Page 57 of Bred By the Sheikh

Tariq stayed over me until his breathing steadied.

Then he kissed me slowly and rested his forehead against mine.

“You all right?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Any pain?”

“No, I’m okay.”

He eased out of me carefully.

I squeezed my thighs together against the sudden emptiness.

I stared at the ceiling.

“That wasn’t a particularly moderate decision.”

He smiled.

“No, it wasn’t.”

“I feel like this would be harder to explain in Omaha.”

He laughed.

“Fortunately, Omaha isn’t here.”

“That’s probably for the best.”

He kissed my shoulder.

Then he reached for the bedside phone.

I lifted my head.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m getting water.”

“You have to call someone for water?”

“I could walk naked into the hall if you prefer.”

I burst out laughing.

“Please don’t traumatize the household.”

“I doubt they’d be traumatized.”

“That confidence is exactly the problem.”

He requested that water be left outside the bedroom suite, so no staff member entered.

A few minutes later, after Tariq pulled on trousers, he retrieved the tray from outside and brought it back himself.

I took the glass he handed me.