Page 28 of The Sheikh's Fake Fiancée

But it was the long-legged stride of the man who approached that sent her heart skipping a crazy beat, his silver hair glinting under the sun. She expelled a shaky breath, then turned and ran for the front door. There was no way she could wait the interminable time for him to knock on her front door.

She ran down the stairs and out into her garden courtyard. Tabari’s eyes lit up in surprise. She didn’t care. He meant the world to her! Aisha didn’t love him half as much as she did! With a burst of speed, she ran and jumped into his arms, and he spun her around with a husky laugh.

“I guess this means you missed me?”

He set her back onto her feet and she looked up at him. “You know I did.”

His eyes glittered. “Aisha has no idea about the two of us?”

Zania frowned, the sheikha’s name bursting her bubble of joy. “Why would she? No one is more important than the sheikha, least of all her servant and friend.”

Tabari laughed even as his hands bunched under her ass and drew her closer against him. “She doesn’t realize you’re the shining diamond, the precious jewel sitting right in her shadow.”

Zania sighed. “You really think so?”

“I know so. From the very start I haven’t been able to keep my eyes off you. You’re everything I want in a woman.”

“I’m no sheikha though, am I? Aisha has everything—“

“Not everything,” he refuted. “She doesn’t have me.”

Why did he tell her all the right things when it all felt so wrong? Yet she couldn’t deny how her blood sang through her veins, how her pulse quickened just a little knowing Aisha’s man was choosing Zania.

Though a little voice warned her that this was all wrong, that this was Aisha’s birthday and the man she professed to love was instead spending his time with Zania, she couldn’t deny a thrill of wanton pleasure.

He wanted to be with her and she wanted to be with him. Surely that was all that mattered in the bigger scheme of things? Love conquered all.

Tabari groaned then and bent his head even as he lifted her onto her tiptoes to share a kiss. She closed her eyes, waiting for the fireworks. There was a spark of something, but it wasn’t more than a brief flare before it as quickly fizzled.

Her stomach compressed, but she couldn’t stop now. Tabari had sacrificed everything to be here with her. She wrapped her arms around his nape and returned his kiss, waiting for the flare to return and burst into an inferno.

But his lips were a little too thin and cold, his passion seemingly less heartfelt and more gratuitous. “You’re so beautiful,” he said thickly. “You’re perfect for me.”

His kiss deepened then, and she closed her eyes to allow herself to become lost to him. But though Tabari’s arousal pressed against her, although his desire seemed to burn hotter and hotter, she was left feeling confused and uncertain.

“Let’s take this to your room,” he said thickly. “We risk someone seeing us out here.”

She nodded, grateful for his level headedness when she’d been too busy overthinking her lack of fervor. If someone saw them in such a compromising position, her name would be dragged through the mud.

He took her hand and all but dragged her upstairs, kicking the door shut behind them before he tugged her close and began stripping off her clothes. Her pulse thudded wildly as doubts rose and anxiety overtook all other emotion. This wasn’t right.Nothingabout this felt right.

It was all happening too fast, with not enough thought to consequences or to a future.

“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” she said, her voice high-pitched. “I mean, wh-what happens after this?”

His eyes narrowed, his gaze raking over her naked breasts. “What do you mean what happens after?” His laugh was a little amused and a whole lot vicious. “You don’t think having sex means there will be a wedding in our future, do you? Surely you’re not that naïve.”

She stared up at him with wide eyes, her arms automatically crossing her chest to cover her nakedness. “If you think you can use me for sex, think again!” she declared hotly.

“Too late,” he gritted out. “You invited me into your room. You’re not going to back out now.”

She took a step back. “You’ve lost your mind. Leave me alone.”

He reached for her, his hands digging cruelly into her flesh. “I’ll leave when I’m ready and not before.”

“No!” She twisted away from him and he lunged for her, pulling her back against him before laying her forcibly onto her bed. “Quiet,” he ground out. “Do you want the other guests to know what we’re doing?”

It was enough for her to stop calling out, but it wasn’t enough for her to stop struggling. She hadn’t asked for this. She’d asked him to stop!

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