Page 21 of At the Sheikh's Bidding
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As Janey enteredAmare’s suite of rooms, she felt more relaxed than she’d felt since she’d arrived in Sifra. Sure, there was the attraction which she had to fight every moment she was with him—andwhen she wasn’t—but Amare seemed agreeable to helping her achieve her goal of finding the diamond. And, once she had, she’d hot-foot it on a plane out of there, back to where she could get on with her life.
She loosened the scarf from her hair and looked around the apartment while he rang the kitchens to organize dinner.
It was a typical bachelor's apartment and didn’t look homely. It was more like a functional hotel suite with its modern TV, computer, and IT equipment than a home. But then, of course, he lived in Paris. She couldn’t help wondering what his place there was like. She imagined it would be more informal, more richly colored, more seductive. The word lingered in her mind as he replaced the phone and turned to her.
He smiled a slow smile of appreciation as his gaze quickly swept her.
“The traditional clothes of Sifra suit you,” he said.
She pulled off the scarf and placed it on top of her bag. She glanced down at the simple white silk abaya and smoothed down the material. “It’s certainly practical. And it’s handy to hide behind,” she said with a grin.
He raised an eyebrow. “And that, Janey, is my only objection to it. I’d prefer to see more of you.”
The blush began in her gut and rose swiftly to her cheeks. “My body has got me into hot water before. It’s almost a relief to cover it. I kind of feel…”
“What?” he prompted.
“As if I’ll be taken more seriously without the distraction of…” she hesitated. She nearly mentioned her large breasts, but she really didn’t want to draw Amare’s attention to them. “My figure,” she added quietly.
To his credit, he didn’t make any suggestive expressions or comments. Instead, he answered the knock at the door and allowed a procession of people carrying food to enter the room.
As they ate, he asked her about the diamond. Whether he truly understood that she wasn’t interested, or was giving her space, she didn’t know, but accepted the change in subject with relief.
“I mean,” he said, taking a sip of water. “Why would you think the diamond is in the harem, of all places?”
“For that very reason. No one would expect it to be there. I mean, think about it. What better place to keep something secret than tucked away in the harem, which is a sacred place, guarded well, away from prying eyes. The Arab root of ‘harem’ means sacred or forbidden.”
“I see what you mean, but I still don’t believe you’ll find anything. The diamond was all about power. That wasn’t something the kings would have surrendered lightly.”
She leaned forward, keen now to talk. “I think you’re underestimating the power some of these women wielded. The harem was a parallel female court.”
“That’s not the usual image.”
“I know, I know. But you’d have to do more than lock women up to eradicate their power.”
“Where’s the power in women being concealed—made invisible to other men? They weren’t supposed to be seen in public. Eunuchs guarded them and they could only leave the home veiled and suitably chaperoned.”
“Sounds like something you’d approve of,” she said. “Women obeying your every command.”
“You know, itdoessound good.”
She shot him a dark glare. “I’m sure it does. You say jump and we say ‘how high’.”
“You’re painting such a seductive picture of the harem.”
She grunted. “So why don’t you tell me what it is with you and control?”
It gratified her to see him look uncomfortable. It was good to turn the tables.
But he soon lost his look of uncertainty. He shrugged. “I’m a man. That’s what we do.”
“Nowthereyou are wrong.”
He raised a cool eyebrow. “Me, wrong? Never.”
“Not all men are controlling.” She remembered other men who’d asked her out—colleagues and friends—but she’d rarely been tempted by them. None of them had been as controlling as Amare. And she’d wanted none of them as much as Amare. She hated the contradiction.
