Deborah Mello - Hearts Afire

When she heard the sound of a door opening and closing from the space below, she rose from the bed. She tossed back the covers and threw her legs off the side of the mattress. For a brief moment as she came to her feet, she felt as if she might fall; the room threatened to spin around her. Maitlyn took a deep breath and then a second, allowing the sensation to pass before she stood completely upright and headed into the bathroom.

“Wow!” Maitlyn exclaimed, taking in the expanse of space with its polished marble and gold-appointed treatments. Zak’s accommodations had come with some serious perks, she thought. She crossed the heated floor to the tiled shower and turned on the faucet.

Minutes later Maitlyn stepped out of the spray of hot water and wrapped her own white towel around her body. Barely opening the bathroom door she peeked out into the bedroom space. Zakaria was nowhere to be found, but her luggage and personal belongings rested atop the bed. Maitlyn was still confused but determined to unravel the mystery of the past forty-eight hours. Almost a week of her trip had passed and she couldn’t remember a large part of it. None of it made any sense to her.

Zak suddenly called her name from the bottom of the stairwell. “I need to step out for a quick minute, but I’ll be right back. They are holding our table so as soon as you are ready we can head to the dining room.” His tone was warm and easy like thick, rich honey being spread on dark toast. His seductive cadence caused a shiver of heat to ripple through her feminine spirit. Taking a deep breath, Maitlyn clenched her pelvic muscles, contracting and relaxing the tissue until the feeling passed.

In no time at all she was dressed in a formfitting black knit dress and fire-engine-red pumps. She brushed a faint layer of mineral powdered foundation across her face, lined her eyes with black eyeliner and patted a tissue over the lipstick that brightened her lips. She pulled her fingers through the length of her hair, pulling the strands into a loose ponytail atop her head. When she was satisfied with the reflection staring back at her from the mirror, she headed down the stairs to the living space below, where Zak, back from his errand, stood patiently waiting for her.

As Maitlyn eased down the stairs, Zak’s eyes widened with appreciation.

As they headed in the direction of the elevators, they crossed paths with Gerard and Frank. Both men voiced their concern for her health, seemingly interested in her well-being. Maitlyn was polite as she expressed her gratitude for their kind words. She stepped into Zak’s side, leaning her body toward his. As the elevator stopped before them, Zak rested a possessive hand against her lower back and guided her into the conveyor. Taking the hint, Gerard and Frank gave them both a casual wave, opting to walk the stairs instead.

When the doors closed Maitlyn stepped away from Zak’s touch and turned to face him. She stared up into his eyes. “I think someone drugged me,” she stated, her voice a loud whisper. “One of them or that other man, their friend Alexander Lloyd.”

Zak returned her intense look. “I thought he was your friend, too. That Lloyd guy?”

She shrugged, her brow creasing in thought. “I thought he was nice. When we first met, he tried to buy me a drink, but I turned him down. I told him I don’t drink, and he was very nice about it. He seemed...well...I...” She trailed off, not wanting Zak to think that there had ever been anything between her and the cute blond man. “I just don’t know him like that,” she finally sputtered.

Zak studied her for a brief moment, his gaze soothing.

Then a stray strand of hair fell over her eye, and he brushed it from her face with the tips of his fingers. As he did, she leaned her forehead into his palm and closed her eyes. The gesture felt intimate and both felt the air between them catch deep in their chests; oxygen suddenly felt like a precious commodity.

“I’ll take care of it,” Zak finally said, his head bobbing gently against his broad shoulders. As the doors opened, he stepped out ahead of her and hesitated. After turning an about-face, Zak extended his hand in her direction. In that moment Maitlyn instinctively trusted that if any man could right all the wrongs in the world, Zak Sayed would. After reaching her hand toward him, she entwined her fingers between his. And when he smiled, Maitlyn melted beneath the sheer beauty of it.

Chapter 4

Maitlyn laughed as Zak hit the punch line of the story he’d been telling her. Her joyous expression moved Zak to laugh along with her. He lifted his wineglass and took a sip of the Riesling he’d paired with his salmon entrée. Before he could drop the crystal goblet back to the table, their waiter was at his elbow refilling his glass.

“Thank you, Henry,” Zak said.

The young man nodded. “And you, madam? Would you like more water?”

“No, thank you,” Maitlyn answered. “I am full.”

“Are you sure?” Zak pressed. “Coffee, tea, more dessert?”

Maitlyn giggled, pressing her palm against her abdomen. “Really, I couldn’t eat another bite without getting sick again.”

“Well, we definitely don’t want you sick again,” Zak said in agreement. “I like this suit!”

Maitlyn’s eyes widened. “Please don’t tell me I got sick on your suit.”

Zak leaned back in his seat and crossed his hands together in his lap. He smiled brightly, his eyes gleaming.

Maitlyn persisted. “Did I? I didn’t, did I?”

“You asked me not to tell you.”

“Damn,” Maitlyn exclaimed, heat rising to her cheeks. “I am so sorry!” Mortified, she pressed her hands over her face.

“Nothing to be embarrassed about. Those things happen.”

“Not to me! Nothing like that has ever happened to me,” Maitlyn said. “I will pay for your suit. And again, I am so sorry.”

He shook his head. “Not to worry. My suit and your pretty blouse have been cleaned, pressed and returned to us. All’s well again.”

Maitlyn shook her head vehemently. “I bet you didn’t bargain on any of this when you ran into my brother, did you?”

Zak laughed heartily. “Actually, with your brother I have to be ready for almost anything.”

“You never told me how you two actually became acquainted.”

“A business deal brought us together.”

“What kind of deal?”

“A very lucrative one.”

Maitlyn paused, eyeing the smirk on Zak’s handsome face. “You aren’t going to give me any details, are you?”

Zak looked down at the gold watch on his wrist. “I need to head to the casino. Will you be joining me?”

Maitlyn laughed. “You must drive your wife crazy,” she said, the statement more inquisitive than a comment.

“I’ve never been married, actually.”

“Your girlfriend, then.”

Zak shrugged. “No, I don’t have one of those, either. And no time, or desire, to drive anyone crazy.” He leaned forward in his seat. “Now, will you be joining me?” he asked a second time, his eyes piercing hers.

“I’d like that,” Maitlyn answered. “As long as I won’t be in the way.”

Zak came to his feet, dropping the cloth napkin in his lap onto the table. “If you were going to be in the way, Ms. Boudreaux, I would never have invited you.”

* * *

Maitlyn’s eyes were wide with wonder as she and Zak entered the ship’s casino. The crowd that had gathered moved out of the way to make a path for Zakaria. Without blinking an eye, he slid his arm around her waist and guided her through the throng of people toward the casino manager, who greeted him warmly.

“Mr. Sayed, sir, what an honor it is to have you back with us!”

“It’s a pleasure to be back, Mr. Turner.”

The man cut an easy eye toward Maitlyn and smiled. Zak introduced her. “This is Ms. Boudreaux, and she’ll be my personal guest for the duration of the cruise. Will you please ensure that she’s comfortable?”