Page 31 of Hiding in the Sheik's Arms

“Was it hard when you arrived to work here?”

“Goodness, yes! I messed up so often, it was embarrassing!”

“I didn’t notice any mistakes,” he replied, covering her hand with his. “In fact, I was surprised at how easily you slipped into your role.”

She grimaced. “I was terrified of everything.” She started to say something more, then snapped her mouth shut.

“Even about being discovered?”

She stopped walking and looked at him again.

“You forgot that you’d told me about King,” he commented, sliding a hand around the back of her neck,warming her in ways she didn’t understand. Instinctively, she moved closer.

“No. Not really,” she whispered, leaning into his side. “But I suppose that I’ve hidden that secret for so long, it’s become a habit.”

“You don’t need to hide anything from me, Tasha.” He moved closer, his other hand moving to her waist. “In fact, I’m going to enjoy learning every damn thing about you.” He lowered his mouth and kissed her, lingering for a long moment. Then he stunned her by saying, “Will you marry me?”

Tasha froze, not sure she’d heard him correctly. Especially since he nipped at her lip, distracting her all over again.

When he pulled back, she noticed that he was waiting. She cleared her throat, then asked, “What did you just say?”

“I asked you to marry me.” His hand tightened slightly on her neck and waist, but not enough to cause her any concern. It was simply a hug, in a way. “I know that proposing in the middle of the hallway isn’t the most romantic way to do this,” he grumbled, a bit of self-derision in his tone now. He looked around, shaking his head as if even he couldn’t believe what he’d just done. Then he looked down at her and continued. “But I know that I want you forever, Tasha. Not for just one night.”

“Last night was just about sex,” she whispered, trying to keep the hope out of her voice.

“Was it?”

She opened her mouth to confirm her claim, but the words wouldn’t come out. Instead, she asked, “Is this because of what I told you? About…that other thing?” She glanced nervously at the bodyguards, who maintained a discreet distancewith their backs to her, but they were still there. And she knew that they heard and saw everything.

Khal wasn’t as discreet. “About the fact that you confessed that your previous employer beat you so badly that you were hospitalized?” he asked. His hand slid over her skin. “You shouldn’t be ashamed, Tasha. You are a strong, vibrant woman who did what was needed to escape a terrifying situation.” He pulled her into his arms. She laid her cheek against his chest, listening to the strong, steady thud of his heart. “You survived, Tasha,” he told her firmly. “One of the things that they train us to do if captured is to know how to survive. As members of the ruling family,” he whispered into her ear, “we are always targets. My brothers and I have been trained to survive and escape as soon as possible.” He pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes. “That’s what you did without any training at all. You survived, then you escaped.”

Silent tears streamed down her face. She tried to wipe them away, but…she suddenly realized that she’d never cried about the beating Nathan had put her through. Tasha had never allowed herself to cry and become angry. For the past year, she’d gotten through every day, terrified that Nathan would find her and bring her back, do it all over again. This…Khal’s gentleness and…compassion, his understanding…had loosened the iron control she’d kept on her emotions.

“Khal,” she whispered, leaning into his embrace. They stood like that for a long time, her body wracked with shudders as she cried out her rage and fear, her fingers fisting his shirt and he tightened his arms, holding her securely.

How did this man know exactly what she needed? Tasha didn’t understand, but she loved him. Yes, she knew that she loved him and his grumpy, grouchy ways. She understood now that his grumpiness hid the compassion and understanding thatwas the essence of him. She loved him for everything he did and the way he’d held her last night, showing her the most glorious, beautiful pleasure. And today, he was just…holding her when she needed him.

When the wave of tears finally subsided, she pulled back and wiped her eyes. Someone offered a handkerchief and she took it gratefully, smiling at the guard who immediately stepped back, turning to face the opposite direction, giving them “privacy”.

Sniffing, she inhaled and looked up at Khal sheepishly. “Thank you!” she murmured.

“Will you think about my proposal?” he asked, his thumb sliding over a stray tear, wiping it away just as he’d done to her pain and her fears. This big, grumpy teddy bear had done that for her.

“Yes,” she whispered. She’d meant that as a “Yes!” she’d marry him. But he took it as an answer to think about the question. Tasha wanted to laugh and correct him, but her phone buzzed and she pulled away, remembering that it was a work day. Glancing at the message, she sighed.

“What is it?” he asked.

Tasha slid her phone back into the holder on her waist. “It’s the prime minister. He wants to update you on a couple issues. He’d called earlier, asking for a few minutes of your time. I was going to tell you, but…” She blinked and looked down the hallway again. “What were you doing?”

Khal took her hand and linked it onto his arm, guiding them back to his office. “I wanted to share breakfast with Marianna.” He winked at her. “Great minds think alike.”

“Was she not in her room?”

He sighed deeply. “She snuck out again last night, so she was sound asleep in her bed when I went to ask her if she’d like to join me.”

Tasha stopped, tugging him to a halt as well. “What do you mean?”

“I keep trying to have breakfast with my sister. She’s usually too tired though.”

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