The Soldier in Room 286 Read online

  ***

  The chauffeured car ride back to the hotel was thick with sexual tension. Nat was still jittery after Salim had pulled her close as soon as they were in the back and he’d said, ‘The privacy window stays down. If it goes up then I won’t be able to stop myself from taking you, here and now. Unless you want that.’

  Nat had looked at him in the gloom in the back of the car and had wanted nothing more than to say yes and have him pull her onto his lap, so this unbearable ache might be assuaged.

  But the strength and depth of her desire scared her. So she’d shaken her head. And now Salim was gripping her hand and looking forward, his jaw tight, every torturous second that passed making her regret her decision. Making her wish she was brave enough to straddle him, take him inside her.

  But then the gleaming golden lights of the hotel came into view and Nat almost let out a sob of relief. When the car pulled up, Salim was out of the door before the driver could get out, and he reached in for Nat, practically lifting her out.

  She could feel the urgency between them and it was like a giddy rush. She felt wild, young, carefree, for the first time in her life. She’d never been aware of how weighted down she felt before.

  The lobby’s grand hushed opulence went over Nat’s head, Salim’s hand tight on hers. She almost had to run to keep up with his long-legged stride. They were at the lift and she was breathless. She couldn’t look at Salim though, too afraid he’d see her desperation.

  And then the lift doors opened and they stood back to let a tall distinguished grey-haired gentleman out. He stopped when he saw Salim and exclaimed, taking his free hand and pumping it enthusiastically. Frustration gnawed at Nat as she took in the conversation, Salim’s tight smile.

  Salim drew her into his side and looked down for a second. She could see the frustration mirrored in his dark eyes and almost felt like giggling.

  ‘Natalja, this is Gene Chatsfield, owner of the Chatsfield empire, and my friend Antonio’s father.’

  The older man turned to Nat. She could appreciate that he was an Alpha male past his prime but still very much in control. His gaze was shrewd and had assessed her in an instant.

  He bowed towards her briefly, ‘I trust your photo shoot went well Miss Jordan?’

  Nat was taken aback that he knew of it. ‘Yes, of course, everyone was very helpful, thank you.’

  He straightened up. ‘Your father was a great man, he stayed here many times over the years.’

  ‘Yes,’ Nat said huskily, ‘I knew that.’

  Salim’s hand tightened on hers as if to comfort her and she clung to him like a rock. The past and present, it was all meshing and colliding in this place. Salim was bidding Chatsfield good-night and finally they were free to step into the lift.

  Once the doors closed and Salim had pressed the button, presumably to his floor, he turned to her and cupped her jaw with a hand. He looked at her and she saw concern in his eyes. ‘Ok?’

  She knew that he meant the reference to her father just now. And it touched her. She nodded her head, any tendrils of emotion being drowned in the waves of heat emanating from Salim in the small space.

  He didn’t pull her closer, didn’t try to kiss her again. Just looked at her as if he could see all the way to the very depths of her being. It was more profound than if he’d touched her physically, even though every part of her body ached for him to do that.

  The lift pinged and the doors slid open silently. Salim led her out and down a luxuriously carpeted hall. Nat could see that it was far more opulent than her floor. Salim opened ornate doors and walked inside, flicking a light switch.

  Nat followed him into the palatial suite which she could see took in a stunning view of London. She was used to some of the most jaw-dropping locations in the world thanks to her job and this was up there with them. ‘What is this suite?’

  Salim was slipping off his jacket, dark eyes taking in her reaction. ‘It’s the Princess Royal suite, Antonio’s little idea of a joke.’

  Nat said dryly, ‘Pretty impressive joke.’

  But she could see what he meant now as he flicked on some more low lights. The furnishings definitely ran to a more…feminine bent. But perversely, it only highlighted the intense masculinity of the man who was now prowling towards her and looking so intense that she shivered with anticipation.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Nat half expected him to sweep her up and carry her straight to the bedroom because he looked so feral, but Salim stopped before her and put out his hand. When Nat looked down and put her hand in his, she realised that she was shaking.

  ‘I want to get to know you better.’

  Nat looked at Salim, her hand in his. Not what she’d expected to hear. She almost felt disappointed, and then he said with a wicked grin, ‘And I don’t mean by talking.’

  His shirt was open at the neck and he leant down and took Nat’s bag out of her hands, throwing it onto a chair. Then he led her over to a couch and sat down, pulling her onto his lap.

  A shaky breath left her chest. He felt so firm underneath her, unyielding, hard. He looked at her for a long moment and then lifted a hand to push her hair off her shoulder, pressing a kiss to her bared neck. Tingles chased over her skin, causing goosebumps.

  She felt the arm of the couch against her back and sagged against it a little. Her bottom rested in the cradle of Salim’s lap and she could feel his erection under her flesh. He pulled back and cradled her head with a big hand, his other hand coming to rest on her thighs.

  Anticipation tightened. He moved his hand down her thighs and legs, smoothing over bare skin, until he got to her feet and slipped her shoes off each foot. They fell with a muted thud to the carpet.

  This burningly intense yet lazy seduction wasn’t what Nat had expected. It was as if Salim wanted to savour every tiny moment. And it made her melt even more.

  He angled her head towards him, his other hand coming back up her legs, so slowly she had to bite her lip. He went under the material of her dress, and rested his hand on her upper thighs, and then he pulled her head towards him and he slanted his mouth over hers, and all Nat could feel was heat.

  She wound her arms around his neck, hands shaping his skull, feeling the short silky strands of his hair. The kiss was dark, decadent, slow and sexy. Breaths mingling and coming harsher as it went deeper and deeper.

  Without even realising it, Nat was angling her body into Salim, pressing her buttocks against him, wriggling ever so slightly to assuage the burning ache between her legs, which got worse when she felt him so hard underneath her.

  His hand moved around, under her thighs, gathering her into him and then suddenly he stopped and Nat stopped too. She pulled away, breathing harshly, dizzy. His hand was resting right over the puckered skin of her scar.

  His eyes were burning. ‘Where you got shot?’

  She nodded, mouth dry, because he looked so fierce all of a sudden.

  ‘Merde.’ The curse was harsh in the quiet room. In direct contrast to how gentle his fingers were, on her scar. Nat felt shaky. ‘It’s ok, I’m ok now. It was a long time ago.’

  Salim shook his head and rested his forehead against hers for a moment. ‘That’s why I got out…too much pain and horror. It was eating away at my soul.’

  A well of emotion made Nat bring her hand around to touch his jaw. She just said softly, ‘I know.’

  And then because she couldn’t resist, she pressed her mouth to his again and let their desire burn everything away but here and now. When Nat realised that Salim had pushed aside her dress and pulled down the lace cup of her bra, he was already cupping the flesh of her breast, her nipple a sharp point against his dark skin.

  She lay back, panting, her bottom moving restlessly on his lap, against his hard arousal. He looked at her and smiled wickedly before lowering his head to her breast, its plump flesh being offered to him like some sort of succulent invitation.

  He flicked his tongue against her and she groaned, watching with g
reedy eyes as his teeth nipped gently at the turgid flesh, before soothing with his tongue. His dark hair and face against the paleness of her skin was erotic in the extreme.

  When he finally closed his mouth around her nipple and drew it into his mouth, her head fell back against the couch, she arched against him in a silent plea and her hands wound into his hair, holding his head.

  He stopped cupping her flesh to undo her dress, tugging it open completely, and Nat urged him on, rolling her hips now, hearing his low growl of approval against her breast.

  When his hand moved down over her belly and cupped her burning mound, she went still. Her legs fell open and he smiled against her, lifting his head to watch the reaction on her face when he explored with long fingers, pushing aside the flimsy barrier of her pants to slide one finger along the wet seam of her body.

  Nat felt so hot she was burning up. Sweat broke out all over her body and she bit her lip so hard she tasted blood. Salim was a sorcerer, his finger lazily exploring but never quite - and then he thrust inside her, deep into the channel of her body, which was already clamping in anticipation of his body.

  ‘Salim,’ Nat shuddered, ‘I can’t…please…’

  One finger became two, and her body arched at the exquisite intrusion.

  ‘Not enough?’ Salim’s voice was rough, the only giveaway that he wasn’t half as cool as he let on. That, and the flare of colour on his cheeks and his steel hard erection under her bottom.

  Nat moved against him now, sinuously, feeling his penis slide against the cheeks of her bottom through their clothing.

  ‘Damn,’ he said hoarsely, his control finally fraying, just as Nat feared she might tumble over the edge completely with the movement of his hand and fingers between her legs. No man had made her feel this crazed, this wanton.

  Salim took his hand away from Nat’s body and the momentary relief was short because he maneuvered them so that her knees were either side of his hips. Her eyes widened when she could feel his thick length right there.

  Lust bloomed to think that he might just free himself and-

  ‘Much as I’d like to do what your eyes are suggesting I think we can make it to a bed, hm?’

  Nat flushed scarlet and glared at him. Salim chuckled. ‘N’inquiete pas trésor, as much as I want you hard and fast right now, I want you on a soft surface and bared to me completely.’

  Hard and fast sounded great. Nat trembled. She already felt bared completely and they’d been doing little more than heavy petting. What would it be like when their bodies joined? The thought made her brain fuse.

  Displaying awesome strength, Salim stood up from the couch, taking her with him, wrapping her legs around his waist. As if he couldn’t help himself he kissed her and Nat’s slick body moved against him like a hungry little kitten.

  He groaned and pulled away, his accent was thick. ‘Damn you, sorciére. I won’t take you here on the floor.’

  And then he was walking, striding through the suite and into a darkened bedroom, where he lowered her to the bed. The sheets were cool against Nat’s feverish skin, and it only got more feverish when she watched Salim step back, kick off his shoes and start to undo his shirt, never taking his eyes off her.

  Nat wasn’t even concerned that her dress was gaping open and that one breast was bared. She was too meserised by the stunning power and beauty of the body being revealed to her. Every muscle was clearly delineated, honed, but not pretty. It was as if he was carved out of rock.

  The shirt dropped to the floor, his hands came to his trousers and Nat gulped. The belt slid free, and when Nat saw the slightest tremor in his hand as he lowered his zip, she looked up.

  Salim’s hand stopped. ‘Viens ici.’

  Nat understood French. She wondered if he even knew he was speaking it? She stood up, wobbly, and went towards him.

  He said, ‘Prends le.’

  She looked down to see the zip half undone, and a large bulge. Mouth dry, she reached out and took it, her knuckles brushing against the hot thrust of his arousal. His breath hissed. As she pulled the zip down, over that bulge, Salim’s hand cupped her bare breast, a thumb rubbing back and forth over her sensitised nipple.

  Nat’s legs amost gave way. She bit the inside of her cheek to stop calling out. The zip was down and Salim took his hand off her breast to push his trousers down, kicking them off impatiently. Now he wore only his underwear, which did little to hide how big or aroused he was.

  ‘Je veux-‘ he stopped and cursed, ‘I want to see you.’

  Nat looked up, and emboldened by the heat in his gaze, she let her dress fall down over her arms and to the floor. So now she stood in just her bra and panties. Salim’s gaze devoured her.

  ‘So beautiful.’

  Nat ducked her head. Embarrassed. Salim tipped up her chin and one brow was arched. ‘What? You don’t know how beautiful you are? You are a woman, Natalja, who has lived and loved.’ He shook his head, ‘You’ve seen things…been braver than most people ever are.’

  Nat felt meserised. Cocooned in this spiraling hot tension between them. She shook her head and whispered, ‘I wasn’t brave…it was a form of escape too, not dealing with things. And I’ve loved, yes, but not a man, a lover…’

  Not someone like you, she just stopped herself from saying, realising in that moment that she’d always avoided that ultimate sacrifice of her heart for fear that she would be left, abandoned again. And suddenly, she realised that already this man had the power to hurt her.

  Before that revelation could suck her under completely, Nat said huskily, ‘Kiss me Salim.’

  ‘With pleasure,’ he growled softly before drawing her into him and lowering his head to hers. The flimsy barriers of their clothes almost melted off their bodies. Nat was only aware her bra was gone because Salim was cupping both breasts as they kissed, fingers pinching her nipples to stinging points.

  She was arched into him, tongues tangling, hands under his briefs, kneading the smooth taut muscles of his backside, the thrust of his arousal against her soft belly. She pushed his briefs down and felt that stiff column of flesh against her, skin to skin.

  Drawing back, she looked down and a wave of heat pulsed through her to see him revealed. He was magnificent. A bead of moisture anointed the head and Nat touched it with her thumb, before looking up at Salim and bringing her thumb to her mouth and tasting his essence.

  Salim looked tortured. ‘Dieu, I want you. Now.’

  Nat felt heady with her power in that moment. That this huge awe inspiring man should be so hot for her. Salim took her hand and led her to the bed, drawing her down with him.

  There were no barriers between them now, and Nat tangled her limbs with his, arms wrapped tight around him. His hands seemed to be everywhere, cupping and squeezing her bottom, covering her breast and reaching down to between her legs, finding that slick spot and making her moan and squirm as he circled and explored, taking her higher and higher.

  In the haze of heat she barely heard the sound of a foil wrapper, or noticed that he left her for a second to put on protection. She was incoherent with need, a fine mist of perspiration covering her entire body.

  He was behind her, gathering her into him, pulling one leg over his thigh, his arm holding her against him, tight. And then he was there, thrusting up and into her, so deep that she cried out.

  He moved slowly then, giving her time to adjust, but there was no discomfort, only a feeling of intense union and completion, unlike anything she’d ever experienced. She turned her head to find Salim’s mouth already searching for her, his hand cupping her face, holding her close, while his body moved in and out of hers with relentless precision.

  Nat was lost, and yet profoundly rooted, mouth clinging to Salim’s, breaths feverish as their tongues mimicked the movement of their bodies. And then he moved his hand down, over her breasts and belly, to between her legs, fingers finding the centre of all her nerve endings, so close to where he was thrusting faster now, deeper.

&nbs
p; He took his mouth from hers. Nat opened her eyes and saw only him. ‘Viens avec moi, Natalja.’

  Come with me.

  And as if her body had no choice but to respond, she did. In a twisting breaking free of that tight band of tension. She stopped breathing as her body soared so high she feared she might never come back. And then she did, crashing back to earth in a million shattered but glorious pieces, her body clamping tightly around Salim’s as he breathed out the shuddering aftermath of his own release.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  When Salim woke he was aware of a sense of panic even as his hand went out and found the bed beside him empty. The fact that this was a wholly new sensation after sleeping with a lover was not welcome.

  He opened his eyes. She was gone. Not there. The panic rose higher. Merde. He felt weakened by the incredible sex, unable to gather his strength to move for a second.

  He closed his eyes as a memory assailed him - the tight sheath of Nat’s body clamping around his, drawing the longest most intense climax he’d ever experienced out of him.

  They’d lain there for a long moment, stunned by the depth of their release. And then Salim had extricated himself and dealt with the protection. When he’d come back, Nat had been curled up on her side, asleep, and he’d wrapped himself around her as if it was the most normal thing in the world. When it was anything but.

  Cursing again, he got up, that panic intensifying. He prowled into the living area and his heart stopped and started again when he saw the terrace doors open to the balcony outside and a slim robed figure looking out over the view as the first pink light of dawn broke over London.

  Not liking the sense of relief that gripped him, Salim went over and knew she heard him when he saw her tense minutely. He came up behind her and put his hands on the stone balcony on top of hers. Something deep in his soul was soothed, and instantly Salim told himself that that was ridiculous, it was just sex. Incredible sex.