Sheikh Without a Heart

“For an arrogant, self-centered despot, you mean?”

Rachel laid her hand against Karim’s jaw. It was rough with end-of-day stubble. It made him look dangerous and incredibly sexy.

“Maybe I was wrong about that.”

“You were right, habibi. I am all those things—but not when I am with you.” He caught her hand, pressed a kiss into her palm. “On second thought …” His voice turned as rough as that stubble. “On second thought …” His teeth sank lightly into the flesh at the base of her thumb. “Are you hungry, too, sweetheart?”

Rachel looked up into her lover’s dark eyes and answered the question she saw t

here.

“Yes,” she whispered. “I’m hungry for you.”

Karim groaned, brought her hard against him and kissed her.

The world, and the web of lies she had created, spun away.

CHAPTER TEN

NOW they could make love more slowly.

There was time to learn each other’s most intimate secrets, to explore with slow hands and deep kisses, to speak in a lovers’ language of soft whispers and softer sighs.

“I love the taste of you,” Karim said as he lay back with Rachel in his arms.

God, he did.

Her skin was silk against his lips, her nipples honey-tipped buds. Her scent was intoxicating, pure and female. Everything about her heightened his desire: the way she moaned when he caressed her, the curve of her mouth against his, the blurring of her eyes when he entered her.

He enjoyed sex, and there was no sense in not admitting he was an accomplished lover. Still, a part of him always remained a little removed during the act, and if he’d given it any thought he’d have said that was a good thing; it meant he could hold on to his self-control until the last possible second.

Not with Rachel.

He couldn’t tell where her pleasure began and his ended.

It was an incredible sensation.

And when she grew bolder and began to explore him—touching the tip of her tongue to his salty skin, lightly biting his lip, running her hands over his muscled shoulders and arms—

He almost went crazy.

He wanted to tumble her on her back, drive into her until the earth trembled.

Somehow he forced himself to keep from doing it—

Like now, when her hand moved lower.

And stilled.