The Sultan's Choice

Sadiq was up on one arm, and to Samia’s shock she saw a sheepish look cross his face before he smoothly got out of the bed and crossed to her. She tried to ignore his naked state and focus.

‘I owe you an apology.’

‘You do?’

‘I should never have acted in such a cavalier manner. It was unbelievably arrogant and disrespectful to you. And, like I said, I had intended speaking with you about it.’

His easy apology made something melt inside her. Samia recalled the way it had felt to slide down on top of Sadiq, skin to skin, and between her legs she grew moist. If he could see inside her head she’d die of shame.

‘It’s fine. There was two of us there, and if I’d insisted you stop to use protection you would have.’

Sadiq tipped up her chin and with a rueful look in his eye said, ‘I think you credit me with too much control—control which I seem to be in short supply of whenever you’re near me.’

Samia’s heart thumped once—hard. When Sadiq’s eyes darkened and he opened her robe to push it from her shoulders she didn’t protest.

CHAPTER TEN

THE next day Sadiq knew he was in very dangerous territory—literally and metaphorically. Samia was at the wheel of his Jeep and looking at him with a very mischievous grin on her face. They were teetering on the top of one of the steepest dunes he’d ever seen, and with not a little fear prickling his skin he cursed himself for giving in to her wish to drive. ‘You do realise that if anything happens to me the Hussein line will die out?’ he said.

Her grin got wider. ‘Are you telling me you’re scared?’

He was terrified. ‘Never.’

She looked ahead, or more accurately down, and said in a grim voice, ‘Hang on tight.’

And that was all Sadiq could do as they plunged down the sheer wall of sand. When they got to the bottom and he was still intact and breathing he opened one eye. Samia was already turning to climb back up the other side of the dune. She stopped the jeep and looked at him, ‘See? Piece of cake. Next time we do it you can keep your eyes open.’

‘I don’t think so.’ With awesome strength Sadiq lifted her from the driving seat and scooted over, so he was in control again. He smiled urbanely at Samia’s pink indignant face. ‘You’ve made your point. You’ve demonstrated your ability commendably. If I’m ever incapacitated in the desert I’d want no-one else to drive me out.’

She spluttered ineffectually as he expertly drove the Jeep back up the dune, and then finally he saw her smile out of the corner of his eye and heard something that sounded like, ‘Honestly—men.’

The truth was that witnessing Samia’s ability to dune-drive almost as expertly as he did, was making him feel off-centre. He wondered just how many more secrets she was hiding, along with that tantalising tattoo just above her plump buttocks. The thought of her buttocks made him change the gears awkwardly, grinding them painfully, and Sadiq took great pleasure in wiping the smug grin off Samia’s face as they descended once again at an even more dangerous angle.

The following evening Sadiq was waiting for Samia when she came out of the bathroom. She felt a little dazed. They’d spent most of their time in bed, apart from one or two forays into the desert. She hadn’t been dune-driving since she’d been a teenager with Kaden, and it had been exhilarating to surprise Sadiq with her proficiency. She’d forgotten the sheer joy there could be in that huge silent space. She’d seen a more carefree side to Sadiq than she would have believed existed—as if the desert injected him with some sort of relaxant—and it had only been then that she’d realised how intensely he held himself in check all the time.

He was dressed in a long traditional robe and turban now, and looked slightly fearsome against the dusk. When she remembered how expertly he’d handled his peregrine falcon earlier, and had stood behind her to show her how to hold him, she felt weak inside.

He smiled and flicked his eyes up and down, taking in the flimsy towel which was all she wore. Samia wished she had the confidence to let the towel drop and sashay over to him to seduce him, but he was indicating a box on the bed and saying throatily, ‘Change into those clothes and then meet me downstairs. I want to take you somewhere tonight.’

Wordlessly Samia watched him leave

the room and crossed to the bed. Opening the box, she gasped to find a gorgeous satin dress in a dark red colour. There was underwear made of a material so fine it was like silk cobwebs. With clumsy hands and a delicious sense of anticipation Samia put the underwear on and let the dress drop down over her head. Against her pale skin it looked sinful, and clung to every curve before coming to rest on her feet.

She found matching shoes and put them on. They were so high she teetered for a moment, before taking a deep breath and leaving the room. Sadiq was waiting in the impressively unadorned hall. Flame lanterns lit the ancient walls. As she came down the stairs his eyes widened and the beat of her heart got loud in her ears.

She came to a stop just feet away and he took her hand to lead her ouside. He didn’t say anything, but his eyes glowed fiercely blue. Suddenly she realised something and embarrassment coursed through her.

She stopped and Sadiq looked back, impatience etched into his features. ‘What is it?’

Samia touched her hair and her face. ‘I never did anything … with my hair or face. No makeup.’

She could have slid right into the ground. What kind of a woman was she? What kind of woman just forgot parts of getting ready? Alia had put together a vanity case full of makeup and hair accessories for Samia. Samia didn’t know what to do with half of them, but she could have put on some mascara, or lipstick, or something.

Sadiq came close and took her face in his hands. Samia could see his impatience up close now and trembled—

because it was an impatience that echoed through her own body. An impatience to be naked and alone.

‘You are absolutely stunning exactly as you are. I don’t want you to change one thing. You don’t need one shred of makeup.’