Free Claimed by the Sheikh by Rachael Thomas Page B

his eyes was not what she’d expected to see. His fingers still held her chin and the pad of his thumb moved to rub lightly over her lips, prolonging the tingle his kiss had started. She dragged in a ragged breath, wishing he would kiss her again, but not daring to move, not wanting to risk his rejection once more.
    â€˜You should get changed.’ His voice was husky and a shiver slipped down her spine, but still he held her there. Then, briskly, he moved back, broke the spell, startling her. ‘I have a call to make, so I shall leave you in peace to get ready.’
    Amber blinked against the shock of what had just happened. She touched her lips, her hands shaking. Was it possible that he didn’t hate her as much as she’d thought, that the gentle loving touch of his lips meant something more? Hope sprang to life and with a tentative smile she gathered up the bags and headed for one of the bedrooms to shower and change.
    A short while later, nerves skittered through her once again. She studied her reflection in the mirror. It had been so long since she’d worn such lovely clothes she’d almost forgotten how it felt.
    The black dress moulded to her body, the sweetheart neckline scooping perhaps a little too low, but the shoes that had been insisted upon in the boutique were gorgeous. Strappy black sandals encrusted with so much sparkle every small move made them glitter—expensively.
    Was this a little too much for dinner? She was about to slip them off and go for her usual choice of plain heels when an impatient knock startled her.
    â€˜It is time to go, Amber.’
    Shyly she opened the door, watching his handsome face for a reaction. Had she chosen well or overdone it? Her skin heated as his eyes slid slowly downwards—it was almost as if he was caressing her with their dark depths. She held her breath. When his gaze moved back to her face the desire swirling there shocked her, setting off a chain reaction of fizzing heat hurtling through her.
    â€˜You look...’ he paused, his head slightly at an angle ‘...exquisite.’
    Unable to help herself, she let her gaze linger on his face before taking in the full impact of him dressed for dinner. The crisp whiteness of his shirt made his tanned skin more pronounced, the formal black tie suit fitted him to perfection, showcasing his strength perfectly. The Western clothes highlighted his rugged power, intensifying the rush of heat around her body.
    When she looked back up at his face, he was smiling, a kind of sexy come-to-bed smile that made her heart crash inside her chest. It was like floundering at sea. She was truly out of her depth with Kazim.
    â€˜Do I measure up?’ he teased and stepped back a pace, allowing for better scrutiny.
    â€˜I think you know the answer to that,’ she said, aware and a little unnerved by the husky tone of her voice as she opted for bravado. ‘You know it only too well.’
    Despite the fact that he’d just stepped away from her, a spark of fire leapt to life between them—the same heat that had been smouldering since he’d first said her name at the club. She held his look, desperately trying to hide how unsettled she was right now.
    When he laughed it shocked her; it was such a deep, rich sound. Laughter lines creased at the sides of his eyes and he looked much younger. More like the man she’d lost her heart to in Barazbin—and much less troubled.
    â€˜A very brave answer,’ he said as he held out his arm to her. She looked at him a moment longer before linking her arm with his, enjoying being made to feel special. It wouldn’t last long, of that she was sure. So why not make the most of it? He was, after all, the first and only man she’d given her heart to.
    The sensation of walking on air had little to do with the fantastic dress and glamorous high heels she wore, but everything to do with the man on whose arm she was. Beside her, he carried