Page 59 of Bred By the Sheikh

“And you chose this.”

“Yes, I did.”

“That’s enough for tonight.”

I set the water aside.

Tariq looked toward the guest wing side of the residence.

“You can sleep in your room.”

“What’s the other option?”

“You can stay here.”

I glanced at the enormous bed, then at him.

“I want to stay.”

His expression softened.

“All right.”

I slid beneath the sheet.

Tariq joined me.

I turned onto my side.

He lay behind me, one arm settling around my waist only after I shifted back against him.

He kissed my shoulder.

My eyes closed.

Tomorrow I would work. Amanda would arrive the day after that, and my flight still existed.

My job and apartment in Omaha still existed too.

But Tariq’s arm was warm around me, my body was pleasantly sore, and I already wanted morning.

I wanted another dinner, another kiss, and another night with him.

And for the first time, three days didn’t feel like too much time with Tariq.

They didn’t feel like nearly enough.

Chapter 4

The cat came out of the carrier like it had been insulted by confinement.

Farah was kneeling beside the open door. A gray blur shot across the pale rug, skidded under a chair, and launched itself at the tassel hanging from a cushion.

Chrissy laughed.

It wasn’t the polite little laugh she used in meetings. This one burst out of her as she dropped to the floor in cream linen trousers and a lightweight sleeveless blouse.

“Oh, look at you.”