Page 6 of The Sheik's Pretend Fiancee
Tiro stopped in the middle of the bar. He’d thought that this area of the hotel would be vacant at this time of night, that he would find a quiet place to work, a place that wasn’t the pristine, vacuous penthouse where he and his staff slept. Well, they were sleeping. He rarely slept more than four hours a night. It wasn’t by choice. His body just didn’t need as much sleep.
But he hadn’t expected her.
The reading glasses were adorable and unexpected. With her hair piled up on top of her head in a messy bun and the slouchy sweatshirt, Princess Angela looked like…there was no other description for it. She looked like a naughty librarian!
His body immediately reacted to the sight. That image was enhanced when she looked up, but had to tilt her head in that age-old way as she peered at him over the rim of her glasses.
Damn, she was hot!
And cute, he thought, starting forward again. Yes, he was going to be an ass and invade her space. He saw her flash of panic as he sat down across from her but he didn’t care. He was staying. They were going to finish their conversation. In fact, he scooted around so that he sat next to her in the C shaped booth.
Damn, she smelled delicious!
“What did you think of my speech earlier?” he prompted, placing his own laptop onto the table.
She shifted in her seat and he could read the debate in her eyes. She was considering leaving, wondering if a departure would hurt his feelings.
“It will,” he answered for her.
She frowned, and blinked at him quizzically. “It will…what?”
He liked her voice. It was soft and sweet.
“It will seriously hurt my feelings if you leave right now,” he told her, unaware of the teasing smile playing across his lips.
She must have noticed because her eyes drifted lower, then returned to his eyes. She nearly laughed. “I doubt it.”
“You seriously don’t want to ruin what could be an impressive diplomatic moment with your country’s biggest enemy, do you?”
She snorted. “Ginisia is annoying and I’m sure that my uncle would love to crush your country’s military like a bug, but you’redefinitelynot our biggest problem.” She tilted her head and his eyeswere drawn to her neck.Did she have any idea how sexy her neck was? Or howappealing it was that she would expose themost vulnerable part of herself to him?
“Who is Lativa’s biggest problem?” he asked.
“Why?”
“Maybe I can help.” Hewouldn’t, but it was a carrot that he hoped would prompt her to keep talking to him.
It didn’t work. In fact, she snorted again, even rolled her eyes.Smart woman! And damn, that only made her more appealing.
“You and Ginisia are the last people my uncle would go to for help with Sunfi or Itar.”
He grinned. “You’re right. The leaders of Sunfi and Itar are a pain in my ass too.I don’t have any influence with those…uh…men.” He’dalmost called them something else, but restrained himself. Tiro had grown up as the crown prince, but he’d spent most of his time in the military and had loved every moment of it. He delighted in the thrill of putting his physical and intellectual abilities to the test. However, the military had had a negative effect on his vocabulary.
But this…just sitting with such a beautiful and intelligent woman…it was better than the highest adrenaline rush.
“So, what are you doing here?” she asked. “Why aren’t you in bed with…?”
He lifted an eyebrow, even though he knew exactly what she’d been about to say. When she didn’t continue, he filled in the silence for her. “The woman seated next to me during dinner?”
Angela nodded silently and he chuckled as her cheeks turned an adorable shade of pink.
“I prefer my liaisons to be a bit more…particular,” he admitted. It was the truth. He’d never been the type to prefer brazen women; they weren’t much of a challenge. And Tiro loved a challenge.Any kind of challenge, mental or physical, stirred him.
In fact, he wanted to kiss her. If they accomplished nothing else tonight, he wanted to kiss Princess Angela. He wanted to know if she was as sweet and tempting as she appeared.
“So, you enjoy the challenge of a woman who isn’t interested?” she quipped.
He chuckled, unconsciously lifting a dark eyebrow as he leaned forward. “Are you telling me you’re not interested?”
