Guilty Pleasure

9

Khalid stared out the window of his library, three days later, a frown marring his brow. He watched the breeze drift through the trees surrounding the gardens. He looked tired, he thought, catching sight of his reflection in the window. Nothing like the charming seducer he was supposed to be. Or the carefree lover he tried to be with Marty. Though, he admitted, at the best of times, he was anything but carefree.

Working for Joseph Mathews and Zachary Jennings had done this to him, he thought, with a twinge of amusement. He thought perhaps he had earlier even glimpsed a gray hair or two in the thick black strands of his hair.

Of course, knowing his brothers would move against him didn’t help things. A man could grow old before his time looking over his shoulder as often as Khalid was forced to. Not to mention the strain it had placed on him of all those years fighting his overwhelming desire for a woman who he knew would be placed in danger the moment she came to his bed.

Marty was in the thick of it now, and protecting her was his main priority. His brothers had sworn they would destroy any woman who held his heart, and he feared they were now making good on thier promise.

Ayid and Aman should have been dead after the explosion that had been set off in the terrorist headquarters in Riyadh so many years ago, and the initial report had stated no survivors. Abram and Khalid had relaxed their guard for no more than hours. Just a few short hours, but long enough for Abram’s father, Azir, to demand that Abram rush to Riyadh to find out what was going on. Just long enough for the brothers to contact their followers in the region and have Khalid kidnapped and held.

He rubbed his hand over his face and moved away from the window. Just a few hours. It had been enough to allow the brothers to make their way back to the palace and torture and kill the woman Khalid and Abram secretly had been sharing. The woman Abram had claimed as his own, the wife he had cherished.

Lessa had paid with an agonizing death for Khalid’s part in the destruction of that terrorist cell. Simply because Ayid had somehow learned of the part Khalid had played in the attack against the terrorist cell’s headquarters in Riyadh.

After Khalid had left Saudi Arabia, Abram had returned to being the son Azir had demanded. It was the only way to keep Khalid safe, he had claimed. Though Khalid knew Abram was simply biding his time, waiting until he could destroy his younger brothers without the threat of Khalid paying in some way for his crimes.

It hadn’t worked, though. Khalid had never been safe, and now Marty was in danger as well.

She had worked her way into his desires, then into his heart. She was in danger because of him. He could feel it. The attempted drive-by shooting had been a clear message. Ayid and Aman were tired of waiting for their vengeance. For whatever reason, they were moving now.

And he couldn’t still the fear that no matter her training and her abilities, he would still lose her.

His Marty was determined to always be the risk taker. At least, in some areas. Unfortunately, having her risk her life didn’t sit well with his possessive male tendencies.

The sound of the door opening behind him caused him to stop his musings, and he turned from the window. He watched as Joe and Zach entered the room, glancing at him with concerned expressions.

“Khalid, you’re looking tired.” Joseph wasn’t one to mince words when the situation warranted it.

“I have no idea what would cause such a thing,” he answered, with subtle sarcasm. “Perhaps it’s the late nights I’m keeping.”

Nights spent trying to track the information that had come in that Ayid and Aman were tired of Khalid’s interference in their terrorist activities over the years. That, added to the deaths of their wives, had exhausted their patience.

Zach moved to the bar and began pouring drinks. He hadn’t spoken yet, but Khalid had a feeling that once he began, they would all need them.

“Have a seat.” Joseph waved to the seating area in front of the cold fireplace.

“The news is this bad?” Khalid took a chair across from Joseph as Zach moved to him and handed him the straight whiskey that he had poured.

The situation must be grave indeed. The meeting the two men had asked for had surprised Khalid, especially when they requested that Marty not be made aware that they were arriving.

“The reports coming in are inconclusive so far,” Joe stated. Zach took a seat on the short couch facing the fire. “Ayid and Aman crossed the border into Iraq last night. There are murmurs that they’ve sent someone to the area, but not against you. A single terrorist, rather than a cell sent to strike against a strategic target.”

Khalid sipped the whiskey.

“Sheikh Azir Mustafa contacted the consulate when news of the attack on Marty was first reported and your name was mentioned as having arrived at the scene of the attack. He’s demanding that they provide proof of your well-being.”

Khalid snorted at such an idea. Trust the old bastard to use the attack to stage a display of fatherly affection that didn’t exist. If the old man gave a damn about his eldest and youngest children, then the two sons who had struck against them would be dead now, not benefiting from their father’s benevolence.

“Tell him to go fuck himself,” he muttered, knowing his father had only demanded the proof because of his fears that Ayid and Aman was coming after Khalid. Should the Saudi king learn, for a fact, that Azir’s sons were terrorists, then Mustafa would lose all hold they had on the region that they ruled.

“The ambassador thought perhaps a politely worded assurance of your health was more in order, all things considered at the moment,” Zach retorted, his expression deadpan. “It seemed to require much less effort, and less bureaucratic red tape.”

Khalid glared back at him.

“It’s been years since there’s been even a hint that they’re still targeting you, Khalid,” Zach pointed out. “Just because Shayne has heard rumors that they’re prepared to move now, after the D.C. operation, doesn’t mean you’re more important to them than whatever strategic target they’ve chosen. We have time to figure this out.”

“Think what you will. I know my half brothers. The attempt on Marty’s life was ordered by them. I can feel it. Whoever your lone terrorist is, whatever his agenda-trust me, I’m high on his list of priorities, and Marty would be the perfect target to make me suffer before they came after me.” Rising from his chair, Khalid moved to the bar to refresh his drink.

“If your suspicions are correct, had you stayed away from her as you were asked, then Marty wouldn’t be involved in this.” Zach’s tone was hard and accusing.

Khalid stilled himself before lifting the decanter and refilling his glass. Forcing back the fury beating at him was nearly impossible. Zach was a shackle around his ankle at times where Marty was concerned. It was too bad that that shackle hadn’t been enough to keep him from her.

“It’s too late to fill the day with accusations.” Khalid turned back to the two men. “I’ll deal with my brothers as well as any other threat against Marty, in my own way.”

Joe’s brows lifted mockingly. “Really? And you’ve been waiting for what to take care of the situation with your brothers? Your funeral?”

Khalid leveled a dark, brooding look at the senator.

“I preferred to stop short of murder,” he informed the other man. “I had hoped I could arrange their deaths through the operations we’ve fouled for them.”

“Commendable,” Zach drawled, with a hint of sarcasm. “But our attention is now split, which is something we can’t afford at the moment. Shayne is attempting to locate the terrorist your brothers sent to Alexandria or D.C. Meanwhile, as I understand it, you’ve also chosen him as your third. Tell me, Khalid, how is he supposed to help protect her if he isn’t here to do his job?”

Censure filled Zach’s voice now, drawing a darker frown to Khalid’s face.

“He will be here when he’s needed,” he assured the other man. “Should my suspicions prove correct, then Shayne will be available when he’s needed. This is all that matters.”

So far Khalid and Shayne together had managed to keep Marty distracted and off the subject of the truths Khalid knew he could not hold back from her for long. That wouldn’t last much longer, Khalid guessed. He doubted it was working now. It wouldn’t surprise him in the least to learn that Marty was merely biding her time with information she was learning on her own.

“You’re going to fucking pull her in on this,” Zach said furiously, as he sat forward in his chair to glare back at Khalid. “Aren’t you? You’ve told her just enough of the truth to arouse her curiosity.”

Khalid sipped his drink before answering.

“She will never thank any of us for attempting to protect her,” he stated. “She has already been contacted by a private security firm. I know she’s considering the move. Once she leaves your agency and joins that firm, she will no longer be under your control or your protection. Shayne is our only hope to ensure that she is always watched over as she fulfills the dreams she has. Not the ones you have.”

Joe and Zach now stared back at him in shock.

“Shayne’s CIA. He won’t leave the agency.” Zach shook his head doubtfully.

“Once my half brothers are dealt with, Shayne will be leaving the agency,” Khalid informed them. “Should Marty decide to accept the position offered to her then he will be there as well.”

“Son of a bitch.” Zach came out of his chair furiously as he glared back at Joe. “You’re in on this? We agreed that after she came back from her vacation to convince him to stay with the bureau. That was the plan.”

Joe breathed out heavily as he stared back at Zach. “She’s not going to stay, Zach.”

Zach turned to his friend.

“Deerfield won’t be there,” Zach snapped, furiously. “I’m making sure of it.”

Joe shook his head slowly. “She knows you’re protecting her there. Holding her back. Marty knows she doesn’t get the assignments she wants because you’re pulling strings. Be thankful she’s taking herself out of that equation rather than turning her back on us.”

“She won’t turn her back-”

“She will decide for herself what she wishes,” Khalid broke in firmly. “She’s an adult.”

“And you’re going to get her fucking killed,” Zach yelled back at him. “Why the hell do you think I warned you away from her? I knew you’d do this. You and your damned determination that everyone has a fucking choice. That’s bullshit, Khalid. Her choice will get her killed.”

Khalid stared back at him, seeing a father’s fear and rage, and he couldn’t blame him for them. Marty was the child he had never had himself, for whatever reason. She was his daughter, and she would always be the little girl he had watched over.

It was hard for Zach to step back and risk his own soul, as he was being forced to do. Losing her could break him, no matter how it happened.

“Shayne will watch out for her while I cannot,” Khalid stated. “This was the reason I chose him as a third.”

“I can’t believe you’d make this decision without consulting us.” Zach stalked to the other side of the room, his arms crossing over his chest in a gesture of frustrated anger.

“Why would I consult you?” Khalid asked, his tone mocking. “You have warned me from her for years. Why would I think you would agree with any decision I made in regards to her?”

“Can you believe this bastard?” Zach turned to Joe in amazement. “He thinks he’s God.”

“Or the man she loves.” Joe got to his feet as he glanced between Khalid and Zach. “I agree with him. Marty’s going to take herself out of the bounds where we can protect her. In this way at least someone will be watching over her.”

“Have you discussed this with Virginia?” Zach asked.

Joe’s brow arched. “Did I discuss it with you? You and Virginia seem to forget that she’s my daughter as well. And she’s not stupid. She knows what’s going on at the bureau; she knows why you allowed her to be stuck watching Khalid for the past two years. And, trust me, she already suspects that you warned Khalid away from her. She’s not going to be happy with any of us if this continues, Zach, because she’s growing damned tired of the fact that all you’re concerned with is keeping her out of the line of fire.”

“She’ll be safe,” Zach argued furiously. “There’s no chance of her getting killed.”

Joe laughed. “That’s what we said about Virginia when we tried to maneuver her off a certain case during her first years as a prosecutor,” Joe reminded him. “We nearly lost her then. I won’t take that chance with my daughter.”

Zach grimaced before casting Khalid a hard sneer. “I blame you for this.”

Khalid shrugged. He really didn’t care who Zach blamed as long as Marty didn’t throw blame his way.

“This meeting is over, gentlemen,” Khalid informed them. “Marty will be returning soon from her luncheon with her friends, and I’d prefer she not catch us in this little secret meeting. Her anger isn’t something I wish to deal with at present.”

The quirk of Zach’s lips was filled with a faint satisfaction. A smile quickly hidden, one that filled Khalid with suspicion.

Manipulating and calculating, Zach was a dangerous adversary. He was a dirty, gutter fighter when he felt the need, and about now, he would definitely be feeling it.

At that thought, the door was pushed open, and Marty stepped into the room.

His gaze turned icy as he realized the other man had arranged this.

It was nothing against Khalid personally. It was the fact that Khalid had always insisted that Marty should have the freedom she needed, without her overprotective fathers restraining her.

It was a belief Zachary Jennings had never shared.

It was a belief that may now cause them more trouble than any of them truly wanted to face.

Marty stared at the three men silently as she stepped into the library. Her father looked guilty, Khalid looked frankly pissed, and her godfather seemed rather satisfied, if the tiny curve of his lips was anything to go by.

“Daddy.” She walked to her father, kissed his cheek, then moved to Zach. “Dad. What are you two doing here?” She kissed her godfather before stepping back and staring at Khalid.

She watched Khalid closely, noting the icy look in his black eyes, the fury that gleamed just beneath the winter-cold depths of glittering black.

“A meeting.” Zach shrugged as though it didn’t matter.

She knew her fathers, though, and she knew it was much more than a simple meeting.

“A meeting?” She glanced back at her father. “Concerning what?”

“Since Zach is so forthcoming, why not let him tell you?” Joe said, though his tone was tight, almost angry.

She stared back at Khalid. “Would you like to tell me what’s going on here?”

“We were discussing the attempt on your life,” Khalid told her. “We were trying to figure out the source and the best way to neutralize it.”

She looked at each man once again. She didn’t doubt that they were discussing that, but she was betting they were arguing over much more. She had no doubt that they were arguing over her.

“I see. So did you figure anything out?”

“We figured out Khalid is paranoid and prefers not to listen to common sense,” Zach growled. “And that this little meeting is over. Maybe your boyfriend here will give you the details.”

“Khalid? Paranoid?” Oh boy, there was something definitely going on here.

Zach was furious, and that was something he rarely let her see. Propping her hand on her jean-clad hip, she considered each man closely for long moments.

She wasn’t going to touch it, she told herself. She had enough problems trying to trail Shayne today without tipping him off. She didn’t need more. She didn’t have the time to fix whatever problems her fathers had.

“Definitely paranoid,” her godfather snapped.

“Most likely not,” her father said.

She believed her father. Of the two, it was Joe she could trust to tell her the truth, in most cases, no matter how angry it made her or how desperately he wanted to hide things from her.

Zach, unfortunately, had no problems lying to her if he felt it would protect her, or ensure her happiness. Just as he would have no qualms breaking her heart if he felt it would somehow protect her.

Joe and Zach glared at each other as she considered that, affirming her suspicions.

“It seems to me that the two of you should be more concerned about why a CIA agent is conducting an operation on home ground,” she suggested smoothly. “Aren’t there rules against that somewhere?”

She wondered exactly how involved her fathers and Khalid were in whatever Shayne was up to today. They hadn’t informed her of what he was doing. No one had spoken much at all in the past three days about the attack against her, or how the investigation was going.

She was doing her own homework, though, so it didn’t matter. At least Shayne wasn’t lying to her, but he was holding back much more than she was comfortable with.

Zach turned away from her. Her father wiped his hand over his face, while Khalid merely leaned against the bar and sipped his drink, as though intrigued by the confrontation.

“There are no CIA operations being conducted on home ground.” Zach turned back to her before glancing at her father. “Are you ready to go, Joe?”

Joe shook his head as he smothered a laugh. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” he assured the other man before stepping toward Marty. “Come see me sometime, little girl. I miss you.”

He kissed her cheek before winking back at her gently and stepping away from her.

“We both miss her,” Zach stated, as he moved to her and kissed her cheek as well before straightening and moving for the door. “Let’s go, Joe. I have other things to do today.”

As they left the room, Marty turned back to Khalid and stared at him curiously.

“I’m starting to feel as though you and my fathers are conspiring against me,” she told him bluntly. “What do you think?”

“I think you should ask your fathers.” He shrugged. “I wouldn’t conspire against you, myself. That gun you carry intimidates me.”

“Intimidates you?” Her lips pursed thoughtfully. “Somehow I doubt that.”

He grinned, a smile that didn’t come close to reaching his eyes. His gaze was thoughtful instead.

Setting his drink on the bar, he moved closer to her, his expression evolving from curious to frankly sexual.

“Your luncheon went well?” he asked, as he settled his hand on her hip and slowly eased her closer against him.

Her heart began to pick up speed. “Courtney is as nosy as ever, Alyssa is as quiet as ever, Terrie is certain you’re up to something, and Tally wants to know if your bedroom is really filled with silk pillows and wall hangings.”

“And I’m certain you informed her it was?” His head lowered, his lips brushing against her forehead as he whispered the question.

“Actually, I told her we were sleeping in a desert tent in the backyard, and that she should try it sometime. She looked rather intrigued.”

He was manipulating her. She could feel it, and she hated it.

Pulling back, she watched him carefully as she moved out of his embrace.

“What was the meeting with my fathers about?”

She watched him, terrified he would lie to her now.

“Your fathers are the last thing I want to talk about,” he informed her caustically. “Nor do I wish to discuss why they were here.”

At least he wasn’t lying to her.

“Unfortunately for you, I do,” she informed him calmly as she turned away from him. “I wasn’t told they would be here until I called Zach’s office to ask him if he’d heard from Mom, and they were acting damn strange when I arrived.”

“Then ask them.” His voice was edged with impatience. “I have no desire to discuss your fathers or their issues. There are other things on my mind while in your presence.”

She crossed her arms over her breasts. “What? You’re going to use sex to distract me?”

And he could do a damned good job of it, she thought. She was burning for him. She had been burning for him before arriving at the estate. But she was also tired of feeling as though she were the odd person out of a very important secret. A secret that just might involve her.

“I have a feeling the hounds of hell couldn’t distract you once you latched onto something.” He grimaced ruefully. “You are rather stubborn, my love.”

“It’s called tenacity,” she informed him sweetly. “It’s what’s gotten me this far with you, Khalid. Are you regretting it?”

“Are you?” She wished she could avoid those heated looks as easily as she could avoid his touch.

“What I’m feeling at the moment isn’t up for discussion,” she answered him with a bright smile as she used one of his own tactics in response to his question. “I believe you’re the one we’re discussing. What do my fathers think you’re being paranoid about?”

“Joe doesn’t think I’m paranoid about anything.” He moved around her until his chest was at her back, his head lowering so he could stroke his cheek against her hair.

Subtle. Tempting. He was using her own tactics on her by seducing her, and it was working.

“My godfather does. He’s usually fairly smart where some things are concerned. And it was more than obvious he was attempting to bring us to the point of an argument. So whatever you’re trying to hide from me must involve me quite a bit.” She sounded breathless. She was breathless.

His hands stroked down her bare arms as his lips whispered over the flesh of a shoulder left bare by the sleeveless top she wore.

“Zach is angry.” His teeth raked over the rounded curve of her shoulder.

Shards of sensation raced down her spine, exploded in her clit. She was growing so wet, so slick, she had to clench her thighs to keep from moaning.

“Why is Zach angry?” Her lashes fluttered closed as his hands gripped her hips and pulled her back.

The feel of the hard length of his cock beneath his jeans as it pressed into her lower back had her breath catching in jerky response.

“Because I refuse to stay out of his daughter’s bed,” he stated, as she melted at the heated tone of his voice. “Because I refuse to distract you from investigating your attempted murder. Because I refuse to make you listen to my need to protect you rather than your own instincts.”

His lips moved from her shoulder to her neck, his tongue sensually touching her skin. She hated the fact that his explanation was clearly an attempt to evade her, yet it still sent a rush of pleasure racing through her system to hear his apparent willingness to understand her need to live her own life.

“That sounds like Zach,” she gasped, her head falling to the side in pleasure even as she acknowledged silently that he had managed to distract her without lying to her.

He didn’t have to lie. He had the power of his touch. That touch was enough to fry her brain.

“Now you are guilty of leaving my bed this morning.” He nipped at her neck in retaliation.

“Oh yeah. I did. I had things to do.” Things like following Shayne to find out what the hell he was being so sneaky about.

Khalid’s hands moved from her hips, his fingers curling in the material of her shirt to pull it slowly from her jeans. So slowly. The silk slid up her midriff, over the lacy bra, and finally cleared her head.

It pooled to a small puddle on the floor as his hands moved to cup the heaving mounds of her breasts.

Pleasure suffused her as the sheer joy she felt from his touch began to build within her. She had waited so long. She had fantasized, dreamed, ached for him, and finally, she was sharing his bed. Perhaps not his heart yet, but definitely his pleasure, and not as a third. He was her lover. It was his bed she slept in, his arms that surrounded her and held her through the night when rumor was that holding a lover through the night was something he wasn’t known for.

His fingers circled her nipples, tugged at them, sent racing bolts of exquisite heated sensations racing straight to her clit. She was going to burn in his arms. She was going to melt to a puddle on the floor and beg him to fuck her within seconds.

“What sort of things did you have to do, little flower?” The front clip of her bra was tugged loose as he abandoned her nipples to relieve her of the restrictive garment.

“Things.” She nearly moaned the word as his fingers caressed the sensitive sides of her breasts before brushing delicately against her nipples.

“What sort of things did you have to do, precious?” He chose that moment to exert just enough pressure on her nipples to have her back arching, a strangled cry tearing from her throat.

Reaching back for him, desperate to touch him now, to feel more of the incredible pleasure he gave her, Marty gave a low, ecstatic moan as she fought for more pleasure.

“Not yet, little flower.” Catching her wrists in his hand, he locked them behind her back, keeping her arched against him as his free hand moved to the snap of her jeans.

“Push your sandals from your feet,” he commanded, his tone rich with lust.

Stumbling, her knees weak, Marty did as he ordered while the zipper of her jeans gave a light hiss as he lowered it.

“Now, we were discussing the things you had to do this morning,” he reminded her.

“No,” she gasped, as his free hand slid into the parted fabric and eased beneath the low band of her panties. “You were discussing them.”

His chuckle was low, dark. “You’re being very naughty.”

“So spank me… Oh God, Khalid.” She couldn’t hold back the cry as his fingertips glanced over the swollen knot of her clit.

It was exquisite. Pleasure raced through her pussy, around her clit, suffused her body.

“Spank you. I could do that,” he assured her, as his hand pulled from her jeans, only to begin pushing the snug material over her hips. “I could really get into that, Marty. Watching your pretty ass blush, hearing you beg for more.”

She was already ready to beg for more. He didn’t have to spank her to get that.

He worked the jeans down her thighs and below her knees. “Step from the jeans, precious.”

She stepped from the material, dressed in nothing but panties dampened by her desire. The silk clung to the bare curves of her sex as his hand slid up her thigh.

Her hands were still held behind her back, and she ached to touch him, to feel his flesh beneath her palms, against her skin.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, and turned her until she was facing the antique, full-length mirror that sat in the corner of the library.

She looked so wanton. Arched back in his arms, her breasts swollen, her nipples flushed. Pale rose panties barely covered the mound of her pussy, and she could see the dampness at the crotch.

She watched as his hand moved to the panties. She expected him to push them over her thighs. He gripped the side, and with a quick movement the fragile material rent and fell away.

A gasp tore from her lips as the motion caused a flare of wicked pleasure to tear through her womb.

She was naked. Her pussy gleamed with her juices, the flesh flushed with need.

“Spread your legs,” he whispered at her ear.

Behind her, Khalid was fully dressed, but his expression was filled with such stark hunger that it didn’t seem to matter.

She spread her legs, watching in the mirror as his fingers slid between them, parted the swollen curves, and revealed the glistening bud of her clit.

“Watch,” he breathed against her ear. “See what I see when I touch you. Watch the pleasure your body fills with.”

The tip of his finger began to circle her clit, rubbing against it, around it, sending such electrically charged sensations tearing through her that her hips jerked against the caress.

“Pretty, pretty, little flower,” he groaned, his voice becoming darker, more remote, more foreign. “Open for me, love. Let me watch my fingers take what my cock is dying for.”

He released her arms, allowing them to curl around his neck as his fingers slid lower, circled the sensitive opening, then two pressed forcefully inside the heated ache of her pussy.

The sudden impalement stretched delicate tissue, revealed sensitive nerve endings, and sent her juices flowing over his fingers as tiny pinpoints of detonating heat began to flare inside her.

Feminine muscles clenched around his fingers, trembled against the penetration, and tried to draw them deeper inside her.

“Khalid, please.” The plea was torn from her throat. “Don’t torture me.”

She felt too sensitive; the room was too hot. Perspiration gathered on her brow, her breasts. The whisper of the AC against her nipples was almost painful. The rasp of his clothing against her back had her flesh aching for his bare skin.

“Torture you?” His voice was midnight velvet, rasping over her senses with erotic intent. “Ah, sweet love, torture is the last thing I had in mind.”