Zain turned his face into a blank slate and looked down at her as if he hadn’t heard her. “Say what?”
A slurred voice interrupted from behind. “Sophie was right. You really are hot. Isn’t that just tempting women to sin?”
Mila and Zain turned to see Father Ben trying to get Layne into his car, but Layne had other ideas, such as rubbing her hands down his arms.
“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned,” Layne tried to say seductively. “Eww. I’m sorry, I can’t do that. I just got a vision of my dad looking all serious-like when I say that. Do you know my dad? Ex-Special Forces. Scary glare going on. Do you know he’s the reason I haven’t had sex in seven months? He keeps scaring off my dates. I think he has my phone bugged.”
Mila hiccupped. Zain covered his laugh with a cough, and Ben calmly helped Layne into the car. “Tell me all about it,” he said kindly before shutting the door.
“He’s nice,” Mila said as Zain helped her cross the street.
“He is. He’s not what you'd expect. Everyone seems to just open up to him. And he seems to care about the people here.”
“You know what I care about?” Mila asked as they walked up the hill toward the bed and breakfast.
“Hmm?”
“The fact that you aren’t dating Abby,” Mila said with a hint of shyness to her voice.
Zain looked down at her as they walked. Mila rested her head on his shoulder but didn’t look up at him. Pride filled him along with something else that was currently making his jeans tight. “I’m not dating anyone. I’d never have kissed you if I was.”
He didn’t say anything more as they made their way to the bed and breakfast. Instead, he just enjoyed the feel of her against him. Lights were on in the windows, but it seemed as if they were the only two people in the world when they stopped on the front porch.
Mila finally looked up at him. Her gray eyes were shadowed in the darkness of the night, but Zain felt them on him. “If I hadn’t pulled away earlier, what would have happened?”
Zain tightened his grip on her hips and pulled her to his chest. He looked down at her and saw desire in her face mixed with nervousness. He raised his hand and ran it along her cheek. He moved his hand to her neck until his fingers curved along the back of her head and brought her lips close to his. “This,” he whispered against her lips. He moved slowly, giving her time to change her mind. But when his lips found hers, he hoped she wouldn’t.
Mila tasted of bourbon and chocolate as he slowly explored her lips and swept his tongue gently into her mouth. She sighed and moved her hands to cling to the front of his shirt as she leaned into him. Zain fought the urge to move faster. It was hard with all the little sounds of pleasure coming from Mila. But he took his time kissing her until she unconsciously rubbed her body against his. Now was the time to kick things up a bit. Zain reached down to cup her ass as she ground against his erection.
“Oh! I’m so sorry to interrupt,” a voice that didn’t sound sorry at all interjected as Mila jumped back in surprise.
“Good evening, Poppy,” Zain said dryly as he kept a hand on Mila’s hip. He wanted her to know he wasn’t embarrassed, and she shouldn’t be either.
Poppy just smiled broadly as she walked up the stairs to the front door. “Mila, remember the cars will be in front of the café in the morning to take you out to the farm. I hope you have a good first day. Carry on.” She winked before heading inside.
Mila shook her head and Zain knew their time together was over. “I’ll send a car for you in the morning. I heard Kale was a driver, and trust me, you don’t want to risk getting Abby’s younger brother as your driver. Come to think of it, Riley and Reagan’s younger twin brothers, Porter and Parker, are also drivers. I’m definitely sending a car for you.”
Mila laughed and Zain felt it in his heart. It was a magical sound that he wanted to hear more of. “Thank you, but I can’t. I need to appear invisible to do my job. Arriving in Prince Zain’s car is not invisible and would probably get me in trouble with the chancellor.”
“Prince Zain? Do you still think of me like that?” Zain asked, trying to mask his disappointment.
Mila shook her head. “No. I stopped thinking of you and your mother as royalty about thirty seconds after meeting you both. It’s funny, really. I grew up rather wild—a diplomat’s kid in foreign countries and all that. Then something happened in college, and I seemed to turn into my mother. Prim, proper, and obedient. All of those things are what I needed to succeed at my job. If the chancellor discovered we’ve kissed, he would probably have me replaced since he wouldn’t know if he could trust me to best represent his interests. Something about that is rather exciting, don’t you think? Because I don’t plan on not kissing you again,” Mila winked.
Zain liked this more outspoken side of her. “You’re not going to get any complaints from me. So, we’ll be on a mission to appear proper when around anyone else and . . .”
“Wild when we’re not,” she said with a wicked grin on her face. “But that also means we need to play it safe.” Mila looked up at the bed and breakfast. “No more kissing where everyone can see us.”
“It’ll be tough, but I’ll restrain myself. After all, there’s always the secret room I showed you.” Zain felt a level of excitement he had never felt before. He knew he was attracted to her, but most women liked to be seen with him. They would post pictures of them all over the place, even when Zain hadn’t known there was a camera around. And they certainly made sure to engage in PDA. It was exciting to know she wanted him for him, not for publicity. The added level of not being caught, well, he was starting to understand the panties being left all over town.
Mila blushed and her breathing quickened. She liked the idea, too. “You’re not good for my prim and proper side. I already feel wilder, and don’t tell my mother, but I like it.” Mila stepped forward and ran her hand down his chest and over his abs.
“Mila.” Zain groaned as he tried to keep his hands off of her. The front door to the bed and breakfast was partially open and he didn’t want another staff member seeing them.
Mila glanced inside and then pulled him down for a searing kiss of tongue, lips, and hands. Then she was gone. Zain opened his eyes. “Sweet dreams.” Mila smirked as she skipped inside.
Zain took a deep breath and ran a hand over his short hair. His shirt was partially un-tucked and his zipper felt slightly opened. With a goofy grin on his face, he walked back to the café to pick up his car and head home. As much as he wanted to think only of Mila, he had a summit to run and Rahmi’s economy to stabilize.
The café’s lights were off as he started his car and put it into drive. Zain let his mind drift to Mila as he sped home. He grew up on these country roads and could drive them on autopilot. The rolling hills were highlighted by moonlight, and cows munched on bluegrass.
Thinking of what he would do to Mila in the secret room was Zain’s mistake. He didn’t see the person dressed in black flinging the tire spikes across the road until it was too late.
CHAPTER TEN
Mila hummed to herself as she undressed. Her body felt on fire. Every place Zain’s hands had touched felt energized. She couldn’t settle down as she tried to get ready for bed. Mila opened the window in the bathroom and went to brush her teeth. Was this really happening? Being kissed by Zain Ali Rahman was something dreams were made of. Not because he was a prince, but because he saw her.