"I have a right to see her," Josh enforced. "I'm not the only one to blame for this," he added angrily. Zaid stood on guard at the door as Charlotte stirred at his voice.

Zaid stepped into the corridor, closing the door behind him. "And Charlotte needs rest. Haven't you caused enough trouble? I'm not talking about the accident. You would leave Charlotte alone, keep your distance, or I would forcibly remove you from my yacht, and send you home."

"Why don't you, now? Why? Because Lottie won't let you," he gloated.

"Must I remind you, you're a guest on my yacht who can be removed, and flown out anytime I desire? Out of respect for Charlotte, I haven't, however, keep on this path of destruction, and I will. As for visitors, she isn't up to having any at this time. When she is, you will be let known, now go," he waved away in dismissal, going back in to see to Charlotte. 

The real pain and soreness were kicking in. One side of her body was black and blue. He settled at her side on the bed as gently as possible, since any sort of movement caused her pain. It would ease.

The only relief, she could get sometimes was through tears of pain that broke his heart. One thing was for sure they were both to blame. Leaning over her, he kissed her forehead. He won't lose her, and things had escalated beyond his control. 

He hated that. Control had to be kept. 

Closing his eyes, he re-visioned the moment she fell in front of oncoming traffic. The high-pitched, squealing tyres. The screams as he took to his feet, pounding ground, ordering people aside, skidding to a stop, and dropping down at her side to frantically do a medical check, seeing if anything was broken.

Thankful for his military training, he knew what to do, and what to look for. He might be royalty, but he knew what to do. How to look after the men in his charge and his family. No matter what, Charlotte was his family, and things were spiralling out of control, and had to be stopped. 

He pressed his lips onto her cheek. "I won't leave you."

Pushing back her fringe, Zaid pressed ever so tenderly, his lips on the discolouring of her skin, brushing across the gravel damage with the touch of butterfly wings, pressed kisses down her cheek, where she had hit the road. Dark purple. He traced fingers along her jaw, tilting her face towards his caressing touch.

"Are you going to kiss all my boo-boos away," she sighed.

"If it will help," he offered, his warm breath feathered against her skin to sigh.

"Working already." Her eyes opened a darker blue through pain and medicine. 

The swelling had gone down, her eye just blackened, to smile as he looked down upon her with his softened gaze. Lifting her good hand, she brushed fingers down his shirted rock-hard abs. Tiredly, she closed her eyes, turning her cheek onto the pillow. 

The pain killers, and shock, were taking their toll. 

He hated seeing her like this. His sweet innocent Charlotte. How had it come to this?

Maybe coming here hadn't been such a good idea after all. 

Perhaps he should've taken her back home, shaking his head. Now, he was second-guessing himself, something he never did. He eased back, watching her sleep. A sleeping angel. Chestnut hair spilt across the white pillow like a halo around her pale face that made her bruises stand out more. 

The not-so-deep bruising, already yellowing. He would have to rethink the whole situation. Christine and Josh were becoming more of a problem than he liked. He had to change that, but how? Standing, he paced his bedroom while Charlotte slept. He paused by a window, staring out across the waters, hands behind his back. 

For now, she would stay here undisturbed, and recuperate in peace.

After dining with his guests, and passing on a progress report, Zaid went back to his patient to find her awake, hungry, and grumpy. He rearrange the pillows, then helped her to sit up more, wincing in pain. "Sorry."

She slipped her good arm around his neck, placing more weight on her good side. "Not your fault. I mean it Zaid, not your fault. I did this, not you, or Josh." She turned her head slightly, pressing her lips onto his cheek. 

There was so much she wanted to say, but dare not to. Not sure he would believe her. She had no understanding of Josh's move on her, tearing up again because it had put a wedge between them. 

Zaid refused to talk about it. He just saw her needs, so impersonally that it broke her heart.

"We need to see to bathing you." Her eyes widened as he eased her back into the pillows, higher up so he could hand feed her.

"I'm sure I would survive," she said, swallowing hard. 

Swimming in bathers, and sharing kisses was different from being naked in front of him. There was no way she would ask Christine to help. She would probably drown her. Would Zaid? 

"You wouldn't, would you?" she asked softly, thinking out loud.

"What's that Charlotte?"

"Drown me?"

He looked at her strangely. "Do I have a reason to?" She gulped to say no. He frowned. "Then why ask?"

"I was thinking if Christine offered it probably be to drown me."

He smiled. "Probably, so we won't ask, would we?" He eased her back into the pillows to take away the tray and place it on a table. "Tomorrow, it would help with the stiffness. After breakfast." 

Oh great now she had the rest of today, and the night to think about being naked in front of him. "Unless you feel up to it now?" She moaned. Instantly he was at her side, leaning over her, searching. "Charlotte are you alright?" She nodded to have hair brushed from her forehead and kissed. Then he stood, shifting the bedding over her. "Sleep. I'd come back later," he promised. 

Her eyes closed, drifting off to sleep.

Zaid stayed at her side, laptop on his lap to work through the day, and night as she slept. He keeps a vigilant eye on her. Not sure all this sleeping was good. Or the idea of bathing her, but what choice did he have? 

It would help with the healing. He would just have to keep his distance to laugh at himself. Yeah, that would be so easy. He worked long into the night, hoping, being too tired, would help to finally fall asleep at her side.

After breakfast as promised, he run the large spa bath of marble, situated in the middle of the marble bathroom, adding lots of bubble baths, salts, and oils. Designed to soothe the skin, and hopefully her aching muscles. 

Now, the interesting part, is that she looked like a scared rabbit under headlights, sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for his return. His innocent. Taking a deep breath, he went towards her to focus on the task at hand, not the innocent beauty under his care. 

He gathered her nighty to ease out from her bottom and started lifting.

"I'm not sure this is such a good idea," she pointed out since he had made himself her chief nurse. Suddenly undressed, blushing profusely as he removed her nighty then followed by her panties and swept her up into his arms, and held her against his body as she twisted into him, crossing her legs. "I'm sure this isn't protocol."

"Charlotte enough. I'm only seeing to your needs, not seducing you," he growled impatiently. She buried her face into his neck. "Are you peeking?" Lottie asked as he lowered her into the bubbly soapy spa that covered her as she was placed into the warm water.

"I have to see what I'm doing," he stated. "And I have seen a naked woman's body before."

"Oh great, well, not mine," she huffed.

"Near enough. Stop fussing, bathing would help with the healing." She slipped further down into the water. Zaid's arm went around her waist, holding her steady and stopping her from going under. Desperately, she clutched at his rolled back-shirted arm.

"Perhaps you're the one that needs to strip," she suggested since the top part of his shirt was wet.

"Now you wouldn't be propositioning me, Charlotte?" he asked in a teasing manner. She shook her head, still clutching at his arm around her waist. He frowned. "Would you feel safer, if I joined you?" 

She looked up into his eyes, chewing her bottom lip to nod. The surface of the spa was slippery and only had one arm to keep her in place. 

Also, her confidence had been knocked around as well.

He helped her into the middle of the spa to sit up straighter, turning his back to her, stripped down, then eased into the water behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist, guiding her back against his chest, and supporting her back. 

His hand firmly splayed around her waist, settled between his legs. Lifting his right leg to support her side. Sighing, she rested her head against his broad shoulder, never feeling safer as she did right now.

"I didn't peek," she smiled.

"A pity," come dryly.

"Zaid," come back shocked to amused laughter.

"Quite correct, we don't want to shock our innocent." A finger caressed back and forth across her midriff. "Do I need to soap you?" he inquired, his voice husky.

"I think there is enough soap in the water."

"Coward," he whispered against her ear. "I was aiming to keep your modesty."

"Says the man, who stripped me, put me in the spa, stripped and joined me."

"Who was asked to join her."

"You asked," she pointed out smugly to have her hair brushed back from her face by his other wet hand. 

Pressing his lips onto her neck as his hold tightened around her waist. His fingers stroked her cheek to caress, and guide her to him to softly cover her lips with his own. The bubbling water soothed her everywhere. The heat made it easier to move to twist around, opening to him, placing her hand on his stubble jaw, surprisingly soft, not hard bristles to caress over with her fingers. 

His hand skimmed up to cup and held her in his hand, running the pad of his thumb over a peaked nipple as his tongue flicked across her bottom lip to dip in deeper and slide across her tongue, drawing her out to play with him. 

His other leg curled around hers as she twisted around more, wrapping her arm around his neck to hold herself up against his chest, feeling his reaction against her thigh tremble in his arms. She should be shocked. She should be stopping this, but this was Zaid, not just her boss, but a man. Her arm tightened around his neck, pulled up hard against his chest. 

Water lapped against them only to wince in his mouth as she stretched too far. 

Instantly he pulled back.

"Charlotte?" he asked with so much concern, it melted her heart.

"I'm fine," she eased up against him.

He took a deep breath, dropping his hand to hold her against his chest with both of his arms. "You might be fine, but I am not," he muttered under his breath, hadn't been for a long time. Her hand had dropped from his face to his chest, looking up into his dark, smouldering eyes that burned into her soul,  running a hand over his rock-hard muscle-ripped biceps.

"You certainly work out."

"With good reason," his voice growled deeper. She shifted around more face to face, front to front. Her breasts were against his chest as her hand skimmed up to his neck to pull him back down to her as a leg eased between hers, bringing up his leg to slide down. He softly ran his fingers down her back, easing up harder against his chest. "I didn't plan this Charlotte," he moaned against her softened lips. 

Her other arm went around his neck, lifting her higher against him.

"It's been too long."

"I know, far too long," to hungrily devour each other in passion. 

Hands caressing, bodies crushed, against each other, then he was lifting her of the spa's water to have water rippled down her body breaking free to kiss her breasts all over. She gasped her breasts reacting, swelling at his touch, nipples peaked as his tongue flicked over, then took first one, followed by the other into his hot wet mouth.  

She arched back into his mouth to suckle deeper, greedily into his mouth as cold air heightened the other, clenching between her legs. His name was on her lips as she trembled with reaction. 

A mixture of shock, intense pleasure, wanting more, groaning deeper as he went back to the other one. Cold air wash over her wet warm nibble to shudder, warm water lapping around them. A mixture of hot and cold intensive the sensations of what he was doing to her inflamed body of wanton desire. 

One arm went around her back to hold her in place, while the other had dropped to knead a contour of her bottom, pressing her hard against him as she moved against his leg, never knowing such sensations before. 

"No," he pulled back breathing laboured as was hers, chest heaving to slide further back into the spa. "No more before it goes too far," he whispered gathering her against him, holding her in his arms. "I think that's enough for now," he barely whispered.

Her arms tightened around his neck, face on his shoulder as her body hummed, shaking her head. She couldn't move, even if she wanted to. Her breasts still ached, nipples super sensitive, pressed against his chest. His reaction was hard against her thigh. She slipped further down his body, water lapping over them. 

She wanted to feel his length against her, between her legs.

His fingers stroked between her legs instead, pulsating her hub, moaning as he slipped in between her folds deeper. She gasped and groaned biting her lips as he stroked her deeper to shudder reaching up to bring his head down to kiss him hungrily. Her body slammed, wave after wave of pleasure, collapsing against him, breathing ragged. His hand eased away, caressing over her hip, resting lightly there until she calmed down. 

"Time to leave princess," he kissed her softly, then eased her off him to sit up as he removed himself from the spa. 

This time she did peek to enjoy his delicious, rock-hard body, and he was all male. 

From his jet black hair, strong jawline, defined chest down to a taped waistline, long masculine legs, and everything in between, hard, powerful and so damn gorgeous. He walked out, claiming a towel and drying himself on the way, not bothering to hide anything from her. S

he gulped at the size of him.

Once dressed, he came back to lift her out of the bath. He placed her on a seat and wrap her in a towel, around her sudden trembling body, clutching at the towel, cheeks burning. Very aware of what they had shared as Zaid grabbed another towel to place over his shoulder, then went back to Charlotte, who was hovered under the towel.

He scooped her up into his arms and carried them back to the bedroom, where he placed her down on the bed, only to disappear again to return with an oversized super thick, white bathrobe to wrap around her. 

Lottie slipped her arms through the sleeves as Zaid eased the towel free to leave with it. The bath had made her more flexible, easing under the bed covers. Zaid come back with a fresh towel, settled behind her, eased her wet hair from the bathrobe, and began drying.

"Who would have thought it," she sighed, closing her eyes, tilting her head back as his fingers, massaged her scalp through the towel.

"What is that?"

"Someone like you seeing to my needs,"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're a prince, and usually everyone else is seeing to your needs," she pointed out. He tilted her head back further to kiss her forehead.

"Something that you used to do," he noted.

She twisted towards him, eyes wide. "I did try to, but you won't let me." A dark brow arched. "Okay, I can't at the moment, but before the accident, I did try to get back in but..."

"And have you complained I never give you holidays? I think not. From now on you would take your weeks' leave when due."

Her lips pursed and eyes narrowed, not amused. "Why are you always trying to get rid of me? You never used to."

"And you never used to have hissy fits, so that makes us even." Dropping the towel around her neck he pulled her closer to kiss her. "I think we can find some way to compromise, don't you?' he teased against her soft, yielding mouth.

She sighed. "Always the negotiator."

"It's what I do, isn't it? Now do you want to sit up for a while or more rest?"

"I want to hear more about this compromise, like what?"

He smiled, brushing back her hair from her face as she snuggled up against him. "Like we have holidays together."

Her eyes widened with interest. "Like this one?" she asked.

"Yes like this one, but alone and every year, however, you would have to fit into my schedule."

"I think I can deal with that," she smiled grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling him to her. "I think we will rest here," she sighed against his sensual full lips.

He groaned easing her back into the bed. "I don't see any form of rest happening," he noted though gave in her wishes for a very long time. 

He saw to all her needs personally, even spent a leisurely lunch together, and then she fell asleep in his arms. Closing his eyes, he just enjoyed the feel of her in his arms, where she belonged. 

Now the question was what to do about Josh Sinclair.

The bath did help, and none were offered again to have showers instead. 

Zaid was close at hand but kept his distance. 

As they travelled from one Island to another island, heading towards Greece, her strength returned and wasn't as so stiff and sore. Zaid allowed her to have short stints outside to get some rays into her body though under the shade. 

Using a bikini that was easier to put on than a one-piece, she even used the outside pool or spa while Zaid worked at her side, usually seated in a lounge chair. She shifted to the edge of the spa resting her chin on crossed arms to watch him work. Josh and Christine had gone ashore to go sightseeing. 

"Zaid?"

"Yes," he asked without looking across.

"Can you order some coffee, and sandwiches or something to eat out here?" He nodded, reaching for his phone, calling the kitchen to ease back in his seat, and ran a hand through his hair. He ordered enough for two. He glanced across.

"Are you coming out?"

She shook her head. "Why don't you join me? I think your fingers need a break. You have been at it all day. You can just strip here to save time," she suggested tongue-in-cheek.

"Don't push it Charlotte, and you're feeling better," he noted, shutting down the lid of the laptop. He stood to remove his top and pants and went to the spa, lowering in.

"That's cheating," she said pointing at his bathers.

He smiled as he eased down to join her at her side. "I can't have my little princess getting too excited, now can I?" He leaned back, enjoying the warm, bubbling water, easing his body into relaxing mode. Charlotte eased closer to his side, placing her hand on his shoulder, and pressing her body into him.

"You work too hard Zaid. You're supposed to be on holiday."

He crossed his arms, across his broad chest, eyeing her sideways. "My holiday finished the day of the accident Charlotte. We're only still here, because you're not fit enough to travel, when you are, we are out of here."

"I'm not so sore, and have good flexibly."

"Do you want to go home Charlotte?" he asked softly.

"I do, with you."

He nodded. "Then it shall be done. When they come back, we would head straight to Greece." He cupped her chin in his hand, leaning in to kiss her, long and slow. She shifted to lean against him and be folded into his arms. 

Sighing, she melted against him just savouring him, where they shared coffee and food.

The empty cups and plates beside the spa, Zaid lifted her out of the spa, carrying her over to a lounge chair to settle her down, settling down behind her, removing a towel. One of many around the area to see to her needs of drying, then wrapped around her, easing her back against his chest to just hold, where she fell asleep in his arms. 

Not completely recovered.

With ease, Zaid lifted her into his arms and carried her back inside, and back to her room, where she had been for the last couple of days. Had to be for his peace of mind, and body. She was just too tempting in his bed, now that she was on the mend. 

He removed her bikini to slip a loose nighty over her, eased the bedding back to slip her in, and covered her, kissing her cheek. Her hair was still wet. Retrieving a towel from her bathroom, he placed it under her head, then left to go back to his work. 

Waiting for the return of the others to tell them they were heading to Greece, then take a flight to his home. Josh would be shipped home until needed.

The following morning Lottie, after a shower, changed into her full piece, and a light,  bright caftan, heading out to join the others for breakfast only to find Josh. She crossed over to the buffet to help herself to the offered breakfast, ranging from eggs to tomatoes, and everything else between, filling a plate, adding toast to go to join him at the table.

 Very aware of being watched the whole time.

"It's good to see you up and about," he greeted.

She smiled taking a seat on the opposite side. "I'm feeling more like my old self."

"Good." There was no returning smile.

"So where is everyone?"

A dark brow arched. "You're telling me you don't know where the big man is?" he asked astonished. "I thought you were chained to his hip."

Her brows furrowed together. "Zaid has been looking after me. Now I'm better, and back in my room. May I remind you, you're here in his good graces, and working for him." 

She removed a fork to stab at her poached egg, added sauce and dipped in her toast to bite into. Now she wished she had gone on deck, where she had shared her breakfast with Zaid the other day to tingle all over. 

It all seemed so long ago. 

The trip to their private cove. Vegging out, watching movies. She sighed because she didn't want to fight with Josh. They had been good friends, even after her crush. When had it gone all wrong? 

That's right when he kissed her. 

"Why did you kiss me, Josh," she said softly, pushing her plate away. Losing her appetite, she stood, holding the back of the chair.

"You got a reaction," Josh pointed out. She stilled, glaring at him.

"Yeah, a black and blue one all over," she snapped. "You had no right to do that."

"Why not? He's your boss, Lottie. You're not involved, are you?" Pushing away his own nearly, finished plate, he also stood and moved towards her.

Colour flooded her cheeks. "Of course not, don't be silly. But Zaid comes from a different culture. Affections in public aren't done, and as for him being a prince, I have to set a good example, and you kissing me like that, makes it look bad for him. You had no right to do that. I didn't ask, or wanted you to."

"How things have changed."

"Yes, they had. I grew up. I highly regard Zaid, and won't have you show him up in any way, in public."

"Maybe, but his reaction was over the top Lottie. Ask yourself why. He doesn't own you, you're not his property, even if he thinks he does. He made it very clear to me that you were off-limits. Did you know that?"

Interest stirred in her. "Did he?" Interesting. He had been kissing her a lot. Then again, no talk about commitment. No, just a new contract. Confused, she turned away, hugging her arms in protection. 

"Even so, you still had no right to do that, especially if you wanted to work for him. It would be silly to lose a contract, just to get a reaction from him. Good heaven I have no idea why you would." She turned back to him. "I had to fight to keep you here, so don't ever do that to me again. I think it's best if we keep our distance, don't you?"

Shaking his head Josh closed the distance to have her put more distance between them. "What hold does he have over you?"

"None whatsoever."

"So you race after him like a devoted puppy because you're a lovesick puppy?"

"Why are doing this to me? I thought you were my friend. Why are you deliberately causing strife between me and my boss?"

"Wake up and smell the roses. He would never marry anyone like you," he spat in frustration, spun on his heels and stormed out. Lottie sunk into a chair, taking a shaky breath, because what he said was true, yet he made her so happy. 

There would be distance, and she would make sure of it.

She won't lose Zaid.