“Aziz…” she breathed hopefully.
Aziz pressed his forehead to hers and then guided her to lean on one of the extravagantly large sofas, still covered by a dropcloth. Eager and desperate for more, Laine held onto the back of the sofa, spreading her legs willingly. Aziz’s hands moved over her plump buttocks, as though feeling them for the first time. Laine gave an impatient whimper as he slowed his pace to massage them with deep, circular strokes of his thumbs.
After his pants dropped, Aziz moved his hands back around to her front to unbuckle her belt and guide her slacks down.
“I’m ready, I’m so ready,” Laine babbled.
Aziz hummed against the back of her neck as he unbuttoned her blouse and then freed her of it. He moved his hands up her back in a long, slow motion, causing her to arch her back enticingly.
“You are, aren’t you?” Aziz rubbed against her. “You fit me so well.”
Grabbing her hip, he pushed his thick erection inside her. She cried out softly and then begged for more of him. Aziz bowed over her, kissing her back as he buried his length inside her. His thrusts were long and leisurely, filling her deliciously with every teasing stroke.
Keening for Aziz to take her harder, Laine pushed back against Aziz and gripped the drape. He reached around her, taking her womanhood in hand once more and fondling her in time with his thrusts.
She came, sweating and gasping, to the clever ministrations of his fingers. She shuddered and tensed, and then went limp for a moment when he pulled out and spilled himself over the drape on the floor.
Laine laughed and leaned back against Aziz. He kissed her cheek and found a clean spot on the floor for them to lie back sated.
“My beautiful tiger,” Aziz teased. “So frisky.”
“More and more every day.” She sighed into his chest.
Aziz combed her hair back with his fingers, then frowned a little and tilted his head. Laine looked up curiously and then covered her forehead and the scar there with her hand. Truthfully, she’d entirely forgotten about it for most of her time here. Why did he have to get interested in it again now?
“Stop,” she whispered.
“Tell me what happened,” Aziz said gently. “I do not mind it, of course. I just wonder.”
Laine looked away.
“How could it hurt to share this secret now?” Aziz kissed over her forehead. “After all we have shared? Is it even a risk, at this point?”
Laine frowned thoughtfully, trying to decide what she should say to him, but then her eyes began to sting. This was still too hard. She should have told him that night in the rose garden or at the tree; it would have come so much more naturally.
“You talk an amazing game, but you know, I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen you take a risk,” Laine teased, twirling her fingers over his chest hair.
“You have to be kidding! You’re the one who plays it safe, cowing to your boss, staying in every night when you could be exploring what they call the City that Never Sleeps.”
“I came across an ocean and two continents to decorate your home! I put my job on the line!” Laine pushed her hair back. “Do you know how many apartments get robbed while people are out of town for a month?”
Aziz shrugged. “Okay. I suppose you can take a risk or two. But I’m the one who got you here.”
“Was it really that much of a risk for you? You’d already met me when you made your offer and done all this research on me and my work.” Laine propped herself up on her elbows. “Really, what did you have to lose? That I might say no, and you’d have to what? Get another decorator? Pay more to get me to come?”
“I suppose…”
“And when I think of it,” she said, “you had a bodyguard at our big fountain moment. You have all of this money and power. I don’t think you could possibly get in real trouble if you tried.”
Aziz grumbled and sat up, resting his forearms on his knees.
“I’m done with people telling me that I’m not living my life right. It’s your turn to take a risk.” Laine smiled.
“My turn? So this is a game? We are playing?”
“I don’t care what it is. Invest in an American manufacturer. Give Amin a pop the next time he mouths off. Date a woman you love for once. Get a cat.”
Aziz side-eyed her, rose, and crossed his arms as he stared at the Tree of Life. Laine looked up at him, admiring the view from her position on the floor, despite their argument. Then he plucked up his clothes and tossed her blouse at her dismissively before heading for the door.
“The room looks good. Keep up the good work.”
Chapter Twelve
Laine felt as though she had been struck. Pulling her clothing back on quickly, she scolded herself for trying to push a playboy like Aziz into taking things other than business seriously. He lived life for the moment, and he had done so for much longer than she’d even known him. Of course a nudge from her would do no good.