Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 30190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
“Yes.” The unnatural thickness of his voice sent warmth flooding through me, and as I forced myself to turn around, I could feel his dark gaze lingering on me.
Oh please.
Hold me.
Please.
I wished I could beg him just like that, but the words were stuck in my throat, and my whole body tightened with longing when I heard the sheikh swallow audibly.
A moment later, the door slammed shut behind him, and my knees instantly gave out.
I sank to the floor, a trembling and aching mess, every part of me yearning for his forbidden touch.
Would the day ever come when the sheikh could forget he once belonged to my sister?
Chapter Two
I WAS HOME BY FIVE, excited to spend precious time alone with the sheikh.
Although we both lived in the palace, such times were a lot more rare than most people believed. Mik’hail was a very busy man, the kind of king who went above and beyond duty to answer his people’s needs. I loved that about him, and it was why I never complained about the long hours he spent working.
The sheikh came back to the palace at eight, and I was at the foyer to greet him with a curtsy. “Welcome back, Your Majesty.”
Mik’hail shot his long-time retainer a wry look. “Do you get the feeling this is Aurora’s way of saying I’m dreadfully late?”
“As Lady Aurora would not be so crass to do so—” Gordan’s conspiratorial wink had me quickly stifling a laugh. “Then it must be your conscience speaking to you, Your Majesty.”
“I should’ve known you’d take her side,” the sheikh said dryly.
The retainer, too wise to reply to this, simply bowed. “I bid you good night, Your Majesty.” He turned to my direction and bowed as well. “Good night, milady.”
“Good night, Gordan.” I added a silent thank you as well, and the older man’s gaze twinkled back at me. This might be wishful thinking on my part, but I always did feel Gordan wouldn’t mind so much if I ended up becoming the sheikh’s bride.
If only, I thought wistfully, I could say the same thing of the sheikh as well.
“Sorry for making you wait, brat.” The sheikh strode up to me as he spoke and ruffled my hair. “Let me take a shower, and then we can have dinner—”
“And movie afterwards,” I reminded him. “You promised.”
He laughed. “A movie, too,” he said obediently, “as promised.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask if he needed help with his bath, but I managed to keep the words down.
Instead, I looked up at him with a pout. “You should also say I’ve been a very good girl, for waiting so patiently.”
The sheikh didn’t answer right away, and a quick glance told me why. I knew I was being reckless again, but ever since realizing how much the sheikh, um, enjoyed seeing me pout, I just couldn’t help myself.
I pouted as often as I could get away with it, and every time I did...
This happened.
His body responding to me in ways that were impossible to hide. The tension that crept into his shoulders. The way his jaw would tighten, as if he was fighting some invisible battle with himself.
I found myself taking a step towards the sheikh, and warmth pooled low in my belly when I saw his nostrils flare. I knew I should back away before I ended up exposing my own need for him. I knew I should be a little more cautious, but...
I can’t.
I was just so frustrated these days, just aching for him so badly that I ended up teasing and teasing him. I wanted to keep pushing him to his limits in hopes that maybe...just maybe...
His resolve would one day break, and then he would finally touch me, like we both knew he wanted—
“You’re a good girl.” The sheikh had finally answered, and the roughness of his voice was yet another sign of how hard he was struggling to keep himself in check.
Stubborn, stubborn man...
The sheikh strode off right after speaking, and I bit back an aching sigh when I heard him curse under his breath. I watched him take the stairs faster than usual...
Ah.
By now, I knew full well why he was in a hurry, and when the sheikh, now dressed in a white shirt and slacks, joined me in the dining hall, his smiling and relaxed countenance confirmed my suspicions.
The tension from earlier had been...dealt with, and as soon as the thought formed in my mind, I found myself squirming in my seat.
“Aurora?” The sheikh slid into his chair at the head of the table. “Is everything alright?”
“Just super hungry.” *For you,* I wished I could add, but now just wasn’t the right time.
“I’m sorry, brat,” the sheikh apologized with a wince. “I’ll be sure not to make you wait next time.”
We ate dinner fairly quickly, and it was only half past ten by the time we made our way to the palace’s private theater, which boasted of the most comfortable leather seats and couches as well as its own popcorn machine and soda dispenser.