The Sheikh's Christmas Maid Read online

  When it was all over, she’d be fine as well. She wasn’t sentimental. One or two nights of pure physical, pleasure was all she wanted.

  Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she opened the door. To her surprise, Samir was leaning over the coffee table. When he heard her, he straightened and smiled at her. Pressing a small remote, soft Christmas music surrounded her. A plate of appetizers sat on the table, and Samir looked so proud of himself.

  “I know you don’t love Christmas, but I thought that maybe, with me, you might indulge a little.”

  Cautiously, she stepped into the living room and tried to adjust. “I think I can handle this. Did you actually cook?”

  “Well,” Samir ducked his head slightly. “I found these chicken tenders in the freezer.”

  Poppy chuckled. The baked chicken pieces were piled on a plate next to some fruit and a bag of chips. “Samir, this is perfect. Thank you.”

  “I also changed my own sheets.” There was a note of pride in his voice. “Poppy Milenne, you might domesticate me yet.”

  She put her hands up. “Shh. Don’t say that too loud or I will lose my job.”

  He reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her closer. As he started to sway with her, he shook his head. “I told you, your job is not in jeopardy.”

  “I know.” With a tentative smile, she let him dance her around the living room. At first, her steps were stiff and awkward, but the more comfortable she felt in his arms, the more fluid that she moved. Finally, she rested her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. “We still haven’t trimmed your tree.”

  “I have other things on my mind,” he said seductively as he nuzzled her neck.

  “Oh no, you don’t.” Poppy pulled away and shook her head. “You will not distract me from this wonderful dinner that you made me.” Sitting on the couch, she popped a chicken tender in her mouth and pretended to moan in delight.

  “Wretched wench,” he growled playfully as he poured two glasses of wine. Sitting next to her, he reached over her and snagged a piece of chicken. Wrapping an arm around her body, he pulled her to him and held the tender up to her mouth.

  “How romantic,” she giggled as she leaned over and took a bite. Samir kissed her ear and ate the rest.

  “Not bad,” he said in surprise. “I honestly thought they’d be awful.”

  “Have you ever had a frozen dinner before?”

  “No,” Samir said firmly. “We have four amazing cooks employed at the palace, and I have a lifestyle manager who makes reservations for me at the best restaurants wherever I go. I was actually horrified when I saw a bag of chicken tenders in the freezer.”

  “I suddenly feel the need to introduce you to ramen,” she teased as she turned her head. He kissed her sweetly, but Poppy didn’t want sweet. Twisting her body, she took the wine glass away from him and set it on the coffee table. Before she changed her mind, she straddled him.

  “I thought I was the one doing the seducing here,” he said softly as he ran his hands under her sweater. She shuddered at his touch.

  “You did.” She raked her fingers through his dark, thick hair and leaned over to kiss him. “Now, it’s time to see if you can follow through.”

  “Saucy minx.” With a growl, he leaned forward and captured her lips. A low moan escaped her as she surrendered herself. There was nothing sweet in his kiss as his tongue swept in, and he devoured her.

  Grabbing the hem of her sweater, she tried to pull it up, but he stopped her. Confused, she sat back and stared at him. For a moment, she thought that he might reject her.

  “Upstairs,” he whispered. “I don’t want Melka to walk in on us. I want you all to myself.”

  Wordlessly, she nodded. Easing off his lap, she cleared her throat and straightened her sweater. Samir’s eyes never left her as he grabbed her hand and pulled her back in for another kiss again.

  Ready to wrap her legs around him and have him take her against the wall, she grabbed his hand and pulled away.

  “Hurry,” she whispered desperately. “Please. I need you now.”

  10

  Poppy watched nervously as Samir lit the fire in his bedroom and turned to stare at her. A moment ago, her need for him was all-consuming, but now she couldn’t stop the doubts from creeping in. He was the kind of man who was used to more experienced women.

  “I can see the wheels in your head turning,” he murmured softly as he approached her. His dark skin gleamed in the light of the flames and her breath caught in her throat when he reached out to cup her chin. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  There was no way in hell that she was going to voice her doubts aloud. Giving him a small smile, she moved up to her tiptoes to kiss him instead. He opened his mouth slightly, but he didn’t respond like she’d expected. “Samir?” she asked doubtfully when she pulled back.

  Tangling his hands in her hair, he gently massaged the nape of her neck. “Your face is like an open book, and there is insecurity written all over it.”

  “I told you,” she whispered. “It’s been a long time.”

  “Oh, habibti. I don’t think there’s anything that you can do to disappoint me.” Reaching for the hem of her sweater, he gently lifted it up and over. His kisses were slow, and she got drunk off his sweetness as his hands skimmed over her skin before reaching for the hook of her bra.

  They’d already seen each other naked, but she couldn’t help but cross her arms over her torso when he stepped away. His glittering sapphire blue eyes settled on her, and there was nothing but lust in his face. “You are so beautiful.”

  Feeling more confident, she reached for the snap of her jeans and slowly peeled them down. When there was nothing but the swatch of purple lace covering her pussy, she raised her head and bit her bottom lip. To her surprise, he was already undressing.

  He’d been sexy soaking wet, but right now, with the knowledge that soon he’d be sliding inside her, he took her breath away. Unable to keep her hands to herself, she reached for him, spreading her fingers over his chest and watching fascinated, as the muscles rippled under her touch.

  “You unravel me,” he said hoarsely before cupping her bottom and lifting her up. Her legs wrapped around him, and as she pressed into his erection, she couldn’t help but move against him. His hard length stroked right on her sensitive nub, and her panties grew even more damp.

  At this rate, she was going to orgasm before they even got to the bed. How embarrassing would that be?

  “Poppy,” he groaned. “You’ve got to stop that before I go off like a rocket.” They tumbled on the bed, but he quickly pulled away from her and grabbed her legs, dragging her across the bed until he could plant her feet on the frame of the bed. “I need to taste you.”

  Pushing herself up on her elbows, she watched as he knelt between her legs and stroked her gently with his thumb. Pleasure coursed through her, and she dropped back to the bed. “Enjoy,” he rasped as he slid the fabric over her hips and down her legs before sinking a finger inside her.

  “Oh!” Her eyes flew open, and her hips lifted to try to take even more. He chuckled and blew on her pussy. Goosebumps covered her arms as she waited in anticipation. His ministrations were gentle and teasing, and it felt like forever before she felt him kiss her mound. His tongue darted out and slowly moved along her slit, dancing a breath away from where she needed him most.

  He tortured her. Poppy gripped the sheets in her fists and twisted under him, desperate to find the pleasure that danced out of her reach. Heat flared in her belly, and she let out a guttural moan. “Please,” she gasped. “Samir, please.”

  Finally, she felt his tongue on her clit, circling around it before gently sucking. White-hot pleasure seared through her, and her toes curled as he pushed her even closer to orgasm. She writhed around alternating between lifting her hips wanting more and pulling away from the intensity of the pleasure threatening to overwhelm her. She moaned loudly, turning her head from side to side. Digging her heels into the bedf
rame, she lifted her hips, her body shaking as her orgasm felt more like a tidal wave rolling through her.

  Rather than let her go, Samir tightened his grip on her hips, not letting up on the assault. She barely had a chance to catch her breath when she felt him scissoring his fingers inside her, the tips of his fingers rubbing against her now sensitized parts. The pressure was quick to mount, as she tried to shut her legs, but his shoulder kept her from pressing her knees against his head.

  Finally lifting his head, his eyes seared into her as he pulled his hand free and licked his two fingers. “You taste so sweet,” he said hoarsely. “I could spend all night tasting you.”

  “God, I think that would kill me,” she moaned.

  With a deep-throated chuckle that made her toes curl, he stood up and reached down to grab her by the waist. She yelped in surprise, as he easily lifted her, tossing her farther up the bed. Following her quickly down, he settled between her splayed legs while resting his upper body on his forearm. Not wanting to let him go, she hooked her leg over his waist and pulled him closer to her rubbing against his erection, making him moan with need.

  He leaned down and kissed her. His lips moved over her urgently, his tongue mimicking the promise of his cock thrusting inside her. Sliding her hands in his hair, she pressed her body against him, rubbing him, desperate to feel more.

  His touch was everywhere. Tracing the length of her spine, he cupped her ass, forced her even tighter against him and moaned when her pussy lips surrounded his cock and slid over him.

  “More,” she whimpered. “Please, Samir. I need more.”

  Tearing his mouth away, he rolled them over and pushed her up on her knees. As his cock probed her entrance from behind, he leaned over her intertwining their fingers as he forced her deeper in the mattress. “Tell me what you want, Poppy,” he demanded as he nipped along her spine making her whimper in response. “I want to hear it from your lips.”

  There was no hesitation in her voice. “Fuck me, Samir.”

  He drove into her with one thrust.

  Almost screaming at the sensation, she thought she would have flown off the bed had he not held her so tightly. Stretching and filling her, he drove deep inside her, rubbing over her sweet spot, as he began to thrust in and out. She could feel the sweat as his chest rubbed against her back.

  “Fuck, you’re tight,” he hissed. “Did I hurt you?”

  She’d been far too ready for there to be pain. “No,” Poppy whispered and pushed her hips toward him, meeting him thrust for thrust as they both moaned.

  “Habibti, I’m trying to take this slow, but you’re making that very hard.”

  “We can go slowly later,” she muttered as she rocked her hips back and forth encouraging him to start moving again.

  He pulled away from her and Poppy shook at that sudden sense of loss. Before she could say anything, he flipped her onto her back.

  “I want to see your eyes when I take you,” his voice hoarse with the intensity of his need.

  She hooked her legs around his waist. “Don’t hold back. Please. I need it.”

  With a roar, he leaned over and sank his teeth into her shoulder as he started to hammer inside her. All thoughts of logic fled, and she barely managed to hold on as Samir drove her higher than she’d ever been before. He was covered in sweat, and her hands slid over his skin, raking her nails across his back. The sounds of slapping skin filled the room, and she couldn’t tell the difference between his moans and her own.

  “Samir,” she cried out. “God, I’m so close. Please. Please.”

  “I told you, I’m right here. Let go, habibti. I’ve got you.”

  She surrendered herself to the ravishing pleasure. The orgasm temporarily blinded her, and the only thing she could do was clutch at Samir. True to his word, he kept her safe as her muscles spasmed, clutching him greedily as he continued to drive into her. His thrusts became more erratic and when she finally fell back to reality, he drove into her one last time, roaring her name, before spilling himself inside her.

  The next morning, Samir watched as Poppy struggled through the snow. When she shrieked and slipped, he roared with laughter. “Hey,” she muttered angrily as she sat up. “It’s not funny! What are we even doing out here? Who the hell goes for a walk in the snow?”

  After breakfast, he’d immediately declared that she had the day off. Growling that it was preposterous to give the only servant in the house the day off, she argued the entire time he forced a jacket on her. When he wrapped a scarf around her neck, she tried to remind him that he’d starve if she didn’t feed him.

  When he reminded her that he could always make a meal out of her, her cheeks had turned bright red, and he pushed her gently out the door into the snow.

  Last night had been amazing. His own lack of control had shocked and terrified him, but her body had been the closest thing to heaven he’d ever been. The memory of every other woman that he’d had under him paled in comparison to her, and he really wanted today to be special.

  Today, he wasn’t a Sheikh, and she wasn’t his servant. Today, they would be lovers embracing the holiday spirit.

  Reaching over, he pulled her out of the snow. “The woods are magical in the snow, and I want to explore. Indulge me.”

  “I can think of better ways to spend a day off,” she said with a sexy smile.

  “We’re going to set the bed on fire if we don’t cool down a little.” Leaning down, he kissed her gently. It was meant to be a quick kiss but as she opened her mouth, he moaned and swept his tongue in to taste her. Silky and warm, just like her pussy. “Vixen,” he growled as he tore his mouth away. “I’m tempted to fuck you against that tree.”

  “It’d probably keep the frostbite at bay,” she laughed and danced away from him before he could grab her. “Let’s explore, so we can get back to that ridiculously big bed of yours.”

  It was hard to take her hands with their gloves on, but he still kept his arm anchored around her as they moved deeper into the woods. “Is this safe? Have you heard if the incident at the palace was an accident?”

  “I’m not worried,” he said airily.

  She bit her lower lip. “Your bodyguard doesn’t like me very much. Are you sure he’s going to be okay with this?”

  “With me walking in the woods?” he asked teasingly. “No, he definitely had a problem with it. He’s probably following us.”

  Poppy chuckled. “I meant with last night. You don’t take anything seriously!” Suddenly, her smile fell. “Unless you didn’t tell him because last night was all there’s going to be. Which is fine. I don’t expect any more than one night.”

  “Poppy,” he interrupted her. “If you thought that I’d be satisfied with only one night with you, you haven’t figured me out yet. I crave you.”

  “God,” she managed and quickly looked away. It was obvious that she wasn’t used to his candidness, and he was tempted to be even more colorful to keep her thoughts occupied.

  They walked in silence for a few minutes, and he enjoyed being with her. Normally, this close to Christmas, he’d be drunk and out prowling for another woman to warm him. Surprisingly, he was enjoying his sobriety. He actually liked Poppy’s company, even when they weren’t flirting.

  “Samir,” she said suddenly. “I think we’ve gone far enough. We should head back.”

  He followed her nervous gaze into the woods and frowned. She seemed agitated. “It’s okay, Poppy. We’re not in any danger. Just a little farther.”

  “I don’t think…” she protested, but he’d already plunged ahead. After a few more feet, there was a clearing in the woods, and he stopped short at a small cabin.

  “I didn’t realize there were other homes nearby,” he said cautiously. There were no lights on in the cabin and no cars nearby.

  Poppy shook her head. “I’ve never been this far in, but it’s a big space. Does your family own the whole property?”

  Shrugging, Samir turned back. “I don’t really know. I gu
ess not. This isn’t where the groundskeeper lives, is it?”

  “Taj? No, he lives a few miles down the hill, but I think he rents. Come on, Samir. We might be trespassing.”

  He let her pull him away and almost suggested that they explore in another direction when he saw her shudder. She was cold.

  “Come,” he said, as he pulled her in his embrace. “We’ll head back, and I’ll see if I can find a way to warm you up.”

  They were both a little out of breath by the time they returned to the cabin. Samir was surprised to see that Melka was nowhere to be seen when they got inside. “I’m going to make you lunch,” Samir said with a smile as he jerked off his jacket.

  “More chicken tenders?” she teased.

  He gave her a mock look of annoyance as he walked into the kitchen. Melka was at the table looking at his computer. He frowned when he looked up. “I guess you made your goal to bed the woman by Christmas? Nicely done,” he grunted. “Now, what will you do with your time?”

  “Excuse me?”

  Samir whirled around at Poppy’s growl. She’d obviously heard everything that Melka said. His guard muttered an apology as he slipped from the kitchen and Poppy looked horrified.

  “You told him that you were going to fuck me by Christmas? Was I something on your to-do list? Something to help you pass the time?”

  Despair settled in the pit of his stomach. He was going to lose her before he even had a chance to know her. “Poppy, wait. It’s not like that.”

  “No, I’m sure it’s not. Please, excuse me. I find that I’m not hungry anymore,” she said coldly as she stomped out of the kitchen. The door to her bedroom slammed shut, and Samir blew out his breath.

  It wasn’t the first time a woman had yelled at him, but it was the first time he’d felt the panic of losing someone that he cared for.

  11

  Samir leaned his forehead against the door and closed his eyes. His heart pounded in his chest, and he pressed the palm of his against the grain of the wood. “Poppy,” he cried out hoarsely. “Please, let me in to explain.”