Page 46 of The Sheikh's Matchmaker Bride

Chapter Sixteen

They arrived at the palace together and drew their cars to a halt in front of the steps that led up to the entrance.

It seemed somehow fitting that they should pull their cars to a halt at the same moment, Aliyah told herself. This was no longer a race. There was no contest anymore, no need to battle with other. As far as she was concerned, they both knew what they needed, what each of them wanted from the other. She watched Shahid get out of his car and stride over to her vehicle. He'd discarded his jacket and was dressed just in his white shirt and pants. He'd loosened the top buttons of his shirt, and she could see the tempting curls of his dark chest hair.

Shahid halted by the side of the car and gazed at Aliyah. There was a hungry, eager look on his face. She opened the door and accepted his outstretched hand. She eased herself out of the car, and before she knew what had happened, Shahid had dragged her into his arms, crushed her against him, his lips crashing down upon hers. The kiss was ravenous, yet tender. She lifted herself up on her tiptoes, feeling completely enveloped in him, sensing the sheer strength of his desire in the way he held her.

She felt the firmness of his desire pressing against her through the fabric of his pants, realizing the effect all of this was having on him. She felt heat ignite in her own body, tracing a warm path. Every nerve tingled with life. She lifted her head, opening her mouth, welcoming the teasing movements of his tongue. He tasted wonderful, and she inhaled his musky scents, drowning deliriously in the reality of being possessed by him.

His sheer presence dominated every part of her awareness; his touch; his taste; his scent. She'd never felt like this before. She felt something shift within her, and realized that a barrier had been breached by his commanding, insistent action. A line had been crossed by them both. There was no going back.

Aliyah snaked her fingers through his hair and felt him react by holding her even more closely, his kiss becoming all-consuming, almost savage in its intensity. She didn't care if anyone could see them. All she could feel was Shahid and the hot sun beating down upon them.

Finally, their lips parted and Shahid gazed at her in wonder. There was full understanding in that look, she told herself. Nothing needed to be said. They both knew what was coming next.

"Aliyah," he gasped. "I don't know what to say."

She stroked the side of his face tenderly and shook her head. "Shahid," she breathed. "I don't know why it took so long for me to come to you. But, I'm glad now."

Shahid smiled tenderly and kissed her again, this time with a softness that contrasted with the previous passion.

Their lips parted and he took her hand, led her up the stairs and into the palace hallway. They paused at the foot of the wide stairs that would lead them up to the upper floor. Where his bedroom was, she realized.

He glanced at her and there was a brief moment when it seemed they exchanged one more final, unspoken question. They didn't need to say anything, she realized. There was only one place she wanted to be, right now. And that was in Shahid's bed.

She gazed at him, willing him to understand what she wanted, even though she still struggled to find the words that would capture how she felt at this moment.

Then he started to lead her up the staircase, and she felt a new wave surge over her, anticipation mingling with uncertainty. But she followed him, in spite of the treacherous emotions that tempted her to call the whole thing off.

Moments later they were at the door to what she assumed was Shahid's bedroom. He opened the door and she followed him into the room. It was a suite, tastefully furnished, elegantly designed. But, all she could see as she walked into the room were the open doors through which she could see the large bed that awaited them both.

Shahid closed the door and kissed Aliyah, as if it testing her for one last confirmation that she wanted to be here with him. She gave herself over completely to his tender caresses, swept up in him even more intensely, sensing that his need had grown.

Their lips parted and he gazed, lovingly at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of awe and barely contained desire. He wanted her. She could see that in his eyes. No. It was more than that, she told herself. He didn't just want her. He needed her; had to claim her; possess her. The feral, determined look triggered pulsing need in her, triggered heat at her core. She drew in a deep, calming breath in a desperate attempt to control her quivering nerves. She'd never felt more alive, never known a man could make her feel like this.

Then Shahid led her into the bedroom, all the while never taking his eyes off her, as if he worshiped her, idolized her.

The sight of the bed made her hesitate slightly, but then all thoughts of delay were swept away by Shahid as he kissed her again. His hands traced a line down her sides, to her hips and then across her back.

Then he started to unbutton the back of her dress. The dress slipped from her body with his expert touch. She felt the fabric tumbling to the floor around her feet. She shifted it away and slipped off her flat shoes. All she was wearing now were her bra and panties. The instinct to clasp her hands across herself tried to seize hold of her, but she resisted it, pushing the impulse away.

Shahid gazed down at her body and she saw the appreciation on his features. He kissed her once more. This time being crushed against him felt even more intense, her bare skin pressing against the fabric of his clothes.

Then their lips parted and she watched as Shahid took a step back and looked at Aliyah, his eyes narrowing, his brows furrowing. There was an untamed quality in that gaze which had been missing moments before, as if seeing Aliyah almost naked had made something shift in Shahid.

He started to unbutton his white shirt. As she watched the buttons loosen one by one, she felt a sudden tightness in her throat. She was sure desire was written all across her face as her gaze traced a line down Shahid's amazing torso. He pulled the shirt apart revealing tight muscles, a broad powerful chest matted with hair across which she could imagine tracing her fingers.

Shahid seemed to know the effect he was having on her because he grinned wolfishly at her. Then the shirt was tossed to the floor and he started to unbutton his pants, slowly easing them down his hips, revealing white boxers. Inside those boxer shorts she could see all the evidence she needed of his desire. She felt herself weaken for a moment, and she placed a hand across her belly, sensing the heat and the nerves that had been ignited by the sight of an almost naked Shahid.

Finally, he cast aside his pants, and they stood face to face, almost completely exposed to one another.

Shahid came to her and swept her into his arms, crashing his lips down onto hers, devouring her with even more ferocity than before. Aliyah felt the heat of his skin against hers, felt the insistent pressure of him against her bare flesh. She surrendered to every sensation he sparked in her body.

Then he drew her slowly toward the bed. He sat on the edge of the bed and placed his hands on her hips. He looked up at her, and she couldn't prevent herself from looking down at him and running her hands through his hair. The impulse to kiss him overwhelmed her, and she leaned down quickly and kissed him.

Their lips parted, and she watched as he reached around and unclipped her bra, tugging it away and dropping it to the floor. He watched wide-eyed as her breasts were revealed to him. In a moment his head dipped, and his lips were on the nipple of one of her breasts.

She gasped as she felt his lips laving her nipple sending waves of pleasure rippling through her body. She pulled his head closer to her, needing more of the exquisite sensation, wanting as much of it as she could have.

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