Free The Sheikh's Illicit Affair by Holly Rayner, Lara Hunter

be an ulterior motive. Other than him wanting to sleep with her, what could it be?
     
    “When is your wedding, by the way? I keep forgetting to ask.”
     
    “Oh.” He dropped his gaze and inspected his fingers. “It’s a few days from now.”
     
    “And it will take place in Al-Sharrabi?”
     
    “How do you like the wine?”
     
    “It’s lovely.” She leveled her gaze at him, waiting for him to answer her previous question.
     
    “Yes. In Al-Sharrabi. I’d really rather not discuss it.”
     
    The look on his face was one of pain, which surprised her. Sure, he’d talked about finding love, but he had surely known all his life that this was coming. Was he not used to the idea by now?
     
    Maybe Zaakir’s ulterior motive was the same as hers, Megan thought: maybe he just wanted to spend as much time together as possible before he was married.
     
    “Did you want to learn another dance?” she asked. “Something other than the tango? I’m not sure there’s much more I can show you.”
     
    “Perhaps. You’re such a great teacher, I think you could teach me anything and I would learn it well.”
     
    “Only if you learn every dance as quickly as you learned the tango. I’ve never had a student pick up the moves so quickly. You really never had a dance lesson before that?”
     
    He shook his head. “I haven’t had much occasion to dance. It’s not something my family appreciated.”
     
    She almost laughed at that. “That’s just one more thing we have in common, then.”
     
    “Sadly, yes, but here we are, pursuing our passions in spite of them.”
     
    “Right you are.”
     
    She took a sip of her wine, letting the flavor sit in her mouth for a moment before swallowing it. It had a smooth texture, she thought, and she wished now that she had gone to a wine tasting or two with her mother. Just to learn something about it, and appreciate it a little more.
     
    “Do you know much about wine?”
     
    “Some,” he said, swirling his glass casually. I’ve learned over the years how to appreciate a good taste, but I’m not the connoisseur many wealthy Manhattanites are.”
     
    “My mother tried to make me learn, but I never did. I’ll admit, I can’t tell much difference between cheap wine and expensive wine.”
     
    “Well, I can assure you, this is rather expensive wine. It’s all I buy.”
     
    “I had no doubt about that,” Megan said with a grin.
     
    After they finished the wine and the hour grew late, Megan was starting to feel tired. Zaakir turned on a TV and watched the news, while she took advantage of the couch for a lie down. She took out her phone to check it and saw a text from Rachel from a few hours ago.
     
    Meg! I’m dying here! It’s late. What’s going on? Are you still there?!
     
    Megan shook her head and smiled. How was she going to explain this?
     
    I’m still somewhere. LOL.
     
    She hit send, but didn’t know if the message would go. “Zaakir, is there cell service or Wi-Fi on the jet?
     
    “There is Wi-Fi.”
     
    She looked back at her phone. It took longer than usual, but the message did send. The reply came back quickly.
     
    What do you mean by that?!
     
     
    Well. I’m on a private jet. Zaakir’s private jet. Heading to Al-Sharrabi, to his palace.
     
     
    You’ve got to be kidding me. How in the world? What does this mean?!
     
     
    He wanted to have the lesson there and thought I would appreciate getting out of the city for a few days.
     
     
    I can’t believe this. You’re dating a rich man.
     
     
    Right. Except we’re not dating at all.
     
     
    Meg. You don’t just fly people on your private jet to spend the weekend in another country if you’re not interested in them.
     
     
    Megan’s fingers hovered over her cell for a few moments before she typed out her reply.
     
     
    I think I might know what’s going on. He seems sad to be getting married, he doesn’t want to talk about it at all. I think he’s doing the same thing I’m