The Return of the Sheikh by Kristi Gold

and spun around to face him. “I’m going to bed now.”
    “Do you wish some company?” he asked as she backed toward her room.
    “Yes… No, I don’t wish any company.”
    With that, she turned and disappeared through the glass door, leaving Zain alone with a strong urge to follow her, and an erection that would take hours to calm.
    Now that he’d sampled what Madison Foster had to offer aside from her political expertise, he didn’t want her to leave yet. He wanted more. He wanted it all.
    *
    She wanted to scream. She wanted to pull the covers over her head and forget what had happened the evening before. She wanted to tell the person who was knocking to go away and come back in day or so. Maybe by then she would be over her mortification enough to make an appearance.
    Instead, Madison shoved the heavy eggplant-colored spread aside, left the bed and put on her robe on the way to answer the summons. If she happened to encounter the reason behind her current distress, she just might have to give him another piece of what was left of her mind. Or invite him in…
    She yanked open the door to discover Elena once again standing on the threshold, tray in hand and a cheerful smile on her face. “Good morning, Miss Foster. Did you sleep well?”
    “Like a rock.” Like the dead or better still, the drunk. “What was in that tea, Elena?”
    She breezed into the room and set the tray on a table near the glass doors. “Chamomile and a few other things.”
    Madison tightened her robe. “What other things?”
    Elena straightened and swept a hand through her silver hair. “Some herbs and honey and schnapps.”
    Schnapps. That explained a lot. “You should have warned me. I drank three cups and had to take a twenty-minute shower to sober up before I could find the bed.”
    “My apologies, cara. I only wanted to aid you in relaxing.”
    “I was definitely relaxed.” So much so she’d melted right into Zain’s mouth.
    Elena pointed in the direction of Madison’s chin. “I have a special balm that will help with that irritation.”
    Confused, Madison strode to the mirrored dresser to take a look. Not only was her hair a blond Medusa mess from going to bed with it wet, she had a nice red patch of whisker burn below her bottom lip. “I used something new on my face, so that must be it. I’ll be avoiding it from now on.” Avoiding Zain’s seduction skills, even if she couldn’t avoid him.
    “Would this something new be tall, dark and have a heavy evening beard?”
    She met Elena’s wily smile in the reflection. She hated to lie, so she’d simply be evasive. Turning from the mirror, she gestured toward the tray holding a silver pot and a plate of pastries. “I hope that’s not more tea.”
    Elena shook her head. “No. It’s coffee. Very strong coffee. I decided you would need some caffeine for your meeting with Prince Zain.”
    She didn’t recall scheduling a specific time. Then again, last night’s details were a bit fuzzy, except for the blasted kiss. “When does he expect me?”
    “Now. He’s is in the study, waiting. And he seems to be in a somewhat foul mood.”
    Lovely. “Do you know the reason behind his foul mood?”
    Elena tapped her chin with a slender finger and looked thoughtful. “Perhaps it is because he has tried something new on his face and he would like more of the same.”
    Madison internally cringed. If she kept backing herself into corners, she’d soon be folded in half. “Elena, seriously, this is just a rash. I have very sensitive skin.”
    “Yes, cara, and I am the Queen of Italia. I can tell when a woman has been kissed, and kissed well. And of course, I know Prince Zain is the culprit. He is a charmer, that diavoletto. ”
    Little devil was an apt description of Zain Mehdi. Sexy little devil. “Okay, if you must know, we shared a friendly kiss. Thanks to your special tea, I had a temporary lapse in judgment.”
    Elena laughed softly. “Prince Zain’s powers of persuasion are