A Night, A Consequence, A Vow

‘He doesn’t look fine,’ she said. ‘He looks...lonely.’

Ramon gave a soft snort. ‘My brother isn’t lonely.’

‘How do you know?’

He turned her in his arms and looked down at her. ‘How about more focus on your husband and less on his brother?’ he growled.

Emily hid a smile. Her husband’s occasional displays of jealousy always amused her. ‘Fine,’ she whispered, conscious of their daughter sleeping. ‘Let’s join our guests, then.’

She went to move but his arms tightened, locking her in his hold. He dropped a kiss on her mouth that stole her breath with its tenderness, then raised his head. ‘Happy?’ he queried softly.

This time she let her smile show. How could she be anything else? She had a family, people she loved, people who loved her. And she had this beautiful home that was already filling with love, laughter and joy.

Their ‘for ever’ home.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. ‘Blissfully.’

* * * * *

EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT

Reluctant Sheikh Salim Al-Noury would rather abdicate than taint the realm with his dark secrets.

But could one exquisitely beautiful diplomat convince him otherwise?…

Christmas means heartbreak to Charlotte, and this overseas assignment offers the perfect getaway. But Salim proves to be her most challenging client yet, and his rugged masculinity awakens untouched Charlotte to unimaginable pleasures!

Read on for a sneak preview of Abby Green’s book

A CHRISTMAS BRIDE FOR THE KING

Rulers of the Desert

She looked Salim straight in the eye. ‘Life is so easy for you, isn’t it? No wonder you don’t want to rule—it would put a serious cramp in your lifestyle and a dent in your empire. Have you ever had to think of anyone but yourself, Salim? Have you ever had to consider the consequences of your actions? People like you make me—’

‘Enough.’ Salim punctuated the harshly spoken word by taking her arms in his hands. He said it again. ‘Enough, Charlotte. You’ve made your point.’

She couldn’t breathe after the way he’d just said her name. Roughly. His hands were huge on her arms, and firm but not painful. She knew she should say Let me go but somehow the words wouldn’t form in her mouth.

Salim’s eyes were blazing down into hers and for a second she had the impression that she’d somehow…hurt him. But in the next instant any coherent thought fled, because he slammed his mouth down onto hers and all she was aware of was shocking heat, strength, and a surge of need such as she’d never experienced before.

Salim couldn’t recall when he’d felt angrier—people had thrown all sorts of insults at him for years. Wo

men who’d expected more than he’d been prepared to give. Business adversaries he’d bested. His brother. His parents. But for some reason this buttoned-up slender woman with her cool judgmental attitude was getting to him like no one else ever had.

The urge to kiss her had been born out of that anger and a need to stop her words, but also because he’d felt a hot throb of desire that had eluded him for so long he’d almost forgotten what it felt like.

Her mouth was soft and pliant under his, but on some dim level not clouded red with lust and anger he knew it was shock—and, sure enough, after a couple of seconds he felt her tense and her mouth tighten against his.

He knew he should draw back. dpg

If he was another man he might try to convince himself he’d only intended the kiss to be a display of power, but Salim had never drawn back from admitting his full failings. And he couldn’t pull back—not if a thousand horses were tied to his body. Because he wanted her.