Page 35 of The Sheik's Kiss

“I’m sorry,” he whispered into her ear. He’d have to be the ultimate husband going forward for his plan to work. “I was a bastard and you deserve better.”

Mitla closed her diary and turned, smiling up at him. “You are a wonderful husband,” she whispered and kissed him. But her worried eyes examined him carefully. “But you are tired. You need food. I made your favorite,” she said softly and pulled out of his arms to stand up. “Give me five minutes and your dinner will be ready.”

Hasan sat down, his finger tapping against the polished wood of the kitchen table. Her diary sat alone and unprotected on the table. What had the bitch been writing? He wanted to pull the diary closer, to read through her notes and discover her thoughts. But that would have to wait until tonight. Later, after he made love to her, he’d sneak downstairs and read through her diary.

Chapter 10

Mandy woke with a start, not sure where she was. Again. But as soon as her eyes opened, memories from the previous night came rushing back. Every wild, lust-filled moment of the previous twelve hours replayed behind her eyes.

Including Zahir’s proposal!

“No!” she whispered, shifting and stretching her legs out. Every part of her was sore, but not in a bad way. She felt as if she’d just gone through a luxurious work out and all of her muscles, muscles that she wasn’t used to working, were crying out in response to even the slightest movement.

Zahir had made love to her so many times over the past several hours, she wasn’t exactly sure when one session with him ended and the next began.

Wait, no, that wasn’t right. She knew exactly how it had ended. Every time. Every mind-bending, heart-melting climax had been brought from her body. Even now, her hand trembled as she lifted her arm, pushing her tangled hair out of her eyes.

Looking around, she realized that she was in his bed. Again! Hadn’t she done this yesterday? Was every morning going to be like this? It was like a lust-filled Ground Hog Day!

Not that she was complaining.

Wait, should she complain? Last night…he’d proposed to her! Zahir had demanded that she marry him! He hadn’t stopped teasing her, driving her wild, until she promised to marry him!

Looking down at her hand, she realized that there was an enormous diamond twinkling in the sunshine. Was it real? “Impossible!” she whispered. “This can’t be real.”

“It’s real,” Zahir’s deep, sexy voice announced as he strode into the bedroom looking fresh and alive. He came around the bed and sat down. Mandy shifted her legs out of the way only moments before he sat down next to her. “How are you feeling this morning?”

She bit her lip, her hand still holding the sheet against her nakedness. “Vulnerable,” she finally answered. “Confused.” She lifted her eyes, staring straight into his. “What happened last night?”

Zahir’s mouth twisted into a grimace. “I…uh,” he started to explain, then stopped, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was a bit possessed, I think.” Shaking away his amused confusion, Zahir moved forward, gently kissing her. Thankfully, it was just a soft brush against her mouth before he pulled away. “I…needed your acquiesce.”

She pondered that reply for a moment, then shook her head. “I thought that I was here in Sidrina to help you narrow down the choices for your fiancée. Raven and I were hired, by you, I might add, to help you investigate other women.”

He smiled and brushed his fingers over her forehead, brushing her tangled hair out of her eyes. “That’s true. I hired you for your professional expertise.”

“So…shouldn’t you be looking for someone else?”

“I was,” he replied honestly. “But then I got to know you.” He took her hand, his thumb rubbing over the diamond ring. “Admit it, you were attracted to me from the beginning.”

She bit her lip, not wanting to admit anything. She was too confused and, if she were being honest with herself, and him, she felt a little…betrayed. “I admit I find you attractive, Zahir.” She put a finger to his lips before he could speak. “But don’t you see what you’ve done?” Mandy pulled her finger away. “You manipulated this situation to suit your own needs.”

“How did I do that?” he asked. “By making love to you? By challenging you to admit that you feel something more than just professional courtesy for me?” He tilted his head slightly. “I don’t think that was manipulation as much as it was asking you to be honest with yourself and with me.”

She sighed. “That sounds…like you’ve tied everything up with a nice, pink bow, Zahir.”

“Are you denying the attraction?”

“No,” she grumbled and looked around. The bedroom truly was magnificent. And decadent. The man had a bedroom that would have fit into any erotic dream. “No, after last night, I can’t deny that I am very attracted to you. In fact, I’d offer that it’s significantly more than mere attraction.” Mandy wasn’t sure about her feelings for the man, but she hadn’t had time to evaluate what she was feeling. “However, please don’t dismiss my other feelings.”

“You feel betrayed.”

Mandy tugged the sheet higher over her nakedness. “Yes. I think so.”

He nodded as if contemplating her response. “What else?”

She sighed, leaning back against the pillows. “I…I’m not sure, Zahir. Confusion? A sensation of being overwhelmed? I’ve only been here in Sidrina for two weeks. Last night you proposed to me, and yet, you’re still a mystery to me.”

Thankfully, he wasn’t offended by her comment. In fact, he nodded as if she’d just relayed something very wise. “So, we will spend more time with each other and get to know one another more thoroughly.”

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