Page 14 of The Sheikh's Defiant Girlfriend

She stalked toward Amir’s car as quickly as she could. She knew he would follow. They both got in the car. Everyone was watching them, and she didn’t want this conversation to be public. Good thing he had his sedan today, not the convertible.

“What the heck, Amir?” Soraya said. When Amir reached to start the car, she reached out to block him.

“He had no right to touch me,” Amir said. “He’s lucky I didn’t hit him.”

“Oh, but you thought you had a right to touch me?”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“Because I—” Amir slumped back in his seat, defeated by her logic. “You’re right. It’s not different. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I was so annoyed.”

Soraya gave him her best side-eye. “Why were you annoyed?”

“Who are those two guys?”

“My friends, and last time I checked, they are none of your business.”

“I don’t like them.”

“You don’t know them. Like I said, none of your business.” Could he be jealous? She pushed the thought away. But not thinking it didn’t take away the mixture of annoyance and pleasure it had stirred inside her. She wouldn’t lie to herself and claim she’d never felt that green monster herself when she’d seen Amir and his conquests splashed across the tabloids. But she’d gotten over that crush years ago.

“All right. It’s not them specifically I don’t like. I just don’t like seeing you with other men.”

“I’m not going to cut my friends out of my life just because you can’t tame your jealousy. We’re not even dating, and you can’t seem to abide by the very simple deal we made. How can I trust you to respect me? I can’t believe you tried to just drag me off like that.”

He smiled. “There’s the fiery Soraya I love spending time with. You are determined to have me on a roller coaster one way or another, aren’t you?”

Soraya snorted. “I have to go. Don’t do that again.”

“Fine. But if you’re never going to call me again, tell me now. I really do feel like I’m on a roller coaster that has stopped right at the top of the highest hill. I hate suspense.”

“I just don’t trust you, Amir. I keep wondering why you’re suddenly so interested inme.” She picked at a bit of stitching on her pants. She couldn’t bear to look at him, afraid of what she might see there. She couldn’t quite persuade herself that all of this wasn’t some prank her older brother and his best friend had thought up. She knew Malik better than that, but Amir was a wild card.

“If it’s not obvious by now, then my signals aren’t strong enough.” He winked at her.

“I’m not joking. You have so many women to choose from. You could have the most glamorous women in the Middle East. Why are you after me?”

For a moment, Amir did not speak. Soraya tried to resist looking at him. If she could pretend he didn’t affect her, then maybe when this all fell apart, it wouldn’t hurt so much. He reached out and turned her to face him. He stared at her.

“I do not want any other woman. I only want you,” Amir replied simply.

His words left her heart unsettled, and she felt her face heat up. She hadn’t expected him to say anything like that.

“But…”

“Nobut, Soraya. I’ve explained this before. Why can’t you understand that I only want you? I don’t believe you don’t want me back, that you don’t like me at all. If you tell me so, I won’t believe you. We had too much fun together the other night.” He dragged in a heavy sigh. “If I thought there was zero hope, if that is what you tell me, I’ll leave you alone.”

She shook her head. “I can’t wrap my head around it, Amir.”

“Are you saying you aren’t interested? That you don’t see any way forward for us?”

“No, just—

“Then figure out how to wrap your head around it, Soraya. Because when I want something, I go after it.” His voice was deeper and dangerous. His tone was authoritative. He was claiming her, and Soraya had no idea what to say.

“We’ll see,” she finally whispered. “I have to go to my study group.” She got out of the car and hurried toward the library, away from the only man who could destroy her heart.

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