Page 7 of The Sheikh's Fake Fiancée

“So why did everyone stare at me like I was the villain?” she asked, her voice brittle.

His heart wrenched. Their culture was something to be proud of, but there were changes that needed to happen to better protect their women. He knew that, and had already implemented some changes with many other ideas in the pipeline.

He cleared his throat. “Tabari left you to face the accusations alone.” His hands fisted under the water. “He will atone for his sins.”

She blinked at him, steam leaving moisture above her plump, bow-shaped lips that opened in surprise, and perhaps a little suspicion. “What are you planning to do to him?”

Other than tearing out his innards? “Nothing he doesn’t deserve.”

“Honestly, I just want to move on from him, pretend he doesn’t even exist.”

The latter would be easy enough to arrange. He tamped down the desire to do just that and focused on the fact she was leaving the bastard behind. Satisfaction burned through him as he said softly, “I want that, too.”

Chapter Five

Zania stared at herself once again in the mirror, somehow feeling more exposed in her nightie than she had in the itsy bitsy yellow bikini. That she’d be sharing a bed with Kain left her feeling somewhere between sheer terror and nervous anticipation.

Though she was comfortable with him, she was also highly self-aware, the sexual tension between them a simmering pot ready to boil over.

He stepped into the bathroom, his eyes that caught and held hers smoldering hot. “You’re beautiful, shortcake.”

He pulled off his T-shirt, baring smooth, golden skin that rippled with tight muscle. Not a hair—gray or otherwise—to be seen. He was nothing short of a demi-god, who made Tabari look like an old goat in comparison.

Her throat dried. “Thank you.” She cleared her throat as he undid the button on his pants. “I’ll leave you now for your shower.”

“Or you could stay and wash my back,” he suggested as he flashed a smile.

She didn’t answer. She couldn’t, not when she was far too tempted to do as he asked. She fled back into the cabin, where the huge bed seemed to beckon and mock her all at the same time.

The sudden sound of running water in the background didn’t help her state of mind, which conjured up images of him standing under the hot water, steam vaporizing around his strong, lean body, his hand stroking his growing—

Stop!

She couldn’t think about him in that way. He was her ticket to saving her reputation, a way to shut the gossip down about her and Tabari’s horrid one night stand. That she hadn’t even found pleasure in the act had become an extra slap to the face.

She climbed into bed and turned on her side, wide awake yet lying motionless as she waited for the shower to stop and for Kain to return. She’d never sleep. Yet somehow, the moment she shut her eyes, the real world slipped away and the past was reenacted in her dreams.

She was eight and tiny, her little arms pumping to make her legs run faster before she skidded to a stop behind a large urn. She’d do anything to stay hidden from her best friend, Aisha.

Aisha’s voice drew closer, her voice high-pitched with excitement. “I know you’re here somewhere, Zania, I heard you run in here.”

Zania quivered. She wouldnotbe caught this time! Not if she stayed still and quiet. Aisha always got what she wanted and this time Zania would win their game of hide and seek and get whatshewanted for a change!

“Found you!” Aisha said gleefully, her young face peering around the urn as she broke into a toothy grin, her dark eyes sparkling with victory.

Zania glowered as she stepped out from her hiding spot. “Not fair. You win everything!”

Aisha blinked, her smile fading. “I do not.”

“Yes, you do!”

Zania ran off, but as she sprinted her little legs grew longer, her now lithe body taller. She wasn’t running away from anyone anymore, she was running to them.

Tohim.

Tabari.

She slipped into their secret hiding place, the once reading nook in the palace a room where very few people ventured. It was rarely even cleaned. There was a fine layer of dust on the recliners and benches, on the shelves were some novels still resided. Tabari was already pacing up and down as he waited for her, and she threw herself into his arms before they hungrily kissed.

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