Page 3 of The Sheikh's Defiant Girlfriend

“Do you ride often?” she asked.

“As often as I can. This estate was my favorite of our properties when I was a boy. I raised this mare from the moment she was born six years ago.”

“What’s her name?”

“Najma.”

Star. Soraya opened her mouth to say that her own name was connected to the stars, too—it was the Persian name for the Pleiades constellation—but she didn’t want to follow that thought. It had to be a coincidence. Of course it was a coincidence. He’d only started pursuing her a few months ago, notsix yearsago.

Amir kicked the mare into a canter, and Soraya held on to Amir’s waist a bit tighter. The cool breeze brushed through her hair. Trees blurred past her, quickly changing to rolling desert. She couldn’t think, couldn’t plan, couldn’t regret. She was simply in the moment. She felt an adrenaline rush as the mare flew over the landscape.

They finally came to a halt on top of a hill. Soraya looked over her shoulder. In the distance, she could still see the ranch, with its stables, house, and paddocks. The well-watered grass around the buildings was the only true green for miles around. Ahead was only desert dotted with oil derricks. She knew the Botros family owned most of them.

A part of her did resent Amir’s family’s wealth. Sure, Amir, and Tariq had earned the college degrees that had allowed them to continue the family company’s success, but neither of them had had to work to pay their own way. They had never had to count every coin when they went to the market. They’d probably never bought their own groceries. The oil derricks marred her enjoyment of the ride the same way they marred the landscape.

Amir turned Najma to face west, and Soraya caught her breath in awe. They’d arrived just in time to see the sun set. Soraya ran her hand through her hair, pushing it back from her face so she could see the streaks of color and light better. She barely noticed how her fingers snagged in the tangles.

Amir kicked his foot out of the stirrup and twisted to look at her, offering her a hand.

“Can you get down on your own?” he asked.

“I guess we’ll find out.” Soraya swung her leg over the horse’s hindquarters, grasped his hand, and slithered awkwardly to the ground. Amir dismounted after her and looped the horse’s reins into a loose knot over her withers.

“She won’t wander,” he said. “Here, I have a blanket.”

He unstrapped a bundle from the front of the saddle, and they spread it out on the sand. Soraya sat with her arms wrapped around her knees and looked out at the blue and pink sky. The sun was a brilliant shade of orange as it slowly sank below the horizon. Soraya couldn’t help but gasp at the beauty of the moment. She had never seen the sun set this far from the city, and it was breathtaking.

Part of her wanted to thank Amir for bringing her to see this. Another part didn’t want to disturb the moment by speaking. And yet another part didn’t want to give him any positive reinforcement for kidnapping her.

Soraya turned and saw Amir looking at her. He had a very intense expression on his face. She had never seen him look at her like that before. His eyes were dark and dangerous. That look made her nervous.

“What?” she asked him.

“Nothing,” he replied and turned to look at the sky.

Soraya snorted and turned back toward the sunset that seemed to grow more beautiful every moment. Finally, the light and color began to dim, and the breeze picked up.

“Why did you bring me here?” she asked finally.

“Have you ever seen a sunset like this?” Amir asked.

“No,” she said and turned to look at him. He had a smile on his face.

“Everyone should experience it at least once, but few people do. I am honored that your first time is with me.” Soraya rolled her eyes at his double entendre, and he had the grace to give her a rueful smile. He went on. “I used to ride up here for the sunset at least once a week. Just me. You’re the first person I’ve ever wanted to share it with. It would be my honor to bring you again. I would love to show you so much more, if you’ll let me.”

Soraya looked away. “I don’t know how to respond to that, Amir. The ride was fun, and the sunset is beautiful. But…” She shook her head, looking for the right words. “I don’t want to be with a man who’ll trample my every need to follow his own whims. I’m not your toy you can take out whenever you want to play. I’m going to schoolandworking. Soon I’ll be studying for my exams. I need to focus.”

“You focus too much, Soraya. What if I wereyourtoy? You could be free to take me out whenever you want to play.”

She laughed in spite of herself. “Oh, Amir. You are incorrigible. This has been nice, I admit. But I’m going to pay for it later. I’m going to be up all night writing the paper I have to turn in on Thursday.”

“How about this… I’ll make myself available to you at any hour of the day. You merely have to call. Any time you need to stop focusing for a little while, you let me know. Allow me to be your plaything.”

“Fine. But no showing up at work or on campus. And you have to take no for an answer. No more kidnappings!”

“Hmm,” was all he said.

Soraya sighed and then shivered. The sun was nearly gone, and the desert air was cooling quickly.

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