Free The Royal Elite: Ahsan (Elite, Book 2) by Danielle Bourdon

cheeks flushed from sleep.
    “Ahsan?”
    “Hm?” He came back to the present when he realized she'd been talking to him. “What?”
    “I asked if it was all right for me to come down and visit the horses and kittens.”
    “Any time you like. While you're at it, you should give all these kittens names. They don't have any yet.” He just wanted to see what she would come up with.
    “This one is precious, so I'll call her Precious.” Sessily held up the fluffy tabby and smiled at Ahsan.
    He groaned. This might be a big mistake. “You don't even know if it's a girl yet.”
    “And the one you're holding is Whitey.”
    “Sessily, seriously? You're horrible at naming animals.” Whitey? He wasn't calling either cat Precious or Whitey. A man had to put his foot down at some point.
    “Are you a name snob?” she asked.
    “Yes, as a matter of fact. Choose something else.” He set the fluffy white kitten down and watched it scramble back to the empty stall. Searching his pockets, he brought out his phone, keys and a small red apple. Setting his phone and his keys atop a nearby trunk with a flat lid, he fished out a knife next and quartered the fruit.
    “But I like those names, they're fitting.”
    “I'm not calling that cat Precious.” And that was that. He handed off two slices to Sessily, and turned to offer two horses a slice of apple each. The steeds nickered with interest, ears pricked forward, and lipped the treat off his palm.
    After setting the tabby down, Sessily chose two horses to give the apple slices to. “You invited me to name them, so I'm naming them. Live with it.”
    He laughed. “These are my stables, in case you've forgotten. I make the rules, and I can change them any time. Choose different names.”
    Before anyone could say anything else, an employee hailed him from the far end of the stable. He glanced at Sessily. “Will you be all right here for a moment?”
    “Of course. I'll be waiting, take your time.” She smiled as if the intrusion was not a problem at all.
    “Excellent. Think up new names in the meantime.” He winked and strode the other way, intent on finishing his business as soon as possible. Like a burning brand, he could feel her gaze bore into his back, watching him walk away.
    As if she could do any less.

Chapter Five
    Sessily helped herself to the impressive sight of Ahsan's retreating back. Broad and strong, with muscles flexing under the snug fit of the tee shirt, it was a back she could easily imagine running her hands over.
    Turning her mind from intimate musings, she rubbed her forehead with her fingers and took a deep breath.
    She hadn't expected their conversation to take such a drastic turn. His admission that he'd checked her background had almost sent her into a fit of panic. Sessily thought he was going to casually say he knew exactly why she was here, and who had sent her. For long moments, she'd nearly lost control of her temper and ranted at him. Fear was the culprit of her swing in emotion, for the stakes were high if she failed to accomplish her mission or if Ahsan figured out her game.
    A game she was coming to loathe more and more with every passing second. Ahsan might be arrogant and blunt and self-serving, but she thought she detected a more complicated man beneath the outer trappings. It was the way he bluntly warned her to be more cautious about strangers, the way he handled the kitten with such tender hands, and the fond way he sometimes greeted his horses. This was a man who truly cared about animals and their well being. People, too, or at least certain people. His employees treated him with respect and were eager to please and, as far as she had seen, his entire household worked together like a well oiled machine.
    All her inner warnings that Ahsan might be like his brother held less weight in the face of these personal glimpses. Bashir had been cold as ice from the outset, a man who looked at a person with calculation over the best way to use