Page 10 of Loving the Lion

CHAPTER FOUR

SALLY REALIZED THAT she could quickly get used to the decadence of having everything at one’s deposal. After Daniel left, she allowed herself to explore her opulent surroundings, knowing she would never be in such a place ever again. She stood for several long moments in the front of the glass, amazed that it was not very cold to her touch despite the snow storm that blew outside. Next, she went into the kitchen, trailing her hand along the dark granite countertop, thinking this kitchen—in a hotel room of all places—could easily pass for her dream kitchen.

Oh, what it must be like to be rich, she thought. Or, just able to pay your bills on time and still have some money left over at the end of the mouth.

Deciding there was no way in hell she would ever be able to repay Bachar what this room cost, she decided to take advance of his generosity and opened the refrigerator, in need of something to drink. She was not disappointed. The inside of the stainless steel appliance was stocked with every imaginable beverage known to man, plus a large selection of wines that would put a five-star restaurant to shame.

Knowing it would not be in her best interest to drink any alcohol, she took out a bottle of orange juice, ignoring the rumblings of her stomach and the array of cheeses and fruits inside. If Bachar did not return for dinner, she promised herself she’d have that for her meal. The excitement of being in such surroundings faded when she thought of Bachar and Tarek driving in such weather to find her brother.

A brother who had brought this on himself. But, that couldn’t stop her from thinking of the harsh conditions he might very well find himself in on such a night. Her brother really was a good person, despite the worry and trauma he’d put her through by running away. It wasn’t his fault he’d suddenly found himself helpless against a heritage that he’d known nothing about. She still cringed when she remembered the first time he’d changed. It had been horrific for her to watch and she could only imagine the pain he had suffered.

Finishing her drink, she realized she needed to go to the bathroom. Finding the door down the hall from the bedroom, she was glad to see that its walls were solid and not made of glass. It didn’t take her long to do what needed to be done, and she stood before the vanity with a large earthen bowl serving as the sink and a waterfall faucet. The entire room was filled with green plants and it felt as if she’d stepped into a jungle.

She bit her lip, wondering if she dared to take advantage of the accommodations. She felt dusty and drab from her long hours of travel. Seeing the enormous bathtub, she decided to go for it. Humming, she bent over and turned on the water. There was no need to stand there and adjust the hot and cold. Instead, she set a digital control. As the tub filled, she went back into the living space and grabbed her bag. She hadn’t packed much, but she did have a clean change of clothing—and underwear, thank the heavens above. She’d take a bath, then lay down on one of the oversized couches and wait for Bachar.

This way, she convinced herself, she’d be ready to take on whatever needed to be done once he returned. Using one of the numerous elastic bands she kept in the pocket of her jeans, she bunched her hair on top of her hair in a loose bun. Next, she took out the one clean shirt and pair of panties she’d brought with her, laying them on the bench next to the tub. After she’d stripped, she did the same with her dirty clothes before slipping beneath the warm, soothing water. It was heated to the perfect temperature, and it felt as though something had mixed with the water as it had filled the tub. The water slid silky smooth against her body, touching her like a lover’s hand. Not that she’d had many lovers. She’d been responsible for her brother for such a long time. She was soon leaning back and simply being, feeling the weight of her responsibilities slip from her shoulders. She didn’t know how long she lay there, the tub automatically filling with more hot water as it cooled.

“I have never seen a more beautiful sight.” Sally let out a slight scream at the deep masculine voice sounded beside her. She’d been so lost in the sensation of being pampered that she hadn’t heard anyone approach. Hadn’t heard him approach.

At six foot four, Bachar seemed to fill the entire space of the bathroom. For a moment she forgot everything. Her life in Maine, her missing brother. She forgot everything but the lust flaring to life in the depths of his eyes. Then, she remembered she was in a tub full of crystal clear water with nothing between her curvy body and his intense gaze. He stood there motionless for a moment before taking another step forward. She hurriedly looked for something to cover herself. The bath sheet was out of reach, and the soft sponge on the ledge of the tub was hardly adequate. With no other option open to her, Sally wrapped her arms around her breasts and curled her knees up, hiding her nudity as best she could behind her folded legs and arms. There was no way to hide the valleys and curves of the rest of her body, though. She felt flush with embarrassment.

“Please leave,” she asked, her voice cracking.

He smiled at her, and suddenly she was reminded sharply of the expression of the cat who got the cream. “Do you not wish to know what I learned tonight about your brother?”

Sally barely managed to resist the instinctive move to rise in the water and go towards him, the masculine pull was so great. “Of course, I do.”

“Good, then I will tell you.” Instead of telling her and leaving, or simply leaving and waiting until she was through with her bath, he stepped closer. Clearly, he was so unfazed by her nudity that having a conversation with her in a tub would not be an issue.

But, her imagination told, his eyes were devouring her, raking over her curves like a hungry man. Or cat. He wasn’t really doing it…not to her. She wasn’t his type. Not drop-dead gorgeous and Barbie doll thin. And certainly not the sexual sophisticate that he no doubt took to his bed every night. What would someone of his sexual appetite want with a plain little nobody who knew next to nothing about sex?

Except, of course, what her fertile imagination conjured up.

He took another step forward and reached behind his neck and grabbed his shirt, pulling it over his head. It was one of the sexiest moves she’d ever seen a man make, freezing her in place. When his hands reached for the button of his jeans, she shook herself out of her stupor and realized he was stripping. “Wait! What are you doing?”

Bachar gave her another killer smile and lowered the zipper of his jeans. “I am cold from the long, grueling search for your brother. I thought to warm myself.” On any other man, his humble, innocent look and words would have been believable. But not on Bachar. He was too cunning, too much the wild and dangerous animal.

“Not here, you’re not.” Sally was relieved to hear her voice had returned to the stern tone she used on her students.

“But this is my bath.” He cocked his head to the side, a curious—and still innocent—look on his handsome features.

“That I’m using.”

“I do not mind sharing.” His lips curved into a sexy grin and his hands pushed the top of his jeans down revealing a patch of curly, dark hair. For a distracted moment, she wondered why he didn’t shave. She’d heard that most modern men manscaped. Maybe it was a shifter thing. She didn’t shave—well not completely. And not that she had much need to. It had been quite some time since a man had been in her bed.

As her mind wandered, his jeans fell lower, exposing the ridge of muscle on both sides of his body that made a mouthwatering arrow formation in the center of his body. “No, no, stop that,” she protested hurriedly, trying to rise in the water while keeping her body covered.

He stopped undressing, and she let out a sigh of relief. Until one dark brow rose and he spoke. “Need I remind you this is my room, Miss Wilder? My room, my hotel, my territory. You are a guest.”

“I need no reminding, but, I will be treated with respect.”

Bachar had to work at hiding the grin that her indignation caused. She was…perfect. A wild, fiery mass of passion and beauty that would keep his lion satisfied for days.

He shook his head. If only it could be. But he had too many responsibilities, too many enemies to even consider taking this woman as a mate.

Now to his bed was another matter. He turned and started walking away. “Very well, I will wait until you are through with your bath before telling you what I discovered tonight.”

For a moment Sally wanted to call him back, eager to hear news about her brother—and disappointed that he would not be joining her for a bath. But she couldn’t tell him that.