Chapter 11

HUXLEY

I clear my throat and gently pull down her dress, praying that no one is looking at us.

“Let’s get your seatbelt on,” I tell her.

I try to keep my hands off of her as much as possible, letting her sit up by herself and climb off my lap.

“Thanks for catching me,” she says, giggling again.

Once she is sitting properly in the seat, I reach over her and take the seatbelt. I pull it around her gorgeous body, feeling better when I hear it lock into place.

I lean over her again and press the button to raise the tinted window, cutting off any more ideas about leaning out of a moving vehicle.

As I pull back, she grabs my arm. I go rigid against her, our faces only inches apart.

“Thanks, Griff,” she whispers.

“Anytime,” I mutter.

I sit back and rub my hand down my face, wondering if this night can get any worse.

The music is playing so loud that I can’t think properly. Zainab isn’t bothered; she wiggles and dances in the seat next to me, singing along with her sweet voice.

“We’re here!” Faisal shouts.

The limo stops and the doors open. Zainab struggles but cannot get her seatbelt undone.

She stops trying and turns to me, pouting prettily.

“Griff? Can you help, please?”

I’m reluctant to lean across her again; she smells so good, and that brings ideas that I don’t think are right for me to think.

“Sure.”

I take a breath so that I don’t inhale her perfume, lean in, and unbuckle her seatbelt.

“Wait for me to get out first. I’ll help you,” I tell her, not wanting to risk her climbing out of the limo in those heels.

I walk around the trunk to the other side, but the door swings open before I can reach for it. Zainab’s long, brown legs stick out first.

I help her out as she stumbles and giggles. She presses her body against mine; her hands slide under my jacket and brush my shirt.

My heart beats faster at the contact. I become so aware of her hands—their warmth, the softness of her skin. It makes my cock twitch in my trousers.

I want to touch her too, find out if she’s this soft everywhere.

I hate the way I flinch when Faisal calls her to come inside.

“Come on, Zee,” I murmur quietly.

I place my hand on her lower back and immediately regret it when I touch her bare skin.

~Why is her dress backless?~

“I feel funny, Griff,” she mumbles as we head inside.

The music is thumping so loudly that it gives me an instant headache. I automatically walk closer to Zainab, wanting to stay near so that I can protect her.

“You’ve drunk a lot. I can take you home if you want.”

She presses her lips together and then shakes her head.

“No, I’ll stay. Thanks, Griff.”

I shrug off her answer, but inside I’m irritated. I want her to look after herself, and drinking into this state is not a good idea.

Zainab reaches her brother and his crew. I hang back, watching them all at the bar.

A man comes rushing over to the group, someone I don’t recognize. I glance at the two other bodyguards, but neither of them react, telling me that this man is someone on the approved list.

I walk over to the closest one, Clint.

“Who’s that?”

“Faisal’s friend, Ralf.”

There are many people in the club tonight. The room is crowded, the bar swamped with people.

I step back, making sure that everyone is still in my sight as I find a position against the wall and plant myself there.

Once everyone has a drink, Faisal convinces them to go to the main area where people are dancing.

I’m pleased to see that Zainab is barely touching the drink in her hand.

The approval disappears fast when Ralf puts his arms around her and ushers her onto the dance floor.

I watch her hips sway. The rhythm in her body, the seductive rotation of her hips—it’s like she’s dancing to hypnotize.

I’m grateful that my job is to keep my eyes on her because I can’t look away. But I also feel a pang of envy I’m not comfortable with.

I spent my whole childhood jealous of others—jealous of their families, their money, their upbringings. When I joined the army, I focused on my own path, not wasting my time by comparing myself to others.

I can’t remember the last time I was jealous of anyone for anything.

But now, I feel envious of Ralf.

I’m jealous that he gets to feel Zainab’s touch without guilt. He has Faisal’s approval; he has Zainab’s consent. She wants to be in his arms. She is enjoying dancing with him.

I find myself standing at the sidelines, wishing I could touch her with such abandon.

I would run my hands over her body, stealing touches that would leave her breathless. I’d keep my hands light, brushing them over her so slowly that it would drive her mad with desire.

I’d do it until she begged me to touch her properly. To grip her hips and squeeze her waist, to press her body to mine and let her feel how much of an effect she has on me.

It’s a painful fantasy.

At once, Zainab looks over in my direction. Our eyes lock.

She gives me a hazy smile, her mouth lopsided as she hangs off Ralf’s neck.

She is beautiful.

Yet that word is not enough to describe how entirely perfect Zee is.

The song changes, and Zainab pulls a face and pouts. I watch her pull her hands back from Ralf and shake her head.

She hugs her brother and his friends and then heads over to me, a tired smile on her face.

“I want to go home now, Griff.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

I offer my arm to her. She takes it gratefully, and I lead her out of the club. She stumbles a few times, but we manage to get outside.

“Faisal said to take the limo; they’re not leaving yet.”

I help her into the back of the limo, firmly tell her to put on her seatbelt, and go to the driver’s cab to make sure he knows where to go.

Once he has agreed to take us back to the SUV, I get into the back with Zainab.

“I put on my seatbelt,” she says proudly, grinning at me.

My chest tightens with emotion. She is adorable when she is drunk. Giggly and clumsy, but adorable.

“Well done.”

“Are we going back home?”

“We’re going to the parking garage; then I’ll drive us home.”

She smiles and nods happily. I watch her lean her head back and close her eyes.

“Good, ’cause I’m sleepy.”

“Sleep if you want.”

The limo ride is silent as she dozes. I rub my hand over my jaw, keeping my eyes on the city outside.

There’s some traffic, but we make it to the parking garage. I thank the driver and then go to Zainab’s door to help her out. She blinks up at me, sleepy and adorable.

I help her out of the limo and have to put my arm around her slim waist to keep her upright as she wobbles in her dangerous heels.

With the SUV unlocked, I help her into the car and then buckle her in. She huffs and takes off her heels. She wiggles her painted toes and sighs in relief.

When I get into the driver’s seat, I take a bottle of water out of the console and hand it to her.

“Small sips, Zee.”

“Yes, Griff,” she replies sweetly and opens the bottle.

“How are you feeling?” I ask.

“Tired and dizzy,” she mumbles. “I drank too much.”

“It’s before four a.m. You did well.”

“Thanks,” she says and then laughs. “I had fun. Ralf always dances with me.”

“I saw,” I reply tightly.

“He was sad that his boyfriend couldn’t come out tonight, but I’m glad because it meant he could dance with me. He always ditches me for Eric.”

“Boyfriend?” I repeat, taken aback.

“Yeah, Ralf’s gay,” she says and then glances at me. “Didn’t you realize? That’s the only reason Faisal would let him dance with me. I can’t dance with the others.”

“Oh.”

~That’s the best I can come up with.~

It doesn’t take long to drive back to her building. Zainab is quiet, only drinking her water and looking out of the window.

I hate how happy I am about the news that Ralf is gay.

“We’re home, Zee.”

She opens her eyes and yawns. I take the water bottle from her and put it in my pocket.

When I get round to her side, I notice that her shoes are still on the floor.

“You need to put your shoes on, Zee.”

“I don’t want to.” She pouts up at me. “Don’t make me, Griff. They hurt. It’s fine; I can walk barefoot.”

Before I can stop her, she gets out of the car and wiggles her toes on the concrete. I frown but shut the door for her.

We start walking toward the lift. She steps on something sharp and winces.

“Ow!”

I quickly put my arm around her waist and hold her up.

“You okay?”

“My foot.”

“Here.”

Without asking, I sweep her up into my arms. She gasps, and my heart stutters at the sound.

I can’t believe that I’ve just done this. Our faces are so close; I can feel her breath on my neck. She’s breathing fast, and when I make the mistake of looking at her, her pupils are dilated.

She wants me just as much as I want her.

I press my lips together and don’t say anything as I carry her the rest of the way. I let myself enjoy having her in my arms, even if it’s temporary.

Once we’re safe in her apartment, I set her back down. She straightens her dress and smiles shyly at me.

“Thanks, Griff.”

“Anytime. You good now? Want me to get you some water?”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll get a glass,” she says and takes the bottle off me. “Thank you again.”

I watch her go off toward her bedroom, and I feel disappointed that she doesn’t need me anymore.

“Night, Zee.”

She gives me a heartwarming grin over her shoulder.

“Night, Griff!”