The Sheik's Scandal (The Raminar Family Book 3) Read online

  Chapter 6

  Talia may have been sitting in the conference room, but her mind was long gone. It was a meeting of hospital board members discussing prenatal care for mothers in poverty stricken areas. It was an important conversation but…Talia’s thoughts kept circling back around to Santos.

  She wanted to spend more time with him. After lunch yesterday, he’d invited her to dinner with him tonight. But…how could she continue sneaking out of the hotel? It felt wrong.

  And yet, did she have a choice? If she wanted to get to know Santos without her brother’s interference, she would have to resort to drastic measures.

  Again, Talia asked herself what Orella would do. Of course, Orella would probably tell Gaelen and her brothers what she was doing, lifting her nose at their protective natures. But Talia didn’t want that. She loved her brothers and, after Orella’s passing, she knew that they were wounded and worried that something might happen to another family member. How could she see Santos, while assuring her brothers that she was safe?

  When the idea came to her, she almost laughed out loud. Looking around, she noticed that several other meeting participants were peering curiously at her.

  “Did you have something to add?” the woman at the head of the table asked.

  Talia blushed. “No! I’m so sorry, I just…I agree with the points but thought of something tangential.”

  The speaker smiled politely, but looked a bit peeved. Talia forced herself to relax back against the leather chair and listen more attentively. Unfortunately, she failed. She was reeling, trying to come up with a valid reason for her plan. When she thought of it, she felt a bit brilliant because it was so honest!

  An hour later, stepping into the limousine, she looked over at her assistant. “Could you book me a room at the Accelleron Hotel?”

  Rachel looked startled, her green eyes widening with concern. “A room?” she echoed. “Why…?”

  Talia smiled as she ducked into the vehicle. “Because Gaelen is seeing someone. And she’s coming over to the penthouse to see him.” With a secret look at Rachel, she added, “I think this one is serious,” she said. “I don’t want to do anything to hinder my brother getting married. He’s had a really tough year, but over the past week or so, he’s been ridiculously happy.”

  After a moment, Rachel grinned and nodded enthusiastically. “And having a younger sister hanging around might make things awkward. I get it.” A moment later, the ever efficient Rachel was on her computer, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she made the arrangements.

  Talia sat back, feeling proud of herself. This plan would allow her security team to be more vigilant and she wouldn’t have to sneak away from them and from her brother. It was perfect!

  Rachel and the security guards didn’t need to know about Santos this way. And she wouldn’t be putting herself at risk if she went down to the hotel restaurant or bar to have dinner with him.

  Perfect!

  Over the next week, Talia met with Santos every day. They had nice, relaxing lunches together, strolling along the street or in the park, along the water’s edge or just sitting in a small restaurant and enjoying each other’s company. If they didn’t meet for lunch, he called her to have dinner with him and, thankfully, dining in the hotel’s restaurant was convenient.

  Their conversations were wonderful, but the best part was when he kissed her goodnight. Their kisses grew more intense, more amazing, and she wanted to curl into him and…make love.

  Yes, she was ready! After her last, very brief affair with a man several years ago, she’d pretty much given up on ever wanting to have sex again. It had been boring and tedious, uncomfortable and…well, sex just wasn’t worth it. She wanted children and knew that she’d marry eventually. But had resigned herself to finding someone with the same sort of low sex drive that she had.

  But with Santos, every time he touched her, she felt on fire, desperate for him to touch her. She loved kissing him and, when he kissed her goodnight outside of her hotel suite, she didn’t want him to leave.

  Unfortunately, he wouldn’t accept her invitation to come inside. He left her outside the door every night, her body aching to do more than just kiss him.

  It wasn’t until Friday afternoon that she received the text message that completely ruined her concentration. As soon as she read the words, she understood what they meant. “Dinner in my suite tonight?” he texted.

  Talia’s fingers trembled as she typed, “What time?”

  The response was almost immediate. “When will you be finished with your meetings?”

  Talia smiled and looked around. She was in another auditorium with more school professionals talking about…she wasn’t sure what this meeting was about. All she could think about was being with Santos tonight. That’s the only thing she wanted. In fact, she glanced over at Rachel, who had been sitting in on the meetings with her lately, helping her to take notes because she knew that Santos would text her and she’d become completely distracted. Never before had she been so irresponsible, but Santos did that to her. He made her glow with excitement with just a few teasing words.

  Now, with tonight looming, she couldn’t focus on whatever the meeting was about. All she could think was that she’d be with Santos tonight! Really be with him!

  Chapter 7

  Santos looked out at the night sky lit up by Manhattan’s lights. It was quiet up here, but he knew that the city bustled with its usual frenetic pace far below. He shook his glass, wondering if Talia knew his intention for inviting her here. Would she understand the significance of coming here instead of dining in the restaurant?

  Of course she would, he thought, rolling his eyes at himself. She wasn’t an idiot.

  But was he?

  Santos paced, wondering if he was doing the right thing. Probably not, he admitted. He shouldn’t do this. He shouldn’t make love to Talia tonight. In fact, he should stop seeing her. Their relationship couldn’t have a future. At least, not yet.

  Just this morning, he received word that there was a break in on a military base. His generals, all loyal to him, were investigating and ramping up base security all over the country. Oddly, the warehouse that had been broken into only kept food supplies, which didn’t make sense. Most military thefts included weapons or intelligence. Why food?

  Was someone hungry? Was there a village that needed supplies?

  He hadn’t thought of that. He’d been too consumed with the mystery of why someone would break into that particular warehouse instead of breaking into the warehouse next to it, which contained ammunition.

  The fact that he hadn’t thought about someone being hungry was just how far gone he was in his obsession with Talia. He wasn’t thinking properly.

  Tonight’s invitation was completely selfish. He should warn her that they couldn’t have a future together, that tonight, and any night that they had together would be temporary.

  The time he’d spent with her had been incredible. Every time she saw him, her face lit up. What man could resist that kind of a welcome? She was so gorgeous, soft, and feminine! Not to mention passionate, intelligent, and brilliant. He wanted her with an intensity that was unlike anything he’d ever felt before!

  The doorbell rang and he turned, watching as the butler went to open it. When the door opened, he stared at Talia, hungry for the sight of her. She stepped inside and he wanted to take her into his arms.

  Because he was so crazed for her, Santos kept himself on the opposite side of the room, keeping himself distant in order to get himself back under control. He reminded himself that, even though she wanted to be brave and daring like her older sister had been, Talia was a shy, cautious woman. Careful and deliberate.

  She paused and looked at him, her eyes pleading. That was all it took. He absently set his glass on a table without bothering to check if it was balanced.

  He didn’t pause as he took her into his arms, kissing her, slowly at first because he knew that she was tentative. But she warmed up imm
ediately, pressing her softness against him and he groaned, lifting her higher to more completely feel her body against his.

  “You’re gorgeous,” he whispered as he moved his mouth from hers to the rose-scented skin of her throat, then lower and lower, feeling her shiver when he rediscovered each of the sensitive places on her neck that he’d found over the past week.

  “Please don’t stop tonight,” she whispered, her fingers clinging to him.

  Santos lifted his head, his hands still holding her close. “You know what that means, right?”

  “Yes!” she said, pressing closer.

  He swept her into his arms, carrying her down the long hallway to the bedroom. There, he laid her gently on the bed, and followed her down. “I’ve wanted you for what seems like forever, Talia,” he groaned, pulling her back into his arms.

  He kissed her until she melted, reveling in her quivering responses

  “Tell me if you want to stop.”

  “I don’t,” she replied, her breathing ragged. “Please don’t stop.”

  He kissed her neck, her ear, nibbling the delicate shell teasingly before moving down her neck. He deftly slid the zipper of her dress down, then pushed the edges back. A black lace bra, was revealed, one that allowed her rose hued nipples to peek through the lace. “I like this,” he murmured, skimming a finger along the edge, watching her eyes when he slipped that finger underneath, teasing the taut peak. She hissed and arched her back, so he took that nipple into his mouth, lashing it with his tongue and teasing with his teeth before moving to the other one.

  When she finally cried out, pulling his head away, Santos smiled, then moved lower along her body. Inch by inch, he shifted the dress down over her soft, creamy skin. She was flawless, he thought, tasting and kissing, exploring to find every spot on her body that made her moan.

  His hands explored lower, sliding over her skin so that he could feel every inch of her. Finally, he removed the dress completely and looked down, realizing that she was wearing lace-topped thigh high stockings. He almost lost what little control he still had at the sight of her like that, the tiny scrap of black lace covering her core and the matching black lace contrasting against her pale thighs.

  “You’re killing me, Talia,” he groaned, kissing the lace, teasing her and slowly moving her legs further apart so that he could explore his ultimate goal.

  Talia wasn’t sure if she was going to die by bursting into flames or from trembling as the desire Santos created in her spiraled higher and higher. When he stood up and took off his clothes, she sat up on her elbows and watched, eager to see all of him. His chest was more firmly muscled than she’d realized, lithe and powerful. His abdominal muscles tensed as he reached for his belt buckle. Unaware she did so, she licked her lips, almost desperate to see what lay beneath. It was pretty obvious already, but she needed to see him. She wanted to explore all of him.

  “Keep looking at me like that, Talia, and this will be over before it even begins.”

  Startled, Talia looked up at him, saw the heavy lids and the heat in his eyes and smiled, feeling powerful. “I thought it had already begun,” she sat up, coming up onto her knees. “Why don’t you come closer while doing that?” she suggested.

  He shook his head and actually stepped back. “No way.” He gestured with his chin. “Just lay back down like you were. You can’t touch me.”

  Her eyes widened. “I can’t? Why not?”

  He groaned, seeing the delicious sparkle in her eyes. She laughed, delighted with her power.

  “Because if you touch me, I’m going to lose it and this really will be over.”

  “I think I’d like to see you lose control,” she replied, smiling and moving closer.

  He shook his head. “No. If you want to do something, take off your bra,” he suggested.

  She tilted her head slightly, feeling very much like a sexual siren, luring Santos closer and closer. “This bra?” she teased, slipping a finger underneath the black strap and shifting it slightly. “You want me to take this off?”

  His jaw tensed as he watched her fingers. But when she didn’t remove the bra, he glared at her. “Talia, if you don’t…” he whipped off his slacks, dropping them to the floor. His boxer briefs came off with the slacks, leaving him magnificently naked, powerfully erect and astonishingly male!

  All the teasing vanished as she stared, her mouth falling open. “You’re…!”

  Santos stopped, frozen by her shock. “I’m naked,” he finished for her, coming closer. “It’s essential for our next activity.”

  She blinked, unable to tear her eyes away from his huge erection. “You’re beautiful,” she whispered, reaching for him.

  He grabbed her hands and pressed her backwards, easing her onto the mattress. “Nope, Talia. Not today,” he admonished, kissing her hard and deep as he moved over her, his hips nestling between her legs. “Tonight, it’s all about you.”

  “I don’t think that’s fair,” she protested, then gasped when she felt him touch her wetness. Her eyes nervously darted to his once again, feeling awkward. “I don’t…”

  “I do,” he replied, trailing his lips along her throat while his fingers thrust in and out of her heat, easing the way. Slowly, her hips shifted against his hand and he moved his thumb over that sensitive nub. It was startling, feeling him touch her like that and she whimpered, digging her nails into his shoulder while her other hand reached to grab his wrist. She’d meant to pull his hand away, startled by the touch, but then he pressed into her again while, at the same time, pressing the heel of his hand against that aching nub. It felt so good, she couldn’t pull his hand away. Instead, she guided his hand, showing him exactly what she wanted him to do, how to touch her.

  Over and over, those magical fingers slid into her body while he teased that nub, harder and faster until…!

  “Santos!” she cried out, arching as the world shattered around her. She trembled for a long moment, gasping, pressing against him as he extended her pleasure as long as he could.

  When it was all over, she tugged at his hand, silently telling him to stop and she sighed, stretching out along the softness of the mattress.

  “That was beautiful,” she sighed, wrapping her legs around him, wanting to feel more of him after that climax.

  “There’s more,” he told her, nibbling along her neck again. “But this has to go,” and her bra flew away. He moved his attentions to her breasts, teasing the taut peaks, and Talia wasn’t expecting her body to climb higher again so quickly.

  She heard something rip, but was too absorbed in the delicious feeling of his hands caressing her breasts, his thumb and forefinger pinching her nipples, causing her to writhe. When she felt him press into her, she gasped, her eyes flying open.

  “You’re all mine, Talia,” he whispered, slowly pressing deeper and deeper. As he filled her up, she gripped his shoulders, needing an anchor. When he was fully inside of her, she rolled her hips experimentally, feeling full and complete and amazed!

  “Wow!” she laughed.

  He kissed her then, slow and deep, his tongue following the same rhythm as his body. With every press of his body against hers, he shifted against that nub and she cried out, wanting to experience that blissful explosion again. Higher and higher, she strained against his body with every thrust.

  The peak claimed her and she screamed, clinging to Santos as wave after wave of throbbing pleasure rolled over her. All she could do was hang on. With every thrust, her body convulsed again and again until, with a groan, he stilled, then collapsed against her.

  Immediately, he rolled to the side, taking her with him, their bodies still connected and Talia could only shiver as additional pulses, smaller but no less potent, shook her.

  “Don’t move,” she whispered with a pleading voice. “I can’t take anymore.”

  He froze, his hands tangled in her hair, which was probably a mess by now. After that storm, she doubted there was a pin left holding her hair in place. Nor did she rea
lly care.

  Sighing, she snuggled against him, gasping slightly when she realized that he was still inside her.

  “Did you…?” she started to ask, looking down at him now that he had her draped over his chest. But she blushed, unable to finish the question.

  He looked at her, laughing as he lifted up to kiss her. “Yes. Definitely.”

  Odd, Talia thought, blinking. She could feel that he was still…um…erect.

  “But…?”

  “I want you again,” he told her. But slowly, he pulled out of her. “I’ll be right back.” After kissing her forehead, he headed into the bathroom to clean up. A moment later, he returned and she stared at him, stunned to see that he was still half erect.

  “If you…?”

  “I thought about coming back and doing that all over again.” He pulled her into his arms and she shifted against him, intoxicated by the way his skin felt against hers.

  “But if you already were…um…satisfied then…why is it still…”

  He laughed at her tentative question and she blushed, wishing that she could be more plain-spoken.

  “I’ve wanted you since the first moment we met, Talia,” he explained. “One round isn’t going to satisfy me.” He ran his fingers through her hair, soothing her. “I’ll give you some time though.”

  Talia laughed, feeling free and happy. “That was beautiful. Thank you!”

  “My pleasure,” he replied, kissing her. Then he shifted their bodies once again, starting the whole process over again, with a few variations.

  They didn’t eat dinner until very late. And after dinner, he showed her more variations and Talia fell a bit more in love with him every time he took her over that edge, giving her the most amazing pleasure she’d ever experienced!

  Chapter 8

  Santos walked into the conference room the following morning feeling good. Possibly too good, but he didn’t care. After last night with Talia, he wanted to smile even if he was going back into the meeting with that ass, Prince Gaelen! Damn, he didn’t want to spoil this mood. But he had responsibilities and…he knew he’d see Talia again tonight. She’d dance into his arms just as she’d done last night after they’d eaten dinner around midnight. It had been just a pizza that the hotel had ordered but it had been delicious, especially since Talia had been naked while she ate across from him.