breath once again caught at how magnificent the structure was. The cream building was a mass of arches and columns, architecturally gorgeous, its symbolism awe-inspiring.
When she’d come here two years ago she’d been equally enchanted, probably because she’d never met a real sheikh before.
Her smile faded.
At least now she knew just how overrated the experience was.
Chapter 5
Back in the palace, Holly spent the rest of the day in her room. She had no desire to go explore the palace any further—especially with Rafiq’s watchdogs shadowing her every move.
Exhaustion had finally taken over. She’d been lying on the bed for the last hour, trying to nap, but her mind wouldn’t shut off. She couldn’t stop worrying about her brother or thinking about what had happened at breakfast with Rafiq. The market had been a good distraction, but once she was alone again with her thoughts, it all came rushing back.
Just remembering what had happened at breakfast sent a wave of shame and humiliation through her. How could her body have betrayed her like that?
It was hard not to resent Rafiq. To compare him to the men in the career she’d walked away from.
Her time modeling had been short. She’d started at eighteen and was out just before her twenty-second birthday. All too often she’d met men who'd wanted to exchange sexual favors for advancement and otherwise impossible opportunities.
She’d been so young and sheltered that at first she’d been shocked by the advances, then gradually had become more angry and jaded the longer she’d stayed in the industry. It had turned her off of men and dating completely. Until she’d met Rafiq…and now the Sheikh was trying to use her the same way. Granted, he wasn’t outright asking for sex—though he was quite upfront with his intent to seduce her.
At one time, she never would have thought him capable of falling into the same category as the other men. When she’d met him he’d been so distinctive and compelling, mysterious, even while charming. But he’d been playing her like a well-tuned violin. He’d probably never had any intentions of allowing the photo shoot to happen in his country, had simply drawn out his response time to see if she’d go to bed with him.
Thank God she hadn’t. It would have made her humiliation all that much more substantial when he’d thrown them out of his country.
“I am such an idiot.”
She was exhausted and needed sleep, and yet her mind couldn’t stop thinking about Rafiq.
The sound of the door clicking open was the only warning she had before the man who occupied her thoughts strode into her room.
Holly sat up on the bed, heat warming her cheeks. “Maybe you could try and knock first next time?” For goodness sake, what if she’d been changing?
Rafiq ignored her sharp remark, the white robes swirling about his legs as he made long strides across the room toward her.
Her indignation died as she spotted the scowl of irritation on his face. Had she done something to upset him? But of course that was a silly question. When hadn’t she?
“I hear you went to the marketplace today.”
“Was that against the rules?” She tilted her head. “Perhaps I heard wrong, but I thought you said as long as I brought one of your henchman with me I would be allowed to leave the palace.”
“No, you heard right.”
“Then why have you come, if not to berate me for going into the city?”
His expression darkened. “Your brother is being brought to the palace.”
Holly was off the bed in a flash, rushing toward the door with her heart pounding a mile a minute with excitement.
Rafiq caught her arm and swung her around before she could leave the room. “I can see where you and your brother have your similarities. Both of you are brazen enough to try and force your way into my palace. Apparently he slipped away from the guard escorting him to the airport.”
“Please, let me see him, Rafiq,” she pleaded
When she’d come here two years ago she’d been equally enchanted, probably because she’d never met a real sheikh before.
Her smile faded.
At least now she knew just how overrated the experience was.
Chapter 5
Back in the palace, Holly spent the rest of the day in her room. She had no desire to go explore the palace any further—especially with Rafiq’s watchdogs shadowing her every move.
Exhaustion had finally taken over. She’d been lying on the bed for the last hour, trying to nap, but her mind wouldn’t shut off. She couldn’t stop worrying about her brother or thinking about what had happened at breakfast with Rafiq. The market had been a good distraction, but once she was alone again with her thoughts, it all came rushing back.
Just remembering what had happened at breakfast sent a wave of shame and humiliation through her. How could her body have betrayed her like that?
It was hard not to resent Rafiq. To compare him to the men in the career she’d walked away from.
Her time modeling had been short. She’d started at eighteen and was out just before her twenty-second birthday. All too often she’d met men who'd wanted to exchange sexual favors for advancement and otherwise impossible opportunities.
She’d been so young and sheltered that at first she’d been shocked by the advances, then gradually had become more angry and jaded the longer she’d stayed in the industry. It had turned her off of men and dating completely. Until she’d met Rafiq…and now the Sheikh was trying to use her the same way. Granted, he wasn’t outright asking for sex—though he was quite upfront with his intent to seduce her.
At one time, she never would have thought him capable of falling into the same category as the other men. When she’d met him he’d been so distinctive and compelling, mysterious, even while charming. But he’d been playing her like a well-tuned violin. He’d probably never had any intentions of allowing the photo shoot to happen in his country, had simply drawn out his response time to see if she’d go to bed with him.
Thank God she hadn’t. It would have made her humiliation all that much more substantial when he’d thrown them out of his country.
“I am such an idiot.”
She was exhausted and needed sleep, and yet her mind couldn’t stop thinking about Rafiq.
The sound of the door clicking open was the only warning she had before the man who occupied her thoughts strode into her room.
Holly sat up on the bed, heat warming her cheeks. “Maybe you could try and knock first next time?” For goodness sake, what if she’d been changing?
Rafiq ignored her sharp remark, the white robes swirling about his legs as he made long strides across the room toward her.
Her indignation died as she spotted the scowl of irritation on his face. Had she done something to upset him? But of course that was a silly question. When hadn’t she?
“I hear you went to the marketplace today.”
“Was that against the rules?” She tilted her head. “Perhaps I heard wrong, but I thought you said as long as I brought one of your henchman with me I would be allowed to leave the palace.”
“No, you heard right.”
“Then why have you come, if not to berate me for going into the city?”
His expression darkened. “Your brother is being brought to the palace.”
Holly was off the bed in a flash, rushing toward the door with her heart pounding a mile a minute with excitement.
Rafiq caught her arm and swung her around before she could leave the room. “I can see where you and your brother have your similarities. Both of you are brazen enough to try and force your way into my palace. Apparently he slipped away from the guard escorting him to the airport.”
“Please, let me see him, Rafiq,” she pleaded
Similar Books
