Bella and the Merciless Sheikh

by Sarah Morgan

  He stared down at her for a long, disturbing moment and then rolled away from her and sprang to his feet. everything he did was confident. Sure. Catching her first proper glimpse of his naked body, Bella stared. Wide shoulders, golden skin, long strong legs. She gazed after him hungrily as he prowled to the far side of the tent.

  Away from her.

  Everyone always walked away from her.

  He dressed without once looking in her direction. Which was a good thing, because it meant that she could remove a stray tear without him noticing. The lump in her throat was harder to shift.

  The sudden urge to talk to her twin sister almost flattened her. That wasn’t an option, was it? Not only had Olivia been banished to Australia, her sister wouldn’t have wanted to talk to her. They hadn’t spoken since the row. Since that awful night.

  Bella watched him in numb silence. What had she expected? That she could fill that gap inside her with a moment of passion? Had she thought it would be something more? She was useless at relationships. All relationships.

  Bella thought she wanted to be on her own and then she saw him finish dressing and realised that she really didn’t.

  ‘Where are you going?’ She blurted out the question before she could stop herself and he lifted his head and looked at her. For a moment they just stared at each other and then he reached for his dagger and secured it in his belt.

  There was something about the cold, hard set of his profile that made her stomach quake and suddenly her insides were a mass of insecurity.

  ‘Did I do something wrong?’ The moment the words left her lips she wanted to drag them back in, but it was too late and she cringed as she listened to herself.

  Talk about needy.

  Without answering, he strode towards the opening of the tent and Bella felt the tears burn her eyes. ‘Don’t you dare just walk out on me,’ she flung at him, and he turned then—this man with whom she’d shared the ultimate intimacy—and gave her a look that froze her blood.

  ‘That was—’ he inhaled deeply ‘—a mistake.’

  ‘Finally we agree on something.’ Trying to keep her dignity, Bella reached for the thin sheet and covered herself. ‘It was your fault.’

  Something flared in his eyes. ‘You could have refused me.’

  ‘How? You weren’t exactly taking no for an answer.’

  His head jerked back as if she’d slapped him. ‘If you’d said no, I would have stopped.’

  Bella’s face turned scarlet. Was she supposed to confess that she hadn’t been able to think, let alone speak? Was she supposed to confess that she hadn’t wanted to say no?

  ‘You’re the Sheikh,’ she said flippantly. ‘I didn’t think I was allowed to say no to you.’

  ‘Since when has that stopped you?’ His mouth tightened. ‘It will not happen again.’

  Bella’s ego crumbled into the dust. So much for feeling sexy and wanted. So much for thinking they’d shared something special.

  ‘That’s fine by me,’ she snapped but she was talking to the thick, oppressive air in the tent because he’d walked out, leaving her alone.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ‘I’VE never had a one-night stand, Amira.’ Bella leant her forehead against the mare’s sleek warm coat and rubbed her hand gently over her back. ‘The newspapers print all those fictitious stories about me because it sells their papers and I play up to it, but if they knew how little experience I’ve had, they’d die of shock. I’m nothing like your master, who must have had quite a lot of experience if his virtuoso performance was anything to go by.’

  The horse whickered softly, turned her head and nudged her gently.

  ‘I can’t take you for a ride,’ Bella said humbly, warmed by the animal’s response to her. ‘Remember what happened last time? I almost killed you and I’m not risking that again. I don’t care about me, but you’re really special.’ She kissed the horse and then tensed as she heard the sound of hooves from behind her. Wary, she turned and saw the Sheikh, and her tummy clenched.

  Even on the horse, he looked spectacular—sleek, handsome and totally in control.

  Reining in the stallion he sat still, looking at her, his hands steadying the powerful horse. Remembering how those hands had felt on her body, Bella felt an unwelcome rush of heat.

  ‘Nice ride, Your Highness?’ She’d pulled on her tunic again, but now she was regretting having cut it so short. For once, she wished she was covered up. Determined not to let him see how uncomfortable she felt, she made a fuss of the horse, aware that he was watching her.

  ‘My name is Zafiq.’

  ‘Ahh, and I get to use your name because we had sex, is that right? Special privileges.’

  The breath hissed through his teeth and he vaulted from the horse and strolled across to her. ‘You are very flippant.’

  ‘Well, I’m sorry if I don’t please you, but I have no idea what to say in this situation.’ Self-conscious and angry, Bella pushed her hair away from her face, wishing she could have spent three hours being pampered in a spa before meeting him again. Facing him bare of make-up required a confidence she didn’t possess. ‘If this had happened in the city we wouldn’t have had to see each other again.’

  ‘This would never have happened in the city. In the city I don’t forget who I am,’ he gritted, ‘nor do I forget my responsibilities.’

  ‘Your life sounds like a laugh a minute.’ Bella brushed sand from her tunic. ‘I’m sorry I made you forget your responsibilities.’

  There was a long protracted silence and then he sighed. ‘Don’t be. You were incredible.’

  For a moment she thought she’d misheard him. She stared at a point somewhere in the centre of his chest and then slowly lifted her head to look at him, her mouth dry and her heart pounding. ‘Sorry?’

  ‘You have to understand that I am a very disciplined man,’ he said fiercely. ‘I am not accustomed to losing control.’

  ‘Really? I’m hardly ever in control. I’m more of an impulse person.’

  His smile was wry. ‘That, I have no trouble believing, habibiti. You’re extremely emotional.’

  ‘Whereas you are frighteningly unemotional.’ Remembering how he hadn’t touched her after sex, Bella felt her cheeks flush and turned away from him. ‘So we’re imperfectly matched, then. Having finally realised that, I suppose you’ve decided you’re finally ready to take me back to the city.’

  He inhaled deeply. ‘That isn’t what I have decided.’

  ‘Look, this is supposed to be your week of rest and relaxation so you hardly want to be tiptoeing round an awkward situation, do you?’

  ‘Precisely. This is my week of relaxation, there fore I shall spend it as I please.’

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ She rubbed her hand over the mare’s neck. ‘What pleases you?’

  ‘You please me.’

  Bella’s stomach tumbled and she turned her head, her eyes wide. ‘What did you say?’

  ‘You please me greatly. You’re extremely passionate and responsive and once you’re in my bed you stop fighting me.’ He gave a sardonic smile. ‘There fore I intend to keep you in my bed for the rest of my time in the desert.’

  ‘So I’m going to be your personal harem while we’re here, is that it?’

  The corner of his mouth twitched. ‘One woman does not constitute a harem, habibiti, although you certainly have enough spirit to share generously between at least ten women.’

  ‘Now wait just a minute—’ Flustered, her face burning, Bella backed into the horse who threw up her head and nudged her hard in the back, pushing her straight into Zafiq.

  Strong hands closed around her arms, steadying her, and Bella moaned as she felt the immediate explosion of chemistry.

  ‘You’re not my type. I’m not your type. This goes against my better judgement.’

  ‘Mine too—’ his mouth hovered close to hers ‘—but I think we’ve suspended judgement at this point.’ Without warning he swung her up into his arms and Bella thu
mped him on the shoulder.

  ‘Where are you taking me?’

  ‘Back to bed,’ he drawled, striding into the tent. He deposited her gently on the mattress and yanked her tunic over her head without giving her the chance to resist. ‘When you’re underneath me you’re soft, compliant and all woman so that’s where you’re staying while we’re here.’

  Bella gave an outraged squeak and made a grab for the tunic. ‘That was a one-off performance, caused by too much sun and the fact that you bulldoze your way over everyone.’

  He threw the robe out of reach, a dangerous gleam in his eyes as he stripped off his own clothes. ‘Why do you fight me?’

  Averting her eyes from temptation, Bella glanced past him, trying to gauge her chances of making it out of the tent without him catching her. ‘Once was a mistake—twice would be a disaster.’

  ‘If you run, I’ll just bring you back.’

  She looked at him then and was trapped by his devastating smile and the unmistakable look of raw sexual intent in his eyes. Her body melted with a desire so intense that it was impossible to breathe. He was unreasonably, unfairly gorgeous. ‘I’m not your prisoner.’

  ‘No.’ He retrieved the knife from the folds of the robe. ‘You’re an aggravating, feisty, defiant woman. And I find that unbelievably erotic.’ There was an elemental primitive strength about him that made her shiver and Bella was suddenly acutely conscious that she’d never dealt with anyone like him before in her life.

  Wary, Bella eyed the knife. ‘What’s that for? Are you planning to threaten me into submission?’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ he purred softly. ‘When I take you a second time, you won’t be fighting me any more than you did the first time.’

  Bella’s heart was pounding and her mouth was dry. ‘My brain is back in working order now. And this whole Neanderthal caveman routine doesn’t really do anything for me. I like a man who can hold a conversation.’

  ‘And I like a woman who knows when to remain silent.’ He dropped the dagger onto the ground. ‘I’ve watched you since the moment you arrived. And I was still watching you when you were writhing underneath me. It was a very satisfying sight.’

  Squirming at being reminded of how easily she’d succumbed to him, Bella lifted her chin. ‘That was all an act to protect your ego.’ She tried to scramble to her feet but Zafiq gave a half-smile, caught her round the waist and dropped her back on the mattress.

  ‘You are talking because you are nervous, and that is good because it shows that you are vulnerable. But you don’t need to be afraid.’ His expression thoughtful, he sat down next to her, every muscular curve of his bronzed torso so breathtakingly perfect that Bella found it almost impossibly distracting.

  ‘I’m not afraid…I’m—’ His mouth silenced the rest of her sentence and she felt her head swim, but she was determined not to make a sound. He already thought he was a god; there was no need to feed his ego by letting him know he was an exceptionally good kisser. Ignoring the rush of heat that swept through her body she pulled away and tried to look bored.

  ‘Sorry, was I supposed to feel something?’ But the husky note of her voice betrayed her and he gave a slow, masculine smile, closed his hands over her shoulders and pushed her back against the mattress.

  ‘Are you ever honest about your feelings?’

  No, Bella thought helplessly, thinking of the number of times she’d been hurt in her life. Never. ‘I don’t have feelings,’ she whispered, and he lowered his head, his lips brushing against hers. Their eyes held, the connection between them pulsing, intimate and deliciously exciting.

  The heat in the tent went from oppressive to stifling and Bella sucked in a breath as his thigh brushed against hers and his breath mingled with hers. ‘Last time we took things too fast. This time will be different. This time we will drive each other crazy.’ His burning gaze slid slowly down to her mouth, and then to her throat and finally to her breasts. Bella moaned as she felt her nipples harden against the flimsy fabric. ‘Stop looking at me like that.’ But her words lacked conviction because she didn’t want him to stop looking at her. She loved the way he was looking at her.

  Not as if she was Bella Balfour, party girl, but as if she was an incredibly desirable woman.

  ‘If you didn’t want me to look, you shouldn’t have made yourself an object of interest,’ he drawled, the deliberate movement of his hand sending another spasm of sensation arcing through her body.

  Bella sucked in a breath. ‘Take your hands off me.’

  ‘Fine. No hands.’ With a devastating smile, he lowered his head and drew her nipple into his mouth and Bella whimpered with disbelief as excitement flooded her pelvis in a heated rush.

  ‘You really can’t—’

  ‘Yes, I can.’ His voice husky, he covered her body with his in a decisive movement and took her face in one strong hand. ‘Tell me no, and I stop. Is that what you want?’

  Bella stared up at him helplessly. She felt trapped, feminine and deliciously aware of the hard press of his powerful body against hers.

  Zafiq slid his hand down her bare thigh. ‘If there’s a no coming, make it soon, habibiti, because I’m a very hungry guy.’

  Bella was hypnotised by the look in his eyes. She ought to say no. She really, really ought to say no. But right at that moment she didn’t care that he wasn’t suitable. She didn’t care that they had nothing in common, that this wasn’t real.

  She wanted him so badly it was embarrassing.

  Reading the desperation in her eyes he gave a slow smile of masculine satisfaction and her last coherent thought was that it was a good job the British tabloid press were never going to get hold of this story.

  Zafiq brought his wide, sensual mouth down on hers with the assured confidence of a conqueror claiming the spoils.

  Exactly as she had the first time, Bella went up in flames. He demanded everything from her, the erotic slide of his tongue stealing the last of her self-control. Her hands clutched at his shoulders, lingering on sleek bare skin, feeling the play of male muscle under her fingers.

  He muttered something against her mouth and shifted slightly, his hand removing her bra with a single movement of his long fingers. Bella felt a sudden urge to cover herself and he must have sensed her sudden doubt because he shifted his body again, holding her pinned beneath him.

  ‘You have a fabulous body,’ he breathed, lowering his mouth and claiming the straining tip of one breast. ‘A temptation for any man.’

  Taking advantage of the fact he was distracted, Bella put her hands on his chest and pushed him onto his back. Then she straddled him, her blonde hair sliding over her shoulder and tickling his chest.

  ‘Now we’ll see who is in charge,’ she said smugly, gasping suddenly as she realised where she was sitting.

  He gave a slow smile of appreciation as he registered the same thing. ‘Make no mistake, habibiti—’ he groaned thickly ‘—you may be the one on top, but I am still the one in charge.’

  ‘You think so?’ Leaning forward, Bella trailed the tip of her tongue over his shoulder and felt his sudden tension. Smiling to herself, she continued to lick her way down his body until she heard him give a deep, earthy groan.

  Relishing the shift in the balance of power, Bella drove him wild with her mouth and tongue, pinning his arms down with her hands and holding him there. Her prisoner. The delusion lasted all of a few minutes and then he flipped her onto her back with embarrassing ease and shifted above her, flattening her to the mattress with the weight of his body.

  ‘You just have to be the one on top, don’t you?’ Bella gasped, her hair tangling with his arm as their bodies connected from shoulder to thigh. ‘Has anyone ever told you that you have a power complex?’

  ‘Has anyone ever told you that you’re incredible?’

  The breath caught in her throat. ‘No.’ No one thought she was incredible.

  Pushing that thought away, Bella slid her fingers into his silky hair and dragged his head down to
hers. She wanted to forget, and if there was anyone who could make her forget, it was this man—and if there was a price to pay tomorrow, she’d pay it.

  ‘So why do you keep a knife by the bed?’

  ‘It isn’t by the bed. It’s by me. This is the desert, habibiti—’ Zafiq turned to look at her and she saw that his eyes were actually a deep, dark brown rather than black ‘—there are always risks.’

  And he was the biggest risk of all, Bella thought weakly, hardly recognising herself. This couldn’t possibly be her, could it? Lying compliant and quiet next to a virile, dominant male. The desert must finally have affected her brain.

  But this time she didn’t make the mistake of trying to snuggle.

  She couldn’t face another rejection.

  Just looking at him was enough to make her want him again and when he leant forward to deliver a lingering kiss to her mouth, her tummy tumbled and she waited in a fever of anticipation.

  ‘Are you hungry?’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ Bella groaned and then realised that he was talking about food. ‘I— Great. Yes. Food.’

  He looked at her for a long moment and then pulled himself up on his elbow. ‘This is not how I usually spend my time in the desert.’

  Bella gave a faltering smile. ‘Am I supposed to say sorry?’ Suddenly he seemed remote and intimidating. ‘Can you stop acting like a sheikh? You make me feel uneasy.’

  ‘How do you want me to act?’

  ‘Like a man.’ Her eyes lingered on the dark stubble that shaded his jaw. ‘You’re off duty.’

  ‘I’m never off duty. Responsibilities don’t go away just because you are not looking at them.’

  Unsettled by the topic of conversation, Bella gave a saucy smile. ‘You’ve got to learn to relax and have fun. Talking of which—’ She pounced on him, pushing him onto his back, using the element of surprise to her advantage. ‘Now you’re in my power.’

  He looked at her with mocking, slumberous eyes. ‘You think so, habibiti?’