Page 23 of Desert King's Forbidden Temptation

‘You went to an excellent school.’

She glanced up at him. ‘How do you know—?’

‘You met the Princess at school,’ he reminded her. ‘And I know where she attended. The fees are not cheap.’

‘No,’ she agreed. ‘After my parents died, I went to live with a great aunt. She wasn’t wealthy, for the same reasons as my parents, but I earned a partial scholarship, and she was able to cover the rest.’ She lifted a hand tentatively, wondering if Bahira would allow her to pat his nose, and as she did so, Tariq’s hands tightened around the reins, ensuring the stallion would remain still. ‘Sadly, there wasn’t enough left over for the upkeep of a horse,’ she joked. ‘Besides, when I learned of Elana’s mistreatment at the hands—hooves—of one of these animals, I must say, I swore off the idea for life.’

‘Is that so?’

She nodded. ‘I can’t say I’ve ever regretted that decision.’

‘Are you still afraid, Eloise?’

Her lips parted at the direct challenge. He was manipulating her. She understood that, and yet she couldn’t quite stop herself from taking the bait. ‘I still have a desire to live,’ she said, stepping back.

‘Do you trust me?’

Something stuck in her throat. She lifted a hand, pulling her hair back from her face. She stared at him, her heart galloping faster than any speed this steed could ever accomplish. ‘I don’t trust anyone.’

‘Do you trustme?’

The distinction was like the throwing down of a gauntlet. They both heard it. ‘Why?’

His eyes narrowed. ‘That’s not an answer.’

‘What do you want me to say?’ she muttered. ‘I’m not riding any stupid horse.’

‘What about this beautiful, lovely horse?’ he asked with a lift of his brow, so her heart turned over in her chest and her eyes jerked to his face.

‘He’s enormous,’ she said with a shake of her head. ‘And while he seems perfectly content with you on his back, I don’t think the same could be said for me.’

‘I didn’t say you’d be riding alone.’

She sucked in a sharp breath, shaking her head. ‘I can’t ride your horse with you.’

‘Why not?’

‘Come on, don’t be so obtuse.’

‘It’s a horse ride. I’m not asking you to make love to me in the shade of the orange trees.’

Her gut twisted at the immediate, evocative imagery.

‘There is something I have learned about fears,’ he murmured, stepping off the horse in one swift, easy motion, coming to stand closer to her. ‘The feeling of overcoming them is like nothing else.’

She stared up at him, his powerful, confident face, and something shifted inside of her. Did she trust him? Yes. And did she trust herself? She wasn’t sure. Only, she knew one thing for sure—while this man would marry her best friend, they had these few days. Days she could spend time with him, be near to him, without crossing any lines of propriety again, but could stockpile memories of the ways he made her feel, something to nourish her in future years.

Elana had sworn off a love match. She didn’t want to care about her future husband, it wasn’t as though Eloise would be getting close to a man Elana hoped to fall madly in love for. In fact, if Elana was here, she’d be the first one to tell Eloise to let herself go, just a little.

If she turned him down now, she’d always regret it. She knew that.

Torn between loyalty for Elana and a desperate, heartbreaking need to take this one small pleasure, just for herself, she could only stare at him.

‘I promise, nothing bad will come of this.’

She let out a shuddering laugh. ‘It’s not just the horse.’

‘Nothing will happen between us.’ He was close enough that his breath fanned her forehead and her body lifted in goosebumps. ‘You have my word.’

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