LITMIR.BIZ

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from behind a cloud. ‘And I don’t want to ride on one either. If there’s herb in the word, count me out. I suppose it’s useless to ask if you have a change of clothes? Mirror? Hairdryer?’

      ‘Wash your clothes in the oasis.’ He was irritated by how much that smile affected him. ‘They’ll dry quickly if you put them on a rock.’

      ‘And in the meantime I’m supposed to walk around naked?’

      ‘In the meantime you wear a robe.’ It might be a good for his sanity, Zafiq thought grimly, to cover her up from head to foot. The mere mention of the word naked was enough to make him consider jumping back in the pool himself simply for its cooling effects on his overtaxed libido. ‘And stay out of the sun.’

      Bella sank under the still surface of the water. Her skin was burning from the sun exposure; she felt hot, grubby and unattractive but she did feel better now that she’d cooled off, and it was bliss to wash off the sand that appeared to have stuck to every part of her skin. There was no mirror in the tent but the Sheikh’s indifference to her as a woman told her everything she needed to know.

      Clearly she looked a complete fright. Like some sort of alien sand monster. If she’d been thinking clearly she would have bathed in the pool before trying to talk him into taking her to the city.

      Still unable to believe that he was going to make her stay here with him, she glared at the outside of the large white tent.

      Where was he anyway? Meditating?

      Bella frowned as she tried to see her reflection in the water.

      No, a man with muscles like that had to do something more physical than meditate.

       Was he watching her?

      The thought made her shiver and she dipped under the water again and did her best to remove the sand from her hair, methodically working on it section by section.

      ‘Never again am I taking shampoo for granted.’ Despite her disappointment at not being back in the city, she had to admit that the pool was beautiful. Shaded by palm trees, the calm, glassy surface of the water reflected the perfectly blue sky, and beyond the palm trees the dunes rose steeply, turned to a shade of pinky orange by the late-afternoon sun.

      It wasn’t the city, but it was better than being trapped in the Retreat. Better than having to meditate or contemplate or whatever, Bella mused as she cleansed the last section of her hair and then turned onto her back. Floating in the peaceful pool, staring up at the sky, she felt unusually tranquil.

      In fact, the whole situation was surprisingly relaxing.

      The Sheikh had no idea who she really was. He knew nothing of the latest Balfour scandal. They’d probably never even heard of the Balfours out here in the desert.

      Which suited her perfectly.

      Although she’d hated the Retreat, Bella knew she couldn’t go home.

       What was there to go home for?

      They didn’t want her there.

      She’d made a hideous mess of her life.

      Feeling tears prick her eyes, Bella dipped her head under the water, feeling more alone than she’d ever felt.

      Feeling the water ripple around her she spluttered to the surface, realising that she wasn’t as alone as she’d thought.

      The Sheikh’s stallion stood on the edge of the oasis, drinking from the water.

      ‘Hi, there.’ Bella grinned at him, admiring the powerful muscles of his neck and legs. ‘Are you really as dangerous as he says you are? You don’t look it.’

      At the sound of her voice, the horse reared up, showing the whites of his eyes as he pawed the air.

      ‘All right, I get the message,’ Bella said drily, ‘you’re dangerous. And moody like your master. Calm down, will you? I’m harmless.’ She swam across from the centre of the pool and swept her dripping hair out of her eyes. ‘What else can you do? Any other tricks?’

      The horse flattened his ears to his head and stared at her suspiciously.

      Bella was about to reach out her hand to stroke him when a masculine voice stopped her.

      ‘Don’t touch him—he has a very uncertain temper. He could hurt you.’

      Bella froze, but the sudden tremor of her limbs wasn’t caused by fear of the horse. ‘Have you been watching me?’

      ‘I was watching the pool. As you seem to have the most astonishing propensity for attracting trouble, I thought it might be the simplest way to keep you alive.’

      ‘I’m not your responsibility.’

      ‘I know. But if you die out here in the desert I will have to take your body back to the city and that doesn’t fit in with my plans.’

      ‘Oh, thanks!’ Her tone sarcastic, Bella waded into shallower water, forgetting that she was naked from the waist up.

      She heard his sudden indrawn breath and saw his gaze linger on her body in an unmistakably masculine appraisal.

      Bella resisted the inexplicable urge to cover herself. ‘Stop staring.’

      ‘If you didn’t want me to look, you wouldn’t have removed your clothes.’

      ‘I only have one set,’ she said tartly. ‘It’s either naked in the water, or naked all evening. Take your pick.’

      ‘You have no modesty.’

      ‘If you don’t like it, don’t look, Your Highness.’ But she saw the unmistakable gleam of admiration in his eyes as he scanned her curves reluctantly. Reluctant was good, she told herself. Reluctant meant the emotion he was feeling was more powerful than he wanted it to be. And there was no better confidence booster than a man who wanted her despite himself. Starved of affection—deeply wounded by the rejection of her family—Bella couldn’t help enjoying that admiration.

      She stepped out of the water and twisted her hair into a thick rope, squeezing out the water, not bothering to cover herself. Although she didn’t look at the Sheikh, she was hyperaware of him as she stretched out her hand to the snorting stallion.

       She could feel him looking at her.

      ‘You need to calm down,’ she cooed. ‘There’s no need to be all macho and dominating. I know you’re stronger than I am.’ She talked to the animal in a low voice and the horse blew through his nostrils, watching her all the time.

      His head snaked forward in a rapid movement and in an instant the Sheikh was between her and the horse.

      Controlling the stallion with a single, abrupt command, he closed his hand round Bella’s wrist and dragged her towards the tent.

      ‘You are the most provoking, wilful, obstinate—’

      ‘Irresponsible, thoughtless, selfish,’ Bella added helpfully, and he growled deep in his throat and hauled her against his hard, powerful body. Without hesitation or warning he brought his mouth down on hers and she felt his strong hands slide down her bare back, holding her captive. Her damp skin burned against the pressure of his fingers and sexual excitement consumed her body like a ravenous beast.

      As his mouth plundered hers with raw, unrestrained passion all she was aware of was heat. The heat of his tongue, the heat of the tent and the scorching heat that seared through her body like a flaming lance.

      It was like nothing she’d ever felt before.

       Like nothing she’d ever imagined—

      And then he released her, thrusting her away from him as if she were infectious.

      Suddenly unsupported, Bella swayed, dizzy and disorientated from his kiss and wondering why he would want to stop doing something that felt so good.

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