Sheikh's Scandal(62)
“He didn’t even remember what she looked like,” Liyah said, still unable to grasp that particular reality.
How could he have forgotten such a special, wonderful woman?
“It sounds like he was in a bad place in his life when they met,” Sayed said, as if reading Liyah’s thoughts.
“That doesn’t excuse him seducing an innocent young woman and then forgetting about her as if she never mattered.”
“Many errors in judgment cannot be excused, but that does not mean they can never be forgiven.”
“So, you’re going to forgive Tahira?”
“Eventually,” he said, shocking Liyah. “But probably not until everything her defection has caused has been dealt with, and in a way that is not to the detriment of my people.”
“Wow, you really are some kind of amazing.” Though she had no doubt he meant his caveat for forgiveness one hundred percent.
He looked pleased by her declaration. “I have very good parents.”
“I think your basic core has a lot to do with it, as well.”
Sayed shrugged. “Perhaps, but even in that I must acknowledge the gift of good DNA.”
She reached out and touched his face. She simply couldn’t help herself.
He stilled, making no move to dislodge her hand. “What?”
“I just wanted to reassure myself you’re real.”
“I am flesh and blood like the next man.”
“Emir.”
“With you, I prefer to be a man only.”
“Is that possible?” Her heart responded to the man, but her head reminded her that the emir was way out of her league.
“Right now, in this moment, it is.”
Neither broke eye contact as the attendant cleared their dinner detritus from the table.
“Did you know there is a small bedroom in the back of the plane?” he asked when the attendant had moved away. “It is a necessary luxury for those times when travel and sleep schedules do not coincide.”
Goose bumps were traveling up her arm from the circling of his thumb against her palm. “Um, that’s nice?”
“Would you like to see it?”
Liyah was being propositioned. She wasn’t sure who was more shocked when she accepted.
Herself, or Sayed.
* * *
Sayed led Aaliyah into the sleeping quarters. Although it was as superbly appointed as the rest of the plane, the bed was only a double size.
He would not allow the cramped quarters to prevent him from his current objective: giving Aaliyah an experience worthy of the gift of her innocence.
No matter how mind-bogglingly good the sex had been the night before, they’d both been under the influence of alcohol. And he hadn’t known she was a virgin.