Читать книгу Modern Romance April 2017 Books 5 - 8 - Кейт Хьюит - Страница 21

CHAPTER ELEVEN

‘THERE IT IS.’

Malik leaned forward, one long, lean finger pointing out of the window of the helicopter towards the palace perched incongruously on a mountaintop. ‘Palace of the Clouds.’

‘Wow.’ Gracie leaned forward as well, taking in the magnificent sight. The palace was a maze of rocky walls and tall towers, its foundations built directly onto the mountain, its turrets and minarets seeming to touch the sky. ‘How on earth did they build it?’

‘With much hard labour. It is eight hundred years old,’ Malik said. ‘Built by the Sultan for his favourite wife.’

Gracie arched an eyebrow. ‘How many wives did he have?’

‘I believe around six hundred.’ Malik grinned. ‘In that way, we have already moved forward.’

‘What a relief.’ The banter was light, but it still sent a frisson of alarmed awareness through her. She knew Malik was clinging to his patience for her to make a decision about their marriage. And really, it was no decision at all. She understood how little choice she had, and yet she needed to be sure in her own mind—and her own heart.

In some ways she felt as if she’d been moving inexorably towards this since Malik had appeared again in her life, but in another way... Marriage. Being the wife of a sultan. Living in Alazar. And more worrying...being married to a man who had as good as promised not to love her. Were the things Malik had said he could give her enough? Was she willing to relinquish any hope of loving and being loved for the sake of her son’s legacy?

‘Your father only had one wife, though, didn’t he?’ she remarked, remembering what he’d said earlier about his father living the fairy tale—the fairy tale he didn’t want.

‘Yes. As I said before, he only had one wife, and he loved her very much.’

There was a subtext to his words, to the cool tone he’d unconsciously adopted, and it was one Gracie didn’t like—that Malik’s father might have loved his wife, but Malik had no intention of loving his. She’d been trying to come to terms with that reality, but it was hard.

And yet in ten years she hadn’t met a single man she’d been interested in dating, much less marrying. Maybe Malik’s was her best offer, and in truth it was an attractive one. Respect, kindness, honesty, passion. These were all amazing things. So why did she still feel trepidation?

The answer was painfully obvious. Because she was falling in love with him. Because he’d hurt her once before, terribly, and after the week they’d spent together he now possessed immeasurably more power to hurt her again, and far worse. Was what he was offering worth that risk? Could she live in a marriage knowing her love wasn’t returned and never would be?

‘Where does the helicopter land?’ she asked as she looked out of the window to avoid Malik’s direct gaze as well as the unhappy circling of her own thoughts.

‘There is a helipad behind the palace, on a flat outcropping of rock.’

‘That’s convenient.’

‘Not at all. It was blasted several years ago, when my grandfather wished the Palace of the Clouds to be more accessible. Before the helipad, it would have taken a seven-day trek on camel to get here.’

‘Now, that would have been cool,’ Sam said, and Malik and Gracie exchanged a wry smile. Moments later they were landing, and then a member of staff was escorting them across the rocky terrain to a steep set of stairs cut directly into the mountainside that led to the palace’s main entrance.

Gracie stopped to admire the view—an endless, snow-capped mountain range with the desert beyond. The bleakness she’d once seen from the royal jet now held undeniable beauty.

‘I can’t believe anyone made it up here, much less built a palace,’ she said. Malik took her elbow to help her up the stairs.

‘I told you, I come from a strong and independent people.’

‘So does your son,’ Gracie murmured, for Sam had strode ahead, taking the steps two at a time despite their precarious placement.

‘He will make a good sultan.’

Gracie didn’t reply; the prospect of her son being leader of a country still sent her nerves jangling.

Malik took her hand and squeezed it. ‘It will be all right, Gracie,’ he murmured.

‘You sound very sure.’

‘I am sure.’

She glanced at him, wishing she could understand what was going on behind that opaque gaze, that unreadable expression. The last week had been wonderful, but it hadn’t always felt real. Their marriage wouldn’t be an extended holiday, and they wouldn’t even have the prospect of more children to look forward to, a fact that Gracie thought she could come to terms with but still found sorrowful. She would have liked to have a little girl with Malik’s dark hair and sudden smile.

But far beyond that, she would have liked to have Malik’s love. At times, when he was laughing with Sam or talking with her, she felt as if she could glimpse, momentarily, that hidden part of him. The man beneath the cold, autocratic exterior, the boy he’d once been. He was still there, in those little glimpses, but was that enough? Was any of this enough or was she about to embark on a lifetime of loneliness and heartache?

Inside, the palace was surprisingly airy and light. Refreshments had been laid out in a salon, and the three of them ate together, relaxing after the helicopter ride, until Sam was once again racing off, eager to explore.

‘Let me show you the delights of the palace,’ Malik entreated, and took Gracie by the hand as they went after Sam.

The palace was as luxurious as the one in Teruk, with large rooms gilded in gold and jewels and amazing views from every window. Gracie didn’t think she’d ever tire of the sight of the snowy mountains thrusting proudly up to an achingly blue sky.

‘But I must show you the palace’s pièce de résistance,’ Malik said with a teasing smile, and he ushered Sam and Gracie to a set of double doors that led to the most incredible sight Gracie had ever seen.

‘Wow,’ Sam breathed, and Gracie could only echo him.

‘Wow. Is that...?’

‘A natural waterfall, yes.’

The back of the palace had been built right into the mountain rock, and a natural waterfall poured into a set of swimming pools laid out on terraces, cascading into one another.

‘The water must be freezing,’ Gracie said, and Malik smiled.

‘The pools are heated.’

They spent the next few hours swimming and relaxing by the pool, as any family might, and Gracie felt as if her heart were teetering, one moment filled with hope and happiness and then the next clenched in fear. She was afraid to want this too much. To hope too much, and for something that Malik had told her would never happen.

Sam dared them both to stand under the icy waterfall, and, laughing, Gracie did so, shrieking as the freezing water fell about her. Then Malik grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the waterfall, to the other side, so the cascading water was a curtain shielding them from the world.

Gracie looked around her in amazement; they were in a secret, rocky chamber, the roar of the waterfall the only sound. Then she caught sight of the look of blazing need in Malik’s eyes and any appreciation of her surroundings fell away in light of that shining certainty.

‘I want you,’ he growled. ‘So much I can hardly bear it.’

Her heart rate tripped. ‘But you’ve barely touched me all week...’

‘And it just about killed me.’ Already he was pulling her towards him, her slick body sliding against his in a way that felt unbearably erotic.

‘Why did you stay away, then?’ Gracie breathed. Malik’s hands were everywhere, and yet she still couldn’t get enough.

‘Because I wanted our wedding night to be all the sweeter. But now I don’t think I can wait.’ And then his mouth was on hers, his tongue plundering its depths, his body thrusting against hers with delicious intent.

Gracie sagged against the rock wall, helpless under Malik’s wonderful onslaught. One hand nudged aside her swimming costume, his fingers teasing the very centre of her so it felt as if lightning were racing through her veins, to accompany the thundering of her heart.

Her nails bit into his arm as the overwhelming sensations cascaded through her, both sizzling and sweet.

‘Malik,’ she gasped out as his fingers moved even more intimately against her. Her hips rocked against his hand. ‘Malik...’

‘Mom!’ Sam’s voice came to them from beyond the protective wall of water. ‘Are you guys lost in there?’

Yes, she was lost. And losing more of herself with every passing second. With a groan Gracie pulled away from Malik. ‘You can’t leave me like this.’

The smile he gave her was full of sensual promise. ‘What if I make it up to you later?’

She thrilled at his words, her body coming alive again just at the thought. ‘Do you mean that?’

‘I can’t last much longer without you,’ Malik admitted in a low voice. ‘I want you too much, Gracie.’

Sam called again and reluctantly Gracie moved away from Malik. ‘I should go back to our son.’

* * *

Malik’s face softened. ‘I like hearing you say that.’

‘Say what?’

‘Our son. Not yours. Not mine. Ours.’

His gaze held hers and Gracie’s heart started to beat hard again. Yes, Sam was theirs. She felt their shared responsibility, their partnership, more than ever now—for better or for worse. And she knew in that moment she would marry him—that she would fall into this adventure because it was the one she wanted. He was the one she wanted. She loved him, and she dared to hope that one day he might learn to love her back.

‘Tonight,’ Malik promised, his voice rough with longing, and Gracie nodded.

‘Tonight.’

‘What were you doing?’ Sam demanded as Gracie emerged from behind the waterfall, her heart still skittering around from her encounter with Malik.

‘There’s a little cave back there,’ Gracie said, and thankfully her voice sounded normal. ‘Malik showed it to me. You should see it.’

‘A cave? Cool!’ Sam dived under the water and Gracie sank onto the ledge of the pool. She needed a moment to recover. Her whole body was trembling with the aftershocks of Malik’s sure touch. She felt as if she might dissolve, trickle right into the pool in a puddle of need. She couldn’t wait for nightfall.

From behind the waterfall she could hear Sam’s excited shout and the low rumble of Malik’s response. A few minutes later they emerged, dripping wet and grinning. Gracie didn’t think she’d ever tire of the sight of Malik in swimming trunks. His chest was a thing of glorious beauty, perfectly sculpted muscles tapering to narrow hips and powerful thighs. Malik caught her look and gave her an admonishing look back.

‘Keep looking at me like that and I will embarrass myself and you,’ he muttered as he passed by her, and Gracie couldn’t keep from grinning.

A greedy sense of expectation had her practically dancing on her tiptoes all evening, as the three of them ate dinner in one of the palace’s more intimate dining rooms. Every secret, sliding look, every brush of Malik’s fingers had her whole body tingling in yearning response.

The mood of anticipation continued as she tucked Sam into bed and then retired to her sumptuous bedroom down the hall. There was no harem in this remote palace, just a lovely room, the double bed on its own dais, the windows overlooking the stunning alpine vista.

Gracie took a bath and then slipped into the one semi-sexy nightgown that she owned, a simple white silk sheath with lace straps. She’d bought it on a whim and never worn it—now she laughed at herself for bringing it to Alazar at all. Had she known this would happen? Had she hoped?

And here she was, still hoping. It was ten o’clock at night and Malik still hadn’t come. Should she go find him? Dared she?

As she was summoning up the courage to do just that, a soft knock sounded on the door. Gracie stilled, anchored to the floor. Another soft knock, and then she flew to the door and opened it.

Malik stood there, looking devastatingly sexy in an off-white linen shirt open at the throat and a pair of loose trousers. His hair was slightly rumpled as if he’d run his hands through it and his mouth curved in a smile of deep appreciation, his eyes lightening to silver as his gaze flicked over Gracie.

Suddenly she felt conscious of how little she was wearing. The cream silk was thin, and he could probably see just about everything, including her body’s immediate response to his presence.

‘I was hoping you’d come,’ she said huskily, and his eyes flashed fire.

‘I was hoping you’d say that.’

Wordlessly her heart seeming to fling itself against her ribs, she stepped aside. Malik came into the room and shut the door behind him.

‘You’re sure?’ he asked quietly, his gaze steady on her, and Gracie let out a laugh that was half wild.

‘Am I sure? I’ve been wearing grooves in the floor, pacing, wondering if I should go and find you.’

‘That answers my question, then,’ Malik murmured, and then he came towards her. ‘We’ll have our wedding night a little early.’ He paused. ‘Assuming you have made a decision...?’

‘Was there any decision to make?’

‘You asked me to give you time, Gracie.’

‘I know.’ She swallowed hard, excitement and trepidation surging within her. She felt as if she were on the edge of a precipice, about to take that nerve-jangling step into the utter unknown. ‘I don’t need any more time, Malik. I’ve made my decision.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I will marry you.’

‘Then you have made me very happy.’ The words ended on a shudder as Malik slid his hands from her shoulders to her waist. His palms fitted perfectly, his fingers splayed over her hips. Gently he drew her towards him.

‘We are going to have a good life together, Gracie,’ he whispered, and brushed a kiss across her lips.

Gracie let out a breathy laugh. ‘I don’t know why I feel so nervous.’

He brushed a tendril of hair away from her face, his fingers skimming her cheek. ‘There’s no need to be nervous.’

‘I know. But...’ She hesitated, then continued with a flush, ‘it’s been a long time for me.’

‘And me, too.’

Somehow she didn’t think Malik had been celibate for ten years. ‘I mean, a really long time.’

His gentle smile morphed into a frown of puzzlement. ‘Do you mean...?’

Gracie nodded. ‘You’ve been my only lover, Malik.’ Before he could say anything, she rushed on, ‘I know I haven’t been yours. I’m not asking...’

‘There haven’t been that many. A handful of meaningless exchanges,’ Malik murmured. ‘And trust me, no one has come close to you, Gracie.’

‘Okay,’ she mumbled. Her face felt fiery. He took her fingers and kissed them.

‘But I don’t want to talk about any of that,’ he said, and with a little smile he nibbled on the tips of her fingers. ‘In fact, I’m not sure I want to talk at all.’

‘Sounds good to me.’ If they talked any more, she might really put her foot in it. She might, caught up in the moment, admit she was falling in love with him, and she couldn’t bear to see the appalled look in Malik’s eyes when he heard that revelation. No, she’d keep that particular news to herself, at least for now, and hope that one day he might want to hear those words.

Malik drew her to him again and kissed her softly, like a question. Gracie answered by parting her lips, letting his tongue sweep inside. The second kiss was deeper, seeming to plunge right inside her. And then she stopped counting because the kisses were merging into one another, melting her insides.

Malik backed her towards the bed, laughing softly as he gently tipped her onto it and then came to lie down next to her.

‘Do you remember...?’ he began, and Gracie nodded, for the memories were sweeping through her, colliding with the present in the most achingly emotional way.

‘Yes, I remember everything. Every moment, every touch.’

‘So do I,’ Malik whispered, and kissed her again. ‘I remember how soft your skin felt,’ he said as he slid the straps of her nightgown from her shoulders. ‘I remember how perfect your breasts were. And still are,’ he added as he slid the nightgown to her waist, and kissed each rosy tip. Gracie let out a shudder of longing. ‘I remember how you liked this,’ Malik murmured, taking his time, lavishing attention on her body in a way that made Gracie writhe in need. ‘I remember how you responded. You were so untouched.’ He lifted his head to look at her with glittering eyes. ‘And so was I. You were my first, Gracie. My first everything.’ He pressed a kiss to her stomach and then moved lower. ‘My first and my last,’ he said, and Gracie gasped both from his words and the touch of his mouth at her centre.

Her hips arched up helplessly as she pressed her head back against the pillow, awash in sensation, drowning in pleasure.

Her fingernails dug into his shoulders as the intense pleasure she was feeling tightened into an aching, ascending point that peaked as she let out a cry, her body relaxing as the waves rippled through her.

‘And that’s just the beginning,’ Malik promised. Gracie laughed shakily.

‘I’m not sure I can take much more.’

‘Oh, trust me, you can. I’ll make sure of it.’ He lay braced on his forearms, his gaze fastened on her. ‘Touch me, Gracie.’

The plea reached right inside her and with a shy smile she skimmed her hands down the hard planes of his chest, her fingers exploring the ridge of the scar on his torso.

‘Where did you get this?’

‘An assassination attempted by a member of a hostile tribe.’

‘Assassination...’ Gracie withdrew her hand as she stared at him in appalled surprise. ‘I didn’t realise it was that dangerous.’

‘It isn’t any more. And that man wasn’t in his right mind.’ Malik reached for her hand and drew it back to him. ‘And I’m not in my right mind, not until you start touching me again.’

Laughing softly, Gracie glided her hand down his chest and thigh before she wrapped her fingers around his arousal, amazed at the sheer power and strength of him. He was so beautiful, so male, and he was hers. She stroked him gently, her fingers playing with the hot, silky length of him, as Malik’s breath hissed between his teeth.

‘That feels very good.’

‘It’s been so long,’ Gracie whispered. She found it hard to believe that she could affect him so powerfully. ‘And I have so little experience...’

‘Your touch lights me up like no other, Gracie. I promise you that.’

The idea that she affected him more than anyone else was heady. Gracie’s strokes became bolder and more daring until Malik rolled her over onto her back, poised above her, his erection nudging her thighs.

‘What about protection?’ she whispered, and his mouth twisted.

‘We don’t need any.’

Realisation slammed into her. ‘I’m sorry...’

‘Don’t be.’ He kissed her hard on the mouth. ‘You are all I want, Gracie. All I need.’

‘You’re all I need, Malik,’ she returned on a gasp as he slid inside her, filling her up, making her shudder with both the strangeness and rightness of it.

She wrapped her legs around his waist as they began to move in rhythm, finding it instinctively, reaching for that release yet again, their bodies straining and searching.

‘Malik...’ Gracie gasped, and then she couldn’t manage any more for she was climbing, climbing, and then it felt as if fireworks went off inside her as they reached the peak together, Malik burying his head in her neck as his body shuddered.

Afterwards Gracie was conscious of the sudden quiet, her thudding heart. Malik was still inside her as he kissed her collarbone and then her lips, and then gently rolled off her. Gracie felt the loss, but that momentary pang was quelled when Malik turned to smile at her, reaching for her hand.

They lay there quietly, fingers interlaced and resting on top of Gracie’s belly. The only sound was their own breathing.

As her heart rate slowed and her heated skin cooled, Gracie wondered what had just happened. What it meant. How much it meant. She was aware, more than ever, that Malik had made no promises. Maybe he’d just stick her in the harem and visit her when he felt like it. Maybe that was what marriage looked like in Alazar, even in the twenty-first century.

‘Stop.’ Malik squeezed her hand and Gracie glanced over at him, startled.

‘What?’

‘I can see that your mind is already starting to race. You don’t need to fear, Gracie. I told you that before.’

She blushed, embarrassed that her thoughts had been so easy for him to read. Malik smiled and kissed her before putting his arm around her and pulling her against him.

‘So you’ve promised me this every night?’ she dared to tease, and Malik laughed softly.

‘Absolutely.’

‘And what about the days? What will those look like?’

‘How do you want them to look?’

Gracie considered. ‘I don’t want to be stuck in the palace all day, or treated like some ornament.’

‘Of course not.’

‘I’d like to work, or at least devote myself to good causes. Help with education for girls and those with special needs...’

‘That all sounds wonderful to me. You can be an amazing asset to this country, Gracie. You can join with me to bring it into a new and modern age.’

‘Partners,’ Gracie suggested, and Malik nodded.

‘Yes. Partners.’

She snuggled against him, breathing a sigh of both contentment and relief. It wasn’t love, but maybe it would be one day. And for now she would choose to be happy.