Her eyes widened in shock. “He’s selling it? Why?”
“Batuk had an unusually lusty side,” Khalid explained with a smirk. “His son didn’t realize how far in debt his father was until after the old man was dead.”
Rolling her eyes, Katie pulled her panties up her legs. “You’re telling me that your Turkish collector went into debt buying hookers?”
“Hookers—and quite a few mistresses who enjoyed a certain kind of lifestyle.” He shrugged.
“So he had a harem?”
“What can I say? He was a passionate man.” He ran a finger down her arm and smiled knowingly when she shivered under his touch. “Would you like to join me?”
She closed her eyes briefly, and he studied her expression. He could read pleasure there, at his touch, but when she opened her eyes again, he could see the uncertainty in her gaze. Clearing her throat, she moved away.
He knew that he already had her, that she wanted to jump at the opportunity, but it was obvious to him that she didn’t trust herself to remain in control.
He wanted a chance to see her lose some of that control around him.
After a minute, she caved, but her voice was clipped and cold. “Fine. What time should I be ready?”
“I’ll send a car to pick you up at five on Friday morning.” He buttoned up his shirt and reached for his pants. “And Katie? If anyone should question my motives, this is a business trip.”
Her eyes narrowed, and he saw the irritation in them, but he didn’t relent. The last thing that he needed was for his sister or either of his sisters-in-law to discover that he was sleeping with Katie.
She didn’t say a word as she left, and he finished dressing. As much as he hated to admit it, he was satisfied with how that had gone.
She was bending to his will, and that was exactly how he liked it.
It didn’t surprise her that Khalid had a private jet. It also didn’t surprise her when he barely spoke to her during the trip to Turkey. He spent most of the time working on his computer while she curled comfortably in the leather seat and stared out the window in wonder.
When they landed, he didn’t even touch her. There were several security guards traveling with them, and Katie knew that Khalid didn’t want them gossiping. It hurt just a little to know that he didn’t want to be open about their affair, but she couldn’t complain. She was the one who’d said that it would just be a one-night stand.
And now it was going on a month.
“What time are we meeting Mr. Batuk?”
A dark sedan pulled up, and a driver got out and opened the door for them. Khalid didn’t wait for her to get in first.
Bowing her head in a display of respect, she tried not to look annoyed as she climbed in after him. Out in public, she wasn’t his lover, She was his employee, and she had to show a certain amount of respect.
“Around two. We’ll get settled in our hotel rooms and have some lunch first.” The car doors were shut, and he tugged at his tie. “I don’t suppose that I can convince you to stay in the room while I meet with Batuk?”
Narrowing her eyes, she crossed her arms. “No.”
“Very well. I would ask that you refrain from asking questions, but I have a feeling that won’t be possible for you.”
“Khalid, I’ll be respectful. I do have experience with collectors.”
“Sheikh,” he said tersely. “While we are with Batuk, you will address me as Sheikh.”
Katie lowered her voice just a few notches so that only he could hear. “Did you expect to have a good time tonight?”
He raised an eyebrow and smirked, though he said nothing. She knew that she’d gotten her point across, but she also knew that he had a point of his own as well.
She’d let him be dominant during the day, but tonight, she was going to take control.
It turned out that Batuk’s son was just like his father. The man was eyeing her with lust as soon as they walked in the door to his late father’s home.
“Khalid, it is good to see you again, my friend,” he said heartily, clapping Khalid on the back. His round belly shook as he pulled Khalid in for a hug. “Have you brought me a delicious treat?”