His eyes narrowed at the thought of that. She had given it to him, but she sure wasn't giving him the commitment that went with it.
And that would end now.
She belonged to him, and, he decided, it was time she figured out that gem of information.
It was time to seduce the seductress.
Chapter 11
Dinner went surprisingly well as far as Khalid was concerned. Marty and Shayne had a slow, easy rapport, an awareness of each other that, in Marty's case, only revealed itself in Khalid's presence.
A new tension seemed to fill Marty, however, as they ate and then lingered over drinks to discuss a variety of subjects. It was as though she knew the significance of easing into this evening, of establishing a level of comfort within the arousal that flared throughout the evening.
She was ready for this, he assured himself. But one thing was for certain. If she weren't ready for it, she would have informed them of it long before now.
Khalid had never understood the reason his sexuality had grown so dark, why the hunger to share a lover had grown so deep. It was something he had stopped questioning years ago. It just lived inside him, like an entity all its own.
As dinner came to an end, Khalid invited Marty back to the estate, as well as Shayne. Anticipation fed the fire, and that anticipation would amplify her pleasure if the night included the sexual pleasures he had been withholding from her. He wanted her more than ready for both of them. He wanted her wet and wild for it, ready and willing to accept whatever pleasures they bestowed upon her.
As they stepped into the limo, the vibration of his cell phone in his jacket pocket caused him to clench his teeth in irritation. Pulling it from his inside jacket pocket, he glimpsed the caller ID and wanted to curse in anger.
"Yes?" he answered.
"Get to the club," Zach ordered, his voice tight, brisk. "We have a situation."
"That could be a problem," he said carefully, aware of Marty watching him with a hint of suspicion.
"I know Marty's with you," Zach growled. "I have permission from Ian to allow her into the parking area only. Tell her to keep her ass in the limo. Hopefully you and Shayne shouldn't be long."
So much for seducing the seductress tonight, he thought mockingly, as he disconnected the call and fought to hold back the aggravation growing inside him now.
"Problem?" She leaned back in the seat and watched him almost knowingly.
He glanced at Shayne. "We have to make a stop," he informed the other man.
Shayne watched him curiously. "A stop?"
"At the club."
Tension filled the limo as he turned his gaze back to Marty.
"You will stay in the limo, Marty. You know the rules there. Do us all a favor and please refrain from trying to slip in as you have in years past."
During the last two years she had been following Khalid she had made several attempts to slip into the club to see who he was meeting with, what he was doing. According to Zach, the orders to do so had come directly from her boss, Vince Deerfield.
She had no such orders tonight.
"Of course." That sweet smile didn't fool him.
Lowering the window between the driver and passenger areas, he made a decision he prayed would hold her in check.
"Abdul, we'll be stopping at the club for a while. You're to make sure that Miss Mathews remains in the limo while we're there. Should she try to leave the car, then you'll notify me immediately."
"Yes, sir." Abdul's tone reflected his hesitancy to upset Marty.
Over the years Marty and Abdul had developed a friendship that had caused Khalid more than one headache.
"Slip from the car, and Abdul will be the one who pays for it," he warned her.