Page 36 of The Sheikh's Defiant Girlfriend

“How are you coping so far?” Soraya asked Sara.

“Morning sickness is already screwing me over,” Sara complained. She sighed and reached for her glass and drank from it. Malik gave her a sympathetic look and rubbed her hand.

Halfway through dinner, Fiddah made a speech thanking all the donors. They had managed to raise a lot of money for the children’s community center she sponsored, and Sara cherished the time she had spent there.

Music filled the room, and people started dancing. Sara got up to make her third trip to the bathroom within the hour. Tariq rubbed her back before she left. He turned his attention to Amir, who was still holding Leylah.

“I'll take her. You and Soraya go dance,” Tariq said to Amir. Amir looked at him, obviously wondering what he was up to. “Ley,” Tariq called out. She turned her head in his direction and smiled as she stretched out her arms toward him. He took her from Amir and kissed her. She smiled and touched his face.

“She's so adorable,” Soraya said and smiled.

“We can have an adorable one too,” Amir said and winked at her. Malik and Soraya both frowned at him.

“Slow down,” Malik said. Tariq couldn't help but laugh. His brother's humor wasn't always warranted. Amir simply smiled and held out his hand to Soraya.

“May I have this dance?” he asked her. She didn’t respond right away. She looked up, as if she was thinking about it. Amir kissed her on the cheek. “She always makes me work for it,” he said, but he stood patiently and waited for her to move.

“I don’t know, Amir. I’m not sure dancing with you is the best idea,” Soraya said teasingly.

“As if you don't want to dance.”

“I don't.”

“Lies.”

Proving Amir right, Soraya took his hand and stood. Snaking his arm around her waist, he guided her to the dance floor. She placed one hand on his shoulder and the other in his palm. Their bodies moved to the rhythm. Amir was looking at her with such intensity. Being so close to her set him off. She was so beautiful, everything he wanted in a woman. He could not stay away from her.

Soraya avoided his gaze. She acted tough, but the truth was she melted in his presence. She tried to hide it from him, but she was not always successful.

“What are you thinking about?” Amir whispered in her ear.

“Nothing,” Soraya replied.

“You're thinking of me.”

“Absolutely not,” she lied. All she could ever think about these days was him.

Malik watched his little sister dance with Amir. It had taken him time to accept the relationship, and he was unsure where it was going. Whenever he tried to ask Soraya, she told him to stay out of it. She was really into Amir, and it surprised Malik. He never thought his sister would fall for someone so quickly.

“They look good together,” Tariq said, interrupting Malik's thoughts. Malik took a sip of his drink before answering.

“I don't know what to think,” Malik replied.

“You still don’t trust my brother.”

Malik paused for a moment. “I trust him with everything else.”

“But not your sister,” Tariq finished for him.

“I want to. He has always been like a brother to me.”

“I understand. Give it time. Your sister likes him, and he clearly likes her more than he has any other woman he’s dated in the last few years.”

Malik silently admitted that Amir did seem to like Soraya. He’d worried that Amir was only pursuing her because she’d initially resisted his flirtations. But they’d been together for a month now, and Amir seemed more dedicated to her than ever. Malik had never seen him pay this much attention to a woman or care as much as he did for Soraya. He’d certainly never looked at anyone the way he looked at Soraya. None of the girls he’d dated in the last few years had held his attention the same way. It made Malik relax a little, but he couldn’t completely forget Amir’s past. He worried Amir might return to his old ways. He sighed and took another sip.

Sara returned with Fiddah on her arm. The two were laughing together. Tariq lifted his head up as his grandmother drew close. She kissed him on both cheeks and then picked up her great granddaughter. Sara sat down next to Tariq. He kissed her on the forehead and asked if she was well. She simply nodded in response.

“Amir is too cute,” Sara said.

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