Page 23 of The Sheikh's Matchmaker Bride

She turned and took a few steps into deeper water, grateful for the relief that came with not being tempted by the sight of the incredible man standing behind her.

Aliyah heard him come up behind her, the water being pushed by his legs rising against the back of her knees. She turned to him and saw that he was looking out to sea, taking in the sight of the shimmering water and distant horizon.

For a moment, she was content to stand by his side and enjoy the sight with him. Once again she was surprised by Shahid, by the fact that he could appreciate simple beauty and quiet moments with her. She felt as if she had been caught off her guard again, and when she felt his arm against her back it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to just allow him to rest his hand against her lower back. The feel of his hand caused a warm tingle to trace its way up her spine, and she glanced quickly at him.

His gaze shifted to her, and he smiled. "I'd forgotten how beautiful this is," he said. "The sea, the sky."

Aliyah stared off into the distance and drew in a deep breath. The air smelled clean, and her lungs filled, making Aliyah feel somehow complete. Calm took possession of her soul, standing here next to Shahid. The closeness between them had suddenly intensified, without warning. She wondered how they must look to a passerby, and then she realized there would be no-one for miles. They were utterly alone. And, even in a place like this, they were still restraining their obvious attraction for each other?

For a moment she had a flash of doubt. Maybe there wasn't anything between them, after all. If they could stand here, like this, unseen, then what was stopping Shahid from showing her evidence of what he'd said to her in the garden?

The doubts caused a slight chill to race up her body, and she turned to Shahid, intending to seek some kind of answer. She looked at him, and he gazed down at her. But, before she could say anything, she saw a flash of emotion in his eyes and then he twisted, dipping his head, and then his lips crashed down upon hers.

Aliyah moaned as she lifted her head, welcoming his kiss. She turned, lifting a hand to his shoulder, feeling the dampness she had caused on his shirt. She felt him take hold of her, and then she was crushed against his hard body, triggering a delicious ecstasy. Shahid growled quietly as his lips to possession of hers, and she felt heat in her core.

The hand that grasped the hem of her dress loosened and she felt the dress billow out on the water around her legs. But it didn't matter. Nothing mattered right now. Not when Shahid was claiming here like this, making his feelings abundantly clear. She placed her free hand against the firmness of his broad chest. That gesture prompted a reaction from Shahid, and his kiss became more insistent.

Aliyah allowed herself to be taken over by sensation; the taste of Shahid; the feel of his body; the sound of the waves; the touch of the water around their legs. She relaxed into his embrace, feeling his firmness pressing against her belly. The sense of its size made her mind race with scandalous thoughts.

Shahid's breathing was faster now, and then he did something which took her completely by surprise. With a sudden movement, he lifted her up out of the water, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. For a moment she was sure they were both going to fall into the water, but then she felt Shahid steady himself, holding her tight. The water roiled around them as he settled his hands beneath her bottom, supporting her, all the while continuing to lavish his kisses on her.

Their lips parted, and they both laughed, gazing at each other. Shahid's eyes widened as if seeking assurance that she was okay. Aliyah crinkled her nose at him. "Don't drop me," she murmured.

Shahid's nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath. "I'm not going to let you go," he stated. The thought flashed into her mind that he wasn't just talking about here, standing in the water. She brushed that thought away.

"You better not," she replied. "Otherwise the seats in your car are going to get awfully wet."

"Wet?" he responded, lifting a brow. "Really?" His gaze burrowed deep into her, testing her understanding.

Aliyah felt her face redden. He pulled her body closer to him and kissed her again. Wrapped around him, with his lips devouring her like this, Aliyah wondered for a moment if she'd been mysteriously transported to another world. Because that was how it felt to be held like this. Everything was new, everything had been transformed, and she didn't even know how to make sense of it.

For a long time, they kissed, while Shahid held her, holding her as if she was the most precious thing in the world. Maybe for him, she was, she told herself.Then he turned, letting her settle back down to regain her footing on the sand beneath the water. This time he held her close, his arms wrapped around her. She looked up at him, seeing visible joy on his face. She'd never seen Shahid look like this before. The man standing before her was a new person. Not simply the friend from her past, but someone different; someone who promised a future still undecided, a destiny still hidden.

"Where do we go from here?" he asked quietly.

Aliyah lifted her brows. What could she say in answer to a question like that? What did she want to say? She still wasn't sure, in spite of the feelings that were still coursing through her body. Uncertainty tugged at her, the doubts of earlier still keeping a grip on her.

Aliyah glanced back toward the car. "Maybe we should get back," she said.

His eyes clouded with disappointment, and for a moment he looked as if he wanted to kiss her again, almost as if that was the one sure way to change her mind. But then she saw him nod. "I'll take you back to your home. If that's what you want."

Was it what she wanted? She told herself it was for the best; tried to convince herself that there was really nothing else she could do. Not right now. Things were moving too fast. Maybe that's what the old Shahid was used to. Instant conquest. But, hadn't she just convinced herself that the man who held her in his arms wasn't the old Shahid?

Aliyah nodded. "Okay," was all she could say. Her voice sounded weak, slightly cracked with emotion. Could he sense her confusion? By the looks of his face, he was having difficulty understanding what she had just done to break the preciousness of the moment.

When he released her from his embrace, it felt as if she had made a terrible mistake. Moments before, she had allowed herself to sink into being with him, allowed him to take possession of her. Now that they were walking out of the water, she couldn't help asking herself she would ever be able to give herself completely to Shahid.

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