Page 13 of The Sheikh's Temporary Girlfriend

Her pulse fluttered. They would be sharing a bed later tonight. How was she going to resist his charismatic sexuality and chemistry? He was a force of nature, unrelenting and inescapable.

Her throat dried while other intimate places grew wet. Sooner or later she would succumb to him. It was just a matter of time.

A knock sounded at the dressing room door and Basam’s mouth twisted with ironic amusement. “Saved by the bell.” He spun on his heel to open the door. “That will be your hairstylist.”

After he conferred with the woman, he sent Amber a little salute. “Enjoy yourself, sunshine. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

Chapter Six

Amber sat in her bathrobe in front of the mirror, her ocean-blue eyes widening as she watched her transformation from a frizzy-haired nobody to a stylish somebody.

Stylish enough to stand beside a sheikh?

She titled her chin.Yes.With her curls primped and sprayed, the sides pulled tight and pinned on top of her head beneath the sparkling tiara, she looked like a princess.

It turned out the hairstylist, Nasira, was also a makeup artist. Though Amber said she wanted a natural look, she blinked and stared at the woman staring back who looked like a movie star with her kohl-lined eyes, white sparkling eyelids and blood-red lips.

Nasira smiled as she stepped behind her to admire Amber’s reflection. “You will be a sensation tonight.” She stroked a hand through the back of Amber’s hair, pulling the curls straight. “Your hair is beautiful. If it was straightened, it would fall below your waist.”

“No. Don’t straighten it.” Amber jumped a little at Basam’s husky voice, his stare then sweeping over her as though she was a goddess. She shivered. If she hadn’t felt like a goddess before, she most certainly did now. His eyes worshipped her.“Neverstraighten it,” he added before he stood behind her and touched one of the bouncy strands. His gaze held hers in the mirror. “Your hair is perfect.”

Something shifted inside her chest. She’d always been self-conscious about her wild, untamed hair, but Basam’s admiration made all her insecurities melt clean away. “Thank you.”

“I agree,” Nasira said with a wide smile, her eyes moving from Basam to Amber and back to Basam again. She looked at the fire-red abaya hanging behind them. “I’ll help her to dress before I go.”

“I’ll help her to put it on.” Nasira blinked in shock, and he added coolly, “Thank you, Nasira.”

She bowed slightly, gathered up the few things she’d brought with her, then hurried out of the dressing room.

Amber was caught somewhere between relief they were alone and anger that her name would be dragged through the mud the moment Nasira flapped her gums about the inappropriate behavior between Basam and his western girlfriend.

“You look upset,” he murmured, his big hands clasping her robe-clad shoulders.

“Then you’d be right.”

“Oh?”

“I don’t want your people to think I’m just another crass western woman with loose morals and no self-respect.”

“You care what my people think?” he murmured, sounding surprised.

Her eyes flashed blue fire at him in the mirror. “If I’m to come out of this charade unscathed, then yes, I do care.”

He nodded. “You’re right. We need to preserve your good name.” He cocked his head to the side, his eyes holding hers in the mirror. “Is there anything from your past I should know about, gossip that might find its way over here? Our newspapers can be very…thorough.”

She squeezed her eyes closed, her heart thumping dully in her ears.Shit.She hadn’t considered her past being brought into question. But surely not even the most astute reporter would uncover her family’s darkest secrets. That she alone seemed unscathed by addictive needs that hadn’t quite gotten past her brother, thanks to his gambling, would mean little to the press.

A good story was a good story as far as they would be concerned.

“Amber?” he prompted.

She shook her head, her eyes opening. “No. Nothing,” she lied.

His gaze seemed to read deep into her own and she looked away, needing to find relief from the silent cross-examination of his stare.

“In that case…let’s get you dressed. My people are impatiently waiting for the woman I call my girlfriend.”

She inhaled a steadying breath, then nodded and stood before she disrobed. When he in turn sucked in a breath, she was glad of her toned and tanned body. She had never be an office girl type of woman, she loved the joy of riding waves and being outside in the sun and salt air, staying fit and active.

---