Finally, they arrived at the airport the following morning. Exiting the limousine, Lottie was relieved to be leaving Melbourne again. She was going to her real home. The palace at Zaid's side, although he did insist she still had those two and half weeks off, and was taking the blond with them, and Josh. 

Their luggage was sent ahead. 

Shoving on large sunglasses, she headed towards the private jet, shrugging off her beige overcoat, knowing how comfortable the plan was, revealing a singlet-type white top, a soft shade of peach skirt with a thin toffee brown belt that matched her shoes.

Without waiting for the others, she headed up the stairs. Inside the luxury plane, and went straight to her usual seat, one usually beside Zaid, who was seeing his other guests and making sure they were settled in. Something she should have seen to she realised, as he stood beside her, shrugging off his suit jacket, handing it over to her. She arched a brow, confused.

"Put it on," he said sitting down. Wordless she did, then belted up. 

It wasn't until after they had taken off, and Zaid had buried himself into work as he always did, she excused herself. Collected her coat, and headed towards the back to the bedroom, where Zaid had his clothes hanging. Always there in case of emergencies. 

Closing the door, she shrugged off his coat to go and hung it beside his other clothes. She reached for a spare hanger, draped her coat on and hung it. Going to one of the drawers she removed a long-sleeved, light top, removing the one she was wearing and put on the more suitable one.

Once done, she packed the other one away and made her way back, finding Christine in her seat. She looked around, Josh was watching a movie, earplugs in, so went to find another seat, settled in, looked out the window, resting her head on the corner of the chair. 

This was a first.

How was she going to survive the fourteen-hour flight? Quiet often resting against Zaid's shoulder, sleeping as he worked.

"It seems you are wanted, Miss Johnson," came a cold voice. 

Startled, she looked up at the blond to stand and go to him, who waved her back into her seat beside him.

"I see you have changed," he noted without looking up.

"Colder than I remembered," she stated. "Hanging up," she answered before he asked. He nodded, slipping down his seat, placing a foot on the opposite chair, and laptop on his lap. "Coffee?" Again another nod. She rang for the attendant and put in his coffee and her tea order. "Please ask the others if they want anything." Zaid coughed. "Oh, yes, please something to eat. Light, yet substantial." Zaid gave her a sideways look. "Sorry, I don't know what's onboard." He dropped his foot. Lottie stood and went with the attendant, seeing what was on offer.

She removed a plate to fill up with a mixture of club sandwiches, petite four, his favourite pastries from his home country, and a small container of mixed nuts and dried fruit. She removed another club sandwich, eating it on the way back, the coffee following, finding Christine back in her seat. 

This was getting beyond a joke to glare at her. 

"Oh sorry," she placed a hand on her throat. 

She stood and moved away when Lottie didn't back down.

"Jump in my grave that fast, I think not," she mumbled under her breath, taking her seat, pressing a button, where a table opened from the side of the plane wall, placed down the plate closer to Zaid, who reached and removed a sandwich as he kept reading.

"Who would, Charlotte?"

"Sorry," she looked across licking her fingers.

"Jump in your grave."

"I keep forgetting you have super hearing. Nothing Zaid, ah your coffee," she pushed aside the plate, his coffee placed down nearest to him and her tea in front of her, smiling at the attendant. "Don't let it get cold," she said removing her tea to sip at. 

Another reason she sat at his side was to remind him to eat and drink. Once he buried himself in his work, nothing else mattered. He closed the lid, placed the laptop in the opposite chair, crossing his legs. They shared the plate.

"Now are you finished scaring away the temp?" he asked.

"Me," she gulped. "Well it is my seat," she pointed out.

"And if I needed her assistance?"

She pointed to the opposite chair. "Any way I can help, if you need it."

He shook his dark head. "No. You're still on holiday, remember."

"How can I not, when you keep shoving it in my face."

"I can't win," he smiled warily. "First I am this monster, who never lets you have time off, and now I'm beastly for not allowing you to work for me. How is this so?"

"I think sheikh you're giving me a hard time," she noted miffed.

"I think I am allowed to, don't you?" he challenged, removing a pastry to bite into. 

Sticky syrup oozed down his chin. She reached across to wipe it from his chin with a finger before it dripped onto his pristine white shirt. His hand clamped over hers, holding her eyes as he took her finger and placed it into his mouth, his very hot, wet mouth to lick off the syrup from her finger. Her hand fell away, trembling all over. 

"Always looking after my needs," he whispered.

"I try," she breathed, feeling funny inside. "Coffee," she reached for it to jerk, and spilt some to cry out. "Zaid, I'm so sorry," she jerked to her feet. 

Only to be trapped behind the table, splashing coffee all over her top, uncaring, as he grabbed a napkin to wipe down his front as he stood, and headed towards the back of the plane that gave her the freedom to chase after him, entering his bedroom behind him. 

"Give me the shirt, and I'd see to it." She said at his bare back, his shirt pulled over his head. She went to the wardrobe and removed another one, holding it out towards him. 

"No Charlotte, the robe." Nodding, she put the shirt back, removing one of his robes to turn, stilling as she confronted a bare-chested, well-built man, all muscles ripping, golden brown with a dusting of dark chest hair that v-down to his pants. Heart pounding, she held the robe to her heart. 

"I'm so sorry Zaid." She had never spilt coffee on him before, or anything else.

He closed the distance to take hold of his robe, though didn't remove it from her hold, capturing her gaze. "There is nothing to forgive. It was just an accident, was it not? You weren't burnt?" he asked with concern. She nodded, then shook her head mesmerised. "Don't be angry at me for wanting you to have your four weeks in full. Believe me, when it is over, I would make you work as never before." 

Light fingers caressed her cheek, drawing her close, swaying closer to him. He brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. Been pulled to him.

"You don't work me hard enough?" she asked dazed.

"Obviously not," his dark-eyed swept over her flushed face. 

Her breath held as his dark head lowered, closing her eyes as his lips briefly brushed her lips, so enticing. She could taste the coffee, mingled with syrup and nuts on his breath. His thumb pressed hard against her lips pulling them apart, only to jerk away. 

She gasped and stepped back, cheeks flamed as he went to answer the door.

"Who was that?" she asked when he come back, a bit stunned.

"Just Chrissy."

"Of course," she said holding out his robe to be taken and tossed onto the bed. 

Her eyes widened as he closed the distance between them. Taking her face into his hands and kissed her. A knock-you-off-your-feet, take-away-your-breath kiss that left her weak-kneed, and clinging to his bare shoulder, pressed up against his rock-hard, bare chest. His sensual lips against hers, teasing hers apart with his tongue. Moaning, she pressed closer, using his body to stand, opening to his demanding tongue to hungrily accept him, barely noticing the tugging of her top, until it was up and over her head.

"Zaid," she gasped, shocked.

"Yours is also wet," he noted dryly, bringing her back to him and kissing her again, softer this time, teasing and tasting. Her lacy breasts brushed his chest, flesh against flesh where allowed. Finger threaded through her hair to keep her to him, not that she was pulling away or stopping him. It felt so right.

"Finally," he whispered against her soft lips. Her arms tightened around his neck on her toes.

"Finally what?' she asked against his teasing, sweet, torturing lips. 

She had never been kissed like that in her life. Her whole body was on fire, flickers of desire flowed through her, becoming aware of parts of her body that were kicking into life, pressing harder against his frame. 

Moaning as she felt his reaction against her belly tremble only to pull apart at another knock on the door.

"It's like central station," he grumbled. "Go and change, while I see to this. Put something more comfortable on."

She slid her hand down his chest, sighing, following with her eyes. "Isn't that what I'm supposed to say slip into something more comfortable."

"Don't push it, princess," he snatched another kiss and went to answer the door this time leaving, closing the door behind him. 

As if in a dream, she went back to the wardrobe and removed one of her kaftans kept in here in case of emergency to undo her bra, since it seemed extra tight against her sudden sensitive breasts, letting it fall to the ground, and pulled the kaftan over her head.

Only to gather up the skirt reaching behind to unzip the skirt. "Here let me," her fingers were pushed aside, looking behind her because she hadn't heard him return. He slowly released the skirt zipper, and then with his hands, he pushed over her hips, falling and pooling around her court shoes. His hands slid around her waist and pulled her hard against him. His fingers caressed her flat belly and kissed the side of her neck. 

"Finally I got to kiss you," he whispered against her skin. She melted against him.

"How long?" she asked softly, "how long have your waited."

"Four long years."

She turned in his arms. "That's an awfully long time, Zaid."

"You weren't ready then."

"And I am now?" she asked amused.

He smiled, drawing himself closer and kissed her on the lips. "Ripe for the picking, however, not in public," he warned, easing his hands free, pulling her clothes into place. "Much better." Turned her around, facing him and freed her hair, falling over her should in thick silky waves. "No more of those ridiculous little tops, and white doesn't suit you like that."

"Zaid," she moaned to be kissed.

"Now let me get changed," he said releasing her. She nodded, stepped out of her skirt, picked it up and placed it on the bed. She can see to it later, heading back out, only to have her hand caught, and drawn back to Zaid for another kiss, a long leisurely one. "This stays between us. Once out that door, it stops."

"Of course," she said softly and this time he let her go. She went back to their seats, finding it all cleaned up, and the table put away. She reached for Zaid's laptop to open, and put in his password, not to work. 

Damn, he changed it daily and she had no idea what it was. 

She just wanted to check to see if everything was saved.

"You can't help yourself can you?" a teasing voice said in her ear, glancing sideways at the man at her side in a robe. Sitting down, he held out his hand to be given it back.

"I was just going to save your work."

"No need," he noted putting in his password. 

She sighed because it was no use to watch because it would be changed again tomorrow. She always knew it, except for the last two weeks. He had always trusted her with it. No one else knew it as far as she knew. She brought up her legs into the oversized super, soft seats, rested her head against his arm and settled in as Zaid worked.

The flight to Dubai was the longest part of their flight. Dinner cooked by a chef. They all sat around a table to enjoy their meal with the finest of wines that always made her sleepy on a plane, more than normal. Probably had more to do with the last few days of a roller coaster of emotions she had lately. She leaned into Zaid. 

"Can I crash it for a while?"

"Of course." Pleased, she excused herself, and headed to his bedroom one of two, climbed into his bed just wearing the kaftan, under the freshly made crisp sheets, and snuggled into the pillows, after setting her watch to wake up in four hours. 

There were four of them and only two beds. She would have a short sleep, then let Zaid have a longer one. He needed it, and she can sleep in a chair, not as comfortable, but would do. She snuggled deeper into his bed.

Before the four hours were up, Zaid stood over her to sit down, and remove her watch from her wrist and switched off the alarm, placed it on the bedside tables. Standing, he stripped off his robe to find some loose pants to put on. He usually slept naked. 

Somehow he didn't think his sleeping princess would appreciate that. Gently he lifted the bedding to slip in, trying not to waken her who had spread herself across the bed, taking up most of the bed. He turned on his side, facing her, and reached up to switch off the very soft yellow lighting above their heads, falling into darkness.

Josh was happy to crash on one of the sofas while Christine used the other bedroom that normally Charlotte used. 

He held his breath as she shifted, and an arm flopped over his waist. Great, now she had him pinned down. He couldn't nudge her to get more room, not wanting to wake her up. He relaxed as she went back into a deeper sleep. 

Carefully, he eased his arm under her, and lifted her slightly, further back across the bed to stop as she snuggled in, sighing his name. He relaxed and closed her eyes. Of course that would have to change, he smiled to himself. 

His little princess would need to learn to share.

Automatically the shades rose as the sunlight hit the right spot to lighten the rooms. 

Lottie stirred awake feeling warm and rested, running her hand over the silky material of the pillow to still because she was feeling something completely different. Warm rock solid flesh and muscle. Daring not to move, she dared a peek to find herself practically spread across Zaid, her head on his shoulder, and arm across his broad chest, one leg over his legs to feel soft material. 

So not completely naked.

Her eyes drifted over to the bedside clock to see the time to frown. Why hadn't her alarm gone off? To sum up the situation. He needed to sleep, and she was asleep in his bed. Nothing happened, so if she just wiggled out without waking him, it wouldn't be an awkward situation. 

She stayed where she was just enjoying being in his arm. Yes, his arm was around her, so she can't move without waking him. So the conclusion was to close her eyes, pretend to be asleep, and enjoy it. She did, just listening to his soft breathing. The feel of his moving chest under her splayed hand. He was so alive, warm, and sound asleep.

"You know princess you need to learn to share a bed," came a deep sleepy voice as he rolled taking her into his arms. Her eyes flew open to stare into his chest.

She licked suddenly dry lips. "I wasn't expecting company," she whispered huskily.

"Really? My bed and you weren't expecting company," he drawled. Her head tilted back further, meeting his gaze. His dark, smouldering gaze pierced through her, melting her insides into a liquid fire of wanton need. She swallowed hard.

"My alarm didn't go off," she said weakly.

A dark brow rose. "Alarm? You had set a time aside for us?"

Her cheeks burned bright red. "Zaid," she growled to be laughed at. "Oh, you're impossible." This time she sat up, raking her hands through her messy hair, and turned her head, spotting the watch on the bedside table. "You turned it off. Why would you do that?"

"Because we both needed sleep," he lifted a hand, touching her hair. "And you do need to learn to share a bed." She looked around them, seeing she had most of the bed, and he had a very small portion.

"Sorry. it won't happen again," she stated, then blushed, realising how that sounded. "You know what I mean." She reached across, removed her watch, leaning against him, where his arm trap her against him. Her eyes shot up towards him.

"Depends if you mean not to share my bed again, or you would share it more generously, and I do prefer the latter." Her lips parted too close, because she had no answer for that, and did like being in his arms like this. Pressed hard against his chest. 

"And we are behind closed doors," he pointed out. Light fingers now caressed the back of her head, guiding her closer to his. Her gaze rested on his full inviting lips, lowering closer hesitating just over them. Only to jerk back at the sudden alarm beeping on his watch. "Too late now," he released her, sitting up and pushing both hands through his hair then tossed back the bedding, swung his legs out and stood. "I have important calls to make. See to my coffee."

She nodded, unable to find her voice, greatly disappointed. A missed opportunity, one she won't miss again if given the chance, suddenly feeling teary-eyed. She sat up, finding herself in the middle of the bed, wiggling across to the other side to stand and run her hands down over her creased kaftan. 

She sat back down, not sure what was wrong with her, raking her hands through her hair.

Damn it all, she wanted to kiss him.

Once more on her feet, she circled the bed and went to him, planting her lips on his to be taken into his arms as they hungrily explored each other. He press her up against the wardrobe, taking her hands in his to hold above her head as he devoured her with his mouth, parting her lips with his tongue, plunging in deeply, holding her against the wardrobe door with his body. Only to pull back sharply as the second alarm went off. 

"Princess your timing stinks. I have to go." He growled, kissing her again, then walked away, leaving the bedroom, half-dressed.

Breathing laboured, she held the door handle for support, until her racing heart, and heaving chest came back under control, removing a robe, went after him, passed to him in passing, and went to see to his coffee. 

Far too early for the staff. 

She made a pact with him a long time ago on flights like this she would see to his needs, if he had early calls to make, like now. After all, it was only five-thirty in the morning. The staff needed their sleep as well. There were sleeping quarters down the next level where the kitchens were, and all the food was stored.

Coming back with his coffee, she placed down a cup, and a plunger at the table at his side to plunge then poured him a cup. She straightened to spot Josh stretched out on the sofa just covered by a blanket. She went back to the bedroom to straighten the bed and sheets, then woke Josh and told him to use the bed. 

 He would be more comfortable and give Zaid the privacy he needed.

Josh left yawning, while she went back to Zaid, who stood so she move in beside him seated behind the table, pouring her cup while he made his morning calls. She just made sure his cup was refilled quite contented sitting there. Once he was done with the calls he left, collected his laptop and leave his phone behind, coming back to settle in and opened his laptop. 

"You didn't tell me someone was sleeping in my bed," he noted dryly.

She snuggled back up against his arm, eyes closing. "I forgot. More comfortable than the sofa and you have your privacy."

"I didn't realise I had a community bed."

She yawned. "The other one was taken. Okay, no community bed."

"There are only two people allowed in that bed," he growled. 

She nodded, snuggling in as he worked. He glanced briefly across to see her eyes closed and was drifting off to sleep as she always did, at his side. He had his fill of coffee for now. The second one would be with breakfast, glancing at his watch. 

A couple of hours to see to Palace business. She never left his side to lean in, kissing the top of her head, receiving a sigh. He went back to give it his full attention, time meaning nothing to him as they flew through the skies.

"Is there anything I can do?" A soft voice asked beside him breaking his concentration. Zaid glanced across towards Charlotte, who was sleeping, head against his arm, pointing at his coffee. Christine started to push the attendant's button. "What are you doing?" he asked stopping her in mid-push to cancel.

"Seeing to that," she pointed at the empty cup and plunger, shaking his head.

"Not for another half an hour. Just refill the plunger," he stated. "Never mind," he said as Charlotte stirred against him. "Would you see to the coffee?" he asked softly.

"Of course," she smiled to sit up, and stretched lazily, then gathered the plunger and coffee cup to stand, and eased past pairs of legs, since Christine had sat down in the opposite seat.

"I would have done it," she argued. "I didn't know the staff had a knockoff time."

Zaid waved that away. "Charlotte's idea."

"Anyway I know how he likes it," Lottie added. "Do you want breakfast, now or later?"

He glanced at his watch. "Now." She wandered off down the plane towards the front, and take the elevator down into the kitchen, seeing about his breakfast and coffee without waking the staff only to find Vicky already awake, dressed and making coffee.

"Can you see to some breakfast for Zaid?" She went to fill his plunger with new coffee, followed by hot water, taking back upstairs, settling into her seat before plunging down the coffee and pouring it into a new clean cup, and handed across. Christine gone. "Brekkie is on the way. Vicky is up," she answered at his arched brow, receiving a nod. "I'm going to have a shower is there anything else you need?"

"You tell me."

She stood to leave. "I'll grab your phone on the way back." After his morning calls, he put them away so as not to be disturbed, until after he had eaten and concentrated on emails and palace business through the Internet. Morning routine, as long as she could remember, was something she learnt very quickly. He grabbed her hand and brought up to his lips and kissed it.

"Make it quick or I'll be forced to join you."

"Oh, don't tempt me," she laughed, blushing as his eyes rose to hers, breaking his concentration. He shut down his laptop to her disbelief, and placed in her seat to gasp as he stood in front of her.

"Shall we," he asked.

Her eyes widened to stare at him shocked. "Zaid," she gasped, looking around to see if anyone had heard. Josh was at the back on his laptop head down, earplugs in. No sign of Christine, so probably changing, getting ready for the day. Lottie looked back at him to have him brush her bottom lip with his thumb. She swayed closer, drawn, shaking her head.

"Then you shouldn't tease a man Charlotte," he said sitting back down, and removed his coffee to sip at.

She bent down to kiss his cheek. "You started it. I'm just going to go, and soap myself," she added, walking away, having dark eyes follow her until she disappeared out of sight. 

Shaking his head as he drank from his coffee which would hopefully calm down his raging hormones. He smiled to himself. 

It was time to finally move on.

Stage two of his plan.

Flying into Greece, they caught a smaller plane to one of the islands, caught a launch and headed towards his super yacht. This three-level huge hotel on water 200ft yacht with crisp clean white lines, and dark long curved windows. 

Lottie practically leapt off the launch, rushing ahead to weave her way into a super luxurious clean look to be followed by Zaid, who stopped shoving hands into his pants pockets. The robe was replaced by dark pants and a white polo top.

Lottie grabbed at Zaid's arm. "This is amazing," she gasped. "A floating palace. It reminds me of home."

"Your or mine?" he teased.

"As if. Yours, of course, oh, Zaid, it's so beautiful." She sighed, realising how much she missed the palace. It had the same calming effort on her and then realised what she had been hankering for. The Palace. They had been travelling so much lately. It was like stepping back home. His home to finally feel at peace. She turned to him. "You didn't tell me about this," she pointed out. Melbourne had changed her to find her voice finally. "Oh, I'm going to love it here," she practically bounced up and down on the spot. "And I'm still on holiday," she practically squealed.

"Perhaps we can discuss that," Zaid suggested.

"Nope, two weeks in heaven." She turned to him. "Where do I sleep?"

"Charlotte."

"Ask Chrissy, it's her job," she waved away to let him go and entered further into one of three saloons. She swung around, beaming at him. "And I'm a guest!"

"One that could be deported," he growled.

"No, she won't," she laughed, swirling around. "It's so you." She raced across to throw her arms around his neck, taking him aback. "Thank you, Zaid for all this, for doing this."

"What did I do?" he asked stunned, his hands now resting on her waist.

"For bringing me home," she sighed. "I thought I was lost, now I'm found. The grass is never greener on the other side, which has nothing to do with money. It's about how one perceives how the other lives. No matter where you work, or what you do it would always get to you in some way. I had to go home, to finally see I had it all in the first place. I want to settle Zaid, just settle in life. Be settled, and I think for the first time in my life I am."

"What as my guest?" he asked amused.

She looked at him seriously. "No," she answered honestly. "With you, you make me settled. It doesn't matter about the contract anymore. Okay, so I might have two years of life, but I feel settled. I have been waiting all my life for that. Finally, I do. I fit in. Are you going to give me a private tour?" she asked hopefully. 

He stepped away from her hold as he heard voices.

"Later," he promised turning as Christine and Josh entered.

Playfully she tipped-toed his back with walking fingers. "I'm keeping you to that your sheikhdomship."

"Charlotte," he hissed.

"Yes, your sheikhdomship?" she asked resting her chin on his shoulder.

"Why do I put up with you?"

"Because you love me."

"Not at the moment."

"Ah, so you do," she teased easing back. "Where is my room?" she asked with glee.

He turned to her his eyes dark. "With the crew."

Her eyes widened. "That could be fun," knowing no such thing. "Then again," she tapped a finger against her chin, eyes bright. "I'm the guest," she leaned in closer to whisper in his ear. "She's the crew."

"Behave yourself, princess." He straightened. "Make yourself at home while I show Miss Johnson where she is staying." 

Oops in the bad books but she felt a little bit naughty today. 

He started it by kissing her on the plane, sharing his bed, and sleeping in his arms.

Time to play with her boss.