Page 23 of At the Sheikh's Bidding
“I know who I am, thank you very much. And I also know I need to go now.”
He smiled, inclined his head and stepped aside, out of her way. “Of course.”
CHAPTER10
She stepped out of the corridor and into the garden with a sense of relief. Until she realized the gardens were as seductive as everything else connected with this place. They were just as she’d imagined the harem gardens would be when she’d read about them in her office in England, with the rain falling softly against the mullioned window frame. Fragrant flowers and lush foliage lined the path along which they walked, and the moon cast a magical glow over everything around them.
As they walked, Janey felt Amare’s hand brush against hers. She looked up at him and saw a gleam of mischief in his eyes that she hadn’t seen before. It was as if he was daring her to take a chance, to let go of her fears and inhibitions, and give in to the moment.
“So,” she said, hating how sexy her voice sounded. She cleared her throat. She was determined to get this conversation back on track. A completely professional track. “I’ll be given free access to the harem tomorrow?”
“Of course. But,” he said, stopping and pulling down a moon-white bloom to inhale its sultry scent. He looked at her with a smile as he exhaled. As if he’d just inhaled her. The muscles inside of her clenched in response.
“But…” she said, needing him to continue to talk, to stop her mind from rushing ahead at a million miles an hour into all the things she wanted to do with him. “But?” she repeated. “I didn’t realize there was a qualification.”
“Just one. You do realize,” he said companionably, as he walked alongside her, “that only women involved with royal men can enter the harem inner sanctum.”
She glanced at him, annoyed. “That’s ridiculous.”
He didn’t answer immediately, and for a few moments wondered if it was really ridiculous.
“I’m not involved with a royal man and I have no intention of being. But I have been promised access to the harem.”
“Ah,” he said, “here we are.”
They’d arrived at the door, which led to the guest quarters where her bedroom was.
“You will give me access to the harem, won’t you, Amare?” She hated the pleading tone in her voice. But she’d come all this way, fought all those inner battles, and she couldn’t bear to fall at the last hurdle.
His smile vanished. She wasn’t sure which was worse, this serious expression, or his seductive humor. “Of course,” he murmured, his eyes roving her face. “After all, youareinvolved with someone royal.”
She shook her head. “No, I…”
But, before she could answer, he dipped his head to hers and pressed his lips gently, and yet, oh so surely, to hers. She felt rather than heard a tight intake of breath as their lips met, as if he’d surprised himself. Then he stepped away, and she placed her fingertips over her lips. Whether to wipe away his kiss or to keep the heat against them, she wasn’t sure.
“You can’t deny it,habibti.”
She licked her lips, unable to think straight, let alone remember what it was she was meant to be denying.
She could feel the heat emanating from his body, flowing into hers. It was as if her whole body had suddenly come alive, filled with his energy and deep-seated throbbing desire for him. He flexed his hands as if he was trying to remind himself not to grab her. But his eyes knew no such restraint and devoured her completely, shooting straight through to her warm center.
“You know how I feel about you, don’t you?” he said in a sexy growl.
She clamped her trembling lips together. She didn’t dare attempt an answer, in case she incriminated herself.
“Don’t you?” he repeated the question. “Please answer. I need to know you realize exactly how serious I am about you.”
She nodded.
“Good. Because you and Iwillhappen. We have to. Call it what you like—fate, kismet, kindred spirits, whatever—our futurewillbe together. There can be no other way.”
The enormity of what he was saying finally broke the spell, bringing her back to earth, back to reality.
“There has to be,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “I can’t do this. I can’tallowmyself to do this. It’s not happening.”
“Itishappening,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers. “You cannot deny what there is between us. Youcannot,” He repeated with emphasis.
Janey shook her head, trying to push away the thoughts and feelings that were threatening to overwhelm her. It was true she couldn’t. But she’d be damned if she’d admit it to him. That way lay madness.
