Claimed by the Sheikh by Rachael Thomas

forward again. ‘But be warned, Amber. If this episode in your life gets out and threatens all I’m trying to achieve in Barazbin, you will pay dearly.’
    â€˜Now we are getting to the bottom of it all.’ She smiled sarcastically at him. ‘Just what is it you are trying to do—apart from blow my life to pieces again? Why exactly am I, the woman you married and turned your back on in one night, so necessary?’
    Just when she thought she was about to unravel the mystery of Kazim’s sudden intrusion into her life, the car stopped. The private jet looming above them brought reality hurtling at her.
    She was about to leave with Kazim—a man who had dismissed her from his life so coldly. She had no idea when she would return to Paris, but one thing she was sure of was that she would not be staying in Barazbin long.
    * * *
    â€˜We’re here,’ Kazim said, grateful for their timely arrival at the airport. He’d nearly let things slip, nearly told her she was not only of paramount importance to his succession to the throne, but crucial in a deal he was making—a deal to secure peace to his people, a deal very important to him. It was his duty to return to Barazbin with her. A duty he intended to fulfil, whatever obstacles he had to remove.
    He’d always wanted to help the nomadic tribes, previously his father’s venture. Now it was time for Kazim to step aside from his successful oil company and take up the position he’d been born to. Duty called and that call was becoming increasingly more insistent.
    In an effort to forget a life he’d been forced to forgo, he focused his attention on Amber, watched as she all but physically rooted herself to the seat, her full lips parting, drawing his gaze, and his control wavered. She’d thrown herself at him on their wedding night and he’d turned his back on her. He’d had his reasons—good reasons. But now he couldn’t ignore what he’d felt that night, stirrings of passion so strong it still simmered in his blood. He wanted her.
    Was that so wrong? For a man to want his wife?
    He leant further forward, closing the distance between them, surprising himself as much as her, as his lips claimed hers. A dizzying sensation hurtled around his body as he met no resistance from her, her lips moving beneath his. After a second she stilled as if she was about to pull away then her lips parted against his, encouraging him. She tasted of mint, so clean and vibrant it infused his body, making him want much more than a kiss.
    The polite cough of the driver and the cool air rushing into the car dampened the desire flooding his body and he moved abruptly away. Her lovely face was flushed beneath her dusky complexion, her eyes burnished bronze and her lips plump and extremely kissable.
    His body stiffened. As did his resolve to achieve what he’d set out to do. Reclaim his wife. It was more than time to claim his bride, make her his.
    â€˜You are my wife, Amber, and it is past time you started being just that.’ The harshness of his voice had echoes of his father, but he couldn’t dwell on that now. Not when hot desire raced around him in a way he’d never experienced before.
    â€˜No, I can’t.’ Her eyes were wide with shock, her cheeks lightly flushed, fuelling his desire even more.
    â€˜I will not accept that. You belong to me and it’s time I claimed what is mine.’ Even to his ears his words sounded barbaric, like something uttered by a sheikh of many years ago—or his bullying father. He’d never wanted to be either but as soon as his lips had touched hers he’d lost all reason, all ability to think rationally. Wildness raced in his blood, driving him on.
    â€˜Please, Kazim, I can’t be your wife,’ she begged, her eyes beseeching him. ‘You can’t just whisk me back to Barazbin.’
    â€˜We’re not there yet.’ A gust of wind all