The speed with which Kat became engulfed in a red mist of jealousy shocked her. As did the speed with which she could already imagine that Zafir had decided she was too much trouble to pursue, and was now turning to an easier and far more accommodating prospect.
Kat had made Zafir wait before finally agreeing to date him that first time. He’d been too overwhelming...intimidating. But a woman like that wouldn’t make him wait. He’d give and she’d take and then move on...not like Kat, who’d never really moved on.
She turned away from the sight just as Rahul passed close by. Kat caught his arm impulsively. ‘I’ve got a headache—do you think it’d be okay if I left now?’ She crossed her fingers at the white lie.
Rahul immediately looked concerned and anxious. ‘Let me just check...’
He was gone before she could stop him, and suddenly Kat couldn’t bear to watch Zafir’s face change expression as he was told that she wanted to leave early. She threaded her way through the crowd to where another of Noor’s men was waiting and told him she was ready to give the necklace back. He looked unsure, but took her aside to a secure area and waited as she removed it and handed it over.
He and his colleague had it boxed up and whisked away within seconds. Discreet and efficient.
When Kat stepped back into the room she let out a sigh of relief that she couldn’t see Zafir or Rahul. She pressed the button for the elevator, wanting to get out of Zafir’s orbit before she made a complete fool of herself.
It finally arrived with a soft ping and the doors opened. She’d stepped in, and had just pressed the button to go down when a hand inserted itself into the closing doors, forcing them open again.
Zafir.
CHAPTER SIX
ZAFIR WAS ANGRY. ‘Leaving so soon?’
Kat forced herself to sound cool. ‘I have a headache.’ She wasn’t even lying now. She could feel a throbbing at her temples.
He frowned and stepped into the elevator with her as the doors closed. Instantly the space was dwarfed by his tall and broad masculine form. ‘I’ll see you down to your room.’
Panic surged. ‘You don’t have to—you shouldn’t leave the function.’
Zafir shrugged even as his eyes stayed on her, alert. ‘They’ll hardly notice now, the champagne and cocktails have been flowing for a couple of hours. The object of the evening has been achieved. Jandor will be indelibly imprinted on their minds, thanks to you and the diamond.’
Zafir pressed the button and the elevator started moving with a little jolt. It was enough to make Kat sway and go off balance, falling backwards. As quick as lightning Zafir reached for her, taking her arms and hauling her against him.
They both sucked in a breath at the contact, and with a muttered curse Zafir reached out and slammed a hand on the stop button. Kat’s hands were pressed against his chest as the elevator came to a juddering halt.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Do you really have a headache, Kat?’
She looked up at him helplessly. She knew if she tried to move he’d only pull her even closer, and as it was she could feel every hard plane of his chest, and down lower the unmistakable thrust of something much more potent. His arousal. For her? Or for that woman?
Heat and self-disgust flooded her body. She pushed herself away, stepping back until she hit the wall and could go no further.
Zafir took a step closer. ‘You don’t have a headache, do you?’
Kat bit her lip, but the sharp pain made no difference. Images of him laughing down at that woman, made her say rashly, ‘What do you even care, Zafir? I’m just a living, breathing mannequin. Your guests will be missing your presence.’
Zafir’s eyes flashed and then narrowed on her, and he came even closer. So close that she could see the beginnings of stubble along his hard jaw. The darker flecks of grey in those mesmerising eyes.
Softly he asked, ‘You wouldn’t be jealous, would you, Kat? Jealous that I was giving attention to a woman who made it obvious that she’d welcome me to her bed if I just said the word?’
Aghast that she’d exposed herself so easily and quickly, Kat blurted out, ‘Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t care who you sleep with.’
Zafir stepped even closer. Close enough to touch. ‘Liar,’ he breathed. ‘I think you do care.’
The expression on his face was fierce now. He put his hands on the wall, either side of her head, enclosing her with his whole body.
Kat was barely breathing. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Her hands were balled into fists at her sides in an effort to stop herself from grabbing him—or smacking him.
‘The truth is that you’ve reduced me to crude methods not even used by hapless teenage boys.’