Sheikh's Scandal

“I assure you, I do not need spirits to tell the truth.”

“Are you really that arrogant?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Of course. Our worlds are too far apart for us to communicate.” Her voice was laced with unmistakable sarcasm.

His wasn’t when he said, “Right now, we’re in the same space.”

It was kind of amazing, really. That he would be alone in a place of privacy with this woman who was a maid, but whom he wanted more than he had any woman in his memory.

Her head tipped slightly and she looked up at him in unconscious sensuality. “We are, aren’t we?”

“It is a moment out of time.”

She laughed out loud. “Arrogant and cheesy. Why do I still want to kiss you?”

He did not understand what she found so amusing. This was a moment that would never be repeated, could never be repeated. Yet he was grateful that destiny had written their meeting—here in this room that would never see his ex-betrothed—into their stars.

“Why shouldn’t you want to kiss me?” he asked, certain he wanted it enough for both of them but aware that if she didn’t he would do nothing about his own desires.

That damnable honor again.

“You think you are too good for me.”

“No.” He was shocked. “I did not say this.”

“What about the whole different-worlds thing?” she asked, sounding hurt.

Which had never been his intention. “That is reality, not a judgment on either of our values as human beings. There are emirs in neighboring countries I would prefer never to have to interact with again.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

“And me?”

“It would be my great delight to be able to spend more time with you,” he said with more honesty than he ever offered.

“But?”

“But an emir cannot have even a temporary relationship with a hotel maid. Life is not a fairy tale.” No matter how much he might wish otherwise.

“And you are certainly no Prince Charming.”

The fact she apparently found him lacking bothered him, but he did not understand why it should. “No, I have never pretended to be anything but a man.”

“Who is prince of his people.”

“Exactly.”

She looked at him strangely. “You really don’t mean to be arrogant, do you?”

“No.”

“You are, though. Just in case you ever wondered.”

He found himself laughing. “Duly noted.”