Claimed For The Sheikh's Shock Son. Carol Marinelli
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realised then that he had been wrong earlier about her wearing too much blusher, for colour now spread on her pale cheeks. He understood the effect was because of him. Or, rather, them. For though Khalid did not blush, of course, there was heat elsewhere. The effect of Aubrey on him had been unexpected, for she was not to his usual, sophisticated, taste.
And, as they stood there, Aubrey found that she wanted to know the name of his scent, and to know how the silk of his suit felt to touch. And she wished now that he had snaked a hand around her waist, just to know brief physical contact with this imposing man. And for Aubrey, those feelings were so unfamiliar that suddenly she had to get away.
He was simply too much.
The whole day had been too much and the antibiotics had made her feel sick. She felt overwhelmed and, not so much dizzy, more that she just had to sit down, so she flicked her eyes from his gaze and thanked him again.
‘My pleasure.’
Such a rare pleasure, Aubrey thought as she went and sat on one of the plush lobby chairs and tried to summon the energy for the journey home.
Well, not home—her night would be spent at the airport. Aubrey was just wondering how long she could stretch out sitting here before being moved on when she saw his dark suited legs and even without looking up she just knew it was him.
‘Are you okay?’ he asked.
‘I will be.’ She nodded. ‘I just needed to sit down.’
‘Are you staying locally?’
‘No, I’m headed for the airport,’ Aubrey said, a little taken aback when he sat down on one of the plump seats beside her.
‘What time is your flight?’
‘Nine.’ She didn’t add that it was at nine a.m. tomorrow but she could see concern in his eyes. ‘I’m just a bit wiped.’
‘Perhaps because you haven’t eaten?’
‘I have, there was loads of food...’
‘No,’ Khalid said, surprising himself that he had noticed, but he had seen her decline the hors d’oeuvres each time the waiters had come around. ‘You didn’t eat anything.’
‘No,’ she admitted. ‘My stomach was in knots.’
‘Would you like me to have something brought to you...?’ He was about to raise his hand and summon someone, but she halted him.
‘Really, I’m fine, just a little tired—I’m getting over an ear infection and I flew through the night to get here.’
Khalid lived a luxurious life, but did understand that not everyone travelled in the style that he did. She was, he guessed, more than a little tired. He watched as she managed to stand and he glanced at her shoes, which were slightly too large, and then up to her face, which was suddenly slightly too pale.
‘Well, it was nice meeting you,’ Aubrey said, and all Khalid knew was that he did not want her walking off, weary, hungry and sad.
‘Wait,’ Khalid said, and of course she swung around. And now he had to think of a reason for calling her back. ‘Aubrey, do you want to go for a lie down?’ He saw the flare in her clear blue eyes and immediately realised she had misinterpreted his words. He didn’t blame her, for even Khalid was having difficulty qualifying what he had just said.
‘Excuse me. What I meant was that my suite will be vacant for a couple of hours.’ She gave an owl-like blink of her huge blue eyes that forced Khalid to explain better. ‘I have to see the family back to the house, then stay for drinks and, no doubt, dissect who was who at the funeral...’
‘Such as me,’ Aubrey said, and for a second she thought she saw a flicker of a smile grace his lips, but then decided that she must have imagined it for that glimmer had gone.
‘I have already explained to them that you are with me.’ Khalid could not quite believe he had offered her the use of his suite. Even his lovers did not get freedom to roam like that. Yet she moved him in unexpected ways. ‘You are more than welcome to use my suite for a couple of hours before you go to the airport.’
God, but a lie down sounded nice, Aubrey thought, and then remembered she hadn’t been born yesterday. ‘I don’t think—’
But he interrupted her. ‘The choice is yours. I doubt I shall be back till late this evening, so there would be plenty of time for a sleep before you head off.’
‘Why would you do that?’
‘My role today is to take care of Jobe’s friends and I believe you are one of them.’
‘But why would you trust me?’
‘Trust you?’ he checked.
Aubrey saw his frown and wondered if she had used a word he did not comprehend. ‘I might trash the room, take off with your things,’ she explained further.
But, no, Khalid knew very well what she’d meant. ‘Why would you do that, Aubrey?’
He was so measured.
And so very withheld.
Aubrey didn’t even know what she meant by withheld, except that was the word that sprang to her mind.
He did not jump to provocation.
It was as if nothing could possibly faze him but, most importantly, he did not faze her. Oh, Khalid was overwhelming to her senses, and more male than any man she had ever met, but there was not so much as a flicker of fear making itself known. And while heading up to a stranger’s bed might seem less than wise, it certainly beat lying on the airport floor. As well as that, Aubrey had been born with a radar attached.
It was how she survived.
With Khalid there were no red flags waving and Jobe had clearly thought the world of him.
There was something else, though—this man intrigued her. From the way he had stepped in and saved her from Chantelle’s inquisition. The way he had offered her food.
And now rest.
Aubrey didn’t trust men.
As a little girl her mom had told her to put a chair against her bedroom door at night and as a not much older girl she had stood on a stool to get ice for her mom’s bruises from the freezer.
Khalid, she was aware, brought down her defences, for she wanted to trust this man.
‘Thank you,’ she said, and her voice was a little croaky and the flush was back to her cheeks as she graciously accepted his kind offer. ‘But only if you’re sure?’
‘Of course.’ He handed her a card for the suite and told her the floor. ‘If you’re gone when I get back—’ He was interrupted by the shrill call of his name.
‘Khalid!’
‘Yes, Chantelle.’
And he gave Aubrey the tiniest eye-roll before he turned to the approaching woman; he shared with her his irritation.
It was like being handed the sun.
‘We’re heading back to the house,’ Chantelle said. ‘Aubrey, I do hope you’ll come...’
Best friends now, Aubrey thought, but Khalid swiftly dealt with the invitation.
‘Aubrey shall not be joining us. She has a headache.’ He met her eyes and instead of the sun offered her gold. ‘Rest now.’
As simply as that, Aubrey escaped.
SHE TOOK THE elevator to the designated floor and then found the necessary door, and stepped into heaven.