Page 25 of The Sheikh's Temporary Girlfriend

He was about to say something more when one of his guests approached and distracted him about some minor incident. Amber only wished Maram’s threat was just as minor.

A few minutes later he left his servants to unload and attend to his prized camels, many of which she’d learned he’d bought from his good friend Sheikh Hamid. With his guests already disappearing inside the palace, he escorted Amber back to his suite of rooms and said, “I’ve arranged to have dinner in our rooms tonight.”

She sagged gratefully. “Just you and me?”

He nodded. “No need for acting tonight, sunshine, though I have to say, I’m impressed. You’ve been amazing.”

If only he knew how little effort she’d needed to put into the charade. She was about as defenseless against his charisma and good looks as the very woman he didn’t want to marry.

She managed to pull together a smile. “Well I’m glad you didn’t waste your money on me.”

“On the contrary, I’d have paid double and still been happy.”

It was next to impossible to ignore the swell of emotion inside her chest, or the absolute joy flooding through her. All she knew for sure was that she was balancing on the precipice of heartbreak, and it was time to take a giant step back.

*

If there was nothing better than having a long, hot shower and washing away the sand to feel clean again, then sitting in one of her modest nightgowns—created by the dressmaker, Marietta—while she stuffed her face with food had to be the next best thing.

No. Filling her stare with Basam in his simple gray T-shirt and soft white pants was the next best thing. No matter if her wore a thobe or a suit, or was dressed casually like now, he always looked superb. Even the growth on his jaw made her want to reach out and touch its roughness, then stroke

the smooth skin on the rest of his face.

She dragged her stare away from him to look down at her now half-empty plate. Their dinner had been nothing short of divine, with roast duck and potatoes, and steamed vegetables. The camel ride had increased her appetite, but she couldn’t eat one more bite and she leaned back against her chair and said, “I’m so full I might explode!”

Basam smiled. “Care to sit out in the courtyard for a drink? The servants will clear this away tonight.”

She nodded, touching the top of her head to ensure the messy bun she’d made do with was still holding together. “Thank you. That sounds lovely.”

Itwaslovely. Though it was still balmy even with the night blanketing everything except for the gleam of the solar lights in the courtyard garden and the stars twinkling high overhead, there was something right to being outside. She lifted her face up to the heavens, absorbing the energy that all but thrummed around her.

“You really do love being outdoors, don’t you,” he mused.

She lifted her crystal glass and gulped down some of her wine. She only wished she could tell him she mostly just really loved being with him. But that was the last thing he’d want to hear. He’d have her bags packed and her money reversed back into his own account and all of this would have been for nothing.

She nodded. “I do.” It wasn’t a lie; it just wasn’t the whole truth, either. She had her family to think about, her brother and her gorgeous niece. Not to mention her sister-in-law.

What about you?

She ignored the insidious voice inside her. She might have been selfless at the start, but she wasn’t anywhere near selfless now. She wanted to get to know Basam more. She wanted to touch and kiss him again. She wanted to feel his body on top of hers and his cock stroking deep inside.

“Can I ask you one thing?” Basam murmured.

She stiffened, then nodded. “Of course.”

“You asked for a hundred-thousand.”

“Yes.”

“Was it to repay your brother’s gambling debts?”

She drained the last of her wine, needing its fortification, then she pushed back her chair and stood, too on edge now to be seated. “Does it matter?”

He pushed to his feet too, placing a hand on her shoulder then and gently turning her toward him. “It matters a lot.”

She sighed, her head tilted back to look up at him. Damn, without heels she felt diminutive next to him. His height and the power he wielded always made her feel as though she was invincible when she was with him, like nothing could hurt her. She didn’t feel that way now. She was cornered with nowhere to run. “If you must know, itwasto repay his gambling debts,” she conceded heavily.

“And if he gambles again, what then?” he asked softly.

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