In Too Deep_ Husband Material & the Sheikh's Bargained Bride - Brenda Jackson [52]
A raider of the desert who seized whatever he wanted, made willing slaves of his conquests, whose ruthlessness was only matched by the heartlessness of his seduction. A being from another world where everything was laced with mystery and magic, edged by danger, drenched in excess, in passion.
In a pitch-black abaya that spread over his endless shoulders and billowed around him like a shroud of mystery, a high-collared top embroidered with zari gold thread, and pants fitted into leather boots, he looked like a supernatural being who descended to earth to rule, to conquer, an avenging angel from the realm of oriental fables.
She swallowed. What felt like ground glass slid down her throat. His beauty, his majesty…hurt. Her stupidity, in believing he’d fallen for her as totally as she had for him, hurt more.
“I did tell you to wait until you saw Sabrina, Seb,” Adham murmured as his arm snaked around her waist, his hand dipping beneath her top’s edge to singe her flesh with the heat of his electricity-wielding fingers. “But even I couldn’t have imagined how spellbinding the trappings of my culture could be until her beauty and grace adorned them.”
Her instinctive reaction was to swoon at the extravagance of his praise, to melt into the possession of his touch. It took all of three heartbeats before reality sank its fangs into her and had her lurching away as if from burning tentacles.
Adham’s eyes didn’t betray any change of expression, apart from the fluctuation in his pupils’ size. Without missing a beat, he pulled her to him again, as if he hadn’t realized she’d pulled away. Or maybe he wouldn’t let her in front of those whose opinion mattered to him. “I hope I didn’t leave you waiting long, ya jameelati. I should have escorted you here or at least been here to receive you, to be the first to look on your enchantment tonight. But there was an emergency with one of the ponies.”
“What?” Catherine eyes widened, her smile fractured, alarm catching her off guard. “What happened? Which pony?”
“Rahawan,” Adham answered, sparing her a glance before returning his sizzling focus to Sabrina. “He had severe colic. I called Dr. Lima and stayed until Rahawan started recovering.”
“Oh, I’ll go.”
This made Adham relinquish his hold over Sabrina’s eyes, stretch an arm in Catherine’s way, cutting her movement short. “Of course you won’t, Catherine.”
“But I am still working for you until the end of the season,” Catherine protested. “Even if I weren’t, your horses will always be mine, too, Sheikh Adham. I have to make sure he’s all right.”
“He is. But thanks for your continued caring and commitment. Richard is a lucky man to have such a loyal, compassionate woman. Now put your mind at ease and enjoy the party. I intend to.” He turned to Sabrina, hugging her closer. “Now that I’m with you, it’s a certainty that I will.” He looked to the women. “May I borrow my bride, ladies? It’s been a long day without her.”
The women giggled and fanned themselves, winking at her as he swept her away.
Once they were out of earshot, she tried to step back from his embrace, struggling to make it look like she wasn’t pushing him away. He only tightened his hold, bearing down on her with his heat and voracity. His fake voracity.
He bent to take her lips. She turned her head at the last second. His lips latched on her cheek instead. He burned it with his kiss. “I thought I could wait for later, but I can’t.”
She pushed harder at him, managing to put him at arm’s length. “Listen, nobody can hear you now, so you can quit it.”
“Quit what?”
“The act. Go light on the theatrics. Less is more and all that. Look around and learn from your friends how a man in love is supposed to behave. Sebastian and Richard are not oozing all over their women.”
“Oozing?” His frown was spectacular.
“Yes, oozing. You better watch it. You’re crossing from convincing underacting to ridiculous overacting.”
His glower deepened. Then something flared