Claimed by the Desert Sheikh

Chapter Seven

Qadir stood by the office in the garage. It was his nature to take charge, to direct. Rather than give in to that need, he’d physically stepped back to let Maggie have control of the moment.

Gone was the sophisticated beauty from the previous night. Today she was all business, in coveralls and a T-shirt, her hair pulled back, her face scrubbed clean. She focused on nothing but the equipment and the men she directed as the engine was slowly lifted from the body of the Rolls.

Qadir knew he should be paying attention to the action. The engine was the heart of the car and if something happened to it then true restoration wasn’t possible. Yet he couldn’t seem to stop watching Maggie as she moved around the car, double-checking that everything was secure and then nodding for the men to resume.

There was something in the way she moved, he decided. Or maybe it was knowing that she could be both this competent leader and yet feminine enough to cry because a character in a play died.

Her tears had startled him. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d seen a woman cry for reasons other than manipulation. Later, as the musical had continued, Maggie had struggled for control, telling him or perhaps herself that she was fine.

“Swing it around,” Maggie called out. “Slowly. We don’t have any other plans for the day. That’s it. Great job. Just like that.”

He watched as the engine was lowered to the supports that would allow Maggie to work her magic on the aging beauty. When the engine was in place, Maggie breathed a sigh of relief and applauded her team.

“Excellent work,” she told the men. “Thank you so much for your patience and attention to detail.”

Qadir waited until everyone had gone to walk over to the engine.

“It could be worse,” she told him without bothering to look at him. “I’ll admit to a few moments of terror when it was pulled out. I thought there was more damage. But there doesn’t seem to be any horrible surprises. It’ll take me a few days to take everything apart and access the damage. That will really tell us where we stand.”

She glanced up at him. “What? You’re looking at me funny.”

“You are an interesting combination of traits. You were very good with the men.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ve been working with men my whole life.”

“These are men of my country, not yours. They do not usually take direction from a woman. Yet you established authority with them easily and offered them much praise. They will speak well of you.”

“Don’t be so surprised. I told you when you hired me, I know what I’m doing.”

Surprise didn’t describe his feelings. He was intrigued by her. Impressed. Aroused. But not surprised.

“The king likes you, as well,” he said.

She pulled a rag from her back pocket and wiped her hands. “Okay, that one I don’t know how to deal with.”

“You should be pleased.”

“Why? Wouldn’t it be better if he didn’t like me? We’re going to break up. I don’t want him mad at me when that happens.”

Qadir smiled. “Fear not. I will keep him from locking you away when you break my heart.”

“How comforting.”

“You did very well at the theater. Our next event will be to have dinner with As’ad and Kayleen. That will be easier.”

“Maybe for you,” Maggie said with a sigh. “I’m not so sure. I only had to talk to the king for a couple of minutes. Dinner is a lot longer. They’re going to ask questions like where we met.”

“We met here,” he reminded her.

“Oh. Right. Well, they’ll want to know other stuff. Like what we see in each other.”

A question he could easily answer, he thought as he watched her walk around the engine. Maggie was bright and funny and she spoke her mind. She was also a fascinating combination of competent and sexy. Like now. The coveralls hid everything, which only made him want to see and touch all that they concealed.

“My brother and his fiancée are within weeks of their wedding,” he told her. “They have adopted three young girls. If the conversation turns too personal, ask about some detail in the planning or how the children are doing. I am confident that you’ll be just fine.”

“Wish I were.” She walked over to the car and ran her hands along the side. “This I understand. This makes sense to me. Where art meets function. Couldn’t I just stay here and work on the car?”

He crossed to her and touched her face. Her skin was soft, her eyes wide, her mouth … tempting.

“Do you wish to be released from our arrangement?” he asked, wanting her with a power that left him hungry and restless.

Her pupils dilated. “No. I just want to whine about it.”

As always, she made him smile. “Then I will ignore your complaints.”

“Fair enough.”

“I must return to my office.”

The need to kiss her was strong, but he resisted. He’d hired Maggie to convince his father he was involved. He would not take advantage of the situation, no matter how much she tempted him.

He left the garage and walked toward the palace. Halfway through the garden he realized he had not told Maggie what time they were to meet for dinner.

He retraced his steps. She wasn’t in the garage, so he crossed to her office. The door was closed. He opened it without knocking and walked inside only to find Maggie changing her clothes.

She stood in the center of the room, her back to him. As he watched, the coveralls fell to the floor and she stepped out of them.

She’d already removed her boots, so she wore nothing but socks, tiny panties and a T-shirt.

Everything he’d been taught told him to retreat, to give her the privacy she expected and deserved. The blood of the desert that still pounded through his veins demanded that he take this beautiful, alluring woman.

He couldn’t seem to look away from her long legs, the curve of her hip, the way she moved as she bent down to pick up the coveralls. She turned slightly, saw him and jumped.

Maggie was pretty sure she didn’t scream, which was good because she hardly needed one more embarrassing moment where Qadir was concerned. Then she remembered she was kind of undressed and felt herself flush anyway.

“I … forgot to tell you what time we would meet for our dinner,” he said.

“Isn’t it seven? That’s what my schedule says.”

“Ah, yes. Seven.”

She stood awkwardly, sort of holding the coveralls in front of her body, even as she tried to convince herself that panties and a T-shirt were more clothing than she wore to the beach. Only they weren’t at the beach and she’d been undressing.

“I didn’t mean to intrude,” he said. “My apologies.”

She appreciated the words, even as she noticed he wasn’t leaving. That should have annoyed her. But there was something in the way Qadir looked at her that made her feel all shaky inside.

“Maggie.” He crossed to her in three long strides. “Send me away and I will go.”

His gaze was intense, as was his touch when he held her by her upper arms.

Sparks arced between them. She could practically see them as they singed her skin. Need grew until it devoured every part of her.

She didn’t understand what it was about this man that made her react the way she did. Cosmic humor? Chemistry? Hormones? She didn’t know and she wasn’t sure she cared. She only knew that when she was close to Qadir, touching him, being touched, she felt more alive than she ever had in her life.

She dropped the coveralls. “That won’t be necessary,” she whispered.

He pulled her toward him with a force that caused her to lose her balance. Not that it mattered. She knew if she fell, he would catch her, just as he caught her now, pulling her against him, claiming her with a hot, wild kiss that threatened to steal her soul.

She leaned against him, her curves flattening against his hard chest, wrapped her arms around his neck and gave herself over to the kiss. She met him stroke for stroke. As he explored, she tightened her lips around his tongue and sucked. He stiffened.

Pleasure filled her, along with the confidence of knowing she wasn’t the only one in danger of getting lost in the moment.

He dropped his hands to her hips then around to her rear, squeezing the curves, causing her to surge against him.

Her belly nestled against his arousal, hard, thick proof of what she did to him. Feeling it made her insides melt. She felt herself swelling in anticipation.

He ran his hands up and down her back before slipping one around her rib cage then up her T-shirt to her breast. Even through the layers of fabric, he found her nipple, tight and hard. He teased the sensitive point, rubbing it, circling, then brushing it with the palm of his hand.

At the same time he broke the kiss, only to nibble his way along her jaw.

He moved his free hand to her other breast. His touch was exquisite. Powerful need made her tremble. She wanted everything right that second. She wanted him.

He stepped back far enough to pull off her T-shirt. She quickly undid her bra and tossed it aside. Then his hands were on her bare skin.

He stroked her with his fingers before bending down and taking her nipple in his mouth. When he sucked, deep ribbons of desire wove their way down to that place between her thighs. She cupped his head with her hand, as much to be touching him as to make sure he never stopped.

His tongue danced with her, flicked against her, made her gasp and moan. Then he slipped one hand between her legs.

She braced herself for the magic of his touch and the intensity of her response. But even as he eased into place, she heard someone in the garage. A voice, then a burst of male laughter. She stiffened.

Qadir straightened. He immediately pulled off his suit jacket and covered her, then moved to the door, closed and locked it.

All that only took a second, but it was enough for her rational mind to wake up and be horrified by what had almost happened.

Qadir was her boss. They had a deal and that didn’t include sex. Just as confusing was the fact that she’d never been the kind of woman who threw herself into bed with any guy who came along. There’d only ever been Jon and it had taken them three years of dating to finally go all the way.

Of course they’d been young and both virgins. Qadir was a man of the world. Which explained his actions, but what about hers? It was one thing to enjoy a man’s kiss—it was another to get so swept away that she’d nearly done it in her office in the garage, in the middle of the day.

“Maggie?”

She looked at him. “I don’t know what to say.”

“I won’t apologize.”

He hadn’t done anything wrong except take what was offered. “I don’t expect you to.”

“Would it help if you threw something?”

That made her smile. “I’m not sure. I don’t feel angry. Just confused. I don’t usually do this sort of thing.”

“There is a powerful attraction between us.”

“I got that.”

He picked up her bra and T-shirt. After handing them to her, he turned his back. She set his jacket over a chair and quickly dressed. When she’d pulled on the coveralls, she said, “Doing anything … you know, intimate, would mess things up.”

He faced her again. “I agree.”

“I work for you.”

He nodded. “Better to keep things business only.”

“Yeah.”

They were both saying the right words, so why did she have the feeling that neither of them believed them?

“You are all right?” he asked.

“Fine. Weirded out, but fine.” She gave him a little push. “Go back to your office and do princely things. I’ll be ready at seven.”

“I’ll be waiting,” he told her and left.

Maggie watched him go. When she was alone, she sank into the chair and tried to figure out how much trouble she’d just gotten herself into.

Could she and Qadir put this behind them and pretend it had never happened?

Without meaning to, she closed her eyes and remembered how it felt to have his mouth on her breasts. Talk about amazing.

“It’s just chemistry,” she told herself. “Nothing more.”

It couldn’t be. She was here for a job and that was all. In six months their fake relationship would end and she would go home, much richer for the experience.

The trick was to not get personally involved. But for the first time she wondered if that was going to be harder than she’d ever imagined.

“Tell me about the woman,” Kateb said as he shrugged out of his robes and tossed them over a chair in Qadir’s suite.

Qadir poured them each a Scotch and handed his brother a glass. “What woman?”

Kateb raised his eyebrows. “Word of your involvement had even reached me in the desert, so there must be a woman.”

They settled on the oversize sofas in the main living area. Qadir raised his glass in a toast to his brother. “It is good to have you back. You stay away too long.”

“I find no pleasure in the city. I belong in the desert.” Kateb took a sip of his drink. “But you have not answered my question.”

“Her name is Maggie Collins. She’s restoring the Rolls.”

Kateb’s expression gave nothing away. “And?”

“And she’s beautiful, funny, down-to-earth.”

“You say all the right things. What aren’t you telling me, brother?”

Qadir grinned. “That it’s a game. I’m paying her to pretend to be my girlfriend. In a few weeks, we’ll get engaged. Then this will all be too much for her and she’ll return home. Heartbroken, I won’t be able to consider any of our father’s offers for perhaps as long as a year.”

Kateb nodded slowly. “An impressive plan.”

“You wish you’d thought of it yourself.”

“The idea has merit, although living in the desert as I do, I am well out of the king’s reach.”

“Lucky you.”

Kateb took another drink. “You do realize the game may have consequences.”

Qadir thought about his encounter with Maggie that morning, in the garage. If those were the consequences his brother was talking about, he would welcome them.

She had been all sweet fire in his arms. Her body yielding, her moans telling him she was as aroused as he had been.

“I am not concerned,” Qadir told him. “I know what I’m doing.”

“As you wish.”

“Are you here to discuss the nomination?” Qadir asked.

Kateb shrugged. “I am not sure there is anything to discuss.”

“They will name you and then what? Our father will not be pleased.”

“I have never been able to please him.”

“If you accept, you face him as an equal.”

Kateb smiled. “The king will not see things that way.”

Years ago, Qadir and his brothers had been sent into the desert, as was tradition. Young royal sons were taught the old ways, living with the nomads who roamed the deserts of the area. Qadir had endured the time but Kateb had loved it. As soon as he had finished university, he had chosen to make his home in the desert.

Tradition stated that every twenty-five years a new leader was nominated. As Kateb had become one of them, he was expected to be named.

But he was already an heir to Mukhtar’s throne. Not the first in line, but still close to being king. For Kateb to accept the nomination of the desert people meant abdicating his rights to the El Deharian throne.

“What do you want?” Qadir asked.

“To stay where I belong. I am unlikely to be king here. Walking away from what will never be mine is not a hardship.”

But if it was so easy, wouldn’t Kateb have already made the decision?

“Apparently the kind of flowers matter,” Kayleen said with a sigh. “There are rules.”

“Ignore the rules,” Prince As’ad told her. “You are to be my bride. Do what makes you happy.”

“So imperious,” Kayleen said, although she smiled at her fiancé. “It’s easy for him to tell me to break the rules, but he doesn’t have to face the wedding planner.” She leaned toward Maggie, her eyes wide. “Do you know the president of the United States has been invited? I nearly passed out when they told me. Fortunately he can’t come. They’ll send someone else, which is great. I couldn’t help fainting if I knew the president was there.”

As’ad touched her cheek. “You are far too strong to faint.”

“Maybe, but I’ll sure be thinking about it.” Kayleen shook her head. “I’m sorry. Hearing all this talk about the wedding must be really boring for you.” She smiled. “Qadir especially.”

“You are so lovely that any topic is interesting,” Qadir told her.

Maggie had to press her lips together to keep from laughing. As’ad glared at his brother.

“Do not use your charm on my fiancée or you will suffer the consequences.”

Qadir only looked amused. “Are you so unsure of her affections?”

Kayleen rolled her eyes. “They get like this from time to time. Sort of a royal way of letting off steam. We can pretty much send it in any direction we want. You could get insulted that Qadir is pretending to make a play for me or I could be flattered he thinks I’m worthy or we would ignore them altogether and just talk about something else.”

Maggie had been nervous about the dinner with As’ad and Kayleen. She didn’t know either of them and an intimate setting would require a lot of conversation. She had wondered how it would be possible to keep her fake relationship with Qadir seeming real.

But she found herself enjoying the evening very much. The other couple was easy to talk to. Kayleen especially bubbled about the wedding. They hadn’t asked any awkward questions and seemed to totally accept her. Life being what it was, that made her feel a little guilty.

“Let’s ignore them,” Maggie said. “Tell me about your three girls. That’s a lot to take on when you’re just getting married.”

“I know,” Kayleen said, sounding totally thrilled. “But the girls are the reason As’ad and I are together. He adopted them— it’s a long, complicated story. Anyway, I was their nanny and we sort of, well …”

“Fell in love,” Maggie said, seeing the truth in her eyes.

“Yes. It was wonderful. He’s wonderful.”

Maggie watched Kayleen look at her fiancé. There was so much love between them. So much caring. She felt a flicker of envy deep inside. A strong desire to have the same for herself.

She tried to remember if she’d ever felt that kind of connection before. Had it existed with Jon? She realized she wasn’t sure. That their love had evolved slowly. How much of it had been proximity? Had they fallen in love because they’d both been together all the time?

She didn’t have an answer, but as she considered the question she realized she wasn’t sad. That thinking about Jon didn’t depress her anymore.

She probed more deliberately. Didn’t she miss him? Didn’t she want them to get back together?

The answer came quickly. No. She still liked him and admired him, but the longing was gone. Even the simple need to talk to him burned much more quietly.

She still felt regret for that last night together. She wasn’t sure how long it would take for the shame to ease. But except for that, she felt ready to put Jon behind her. She found herself genuinely happy that he’d found someone else and longed to do the same herself.