Page 27 of Modern Romance Collection Books (5-8)

And yet, as soon as she thought of that, she thought of the way it had felt to be held in Riyaz’s strong arms.

She had never felt so... Protected. Even while she had been afraid, the way that he had encircled her in his strength had been...

What she knew was that he had protected her. Utterly and completely. Whatever threat he had seen... His intent had been to keep her safe.

The movie was ending, and there was another passionate kiss on-screen.

And in spite of herself, she looked between them. Their fingertips were close to touching, with the way they were seated on the blanket.

And then she looked up, her eyes meeting his.

She saw heat there, even in the darkness.

She looked away quickly.

He was bringing a woman here to marry. And he would need...

What he needed was to learn how to be around a woman. How to be softer.

She didn’t need him to be soft with her. She didn’t need him to be anything other than what he was.

She didn’t know anything about the woman who would be coming to marry him.

But it would be different for her than it was for Brianna.

Brianna was trying to meet him where he was at and coach him. Help him.

Brianna had come from a background that was so far from normal that Riyaz didn’t put her off at all.

Whatever woman married him... It was different. He needed to learn how to bewithsomeone. He didn’t even know how to compromise with the necessities of the world around him. Much less another person.

“I hope you enjoyed the movie,” she said.

“Yes,” he said.

“I’ll leave you. But I hope that...”

“I don’t want you to leave me,” he said.

“Oh.”

“I wish to go to the pool beneath the palace. Come with me.”

“Why?” Her heart froze in her chest.

“Because I asked you to.”

This was part of her job. Socializing with him.

Except she sort of wanted a break from him. Sheneededone.

She also wanted to be closer to him, and that was not her job.

Cairo was getting that woman right now.

And it was her job to prepare him for it. “Okay... I suppose I might need... A bathing suit?”

“Yes,” he said. But there was something dark in his tone. And she wished that it didn’t make her feel like he had touched her. But it did.

---