LITMIR.BIZ

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the desert sands to rule his country was slowly taming him.

      The lift doors opened onto the busy hotel lobby and she almost ran out, still desperate to put as much distance between them as possible. Everything about him was messing with her emotions. ‘I’m not exactly going to run out on you. A young boy’s health is now dependent on me going to Barazbin—and on you keeping your word.’

      Kazim studied her for a moment and she watched a muscle flicker as he tensed his jaw, his lips pressed into a thin line of annoyance. She raised her brow at him, sending him a challenge despite knowing she shouldn’t. Just what was it about him that made her act so—irrationally?

      ‘Do not argue with me, Amber.’ His firm words irritated her and she glared at him. ‘I am coming with you.’

      She sighed in resignation, which earned her a questioning look. Determined not to show him just how much he was getting to her on every level, she waltzed out of the hotel. Within seconds, just as he’d done in Paris, he fell into step beside her. She scanned the boutiques of the affluent street, knowing they would be too far out of her price range. She was certainly in the wrong part of London for her current budget.

      ‘Kazim,’ she said, stopping in the street so suddenly other pedestrians would have collided with her if he hadn’t pulled her close. Flustered, she looked up into his eyes, as dark as ever, but, instead of the usual hard and passionless depths, they blazed with something so intense it echoed deep inside her. As if, with that one look, he was claiming her as his.

      ‘What is it now?’ A smile teased at the edges of his lips and her heart jumped then raced erratically, his change of mood confusing her, disarming her.

      She swallowed hard, not wanting to admit anything to him but she had no choice. ‘I can’t afford to shop here.’

      ‘We’ll go to the next one then,’ he said without taking his eyes from her face. Heat was spreading from his touch and the world around them stopped, blurred into oblivion, ceasing to exist. The hum of the traffic slipped away and it was just the two of them.

      Mentally she shook herself, trying to clear her head, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. ‘What I mean is I can’t afford anything, not from this street.’

      He let go of her so abruptly she almost stumbled and the noises of the traffic rushed at her as if someone had suddenly turned the volume back up.

      * * *

      Kazim kept a tight rein on his temper. She certainly knew how to infuriate a man. He had no idea why he’d even decided to go with her. Shopping in any form was something he just didn’t do. But he’d glimpsed a hidden part of her as she’d studied the view from the suite earlier. He’d seen vulnerability as she’d stood at the hotel window. Vulnerability he was now compelled to protect.

      Of course his security team would have discreetly followed her, just as they were doing now, but she’d stirred in him an old need to protect and, along with it, bad memories from his childhood.

      He took her hand and the moment of hesitation in the soft brown of her eyes almost made him waver. ‘In here,’ he demanded roughly, not comfortable with the direction of his thoughts as he imagined her dressed for dinner in a sexy figure-hugging dress. ‘Get what you need for tonight and a further two days. I will attend to the bill.’

      Her hand loosened within his as he strode into the nearest boutique. He glanced down at her; the expression on her face was so desolate, so untainted that he wanted to hold her hard against him and kiss her lips.

      ‘Let’s just go back.’ She pulled on his hand, preventing him from going into the boutique, but he held her hand firmly, sensing she’d slip away into the crowded street if she got the slightest chance.

      ‘Go back?’ He knew his tone was harsh, but exasperation mixed with heady desire rushed around him mercilessly. He let her hand go, pushing open the door of the boutique and leaving her little option but to follow.

      Glamorous assistants rushed forward and instantly his control returned as he told them what was required, watching as they took over, guiding Amber towards the dressing rooms of the boutique. She looked back at him, her beautiful face almost frozen with horror.

      He turned his back on her, unable to deal with the need to protect her from hurt and harm that just being with her ignited. It was as if he was a young boy again, protecting his mother from his father’s wrath, boldly standing between, glaring at his father. He sighed and, with arms folded across his body, he stared broodingly out at the street, wondering just how everything had suddenly become so complicated.

      He’d come on a mission to reclaim his wife but, as he surveyed the passing traffic, he begrudgingly accepted why it was so important. He wanted to prove, once and for all, to his father that he was worthy of his time, his respect. Failure wasn’t an option, even if it was what his father had cruelly taunted him with, despite his weakened state of health.

      Kazim had to succeed, he had to return with Amber and take up his role as heir, but he hadn’t expected to want Amber so intensely, nor had he expected the desire that hummed through him just thinking of her. But, worse, he hadn’t anticipated she’d open up his past, bringing back the heartache from childhood and making him think and rationalise things he’d rather forget.

      But something else wasn’t right—ever since the first moment they’d spoken, almost everything had come back to money. He’d sent her father money that would support her, but still it seemed it hadn’t been enough. Just what had she spent it all on?

      He pondered the question. Why live in such an appalling flat when he’d been more than generous? Was she really as broke as she’d just alluded to? Something didn’t quite make sense.

      Kazim turned his attention back to Amber, who was now watching as a seemingly endless bundle of bags were packed. He settled the bill and asked for the purchases to be delivered to the hotel without passing any comment. A discussion of what she’d done with the money could wait until later.

      ‘Let’s go,’ he said quietly, an unmistakable firmness in his voice. He was all too aware of her standing close to him. He could feel the heat of her body as if he stood in the middle of the desert beneath the sun’s unrelenting heat. ‘We have a few matters to sort out, Amber.’

      ‘Only your impossible attitude.’ She glared up at him as the heated words left her lips and he realised the assistant was tactfully looking down, studying the final bag just a little too much.

      ‘We can discuss that too if it makes you happy, but not here.’ He kept his voice light, wanting to avoid a public discussion. He hoped the assistant would be discreet. The last thing he needed right now was extra attention from the press. Headlines about his marriage would not help anyone.

      He looked at Amber and she dropped her gaze, her face looking so young and inexperienced he fought against the urge to kiss her, as he had earlier. Not just a brush of the lips, but a kiss full of fire and passion. Maybe he should just do it and get it out of his system instead of wondering how she’d taste, how her lips would feel against his. That gentle brush of lips in the car hadn’t been nearly enough. All it had done was ignite the flame that had simmered since they’d first met.

      Before he had time to say anything further she all but flounced out. He couldn’t believe how out of his depth he felt with her, just as he had done on their wedding night. The reasons had been different but the feelings the same. She brought out a passionate streak in him, something no other woman had done, and he didn’t like it. Not one bit.

      * * *

      Amber couldn’t remember walking back to the hotel, but now she was once again within the confines of their luxury suite, wondering how Kazim managed to irritate her so much. He stood watching her, his presence dominating and consuming every breath of air. What was he waiting for her to explain? What did he want her to say now?

      The need to speak was taken away as a knock at the door broke the tension between them. She watched as an endless array of bags was delivered. Had she really bought that much? He must think her a

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