We gaze at each other in silence, both imprisoned by our own thoughts.
Suddenly, there is a shift in the atmosphere. It’s almost imperceptible, but it makes me rise and move toward her.
Even before touching her, I know I’m complicating things between us, especially after what happened, but I still pull her into my arms because at that moment, desire defeats reason.
She shivers, and her reaction turns me on even more. For a few seconds, I just inhale the skin of the soft curve of her neck.
Madeline sighs, surrendering, and my lips dominate hers with ferocity, demanding her surrender. My hands move, touching everything within reach. Her back, her arms, the sides of her breasts.
She moans in response, and when my thumb circles her hardened nipple, she bites her lower lip.
Impatiently, I back her against the nearest wall, lifting one of her thighs and bringing it to my hip, then rubbing my thick arousal against the junction between her legs.
Hungry and possessive, I nip at her shoulder, but it’s never enough, so my hands descend, and I try to lift her dress.
I’m not thinking clearly. All I know is that I want to feel her warmth on my fingers.
When I reach the sides of her panties, she freezes, tensing against me. Then she pushes me away.
Lost in desire, it takes me a moment to hear what she’s saying.
Madeline pushes me again and repeats, “No.”
I force myself to step back, struggling to breathe, my lack of control pissing me off.
Still, I refuse to mask what I’m feeling. “I want you.”
She’s trembling, breathless. “I know, but we need to talk first.”
Her words confuse me, because her body is clearly giving her away, her words laced with desire.
“Talk?”
“Yes. About rules. I’ve been thinking about it all night and this morning. You have your own rules, and now I have mine. We need to reach an agreement if we want things between us to work.”
“You want to make rules?” I ask like an idiot. The truth is, I can’t believe what I just heard. I’ve never gone through anything like this. I’m the one who always sets the rules.
“Yes. You’re very experienced, Kamal. To make it a fair game, we need to balance things between us. You told me you never spend more than a month with a woman so they don’t get unrealistic expectations. I think they can be nurtured within just thirty days anyway.”
I stare at her as if she’s from another planet. “You want less than thirty days?”
“Much less. One single night is all we’ll have. After that, we go back to our normal lives and you never try to seduce me again. I want your word on that.”
Chapter 16
Turkey
“I didn’t think I would be needed on a trip to a country whose culture is so similar to yours,” I say because the way he’s looking at me is getting on my nerves. It’s as if he’s conducting a mental study.
Since I made my counterproposal in his office, Kamal has been acting like this.
About half an hour ago, we disembarked at the private airport in Istanbul, and now we’re in the limousine on our way to the Sheikh’s private residence in Turkey.
I found out during the flight, mostly by overhearing him talk to the head of security rather than being officially informed, that Kamal rarely stays in hotels, except for those of the Caldwell-Oviedo Group[7]. Even then it’s because the CEO of the hotel franchise, Guillermo Oviedo[8], is a personal friend.
In most countries he visits, however, due to the necessary security measures, he maintains residences.
Imagine how crazy it is to own houses in several cities around the world!
