Part 7:

Shane felt like grinning from ear to ear as he made his way through the harem dressed as a guard. He knew how tense everything must be for Sherrie with the blowout with the Tigress. He knocked on the door to her quarters and quickly entered only to stop dead in his tracks at the view. She was sitting on her bed, wearing a robe of almost transparent silk, brushing her wet hair. He could see the outline of her firm breasts and their dark pink tips and when his eyes strayed to the area between her thighs, all thought flew from his mind as he imagined the paradise that lay beneath. His world tilted on his axis and found his mouth dry and his eyes unable to do the decent thing and look away. He was mesmerized. She was stunning… more beautiful… than anything else he'd seen. And so full of the innocent charm that made women so appealing. He let out a long breath he'd been unknowingly holding and she turned to him, her green eyes full of merriment.
"Yes? What message do you have for me?"
Shane stared at her in confusion and dumbly realized she thought him to be a palace guard.
"Get dressed," he said gruffly, turning away from her.
"Who do you think you are to order me around?"
"Sheridan," he said, returning to his normal voice, "please… put something on."
Sherrie recognized Shane's voice and looked down at her diminutive clothing, her face flaming with shame. She grabbed a sheet off the bed and held it up to her chest. "How dare you come to my quarters like this, completely unannounced?"
"You have the right to be mad. I shouldn't be here."
"Exactly… and why are you here?"
"I thought you might enjoy some company, my company. But I've disturbed you. I'm sorry. I'll leave."
"Uh… wait… Shane!"
"Yes?"
"Step outside for a moment while I dress. I'll call you when I'm dressed." When Shane disappeared outside her quarters, Sherrie ran to her chest of clothes and quickly pulled out the most demure of outfits, consisting of light blue pantaloons and of a short, but opaque, tunic. She pulled it on and called to Shane, "I'm presentable now."
He walked back into the room, his eyes riveted to the floor. His attitude made Sherrie laugh.
"It's all right Shane," she said with a smile, "I'm quite dressed now."
"I'm ashamed about before. I rushed in without thinking."
"It's quite all right. No harm done."
Shane looked at her brilliant smile and melted. Then he wondered if she knew that she drove him mad with lust and… with a fierce need to protect her from harm, no matter who tried to harm her. "I brought you something," he said, handing her a carefully wrapped package.
"A present?" Shane grinned as her green eyes lit up until they shone like the brightest emeralds in the world. Her smile was full of joy and happiness, much like a child on Christmas morning.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Open it and you'll see."
"I'll enjoy it?" she asked, already tearing at the colored rice paper.
"I hope so."
Sherrie tore eagerly at the paper until she uncovered a small book bound in brown leather and decorated with gold filigree. She sat on the bed and slowly opened the book, tears springing to her eyes when she realized what the book was. "Shakespeare's sonnets," she whispered, running delicate fingers over the first printed page.
"Yeah. They're my favorites… whenever I need to feel grounded and remember the beauty of the world, I read them."
"Thank you… thank you so much." Sherrie put down the small book and ran to Shane, impulsively throwing her arms around his neck.
Shane looked down at Sheridan's face, turned up as it was to him and felt his body harden at once. And though years of breeding and control screamed for him to step away from the girl, he could not do so… Instead, he bent over her, wrapping his arms around her waist and gently pressing his lips against hers. He didn't move for a moment, getting used to the feel of her soft lips under his and finding that feeling to be incredibly arousing. But as he enjoyed the chaste kiss, he was half-expecting her to push him away but all she did was primly close her eyes, her cheeks shaded by the crescents of her eyelashes.
Sherrie finally allowed her body to sag against Shane's and her body felt as though it was on fire. He felt so different from anything she could have imagined. She opened her mouth ever so slightly and Shane was quick to gently stroke his tongue across the small opening until her mouth opened a little more, giving him the access he'd been hoping for. The sensations left Sherrie feeling dizzy and if it hadn't been for Shane's hold on her, she would have fallen to her knees, breathless. He raked his fingers through her long curls, pressing her body closer to his until they were almost melted together. He pulled away from her to take a breath and looked down at her flushed face and ran a careful finger over her plump lips.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his eyes denying his words.
"For what?" she asked, "that was the most wonderful…"
"Hush, you speak too soon. I'm sure you'll feel many other feelings which will make you feel much more wonderful."
"With you?" Sherrie looked up at Shane, her eyes shining ever so brightly as she finally put her arms around his waist, holding on to him.
"Oh Sheridan…"
"This is complicated, isn't it? My being kidnapped, your being sent here to save me for my uncle... if only we'd met in London."
"No… in London, I'd be nothing more than one of many suitors. And I'd never get to hold you this close, and kiss you."
"I'd let you kiss me," Sherrie whispered, putting her head down on his shoulder. "And hold me close."
"And you'd be ostracized by society. We wouldn't want that, would you?"
"I don't care about society and their stuffy rules," she retorted defiantly.
"And what would your solution be?"
"We retire to the country and live by our wits."
Shane laughed and tilted her head back with his finger, "You are such a beautiful dreamer."
"Sometimes our dreams are all we have Shane."
"And what are your dreams?"
"I'd love nothing more than to be able to live with my uncle and do the things I really love."
"Such as?"
"Reading, fishing, sailing, hunting, painting, riding and…" she smiled coyly, "fencing."
"Fencing? You fence? Who taught you?"
"My uncle… one summer he was unable to keep me out of trouble so he taught me how to fence."
"Not your usual lady's past time."
"I'm a very unusual lady… at least that's what most of my governesses have been telling me since I was a child."
"I wonder what kind of a little girl you were," Shane mused, leading Sherrie to the small window, his arm around her waist, "wearing pink dresses and hair in curls I suppose."
"Me? Absolutely not… I used to climb trees, catch frogs and insects… I always came home filthy and smiling."
As Shane laughed, Sherrie looked up at him, smiling. But her mind was filled with questions. What was she doing? Where was her heart in this? Maybe she was getting caught up in the moment, in his present… confusion reigned in her heart and her soul. She slowly eased out of his embrace and went to stand by the bed where she picked up the sonnets.
"Sheridan?"
"Shane… I fear… I'm afraid…"
"I shouldn't have kissed you," he whispered. "I'm sorry… I was much too forward."
"Perhaps you are right," she said softly. "I believe you were a bit too forward. However, I did encourage you. And I am as much to blame as you are."
"Yes… I will leave you alone now."
"Here," she said, handing him back the book of sonnets, "I fear I cannot accept this now."
"You must accept it. Please…"
"Shane…"
"I mean for you to have it… please. The sonnets will… you'll enjoy them…"
"What about you?"
"I think I have five copies of that book. I never, ever, want to be without my sonnets, even though I know most of them by heart."
"Isn't that slightly exaggerated?" she asked with a lopsided grin.
"Yes. I'll leave you now."
"Good-bye Shane…" Sherrie watched him go and her heart fell… she wanted him to stay… desperately… but she knew he had to go… he made her forget too many things… mainly the important things. She had to get out of here, regardless of her growing attachment to Shane.

Sherrie had received an invitation from the sheik to join him at dinner and by the time she got there, she was surprised to find Kat, lady Safia, Shane, the sheik and another man, a European she did not know, were already there, obviously holding up the meal for her.
"I apologize for my tardiness," she said to all. "I didn't realize how late it was. I was reading and time just got away with me."
"Anything good, my dear?" lady Safia, smiling at her.
"Yes. Shane gave me a copy of Shakespeare Sonnets."
"Could it be the same book you sent me all those years ago?" Rock asked, smiling broadly at Shane and Sherrie.
"As a matter of fact it is."
"You boys and those books," the stranger said, a chilling smile breaking the saturnine monotony of his features, "it was an obsession."
"Lady Sheridan," said Rock, smiling at her warmly, "allow me to introduce you to Mr. Ronald Traylor. He was my tutor for many years and his brother was Shane's tutor."
"My lady."
"Mr. Traylor."
"Ah yes, Shakespeare," lady Safia said, linking her arm through Sherrie's, "I read Romeo and Juliet when I was a young girl and I fell in love. I suspect the two of you will have quite a time reading sonnets to each other."
"The two of us my lady?" Sherrie asked uncomfortably.
"Well you and your fiancé, of course."
There was a heavy silence in the room as all realized that Rock's mother had absolutely no idea who her son was going to marry.
"I fear you are mistaken my lady. I am not engaged."
"Maybe not formally, but you are engaged to marry my son. He told me so earlier today."
"No mother," Rock intervened, "I told you no such thing. I told you I'd found someone who would fill my heart with joy and you mistook that to be the lady Sheridan. My heart belongs, as it had in the past, as it will in the future, to my Tigress and it is she who will become my bride."
Sherrie, whose hand was still curled around Lady Safia's arm, was the only one who felt the woman's tremor as her face remained as composed and as dignified as that of a queen. She also saw how she swallowed hard and did her very best to blink the tears from her eyes. Gracefully, she turned to her son and his betrothed, who stood a few steps away from him, looking very troubled and frightened.
"Then I apologize," lady Safia said, bowing deeply, "for having erred so grievously. Tigress, you will make my son a more than suitable spouse."
"I give you my thanks my lady," said Tigress, curling her fingers around Khalid's fingers. "I aspire to be the very best wife your son could need."
"Well, what else could a mother ask for," said Safia, her smile never quite reaching her eyes, "but a woman who strives to make my son a happy man?"
Both Shane and Sherrie recognized the sarcasm in Safia's tone and they exchanged a look across the room. During the rest of the meal, Shane, Rock and Mr. Traylor did their very best to keep the conversation alive but the tension in the room sank any of their attempts at conversation. As soon as the meal was done with, Sherrie quickly excused herself.
"I fear I find myself plagued with migraines," she said. "My company is such that I would rather keep it to myself than inflict it upon others."
This time it was Shane and Tigress who shared a look upon hearing Sherrie's lie. From across the room, there was a silent agreement that one of them would check up on her before retiring. The rest of the evening went fairly well and all parties retired to their rooms for the night.

More of Emerald Eyes
More Series
More Fanfic
Main Page