past few months.”
“Trouble?” A puzzled frown creased her brow. “What trouble could I possibly cause you?”
“Never mind,” Kalim growled. His fingers curled around her arm in a firm grip. “Come on. We can talk in my suite.”
When she hesitated his fingers tightened in a warning gesture. “Well,” he demanded. “Are you coming or not? You instigated this meeting, Shannon not me. We either talk in my suite or we do not talk at all,” he warned. “It is your choice.”
Shannon knew that she had no choice but to accompany him if she was to help Tom so she reluctantly nodded her head in acceptance. Her hands clenched into tight fists when she saw his self satisfied smile, and she dearly wanted to smack the arrogant look off of his face.
“Then come on and stop pussy footing around,” he growled but made no attempt to move and when she glanced up at him curiously he continued. “The first time you entered this hotel I was carrying you. You looked so delicate and tiny lying in my arms.” His mouth curved in a cynical smile. “Shall I carry you over the threshold this time as well?”
The double meaning of his words was not lost on Shannon and her temper began to boil. She was getting fed up with his sarcastic digs at her for ending their engagement. Without giving him an answer, she spun on her heel and marched toward the ornate entrance.
The doorman was holding the door open for them an impassive look on his face and she belatedly realized he had been an interested spectator to their meeting.
Chapter 2
The lobby was as she remembered it, wide and spacious with its marble floor and luxurious furniture.
“Come on.” Kalim curled his fingers around her arm and strode across the highly polished floor.
“Will you slow down,” Shannon gasped breathlessly as they crossed the foyer. She was having trouble keeping up with his fast pace. “Your legs are longer than mine.”
Kalim halted at once and surprised her by laughing, his white teeth flashing against his brown skin. “I had forgotten how tiny you are.” His eyes drifted slowly down her legs and her mouth went dry. “Small and beautiful” His voice thickened. “I remember how they used to wrap around my body and hold me as we made love to each other.”
His words evoked half forgotten memories and she began to tremble as vivid images of their lovemaking rushed through her mind, their bodies entwined. His hands and lips moving over her body until she was mindless with desire. His thumb softly stroked her arm when he felt her reaction but she was unaware of it, lost in a cascade of emotions.
“Yes you remember what it was like and want it still as much as I do,” he whispered into her ear his voice so thick it was guttural. “We could not get enough of each other could we?” His breath feathering across her skin made her legs go weak and she knew if he released his hold on her arm she would collapse at his feet. “Why did you leave when we had all that?”
Several guests had stopped to watch and enjoy the spectacle of the young auburn haired woman and the tall intimidating man conducting a rather intimate conversation in a hotel lobby.
Neither Kalim nor Shannon was aware of this attention but Hassam was and recognized that he needed to break it up immediately. The thought of a reporter or worse a photographer getting a hold of this story was enough to give him nightmares.
“Will you two shut up and wait until you get upstairs to finish your conversation.” Both Kalim and Shannon took a step backward as he stepped between them. “You are attracting attention.”
It was at that moment that their different backgrounds became glaringly apparent.
Shannon glanced around the lobby and instantly wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. Heat ran up her throat and into her face and she knew she was blushing bright red.
Kalim lifted his chin in haughty disdain and completely ignored everyone. He stepped around Hassam clasped her hand in his and strode across to the lift.
A disjointed male voice floated across to them as they stepped into the lift. “Good luck mate I hope you win.”
Shannon was incensed when both Kalim and Hassam laughed.
“Why did you leave Shannon?” Kalim repeated his earlier question as the lift door swished silently closed. “You knew I would search for you.”
“Of course I knew.” She agreed. “That’s why I severed all ties with my old life and went into hiding.”
“Yes, you did an excellent job of disappearing.” His harsh laugh grated on her jumpy nerves. “For six months you have managed to evade a whole army of private detectives.” He gave a mocking bow. “I congratulate you.”
“You hired private detectives?” Shannon was surprised. While she had known that he would try to find her, she had never considered how he would do it.
“What did you expect me to do? Search for you personally?” He raked his hand through his wet hair. “You know that would have been impossible. That I had to return home.” His lips twisted into a bitter smile. “You should know. You were supposed to come with me.”
“I couldn’t.”
Contempt blazed in his eyes. “You are a coward, Shannon. You decided to end our relationship without any regard for what I wanted. You left. You disappeared and left me no choice but to hire strangers in an attempt to find you.” His hands clenched into tight fists. “Do you have any conception of how much I hated having to do that?”
Actually she could understand his resentment very easily. He was the Crown Prince of Bashram. She doubted if anyone had ever said no to him in his entire life - until now. She was unable to decide if that made her brainless or independent.
“Kalim, we come from opposite sides of the world, from different cultures.” She waved her hand in a helpless gesture. “You expected me to leave everything that was familiar to me and go with you to a strange country. A country I know nothing about, with unfamiliar customs and a lifestyle unlike any I have ever known before.”
“I remember what you wrote in your letter.” His jaw tightened into a thin, hard line. “I did not believe your reasons then, and I do not believe them now.” He paused and continued with mocking irony. “You forgot to mention Montoya. That reason was the most stupid one of all.”
“It isn’t stupid to me.” Shannon shuddered. Just the mention of that madman’s name caused the fear and nausea to rise up into her throat. “He terrifies me.”
“Montoya has been trying to overthrow my father for ten years.” He sucked down an exasperated breath. “I admit he is dangerous, but his followers are few and we take precautions. We are not stupid.”
Hassam was not too sure about that last part and when the doors slid open he stepped out pointedly ignoring the pair of them.
“I’ll be in my room if you need me,” he threw back over his shoulder as he strode along the carpeted corridor and unlocked the door to the suite. “Those two deserve each other,” he growled as he walked into his bedroom and closed the door grateful that the rooms were soundproof. He had a feeling there was going to be one hell of a slanging
