Page 17 of The Sheikh's Temporary Girlfriend

“Such as?”

“Such as compassion, kindness, loyalty and honor.”

“It sounds like you’re after perfection,” she said with a sniff, though a part of her was impressed he sought beauty that wasn’t just skin deep. “None of us are perfect, we all come with flaws.”

“Some more than others,” he mused.

“And what aboutyourimperfections?” she asked. “Do the women have any say about those?”

He shrugged. “I have plenty, but I work on my failings and I’d never force anyone to marry me. I’d like to think the woman I end up with will see the good inside me, the good I hope to extend to my people, my country.”

The burn inside her body made its way to her chest. She envied the woman who’d turn this man’s head. She’d be one lucky lady, someone Basam would love without reserve and protect with his life.

“Then I hope you find her,” she finally said. If only she could decipher the long look he sent her as they stepped into his suite of rooms.

Chapter Eight

“Drink?” Basam asked as Amber followed him inside.

She shook her head. “Thank you, but no. I think I’ve had enough for the night.”

He nodded and poured himself one. “Feel free to take a shower while I indulge.” His smile was a little crooked. “I might need two or three more yet to numb the images in my head.”

“Images?”

He nodded. “Yes. Ones that include you standing naked with water running over your body.”

Hadn’t she had those exact same thoughts herself while he’d showered in the bathroom of his private jet? Not that she’d be telling him that anytime soon. It was bad enough she had a pulse pounding in her ears and between her thighs.

She washed and dried herself in record time, dressing into a lacy white nightgown that she’d packed for the island motel. Though it was modest by her usual standards, looking in the mirror it suddenly seemed too short, the bodice dipping too low.

Her face heating, she slipped back into the bedroom and climbed under the covers of the huge bed before Basam put in an appearance. With any luck she’d be asleep before he joined her.

So why did heat build between her legs at the thought of his big body spooning hers? His arousal straining against her…

Ugh.This was barely night two and already she was fantasizing about the man—the sheikh—who’d hired her because he’d believed there was no chance she’d want more from him than money. If he knew how much more she really did want from him, he’d send her packing on the first plane back home.

Or perhaps he’d be in bed with her right now, his big body surging inside her, his heat turning her into a furnace before she combusted with pleasure.

She sighed heavily. She’d never really fantasized about anyone before, had never really believed in lust at first sight. She was quickly changing her mindset. At least she wouldn’t have to pretend to be attracted to him. Her every cell came to life whenever he was near, his body a magnet for her own.

She rolled one way, then the other, restless and wide awake. There was no way she’d sleep tonight. Not in a million years.

Yet one second she was lying on Basam’s bed, the next she was standing at the cemetery beside her brother, her eyes burning but dry while her brother quietly sobbed as clods of dirt landed on their parents’ coffins at the bottom of the hole.

Amber’s hands squeezed into fists at her sides as the loamy earth scent filled the air, reminding her just how fragile life was. Yet resentment and anger festered inside her right along with grief and despair. Her mom and dad should never have left her and Zach behind, but their parents had been selfish and neglectful, and too wrapped up in their own needs to worry about their children’s wellbeing.

Everything blurred for a second, and suddenly she was standing in front of her brother, their surrounds a weird kaleidoscope of colors as she handed him a wad of cash—a hundred-thousand to be exact—money she’d earned in seven days doing Basam’s bidding.

It had all been worth it though just to see Zach’s eyes fill with even more tears, these ones of gratitude and thanks as the weight of debt lifted off his shoulders, setting him free—setting them both free.

She smiled at him, her heart overflowing. “Just promise me you will use every last dollar to pay off your debts. No more gambling, Zach.”

“You have my word,” he vowed.

The kaleidoscope of colors swirled, and she immediately knew months had flown by as she stood in a gray pantsuit in a crowd of colorfully dressed people.Where am I?Wherever she was, nobody seemed to notice her, and she certainly didn’t taken too much notice of them, she was too busy focusing on her brother as she picked him out far ahead, striding through the bright mass of people.

The anxiety she’d barely withheld suddenly escalated as she sensed Zach’s resolve. He was on a mission and no one was going to stop him. She hurried after him as he pushed and shoved his way through the men in their suits and women in their frocks and hats, some with fascinators.

---