Page 44 of Bred By the Sheikh

I took a drink of water.

“And you never wanted that?”

“I always assumed it would happen eventually.”

“That sounds romantic.”

“It wasn’t intended to be.”

I smiled faintly.

He continued.

“I simply had no interest in choosing a wife because she was appropriate.”

“Have you been with other women?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Were they serious?”

“No, they weren’t.”

“And what about now?”

His gaze held mine.

“Now I’ve met a woman I want in my life in ways I’ve never wanted anyone before.”

My heart gave one hard thump.

“I’m not asking you for an answer.”

“That’s a very large thing to say when I still have a return flight in three days.”

“I know.”

“This is fast.”

“I know that too.”

I looked away toward the lights beyond the terrace.

The city glittered below us, huge enough to make my life in Omaha feel very far away.

“I don’t understand how you can be this certain.”

“You don’t need to understand it tonight.”

I looked back.

“What do you need?”

“Nothing you don’t want to give me.”

I pressed my thumb against the cool stem of my glass.

He waited without moving closer or reaching for me.