Page 40 of Her Older Sheikh

Why, God?

Why must You let me see that his heart is also breaking?

"And I know...I fucking know I have no right to ask for another chance, but I have no choice."

Fear haunts his features, and it makes me want to cry.

"I can't live without you, Madeleine. I've tried to imagine a life without you, and all I see is emptiness. You're my life. You're my love. Soplease."

Tears start rolling down my cheeks.

"Just tell me what to do to make you believe me. Ask me anything. Whatever you need me to do to prove that I love you—-"

He's always struck me as someone proud and strong, someoneinvinciblereally, but when his voice breaks again, it's at that moment everything becomes clear.

"Please."

He's begging.

Rashad is begging, and all I can do is shake my head as everything becomes clearer and clearer.

"I love you, Madeleine. It's no lie."

"I k-know."

Rashad's face turns ashen. "But you can't make yourself trust me again. Is that it?"

My lips part, but I'm all choked up with emotion that no words come out.

"I'm fucking begging you, Madeleine. Just ask anything of me, dammit. Anything—-"

"Y-You don't understand."

"Then make me," he bites out between clenched teeth. "Make me fucking understand—-"

"I'm saying there's nothingmoreyou can do," I say with a teary laugh, "because I already believe you."

"God. Damn. You."

Rashad yanks me into his arms, and I can't remember feeling any more cherished as he starts showering my face with kisses.

"I love you, Madeleine, I love you. God, I love you."

His voice is hoarse, tender, and humble, and while I know I will never forget this moment for the rest of my life, there's something more important that wemustdo, and so I curl my arms around his neck and whisper, "I love you, too, so..."

Rashad jerks when he sees me perch myself on the edge of Grandpa's desk.

"Can you please,pleasefinally eat me?"

His stunned expression turns into incredulity. "Madeleine..."

I pout up at him. "What?"

Rashad looks as if he's torn between spanking my bottom for pleasure or punishment. "You do know your's grandfather's wealthy enough to hide you from me—-"

A knock on the door cuts him off.

"Maddy?"

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