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

“I’m paying for it.”

“I don’t care. There is such a thing as privacy,” she snapped.

He unscrewed the top of a bottle of bourbon and poured himself a drink. “You didn’t answer the question.”

“Also a point of privacy. Whatever man I want to spend tonight with is none of your business.” Her appetite gone, she let her fork fall to the plate and pushed it away. “Please leave.”

He tossed the drink back and turned to glower at her. “I didn’t invite you here so that you could drool all over another man.”

“First of all, I was following your instructions. Be respectful, remember? He licked my hand, and you stood by and did nothing. I felt violated whenever the man looked at me. I was not drooling over him. On the other hand, you wouldn’t even look at me, so I’m not really salivating for your company either.” Angry, she rose and crossed her arms. “You should leave before your security realizes that you’re no longer in your room.”

He poured himself another drink, and she cocked her head and stared at him. She’d never really seen him drink before. He tossed that glassful back as well and then turned to face her. “What happened today was business. I thought you were comfortable with your boundaries between night and day.” His eyes swept up and down her body. “I am sorry about Batuk. I should have stepped in sooner.”

“But business is business?” she asked sourly. “Be honest with me, Khalid. Was I there because you want me tonight, or was I there because you wanted to use me to soften Batuk up?”

His expression immediately hardened. “I would never.”

“That’s what it felt like!” she burst out. “I felt used today, Khalid!”

Before she could blink, he’d crossed the room and grabbed her. “That was not my intent,” he growled harshly. “You cannot possibly think that of me.”

“I don’t know what to think of you, Khalid,” she whispered as she stared into his green eyes. “You don’t let me in. You don’t let anyone in.”

“I’ve given you more than I’ve given anyone.” He reached up and brushed her hair from her face. “What do you want from me, Katie?”

Swallowing hard, the truth threatened to claw its way out of her. She wanted everything from him, but if she told him, she could lose him. “I don’t know,” she said finally.

He lowered his head and kissed her hard. As his arms circled around her and pulled her close, she melted against him. What started out slow and sensuous immediately turned hard and rough as he walked her to the bed. “Get undressed,” he ordered in a thick voice. “Slowly. I want to see every inch of your skin.”

Suddenly, she felt shy. All of their previous trysts had been quick, almost desperate. She’d never been fully naked—most of the time, she hadn’t even been half-naked. Would tonight change things between them?

“Now, Katie. I want to see you now.”

As he unbuttoned his shirt, he slowly sank into the mattress.

Under the spell of his gaze, her hands slowly moved to the straps of her dress. In that moment, she felt as if her body wasn’t even her own as she slipped the straps down her shoulders. Turning her back, she let the dress slither down her body and pool at her feet.

“The bra.” His voice shook just a little.

Closing her eyes, she reached back and unhooked the bra. As it fell, she reached up and unclipped the claw holding up her hair.

“The panties, Katie.” His voice was barely above a whisper.

Hooking her thumbs under the red elastic of her panties, she bent at the waist as she slowly lowered them.

As she straightened, his hands circled around her waist, and she gasped. She’d never even heard him move.

“Spread your legs.”

Without hesitation, she did as he asked.

His fingers lifted her hair, and he pressed his lips to her bare shoulder. Her heart hammered against her chest as he slid one finger down her spine to the cleft between her cheeks.

“Khalid,” she whispered. Her knees threatened to give out from under her, and he’d barely touched her.

“Let me,” he whispered. His fingers slipped between her lips and probed at her juices. “So wet. Is that for me?”

When she didn’t answer right away, he tugged at her hair until she slammed against his body. “Is that for me, Katie?”