Wrapped In Pleasure - Brenda Jackson [110]
He studied her intently for a few moments and chuckled and then said, “You are right. Few people know how to figure me out.”
And few people could get next to her as he was doing so effortlessly, Johari thought, as she continued to feel the warm fires stroking within her at his nearness.
“I never did give you an official tour of my home,” he said, placing both of their wineglasses aside and offering her his arm. He led her toward the door. “We’ll return later, after it becomes dark,” he whispered as they left the ocean room.
She took deep, calming breaths as she walked beside him while inhaling his sensual scent. There was something about Monty that had disturbed her senses from the very beginning. And now after meeting him in a New York nightclub a few days ago, she was here with him on his own personal island.
He escorted her around the various wings and she truly believed he enjoyed seeing the astonished look on her face with every room they toured. Her pulse increased as they headed up the stairs.
“So tell me something about you, Jo, that no other living soul knows,” he said as they continued up the stairs.
She fought back saying, I think I’m falling in love with you against my better judgment. Instead she smiled and said, “I can tell you something that very few people know, and that is I have a baby.”
She couldn’t help but smile when Monty nearly lost his step. He stopped walking and stared at her. His mouth, full sensuous lips and all, dropped open in shock and the sharp cut of his eyes wiped the smile from her lips.
“You have a child?” he asked in a low, hardened tone.
“Not a human child,” she quickly said and regretted that her words had not come across as the cute joke she had intended.
“Not a human child?” he asked, repeating her words with a confused look in his eyes. “Is there any other kind?”
Her smile returned. “For me there is. I own a puppy that I consider my baby, because he definitely acts like it sometimes.”
He lifted a dark brow. “A puppy?”
“Yes, but no one knows about him but Cel and another friend from college. I heard him crying one night and when I investigated he was outside the condo where I lived. Someone had thrown him and four others in a nearby Dumpster. The moment I held him in my arms I fell in love with him. He was barely a few days old and was so tiny and I knew I had to take care of him.”
“What kind of dog is he?”
“The vet said he is part Yorkie terrier. He is still tiny and the most he will weigh is four pounds. He is being kept at Cel’s parents’ home. I’m hoping once I’m married my husband will allow me to bring him to my country. I named him Copper and he means a lot to me.”
Monty nodded before they resumed their walk up the stairs. “Is there a reason your husband wouldn’t let you own him?”
She met his gaze, realizing he was probably not familiar with her country’s customs and said, “Yes, in my country a dog can’t be housed in the main living quarters, but I’m hoping my future husband will agree to let me keep him at a kennel somewhere close by where I can visit him on occasion.”
“And what if the man you marry isn’t easily persuaded?” he asked in a thoughtful voice.
When they reached the landing, she turned to him. “Then I need to persuade him to indulge me on this one thing, because…”
“Because what?” he asked softly.
She drew in a deep breath, held his gaze, smiled and said in a compelling voice, “Because I’m worth it.”
Because I’m worth it…
Rasheed fought to keep from frowning at Johari’s words. The woman was not low on confidence by any means. Did she honestly think that the man she would marry, just because of his wealth and position, would indulge her in such a rebellious thing?
He shook his head as he continued to walk beside her. Where in the world did she get such a stubborn streak? He then remembered Jamal from their days together at the private school as teens and his rebellious escapades. But that was then and that had been Jamal. Besides, Jamal was a man and Johari was a woman.