Free The Sheikh's Diamond (Sheikh's Wedding Bet Series Book 1) by Leslie North Page A

it, but when he failed to change, he realized he couldn’t keep holding on to it. So he went through extraordinary lengths to hide it.”
    “Fleur, you’re supposed to be looking for the diamond. Quit worrying about Yasin.”
    “An epiphany from a sinner,” she said softly. “A grand gesture to lead to another grand gesture.” Whipping her head around, she looked for the highest place to stand within the cave. Spying some notches in the wall, she gripped the rock and began to climb.
    “Damn it, woman, what are you doing? You’re going to fall and kill yourself,” Masoud hissed as he hurried to stand under her. She continued until she reached a thin ledge high on the wall. Balancing herself carefully, she turned and gasped.
    As the sun hit the rock on the opposite side of the cave, a brilliant light burst outward. “My God, there it is.” She pointed to the wall.
    Masoud turned. “I don’t see anything.”
    “You have to elevate yourself,” she whispered to herself. “Pull yourself up, even at the risk of falling, to be close to God.” Excitement bubbled up inside her. “What are you waiting for? Go get it!”
    “Not until you’re safely on the ground!” Masoud muttered. Laughing, Fleur started climbing down before she felt his strong hands grasp her waist and lift her the rest of the way down. As soon as her feet hit the ground, she whirled around and navigated the uneven terrain as quickly as possible. As soon as she reached the opposite wall, she grabbed the notches and climbed a few feet up until she was standing on the plateau. Reaching up, she felt with her fingers along the edge until they scraped against what felt like a hard pebble.
    “Oh my God,” she muttered as she pulled it down. “Oh my God. Masoud. We did it. We found it!”
    “Hand it here,” he commanded. She bent down and dropped the diamond in his open palm. Part of her yearned to study it more, but this wasn’t the time or place. He pulled out a leather pouch from his pocket. Reaching in, he grabbed a long silver chain with a pendant hanging from it. She watched in awe as he popped open the cage in the middle of the pendent. The diamond fit perfectly inside.
    “You weren’t kidding,” she breathed. “It did belong to you.”
    Wrapping the chain around his wrist, he lifted his arms. She put her hands on his shoulders and let him ease her off the ledge. Her body slid against his, and by the time her feet hit the ground, she was consumed by desire. Maybe it was the excitement from finding the diamond, or maybe it was the pent-up lust she’d felt for him from the beginning, but she looked into his eyes and knew she was about to be his.
    “You could wear it,” he said huskily. “It supposedly has great power to bless all who come in contact with it.”
    “And yet the last person who wore it was found dead in his apartment,” she said softly.
    His hands moved down her waist until he could cup her bottom and pull her even closer against him. There was no mistaking his hardness.
    Her heart beat faster as his head bent down, and when his lips finally touched hers, she melted against him. With just a single kiss, he left her senses reeling. Opening to him, she demanded everything, and he held nothing back. The past few days of teasing and flirting was nothing compared to the flame that kindled inside her. His kiss was hot and urgent, and it sent chills down her spine as she pulled at his shirt. She didn’t want anything between them.
    “My little redheaded ball of flame,” he gasped as he finally broke away. “I had no idea that you could burn so hot.”
    “Don’t stop,” she muttered as she reached down and pulled off her shirt and tank top. He took a step back and stared at her.
    “I have absolutely no intention of stopping,” he said thickly. The lust in his eyes was enough to make her shiver. Reaching out, he traced a finger around the edge of her bra before he slowly rubbed over her erect nipple. Even a touch through