Beauty and the Sheikh(10)

Just remembering what had happened at breakfast sent a wave of shame and humiliation through her. How could her body have betrayed her like that?

It was hard not to resent Rafiq. To compare him to the men in the career she’d walked away from.

Her time modeling had been short. She’d started at eighteen and was out just before her twenty-second birthday. All too often she’d met men who'd wanted to exchange sexual favors for advancement and otherwise impossible opportunities.

She’d been so young and sheltered that at first she’d been shocked by the advances, then gradually had become more angry and jaded the longer she’d stayed in the industry. It had turned her off of men and dating completely. Until she’d met Rafiq…and now the Sheikh was trying to use her the same way. Granted, he wasn’t outright asking for sex—though he was quite upfront with his intent to seduce her.

At one time, she never would have thought him capable of falling into the same category as the other men. When she’d met him he’d been so distinctive and compelling, mysterious, even while charming. But he’d been playing her like a well-tuned violin. He’d probably never had any intentions of allowing the photo shoot to happen in his country, had simply drawn out his response time to see if she’d go to bed with him.

Thank God she hadn’t. It would have made her humiliation all that much more substantial when he’d thrown them out of his country.

“I am such an idiot.”

She was exhausted and needed sleep, and yet her mind couldn’t stop thinking about Rafiq.

The sound of the door clicking open was the only warning she had before the man who occupied her thoughts strode into her room.

Holly sat up on the bed, heat warming her cheeks. “Maybe you could try and knock first next time?” For goodness sake, what if she’d been changing?

Rafiq ignored her sharp remark, the white robes swirling about his legs as he made long strides across the room toward her.

Her indignation died as she spotted the scowl of irritation on his face. Had she done something to upset him? But of course that was a silly question. When hadn’t she?

“I hear you went to the marketplace today.”

“Was that against the rules?” She tilted her head. “Perhaps I heard wrong, but I thought you said as long as I brought one of your henchman with me I would be allowed to leave the palace.”

“No, you heard right.”

“Then why have you come, if not to berate me for going into the city?”

His expression darkened. “Your brother is being brought to the palace.”

Holly was off the bed in a flash, rushing toward the door with her heart pounding a mile a minute with excitement.

Rafiq caught her arm and swung her around before she could leave the room. “I can see where you and your brother have your similarities. Both of you are brazen enough to try and force your way into my palace. Apparently he slipped away from the guard escorting him to the airport.”

“Please, let me see him, Rafiq,” she pleaded huskily. “I have to know he’s all right.”

“Still you think he has been mistreated?” Irritation flashed across his face. “He is quite well, Holly, and he is only being allowed to see you—and briefly at that—because I have made the allowance.”

She swallowed her pride and gave an acquiescent nod. “Of course. Thank you.”

“Holly!” Her brother’s voice carried through the halls of the palace. Strained and angry.

“Rafiq.” She tugged at her arm, trying to free herself. “Please.”

“Remember, habiba—” he quieted his words, “—that you must be very convincing in your appearance that you are my lover now.”

He couldn’t be serious. Her stomach sank. “Even to my own brother?”

“Especially to him.” Rafiq leaned closer. “If he suspected for one moment what the truth is, who’s to say he wouldn’t take it to the nearest media outlet?”

There was truth to Rafiq’s words, she acknowledged silently. Also, if Andrew realized what she’d given in exchange for his freedom, he’d never agree, would probably demand to be placed back in jail instead.

“All right. I’ll be…convincing.” She nearly choked on that last word.

“I have no doubt.” His gaze slid to her mouth. “One thing before we see him.”

“What is it?”

“This.”

His mouth covered hers. Hard and demanding, no slow seduction this time but a blatant move to show her she was truly his possession now.

So shocked by the suddenness of the sensual attack, Holly couldn’t even bring herself to struggle against the heat and need that spilled from the broken dam inside her. She forgot where she was and the circumstances that had brought her here. For just a moment she drowned in Rafiq’s incendiary kiss.

When he lifted his mouth from hers, she had to tighten her grip on his shoulders to keep from stumbling.

His gaze was dark with heated possessiveness. “Perfect. That will help the situation appear more believable.”

Ouch. For a moment she’d thought he’d been caught up with the need to touch her again, that maybe he’d thought about her throughout the day as much as she had him.

But no, he’d simply wanted to give the appearance of a lovers’ tryst interrupted, and now with her swollen mouth and flushed cheeks, it was entirely believable.

“Come.” He tugged her from the room and closed the door behind them. He called out instructions in Arabic, and a moment later her brother rushed down the hallway, bracketed by guards.

Relief seeped through her and she cried out his name and ran into his arms.

“Holly, sweetheart.” He caught her immediately, drawing her into a protective embrace.

“Are you okay, Andrew?” She pulled away after a moment to glance him over.

His clothes were rumpled and his eyes were bloodshot, but he looked otherwise well. Had he been drinking since his release? Her stomach knotted at the possibility.

“God, Holly, what are you even doing in Raljahar?” Andrew’s gaze slid over her, lingering on her mouth. “What has this monster done to you?”

His choice of words did have her flinching this time, and without turning around she could feel the dangerous ferocity radiating off of Rafiq.

“Done to me?” She tried to keep her tone light and followed it with an easygoing laugh. “Nothing. Rafiq is a friend.”

“A friend?” Andrew’s mouth twisted and he gave a snort of disbelief. “I don’t believe that for a second, little sis.”

“Then for once you are wise,” Rafiq’s steely words cut through the air. “Because our relationship exceeds the bounds of friendship, wouldn’t you agree, habiba?”

Holly bit the inside of cheek, then gave a slow nod. Of course he would accept nothing more than her agreement that she was his lover. She turned to face Rafiq once more and when he held out a hand in a clear gesture for her to return to his side, she really had no other choice.

It was meant to display power, to prove his hold on her. And it worked.

Extracting herself from her brother’s embrace, she returned to Rafiq. His arm slid around her waist in a deliberate show of possession.

“You bastard.” Andrew lunged forward, but was restrained by Rafiq’s men. “My sister would never become involved with someone like you.”

When Rafiq’s guards moved toward Andrew threateningly, Rafiq waved them back.

“You would do well to remember to whom you speak to,” he reminded the younger man, not raising his voice, but the hint of menace was enough to get his point across. “You are still in my country, being uncommonly released after committing a crime that is punishable by nearly a decade in prison.”

Andrew’s face leeched of color and he stumbled back, the fight seeming to seep from him.

“It’s true your sister came to Raljahar to plead for your release,” Rafiq said, keeping his tone glacial. “But it is not the first time we’ve met, and since her arrival, our relationship has picked up where it previously left off.”

Andrew’s mouth gaped and he looked from Holly to Rafiq in dismay.

Believe him, Andrew. Just believe him.

“Is this true?” Andrew asked his sister unevenly. “You’re involved with the Sheikh?”



Holly was silent for a moment and beneath his touch Rafiq felt her muscles tighten. Would she back out of their agreement? Falter now with her brother so near?

His gut twisted at the possibility of her walking away—of her trying to find a loophole in their bargain.

“Yes, it’s true,” Holly said huskily after a moment’s pause. “We met back when I was modeling. The circumstances we parted under weren’t ideal…” She paused. “When I returned to Raljahar to plead your case, I realized how much I still cared for Rafiq. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to finally be able to make amends.”