Page 36 of The Sheik's Kiss

Mandy bit her lip, worried about her next statement. But it had to be said. “I think I should head home. Give these feelings some time to simmer, and give me some time to process what’s going on.”

“No!” he snapped and stood up. Zahir took several steps away from the bed, then ran a hand through his hair with obvious frustration. “Mandy, I know that this,” he waved his hand in the air, “is all…a bit much for you.” He paced a bit, then turned to look at her again. “I didn’t bring you here under false pretenses. I genuinely believed that you and Raven could help me find someone that would eventually become my wife.”

“And?”

“And that’s exactly what both of you did for me.” He turned to face her, fisting his hands on his hips. “I can’t date, Mandy. I can’t just go on dating sites and meet other women. They have to come to me. I meet thousands of people every year. Beautiful women throw themselves at me, not because of who I am, but because of what I am. Those women don’t want me, they want the wealth that will make their lives more comfortable.”

“I understand that,” she replied, her heart aching for the outraged man standing in front of her now.

“Do you?” he challenged. “Do you really?”

“I think I do.”

“So when I tell you that I have…feelings for you. That you are the woman that I want to spend the rest of my life with. That I want to make you happy and give you as much pleasure as you will allow me to provide, do you understand what that means?”

She swallowed, startled by this declaration. “I don’t think that I do.”

He glared at her for a long moment, then his anger melted away. “My life isn’t what you think it is, Mandy. And you don’t understand that. You can’t even grasp what it is like to be in my world.”

“That’s true enough.”

“So, why don’t we compromise?” he offered, coming closer again.

“What are you offering?” she asked, tightening the sheet over her body.

“Stay here with me. Stay here and get to know me. Let me get to know you.” He leaned forward, bracing a fist on the bed, on either side of her hips as he gazed into her eyes. “Run your business from here in Sidrina. Let me show you what we could have together. What it could be like between us.” He pushed away. “If you don’t want me after you get to know me, the real man behind the title and the power, then you can leave.”

She tilted her head, trying to decipher what he wasn’t telling her. There was more to his words, but he was a master of diplomacy. Plus, she could see something in his eyes. Something that warned her that there was a whole lot more to his offer than she understood.

And her heart ached. She wanted to be with him. She wanted to get to know the real man.

She glanced down at the ring, admiring the diamond, but shook her head. “If I stay, then I want to finish investi…” She stopped, her eyes startled. “The file folder I had last night,” she gasped. “Where is it?”

“There’s a file folder on the coffee table out in the living room,” he offered. “Is that more important than what we’re discussing now?”

She shook her head and looked around. “I need clothes,” she muttered.

“Why?” he asked. When she looked up at him, there was amusement in his eyes and those lips, lips that knew how to do things to her that, even now, caused her stomach to twist with need and desire.

When a dark eyebrow lifted, she pulled her thoughts back from the brink of need. Shaking her head, she tried to focus. “I need to put some clothes on so that I can tell you what I’ve found. I need to show you something.”

He stared at her for another long moment, then shrugged. Turning, he walked through a set of doors, then came back with a robe. “Will this do?”

She nodded, taking it from him and slipping her arms into the sleeves. “While I show you what I discovered, is there any way I could get something to eat?” she asked. She tied the belt and tried to shove the sleeves higher onto her arms. But the silk wouldn’t cooperate. “You made me skip dinner last night and I’m starving.”

He chuckled and pulled her into his arms. “Promise that you’ll stay and I’ll feed you.”

She rolled her eyes, but lifted onto her toes to kiss him. “You’ll feed me even if I don’t stay. You’re a good man, Zahir.”

He thought about that for a moment, then tilted his head. “That’s a good start.” He sighed and released her. “Show me what you discovered, woman. Then I’m taking that robe off of you and–”

“You’re keeping your hands to yourself, Sheik Man!” she warned him, lifting her forefinger to admonish him. “I don’t think my body can stand another round just yet. You’re a very physical lover.”

He chuckled again, then followed her out of the bedroom. Sure enough, the file folder was sitting exactly where he’d tossed it last night.

He sat down next to her as she flipped through the file folder, his arm moving to curl around her back. Unconsciously, Mandy leaned into him, snuggling against his side as she placed the folder half on his lap and half on her own.

“Yesterday, I was searching through several of your directors, as you asked me to do. I found something interesting.”

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