The Sheikh's Stubborn Assistant (The Sharif Sheikhs 3)

She needed to collect her thoughts first. Hurrying up the stairs, she slipped into the current contemporary art exhibit and stopped before the illuminated reflection wall. Water cascaded down the mirrored background and reflected the shattered image of her red face. Aroused. Horrified. Something had changed in that office, and she had no idea what it was.

She had no idea how much time had passed before Khalid joined her.

“I should apologize.”

Turning her head to meet his gaze, she tucked her hair behind her ear. Her whole body quivered, but she wasn’t going to run. That would be giving him too much satisfaction. She looked back to the mirror. “Saying that you should apologize is not the same as actually apologizing.”

“It wouldn’t be sincere.”

“It was over the line.”

“It was. So were you. The things that you said about my character were personal. I was just returning the favor.”

She met his gaze in the refracted mirror. “You don’t get to touch me without permission.”

“Then give me permission.”

“Excuse me?”

He walked closer until he was standing just behind her. His breath was hot on her neck, but he didn’t touch her. “You liked having my hands on you. I could tell. The scent of a woman changes when she’s aroused. You shivered when I touched you. You moaned.”

“I did not,” she argued, but he might have been right. She had been so focused on the way that his touch felt, she couldn’t even remember how she’d reacted.

“Yes, you did.” She could feel his eyes boring into the back of her neck, and as he spoke, the words made puffs of air against her skin. “I want to hear you moan again.”

“It’s not a good idea. You’re my boss. My friends are your family.”

“So we compartmentalize.” In the mirror, she could see his hands moving up either side of her body, but once again, he didn’t touch her.

Licking her lips, she took a deep breath. “Maybe—just once.”

Immediately, his hands were on her, gripping her, controlling her. His lips were on her neck, and her head rolled to give him more access. “Khalid,” she whispered.

“Yes. I like hearing my name on your lips.” He turned her around roughly and kissed her.

There was no mistaking his desire. His kiss was hot and rough. At first, she was surprised by the heat and intensity bubbling under his icy surface, but then she could barely think at all. His hands were hiking up her skirt, and he was walking her backward until she was pressed against something hard and smooth.

“You drive me insane, you know that?” he growled.

His fingers caressed her panties, and she gasped. “You’ve made that very clear. Ah, yes,” she moaned as his fingers pulled the fabric aside and skimmed along her wet slit.

“Oh, I don’t think you have any idea how you dance through my head. Every time I see you, I want you spread out in front of me, begging for me.”

“I don’t beg.” As he thrust two fingers inside her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and arched against him. Pleasure shot through her body, and tension built.

A wicked smile spread across his face. “So if I removed my hands right now, you wouldn’t beg for me to return them.”

“You don’t seem like the kind of man who would leave a job unfinished,” she murmured, and then she cried out when his fingers grazed along her clit.

Groaning, he unzipped his pants and lifted her. As she wrapped her legs around his waist, he entered her in one deep thrust. It had been a long time since she’d felt a man inside her, and the invasion stretched her, but her body softened and accepted him.

“Katie,” he hissed as he thrust hard inside her. “Fuck, you feel good.”

“Don’t stop. Don’t stop.” Digging her nails into his skin, she buried her face in the crook of his neck and let herself be swept away by his intensity. The first orgasm hit her hard and fast, but he never once seemed to lose an ounce of his control. His grip never wavered, the power behind his body never waned, and her second orgasm ripped a scream from her throat. As it echoed off the walls, he joined her as his body shuddered against her.

Her legs shook as he lowered her back to the floor, and only then did she look up and realize that he’d just fucked her senseless against the statue of a racehorse.

“Just once?” he whispered in her ear as he pulled her skirt down.