Page 49 of Desert King's Forbidden Temptation

‘It’s all happened in the last two days.’

He closed his eyes, trying not to think about where he was two days ago, and how much he’d give to be back in the cabin with Eloise and her delicious, soft, creamy skin. His gut rolled and something in the middle of his chest ached.

‘Why does he want to meet?’

‘I suppose because of the scale of the development. I can make up an excuse, of course.’

‘No, I’d be interested to hear his plans. I’ll make the time. Schedule it in for today.’

‘Thank you, Sheikh. Good luck with the negotiations.’

Tariq hung up the call, then swept from the room with determination and blinkered vision. He wouldn’t think about Eloise today. Only Elana, and the necessity of this future.

‘Are you deliberately using the blandest words you can think of?’ Elana pestered, so Eloise cringed. Bland was not how she could ever describe Tariq.

‘Not at all. I just don’t want to colour your thoughts on him. You’ll meet him soon enough and you’ll know how you feel.’

‘Okay, fine, but what do you feel?’

Eloise almost choked on her pomegranate juice. ‘I feel nothing,’ she said quickly, the words strange in her throat.

‘So I’m going to marry a guy and you have no idea if he seems nice or has three heads or kills cats in his spare time?’

‘Actually, he does hunt,’ she said, relieved when Elana laughed.

‘I’d be surprised if he didn’t. What else?’

‘Ellie, I can’t,’ she whispered, looking down the hall at the increased action. ‘He’s coming now.’

‘Call me later. Promise?’

‘Yeah, I promise.’ She disconnected the call, feeling like the worst friend in the world. The feeling only intensified as Tariq approached and her eyes seemed incapable of tearing themselves away from him. He walked with such confidence, flanked on either side by members of his cabinet. As he drew near the boardroom, his gaze travelled to her, met hers, then briefly flashed over her body, so a thousand arrows launched through her veins, but then he looked away, and moved beyond her.

Ice filled her body; she hated him then. How could he turn off from these feelings?

It just proved that she’d been right to resist him.

He hadn’t really wanted her. He hadn’t really cared for her. He’d wanted to sleep with her but when she’d refused, he’d accepted it and had obviously already moved on.

She hoped her heart would do the same thing.

‘We’ve made good progress this morning.’ His eyes encompassed the group, lingering, perhaps, a moment longer on Eloise than anyone else, but barely, so she was sure she was the only one who noticed it. Her shoulder tingled, as if he were kissing her there again; she looked away.

‘I have another matter I must attend to. Please carry on without me. I’ll check in this afternoon.’

Everyone stood respectfully, bowing as he walked from the room. Eloise stared at him in consternation. Ever since that morning in the cabin, she’d felt as if a part of her was being dragged from her body, a limb, an organ, something vital and essential.

That feeling compounded as he left the room.

She took her seat again and tried to focus, but her mind was, from that moment on, split in two directions.

Graciano Cortéz was a man whose reputation well and truly preceded him. He was one of the wealthiest men in the world, his developments known for their flair and appeal. He was environmentally conscious, culturally respectful, and made a point of employing local workforces as much as possible, meaning an investment by him in Savisia was a tantalising prospect.

Therefore, Tariq knew he should bring more of his focus to the meeting but unfortunately, he was no longer capable of doing any such thing. A part of him was always with Eloise, studying her, thinking about her, wondering about her, missing her. Fortunately, Tariq al Hassan on a bad day was still incisive and intelligent.

He strode into the ornately formal sitting room, eyes taking in the guards first and then, the man at the centre of the room.

‘Graciano Cortéz?’ he queried, moving close enough to extend his hand.

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