Page 29 of Warming the Sheikh's Bed & Love in the Fast Lane

Layth ignored the pounding in his chest. She was bluffing and they both knew it. “I cannot offer you more than this fortnight,” he intoned flatly, his words giving her no indication of what he wanted. “But nor will I lie to you, nor let you lie to me.”

Her breathing was ragged. “I’m not lying to you.”

“You think it is just sex between us?”

She bit down on her lip. “I … yes. You agreed to that.”

“Before I knew you, yes.”

Her chest felt like a weight was pressing down on it. “You don’t know me.”

He laughed at the ridiculous statement. “You are fighting against the tide, Cassie.”

She exhaled a defeated breath. “I’m happy with my life. I didn’t approach you at the bar because I wanted a boyfriend. I wanted what I got. So did you.”

“Yes. When I saw you in the bar, I wanted what most men want from you.” Her cheeks flamed at his cruel assertion. “But I am not most men, Cassie. What many idiots might be prepared to take and then let go, I am not.”

She blinked furiously to combat the wave of tears that were threatening. “You are talking in riddles and hypotheticals. I’m just a woman you met last week. And you’re a guy who I won’t even know in a month. How can you be making this into such a big deal?”

“Because I know you,” he repeated. “And I know me. I might let you go Cassie, because I have no choice in the matter. But I will not be happy if I think you have forgotten me. If I believe you have gone back to seeing what we have shared as a meaningless exchange between two bodies.”

“It is meaningless,” she muttered, wrapping her arms around herself. “And I’m going now.”

Layth watched her stalk towards the door. Only when she was almost at the elevator did he prowl behind her. “Come back tomorrow.”

“I’m working tomorrow.” Her words were stony. Her face did not meet his.

He kept his distance though he ached to stand in front of her and make her see him. “If you were my subject, or my servant, I would insist you not go to work. I would insist that you come here, instead.”

“Your insistence would render this beyond meaningless,” she retorted quickly.

Her words made him pause. He liked sparring with her. He was provoking her, he knew in part, because he loved to argue with her. It was rare for him to find someone willing to take an opposite viewpoint and he was relishing it. “Perhaps,” he murmured. “Then let me beg you, Cassie, to come to me tomorrow when you have finished with this work.”

His proposition surprised her, but she clamped down on the emotion. “I’ll think about it,” she said finally, relieved when the elevator doors opened.

Only once in the safety of the small, carpeted space did she feel confident to meet his gaze. His dark eyes were loaded with emotion as he stared at her. “By all means, think. But do not think my patience will last forever. If you do not come tomorrow night, do not come at all.”

6

The decision had been difficult to make, but how could she go to him? Everything Cassie was railed against the idea of subjugating herself to a man like Layth Sati. No matter how good the sex was, or how amazingly gorgeous he was, she was a woman who wanted more.

No.

She was a woman who expected more of herself. She certainly didn’t want ‘more’ from Layth, or any man.

She called the shots.

Not Layth.

Cassie had the power.

She was in charge.

She had told Layth her ground rules from almost the first moment she’d met him. True, she’d had no way then of knowing that their connection would be … freaky. It had unnerved her, the way he had of looking at her and seeing more than she wanted him to.

That was why she’d stayed away.

How could she go to him when he threatened everything?

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