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  “The sheikh and his wife will be hosting a reception for you at four o’clock, followed by dinner at six. Tomorrow you’ll meet with the project team in the morning to discuss what the family is wanting. And in the afternoon, we have a real estate agent who has been assigned to show you available properties for your stay, should you be awarded the contract. Then we hope that you’ll take advantage of our beautiful city on Thursday at your leisure.”

  “Which wife?” Darryl inquired.

  Camryn tossed him a wide-eyed look as Sami answered.

  “His senior wife, Princess Maryam. She tends to keep more of a low profile than his junior wife, Princess Latifa, but this project is very dear to her. The compound will be built on the land her father included in her dowry. His junior wife will join you for dinner.”

  Nodding her appreciation, Camryn promised to be ready when Sami returned to escort them to the sheikh’s private home. Behind closed doors, she and Darryl discussed the absurdity of their surroundings, everything larger, decadent and more abundant than anything they had ever experienced.

  “Mason warned me, but this is more than I could have ever anticipated,” Darryl said.

  “It’s extravagant to the nth degree,” Camryn added. She glanced down to the watch on her wrist. “Why don’t we get a shower and a quick nap before we have to be ready.”

  Darryl laughed. “You know you’re breaking the law,” he teased.

  “What?”

  “We’re not legally married, so we can’t be making love and shouldn’t be spending the night together. It’s against the law here.”

  “We haven’t made love in Dubai yet. So I haven’t broken the law if I haven’t done anything.”

  Darryl eased his body against hers. “Oh, you’re about to do something. As soon as you get out of those clothes and get in that shower, you’re going to be doing something.”

  Camryn kissed him, cupping his rising erection in the palm of her hand.

  “Yep!” Darryl gasped. “You are about to break some serious laws!”

  Camryn laughed. “Mmm. Well, if you don’t tell, I won’t tell,” she said as she led the way to the oversize bathroom, dropping articles of her clothing like a trail of bread crumbs.

  “I’m not telling anyone anything!” Darryl said as he followed behind her, leaving his own trail of clothing from the living room to the marbled bathroom.

  The immense space was easily in a league of its own. Camryn imagined they could have fit a whole football team inside the large glass shower. As she stepped into the enclosure and turned on the spray of warm water, she marveled at the stone tiles that decorated the space.

  Lifting her face to the warm stream, she savored the sensation of water raining over her torso and down to her manicured toes. Darryl stepped in behind her, pressing his body easily against her, and the sensation of his hardness and body heat triggered a rush of tremors to ripple through her feminine spirit. She smiled and purred as she relaxed into the moment.

  Reaching for a bar of lavender-scented goat’s milk soap, Darryl lathered his hands, then trailed the suds over her shoulders and down the length of her arms. He soaped her back and buttocks, then reached around to lather her breasts and abdomen. When he slipped his fingers between her legs, Camryn parted them to make his exploration easier. Her legs were suddenly like rubber, every muscle quivering with pleasure as Darryl stroked and teased her gently. His fingertips moved lightly across the rising nub of her clitoris, tenderly parting the folds of her labia. She was trembling so much from the sheer pleasure of his touch that she had to press her palms against the shower wall to brace herself. Darryl’s hands felt incredible.

  He entered her from behind, suds lubricating his journey. Camryn felt herself open to him easily, his elongated member eagerly finding its way back home. Darryl pushed against the back of her neck as he pulled her hips back against his pelvis. The shift in position allowed him to plow deeper into her, slamming himself in and out of her body, his body slapping at her buttocks. The sensations were overwhelming, currents of energy pulsing through both of them.

  Camryn gasped as Darryl suddenly gripped her by the neck with one hand, pulling her back to his chest. His other hand was wrapped around her waist, his fingertips dancing just at the edge of her clit. She moaned loudly, calling his name over and over again, the prayerful mantra encouraging his ministrations. He stroked her, his cock swelling fuller and fuller as he felt his climax rising.

  Darryl suddenly felt as if his manhood was on fire as Camryn’s body pulsed heatedly around him. Her muscles gripped him hard, milking every ounce of energy out of his body. It became more than he could handle and he screamed as he slid into her one last time. The intensity of their orgasm had the room spinning in circles. Darryl clutched the shower bar, fighting not to collapse heavily against her. Her own body was spent as she shivered, her chest pressed tight to the shower wall. Together, they slowly slid to the shower floor, the water above still warm as it sprayed them down.

  “Damn!” Darryl exclaimed. “That was incredible,” he muttered softly as he rolled onto his behind, his legs stretched out.

  Camryn leaned her body against his, her own legs bent at the knees and spread open. She purred in agreement, a low hum rising out of her throat. “If we’re going to be arrested,” she teased, “it was definitely worth the risk.”

  Chapter 16

  Darryl wore a black silk suit, white shirt, and black-and-grey-striped tie. Being respectful of the culture, Camryn’s attire was stylish but conservative. She wore a simple black-and-white Carolina Herrera dress. The ankle-length black skirt was full and pleated. The blouse top was white and tailored, buttoned to the neck with long sleeves that were cuffed at her wrists. There was nothing conservative about the four-inch red-bottomed pumps that she wore. Darryl nodded his approval.

  “You look stunning,” he said. He leaned to press a kiss to her temple.

  “Thank you. You look quite dashing yourself.”

  When the phone rang announcing Sami’s arrival, Camryn took a deep breath, fighting to stall the ripples bubbling in the pit of her stomach.

  Darryl took her hand, kissing the back of her fingers. “I am very proud of you,” he said softly. “Knock ’em dead, baby! You can do this!”

  * * *

  Hours later Camryn lay wide awake reflecting on the night’s events. Before he’d dozed off, she and Darryl had talked through each and every detail. Darryl’s assessments had been important to her and she appreciated the advice he offered on how she should proceed.

  Meeting the constitutional monarch of Dubai was not without its challenges. Camryn had been concerned about being respectful of his Muslim culture while being true to her own confident spirit. Women in positions of authority were still somewhat of an anomaly in the Middle Eastern culture, the female sex being expected to be seen and not always heard. Camryn had been afraid of being too direct and viewed as aggressive or disrespectful. She was mindful of not doing anything that would be construed as insulting. More than once Darryl had to tell her to relax, reminding her to simply be herself.

  Sheikh Muhammad was a dashing leader, personable and completely intrigued by the excesses of Western culture. He honored his two wives and officially acknowledged some twenty-three children—nine sons and fourteen daughters. He was also quite the poet and an avid sports enthusiast. He was enthralled to learn that Darryl had actually once played a pickup game of basketball with Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan. Camryn had found that sliver of information intriguing, as well.

  The two had connected nicely when the sheikh had discovered Camryn’s passion for thoroughbred horses. He was a major figure in thoroughbred horse racing and breeding. His owning numerous horse farms around the world, one in Versailles, Kentucky, made for engaging conversation, allowing Camryn to showcase her knowledge about more than architectural s
tyles. The sheikh’s discovery that she and her father owned three colts of their own broke the ice and by the end of the evening she was feeling quite comfortable about the possibility of working for the man.

  When the sheikh, Darryl and the other men had disappeared into the sheikh’s private library, Camryn had enjoyed her conversations with both Mrs. Muhammads.

  The senior Mrs. Muhammad preferred to stay out of the public eye, following the traditions and cultures of the region. She rarely interacted with other men and because of her affinity for the project, she strongly indicated her desire to see a woman win the bid, allowing her greater opportunity for offering her opinions and being involved. The junior Mrs. Muhammad had been educated abroad, studying at Oxford University and Harvard. She was definitely more of a free spirit and she and Camryn connected instantly. The two women were instrumental in making Camryn comfortable and she found it intriguing to discover more about their two marital relationships.

  Camryn knew that polygamy existed all over the world as an aspect of certain cultures or religions. Seeing it practiced up close and personal was an eye-opener. According to the Muslim Koran, a man could have up to four wives. The husband is required to treat all of his wives equally. In Sheikh Muhammad’s case, each of his wives had their own home and the man’s wealth ensured both lived exceptionally well.

  The senior wife had explained that marriage was considered a binding contract between a man and a woman, the responsibilities of each clearly outlined. Her parents had negotiated her contract when she was a little girl, and the union had been consummated when she’d turned twenty-one. The junior wife had married him after a very intense courtship. Both women had brought very substantial dowries to the table and both seemed extremely content with the arrangement the three of them shared.

  As Darryl shifted, rolling over onto his side, Camryn took a deep breath and blew a deep gust of air past her lips. He smiled ever so slightly in his sleep, an easy bend to his mouth that appeared and then disappeared just as quickly. Camryn was thankful for what she had with Darryl. She couldn’t begin to imagine a life where she had to share her man with anyone. She trusted that Darryl would forever be faithful to her and only her. Fidelity would never be an issue between them.

  After meeting the royal family, she and Darryl had joked about it, Darryl saying that he figured another two wives would work out nicely for them. He’d teased that he would always let her be the senior wife. Camryn had teased back about wives two and three not having much of him to work with once she was done with him.

  Camryn giggled ever so slightly, the soft lilt of her laugh breaking through the silence in the room. Darryl’s eyes opened and he reached out an arm in her direction. Smiling, she shifted down in the bed, easing her naked body against his. Darryl curled his own nakedness around her, the heat between them like a comfortable blanket wrapped around them. He kissed her shoulder, then nuzzled his face in the locks of her hair. He hummed softly in her ear as he drifted back off into a restful sleep.

  An hour later Camryn sat in front of her computer giving substance to the best idea she’d had in a very long time. Taking advantage of the time difference between Dubai and the United States, Camryn had placed two telephone calls seeking assistance. Her father had been excited for her. Mason had been instrumental in helping her accomplish the task that was paramount on her mind. She couldn’t wait for the opportunity to share the details with Darryl.

  * * *

  Camryn had been a nervous wreck for a total of ten minutes before Sami came to escort her to the sheikh’s business offices. For ten minutes she battled an anxiety attack that had her stomach churning, perspiration beading in the palms of her hands and tears misting her eyes. And then Darryl had asked her if she was finished.

  “What?” Camryn demanded, coming to a halt midpace.

  “I asked if you were done yet.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean are you done and finished yet? Because you need to be finished before the car gets here for you. You need to be on top of your game, and right now you doubt yourself, and doubting yourself has you panicking. We didn’t fly halfway around the world for you to crash and burn while panicking, so you really need to wrap things up and be done,” he said matter-of-factly. He stood with his hands on his hips, his eyebrows raised. The silly expression on his face made her laugh.

  “Point taken,” she said, her head waving from side to side. She shook her hands and arms out at her sides, running in place quickly. After taking two deep breaths, the nerves slowly subsided.

  Darryl nodded just as a knock registered at the door. “That would probably be Sami,” he said.

  “I can’t do this by myself,” she said suddenly.

  Darryl was taken aback by her comment. “Camryn, this will be a breeze for you.”

  She shook her head vehemently. “That’s not what I meant. Yes, I can do this by myself, but no, I don’t want to.”

  His gaze narrowed ever so slightly.

  “I need you to come with me,” she said. She glanced at her watch. “How long will it take you to jump into a suit?”

  “Baby, I’m not understanding—” Darryl started.

  “I’ll explain in the car,” she interrupted. “Just please go get ready.”

  There was another knock on the door, Sami growing more persistent.

  “I got this,” Camryn responded as she moved toward the entrance. “You need to get a move on it, please!” She swung the entrance open as Darryl turned back toward the bedroom, disappearing behind the closed door.

  Sami greeted her warmly and she politely asked him to carry her briefcase down to the car, assuring him that she and Darryl would both be on their way promptly.

  Sami nodded. “He does not like to be kept waiting,” the man said.

  Camryn nodded back. “I assure you,” she said, “we would never keep the sheikh waiting.”

  Minutes later Darryl reentered. He’d selected the charcoal-gray silk suit with a pale blue dress shirt and red-and-gray necktie. He looked like the consummate professional that he was.

  “So are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Darryl asked as Camryn moved back across the room to kiss his cheek. “Because you don’t need me to do this with you, Camryn. I was planning on playing golf while you were gone.”

  “I’ll explain it all in the car,” she said. “I just need you to trust me.”

  Darryl smiled. “You are so cute when you’re about to impress a roomful of people,” he said.

  She grinned, her brilliant white smile shimmering in the morning light. “I am cute,” she said as she spun back toward the door, gesturing for him to follow.

  Darryl watched her exit, admiring her rear view. Her hips swayed from side to side, the sexy shimmy of her buttocks causing heat to quiver through his groin. “Too damn cute,” he muttered under his breath as he fell into step behind her.

  Down in the luxury limo Darryl questioned her for the second time. She could tell by the expression on his face that he wanted a serious answer. She took a deep breath and then explained.

  “I was under the impression that we would need to be here for the first few months of the project. I’m now told they would actually want us to be here for the entirety of the project. We’d be looking at three, maybe four years here in Dubai.”

  Darryl cut an eye at her. “Four years?”

  She nodded. “How do you feel about that?”

  He took a deep breath, his brow furrowing in thought as he answered. “It’s definitely something we’ll have to discuss. But I’ll be honest, Camryn—I hadn’t considered putting my own career on hold for that long.”

  “You wouldn’t have to,” she said, her bright eyes meeting his.

  “What do you mean?”

  Camryn took another deep breath. She reached down to the floor for her
briefcase and pulled out the business prospectus she’d spent most of the night working on. She passed him the copy as she continued.

  “I don’t plan to just pitch myself today, Darryl. I plan to pitch us, as a team. This has really been weighing on me and what I realize is that I can’t imagine working on any massive project without you.”

  He lifted his eyes to hers and then dropped them back down to the document in his hand. “Charles-Boudreaux Designs & Engineering?”

  “It sounded better than Boudreaux-Charles Designs. But I’m open to suggestions.”

  Darryl continued to read, not saying anything, and Camryn’s nerves kicked back into gear. She pleaded her case.

  “I needed to partner with the best engineer in the industry, especially if I’m going to be building here in Dubai. The fact that I’m going to be married to the best engineer out here was just a perk.”

  He nodded his head slowly. “And what about Charles & Charles Architecture? Don’t you think your father might have some issues with this?”

  “I’m planning on doing both and my father fully supports the idea. I look at this as a means of diversification. Our collaborating on joint projects won’t stop either of us from continuing to do work on individual ventures when they arise.”

  “Does my brother Mason know he’s on the board of directors?”

  “He’s very excited.”

  Darryl laughed. “I’m sure he is.”

  “Surprise!” Camryn said facetiously. “So, what do you think?”

  He shook his head from side to side. “I think, my darling, that I can quickly get used to the idea of being CEO of my own company!”

  Camryn grinned. “If I say so myself, sir, I think you’re going to be a brilliant corporate leader!”

  * * *

  Hours later Camryn could barely contain her excitement. The morning had gone better than she could have ever planned. Her designs had been on point, clearly capturing the attention of the sheikh and his staff. They’d asked some hard questions and she’d answered easily. She lived and breathed her work and there was no denying she was clearly talented.