Page 22 of The Sheikh's Temporary Girlfriend

“Thank you. Though to be fair, water has been a part of my life since before I could walk.” She cocked a brow, mentally disrobing him of his thobe and keffiyeh headgear. “You’re not joining me?”

“Not right now. Our guests are waiting for us.”

She blinked water out of her eyes, then swam to the edge of the pool toward the steps. “You should have told me sooner!”

His eyes darkened as she climbed out of the pool, water sliding off her even as some beads stubbornly clung on. She bent and grabbed her towel from the sun lounge and began to dry off.

“No need, they can wait,” he said huskily. His stare caught and held hers. “I’m sure they’d understand and indulge my desire to see my girlfriend doing what she loves best.”

She wrapped the towel around torso, ignoring a sudden shiver that wasn’t from any chill in the air. Longing poured through her and, for just a handful of seconds, she allowed herself to imagine he was being real and that she was his girlfriend in every way, a woman who held his attention.

She shook off the impossible dream and managed a smile as her bare feet slapped across the mosaic pavers to where he sat. She tilted her head to the side. “What exactly are these guests waiting to do?”

He pushed to his feet. “Let’s just say it’s an outdoor activity, one I organized so that you might enjoy your stay here a little more.”

She didn’t bother telling him that her stay was far from boring already when he filled her thoughts and her fantasies day and night. She took off her towel and used it to squeeze out the excess moisture from her frizzy, tied-back hair.

Big mistake.

He sucked in a sharp breath, his gaze drinking in her half-naked body before he lifted his eyes, their stares colliding. Growling low in his throat, he pushed to his feet and reached for her, drawing her close. His head swooped and their mouths fused, and the world seemingly closed in until it was just the two of them existing.

Her moan mingled with his passion-filled growl. They might have kissed before but it’d been nothing compared to this private moment, with no one watching their every move. Desire burned through her, igniting a fuse deep inside her, an explosion just waiting to lay her bare and open her up to the very man she’d promised to keep her distance from romantically.

When he finally drew back, his dark eyes were glowing with glints of amber and ocher, his voice raspy when he finally spoke. “I’ve wanted to do that all day, sunshine.”

She gulped back a sudden need to admit her own failings about wanting to kiss him…and more. But he hadn’t hired her for that, in fact he’d expressly hired her for the very opposite reason. He wanted someone who’d walk away unscathed after their week-long pretense, and that was what she intended to do.

An hour later she walked out the back of the palace with him, to where ten other guests waited, including Maram, though her father was noticeably absent. A fenced-in yard showcased a number of camels, while eleven more were sitting on the parched ground in their saddles and halters with attached lead ropes.

Amber giggled. “At least now I understand why you told me to wear pants underneath my abaya along with closed-in shoes.”

He’d also advised her to wear something light, so she’d chosen a pale blue, cotton abaya. That she’d matched it with a colorful hijab somehow worked together. She liked the point of difference.

He nodded. “I don’t want you suffering from chafe marks and bruising.”

She hid a pleased smile at his thoughtfulness. He might have servants running around doing his bidding and people bowing and scraping to be noticed by him, but it didn’t stop him from caring about others. He was without question a great sheikh.

The sun was burning those parts of her bared to the sun—her hands and her face. She touched her colorful hijab. It already protected her head, but she could no doubt use it to cover all her face, except for her eyes, from any further burn or if the wind picked up and blew sand around.

She looked at the row of camels once again. “Which camel is mine?”

He nodded to the first one that was a light golden-brown color. “You’ll be riding with me, the rest will follow behind.”

She realized then that the first camel was the only one with a double saddle. No wonder there were eleven camels to twelve riders! Anticipation burbled through her, along with a little fear. “Just letting you know this will be my first time riding a camel.”

He chuckled. “I figured as much, which is why I also figured you’d enjoy it a whole lot more with a rider in front of you.”

A servant led two more camels out of the yard. They were loaded up with baskets and blankets and other supplies.

Basam nodded at them. “Our pack camels will follow at the very back.” He looked at her. “Each one of them are very well trained animals, you have nothing to worry about.”

She nodded and smiled. “Thank you. I trust you.”

His stare darkened, his voice lowering. “That’s good to know, sunshine.”

“I’d hate to interrupt, but what time do you expect we’ll be leaving?” Maram asked, her voice sharp.

Basam’s eyes narrowed a little, before he turned to the rest of the group and called out. “If everyone else is ready, choose a camel behind the first one and mount up.”

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