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Zayn felt his heart contract painfully in his chest. He would say she was lying, except that she had no reason to. She believed that they were in love, so why would she make up untruths about her feelings?
Remorse flooded his body, as he thought about the lie he was perpetuating now. And fear joined it, because he could imagine her rage when she remembered the truth. Which surely she would, eventually.
“But surely I told you?” She said quietly, and something like doubt clouded her eyes in a way that made him feel like the worst kind of bastard.
“Does this look like the face of a man who knew he’d married a virgin?”
She shook her head slowly. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I kept it from you. Do you mind?”
“Mind?” He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her roughly against his chest. “You would be perfect to me if you’d slept with no men or many. Of course, I wouldn’t be a red-blooded male if I didn’t tell you that it’s a total turn-on to know only I have possessed you.”
“Possessed me?” A shiver ran down her spine as she felt another memory dance in front of her eyes. She tried to catch it, but it was elusive, like dust mites in a sunray.
“Just an expression,” he said quickly, and then he scooped her up and carried her to his bed. Reverently, he lay her down in the center, and a strange sense of honor infiltrated him at the sight of her there. His wife. His. For now, and forever.
“How do you feel?” He asked earnestly as he sat beside her and ran his fingers lightly over her smooth thigh.
“Honestly?”
He nodded. “Always.”
“Wonderful and exhausted.” She blinked up at him. The sun was streaming in through his bedroom window and he reluctantly left her side simply so that he could draw the blinds and immerse them into a darker state.
He lay down in bed and pulled her against his naked torso. “Shut your eyes. Sleep in my arms, habibte.”
And as she drifted off into a dark, strangely hollow dream, her last waking thought was that she never wanted to be anywhere but in Zayn’s arms.
CHAPTER NINE
“Another perfect day,” Julia said with a grin as she padded barefoot out onto the enormous terrace that led to the infinity pool.
“Hard to believe you found the heat so stifling when you first arrived,” he teased gently, opening his arms for his wife to walk into. She did so automatically. In the week since the accident, she’d remembered hardly anything. But day by day, she’d realized how happy she must have been. Zayn was every bit the husband she’d hoped he would be. Even more of a partner than when they’d first dated. Their chemistry was sensational. Their common interests were varied, but their sexual need was truly earth shattering. She couldn’t believe they’d been able to wait until they were married. She just had to look at him to feel a swirling ocean of desire turn her core slick and moist with heat.
Her pretty face looked bemused. “I did grow up in England, you know. At best, our Summer days would be like a Namani winter.”
Of their own volition, his fingers crept inside the skimpy lycra bathing suit she was wearing, and pressed against her most private core.
“Zayn,” she whispered, scanning the palatial home for the usual army of servants.
His chuckle was low, and set her pulse skittering. “I have significantly reduced my workforce. Most personnel are now stationed on the property exterior. We are quite alone.”
Her smile was dazzling. “In that case, why don’t you join me for a swim.”
His eyes flared with pleasure. “On one condition.”
She pressed a finger to her lips in a deliberately provocative pose. “Name it.”
“Let’s discard these silly swimmers you insist on wearing.” He pulled at the ribbons that held her bikini bottoms in place and Julia squealed as they dropped straight down her legs.
“Zayn!” The effect of her protest was undermined by the giggle she couldn’t contain.
“Turn around.” His voice was like a command, and she felt a small memory try to push through her fogged brain, but it disappeared again almost instantly. She did as he said, and he reached up and tugged at the bikini strings, so that her breasts were freed.
“Much better,” he said, spinning her within the circle of his arms so he could appreciate her naked form more fully. “You are perfect,” he said on a groan.
“As are you,” she said with an appreciative smile. “I trust I’m not the only one going skinny dipping?”
His lips curled into a slow smile. “Where’s the fun in that?”
