The announcement came out of nowhere, making Willow jump in surprise and exclaim, “What?”
The sheikh appeared startled. “What – what?” He looked at her with more lust than concern, asking, “Are you all right?” He reached for her eagerly, seeing a chance to cop a feel.
Even as she deftly avoided the sheikh’s touch by turning sideways, Willow said with a smile, “I’m fine, Your Highness.” After the last ten minutes, rejecting his advances without causing offense had become a piece of cake.
Good job on handling the sheikh, Ms. Somerset.
Why, that nasty blonde robot! Willow’s teeth gnashed. It was just like Serenity not to help her despite knowing Willow’s predicament.
Also, Mr. Manolis is right behind you.
WHAAAAAT?
A hand settled on her waist, and the familiar feel of the touch turned her mind into a blank.
Stavros.
Even if she hadn’t known it was Stavros Manolis, the way all the men around her except for the sheikh immediately left was a dead giveaway. She had seen him do the same thing countless times in corporate events, using his intimidating presence to get rid of people he didn’t like without saying a word.
In front of her, the sheikh said warily, “Manolis.”
“Sheikh Abdullah.” Stavros stood so close to her she could feel his breath caress her nape as he spoke. She tried not to shiver but failed, every cell of her body prickling in excited awareness of his proximity.
Silence followed, the sheikh looking more uncomfortable by the second while, beside her, Stavros remained chillingly aloof.
Willow was beginning to feel faint. The longer Stavros stood next to her, the more she felt like the whole thing was a dream and there were just two of them in the room. She started to stir, the tension getting to her, and it seemed to act like a cue, Stavros suddenly speaking, his voice abrupt and low as he asked, “May I speak with you?”
Willow froze.
Before she could think of what to say, Serenity chose that moment to play the devil’s advocate, whispering into her ear, “Make him hate you.”
Jesus H. Christ! Willow jumped at Serenity’s sudden interruption.
Stavros frowned when Willow jerked like someone who had been stung by a bee.
Damn you, Serenity Raleigh. I’m going to kill you for this. But deep inside Willow knew the reminder had been necessary. Uncertainty assailed her as she considered what she planned to do, but she told herself she had to give this a shot. She had tried to be nice this morning, and what had it gotten her besides heartbreak?
Serenity was right.
Nice wouldn’t cut it now.
This time, she was going to be bad.
Tearing the wireless earpiece off and sliding it into the pocket of her dress, Willow twisted her head to the side to look up at Stavros with exaggerated wide-eyed surprise. “Did I hear you right, Mr. Manolis?” Something came over her then, and she let her lips curve in a playful smile. “You want to…talk?” It was like being possessed by a Southern belle ghost, and the innuendo she injected into the last word made it easy for anyone to imagine what kind of talking she had in mind.
Before Stavros could answer, she stepped away, forcing him to release his hold on her waist. His eyes narrowed in warning as she moved towards the sheikh.
Don’t, those eyes said.
Her eyes laughed at him. Try stopping me.
Stavros found himself reluctantly mesmerized by the sensuous sway of her hips. Goddammit, those hips were still his weakness, and even now, even knowing what kind of woman she was, it made no difference to his cock, which was now fully erect and trying to burst out of his pants.
Willow stopped next to the sheikh. Glancing at Stavros below her lashes, she murmured, “I don’t think I can…talk right now, Mr. Manolis.” She pretended to think, her teeth sinking into the fullness of her bottom lip.
As the gesture drew Stavros’ attention to her rosy mouth, memories pummeled his mind, taunting him of the times he had that very mouth wrapped around his cock.
“I’m busy, you see…”
Stavros stiffened when Willow trailed her fingers over the sheikh’s arm, and a murderous rage burned inside him when he saw the sheikh tremble with unconcealed lust at the touch.
“The sheikh and I…” Moving in front of the sheikh, Willow lifted her hand from his arm and placed it on his chest.
The sheikh looked like he was about to die—
She smiled at the sheikh, saying, “We’re going to talk, too, aren’t we?”
The sheikh said dreamily, “Yes.” If he did die, it was clearly going to be a happy death.
Her hand started moving down.
The sheikh held his breath, and everyone who could see what she was doing held their breaths as well.