Page 6 of Desert King's Forbidden Temptation

‘Not you, Miss Ashworth.’

Miss Ashworth.Hearing him address her in that way made her body tingle all over. ‘Your Highness—’

‘Yes, Miss Ashworth?’

Again? She dug her fingernails into her palms.

‘Really, Your Highness, I don’t think this is at all necessary.’

‘Did I say anything you disagree with?’

He brow furrowed. ‘Not exactly, but—’

‘But?’ He moved closer, his voice deep and mesmerising.

She swallowed, wondering if he felt the air crackling around them too. It was deeply inappropriate to reprimand a sheikh, particularly when acting as a representative for Elana, and yet she heard herself say, stiffly, before she could stop herself, ‘I suppose a little notice of your intention wouldn’t have gone astray.’

‘I’m not in the habit of consulting anyone about my decisions.’

‘Evidently.’

‘Is that a mark against me already?’

Her lips quirked and again, despite the fact she knew she should be exhibiting purely deferential behaviour, she said, ‘Let’s just say I’m not a fan of autocracy.’

His laugh was as unexpected as it was delicious. She stared at him, open-mouthed, the sound rich and raw and virile and mesmerising. She gripped the back of a chair for support, and it was just about the only thing holding her upright.

‘Let me see if I understand you, Miss Ashworth.’

She couldn’t bear it any longer. It was so seductive to hear what his voice and accent did to her very prim surname. ‘Eloise, please,’ she insisted, allowing the informality on the basis that this man was very likely going to marry her very dearest friend, which would make them...friendly. It was okay for him to use her first name, surely!

‘Eloise.’

Uh-oh. Hearing him say her name was like falling into a warm lagoon—even more dangerously seductive than the way he’d rolled his tongue around ‘Ashworth’. She tried to tamp down on the butterflies in her tummy, but they beat their wings frantically regardless.

‘You have come here uninvited—’

‘I was sent here by the Crown Princess of Ras Sarat,’ she interjected sharply, before she could stop herself.

His eyes narrowed. It was obvious that he wasn’t interrupted by anyone, ever, and Eloise was almost as shocked as he! She had had three years of being spoken down to, denigrated, disrespected, and yet she held her course with calmness and dignity—always.

‘Unexpected even by your own delegation,’ he continued as though she hadn’t spoken, and she was glad he didn’t react, because her interruption was a misstep she didn’t intend to make again. ‘Your purpose in being here is to appraise me as a suitable husband. To ascertain the likelihood of your princess’s happiness if this marriage were to proceed. I have signalled that I will work with you to make your job easier, and yet you think I’m somehow being...autocratic?’

He was right. This was above and beyond, and it would indeed make it easier for her to advise Elana. Nonetheless, Eloise couldn’t help ticking her head to the side and studying him a moment.

‘Say whatever it is you are thinking, Eloise.’ Was he doing this on purpose? That time, he almost seemed to slow down as he said her name, like he could taste it, like it was the most delicious thing he’d ever tried.

‘Only that we were speaking for several minutes, and there was ample opportunity for you to perhaps discuss your intention with me so it didn’t come as quite a surprise when you announced it to the room.’

‘Would you have agreed?’

‘Elana is relying on me. Trusting me.’

‘So you would have agreed?’

‘We’ll never know, as you didn’t ask me.’

‘I’m asking you now.’ His arms crossed over his chest and the room seemed to shrink, so she was aware of him, her, and the volume of air between them, every little cubic centimetre of atmosphere. Her ears popped as though she were ascending a hill far too fast.

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