words, but before she could say anything, he held up a hand to stop her.

  “You see, I figured something out. You were running away from Heath and Jefferson and all the demands your parents were putting on you, but I was running away too. Away from my past, my responsibilities.” He reached over and took her hand. The heat of him penetrated through her leather gloves to her chilled fingertips and straight to her core. He laced their fingers together and met her gaze. “I think it’s time we both stopped running, don’t you?”

  She blinked up at him for several seconds, not wanting to sound too desperate by hurling herself into his arms and kissing him until they were both satisfied. So, instead, she narrowed her gaze. “You think my fashion is questionable?”

  He frowned. “What?”

  “You said my ‘questionable fashion’.” With her free hand, she made air quotes. “Is that some kind of personal dig? Because I’ll tell you right now, buddy. If we’re going to be together, I won’t stand for anything less than complete acceptance of who I am, warts and all. I’ve lived my life for too long trying to please everybody else while I—”

  Her speech was cut off by his lips on hers. He let go of her hand to slip his arms around her waist and pull her closer into a deep, drugging, delightful kiss. By the time he finally pulled away, they were both breathless.