“What? No!” She put her hands to her blazing cheeks and shook her head, her heart thumping in response. “You’re outrageous, Kadir.”
He walked over and took her wrists gently in his, pulled her hands away from her face. She felt as if she was going to hyperventilate, and he stood there so calm and in control that she almost envied him. Yes, damn him, control was precisely what she was afraid of losing.
Control of herself, of her needs and desires, of her reactions. Kadir had a way of making a woman want to lose control. She was beginning to realize how very dangerous he was to her sense of well-being.
He frowned down at her. “There is no need to panic. I won’t do anything to make you uncomfortable, Emily.”
“Then why did you say—”
“I like teasing you,” he said softly. “You are quite emotional, as it turns out. I had no idea.”
Emily fought her natural inclination to drop her gaze from his. Instead, she pulled in a deep breath and kept her chin up. “I’m sorry, but this is outside my comfort zone. I know what to do when I’m your PA. I don’t know what to do as your wife...especially your fake wife.”
He put his hands on her shoulders and rubbed. Another jolt of sensation shot from where he touched her straight down to her sex. She wanted to whimper with it. Had she ever reacted this way to another man? Or was she just so deprived of contact lately that her body was starved for it?
“Just follow my lead and it will all work out.”
She closed her eyes for a moment. She was in over her head. She should have realized it before. “I don’t like deceiving your family. I should have said no.”
“Ah, but you want the money.”
She bit her lip. She wanted to explain herself, but he wasn’t looking for an explanation. He was stating a fact. And mentioning her father’s health issues would only distract attention from Kadir’s problems right now.
“I do.”
His hands dropped away from her shoulders and disappointment bit into her. He turned away and removed the flowing headdress. His dark hair was a sensual shock to her system, though she’d seen it a million times before. But there was something about the kaffiyeh and its removal that set up a drumbeat in her veins.
Kadir was thankfully oblivious as he set the fabric down and then continued into the outer suite where the seating area was. Once there, he collapsed onto one of the sofas and tilted his head back, his eyes closing. He looked troubled now, no longer angry or amused.
Emily’s heart went out to him and she berated herself for being so insensitive. Of course he was troubled. His father was dying and she’d been going on about the sleeping arrangements like a timid virgin.
She walked over and perched on a chair nearby. She didn’t know what to say, or if he’d even welcome her presence, but she had a need to be near him. His eyes opened again, a question in them.
“I didn’t ask about your father,” she blurted.
He shrugged, but she didn’t miss the tension vibrating from him. “He is dying. He’s frail, weak and shockingly wasted away from the man he was the last time I saw him.”
“I’m sorry, Kadir.”
“This is the way life is, habibti.”