Page 6 of The Sheikh's Temporary Girlfriend

Her senses went into overdrive and she almost swayed toward him. This was make-believe, none of this was real! She jerked back, her lips pressed together. “Is that the best you could come up with?”

He lifted a hand and touched her hair. “Would you prefer spun-sugar? Because that is also what your hair reminds me of.”

“Sunshine is fine!” she said in a high-pitched squeak, suddenly breathless by his compliments. He was a sheikh! Wasn’t she supposed to be giving him the accolades?

“I didn’t mean to make you nervous,” he said, his tawny eyes sweeping over her heated face. “You have nothing to fear. Nothing happens between us unless you want it.”

“Good.”

He nodded, his smile a little crooked.

Did he imagine she’d give into his prowess sooner rather than later? She frowned. It made her want to dig her heels in even harder to ensure she wasn’t just another of his women in a long line of many.

Despite her inner conflict and need, weariness was catching up on her fast. She stifled a yawn. These seven days couldn’t be behind her fast enough.

At some point she must have dozed off because she woke to the world tilting around her as Basam laid her onto a bed in the jet’s bedroom. A strange little thrill went through her at seeing him looking down at her with his golden eyes, as though he wanted to kiss her again…as though he wanted to do far more than that but respected her boundaries.

“Sleep, sunshine. You have a big seven days in front of you.”

It felt weirdly right when he pressed his lips to her brow. When he retreated it took everything she had not to call him back. She frowned, then sighed heavily, her lashes already drooping with the jet engines constant drone. He was right. Shewasexhausted.

She woke to what she presumed must be hours later after having the most restful, dreamless sleep she’d had in a long time. She’d been so stressed about her brother and his family it’d been affecting her sleep quality in a big way.

She sat and looked around, unsure whether to be relieved or disappointed that Basam was nowhere to be seen. At least it gave her a chance to take in the sumptuousness of the bedroom. Though the walls were accented in black, the soft lighting made the space seem much bigger, as did the sculptural lights above her that were presently dimmed low. The white bed sheets and cover with a black throw was a lovely, if not masculine touch, one that seemed perfect for Basam.

The only feminine touches were the white orchids with red rosebuds and green fernery in a vase that sat in a deep inset on a side table. Then she noticed the big fruit and cheese platter on the end of the bed, her stomach immediately rumbling.

The door opened and Basam entered with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. He smiled. “Good, you’re awake. We’ll be landing in a few hours, but I thought you might want to eat and freshen up first.”

She blinked. “Don’t we need to fuel up somewhere first?”

He laughed. “Already done. You slept like a log through the whole process.”

“H-how long was I asleep?”

“All day and most of the night.”

“Seriously?” It meant she only had six days now to get through. Six days to convince his closest friends and staff—not to mention his people—that she was in love with him.

He sat, placing the champagne glasses next to the vase of flowers on the side table before he cracked open the chilled glass bottle. “You clearly needed the sleep.”

“I did,” she admitted.

He nodded. “I had the chef mix a little herbal sleeping concoction to go into your drink.”

She gasped. “Youwhat?”

“Don’t sound so shocked. You desperately needed to sleep, and I gave it to you. I didn’t drug you with a dangerous prescription medication, you were perfectly safe.”

“You might have raped me!” she burst out.

He stiffened. “Believe me—if or when—we get together, it will be a mutual decision or not at all. It will never be one-sided.”

She bit her lip, her face flushing. If he thought for one second she’d give into his advances, he could think again! It mattered little that her mind conjured up graphic images of them naked and twisting the sheets in the throes of passion. “That doesn’t excuse you for drugging me.”

“It was a natural sleeping draught.” He cocked is head to the side. “I don’t know what it is you might have heard about me, but non-consensual sex is one act I will never condone.”

She nodded slowly, tension unwinding inside her. “I believe you.”

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