Sheikh's Scandal(80)

                He thought he might even owe her a thank-you for the elopement.

                * * *

                Standing on the balcony overlooking the harem gardens, Liyah ignored the second knock on her door in less than hour.

                Hopefully, if she didn’t answer, whoever it was would take the hint and go away.

                The sound of a door opening and soft footfalls across the carpet told her she had not been so lucky.

                “I was an ass.”

                “Yes.” She wasn’t going to deny the obvious.

                Nevertheless, Liyah did not react outwardly to Sayed’s presence or his surprising admission, though her heart started beating faster.

                Honestly, if she could ignore him completely right now, she’d prefer it.

                But Sayed was a guy who took responsibility and apparently his mother believed he had some sort of obligation toward Liyah. Queen Durrah had apparently convinced her son of it, too.

                So, here he was. To apologize? To invite Liyah on an outing?

                Whatever it was, she wanted it over and him gone. Her defenses were always at her lowest around this man and she did not want him to see the tears tightening her throat.

                He stepped up behind her, laying his hands on her shoulders. “I hurt you.”

                She shrugged, unwilling to lie and equally loath to admit to her weakness. It was too close to admitting why she was so susceptible to him.

                Love hurt. There was no other name for the conflagration of emotion he sparked in her. She loved him.

                She was pretty sure she always would, too. That one-true-love stuff she’d always thought a ridiculous fairy tale? She was living it. Only the happily ever after? It was still in the realm of fantasy and always would be.

                “I am very sorry. It was not intentional.” His right hand slipped down and around to press against her stomach, guiding her body back toward his.

                “I never thought it was.” She was just a one-night stand that wouldn’t go away and his apology didn’t change that, but she’d still liked hearing it. “Please let go of me.”

                She couldn’t blame him for not wanting to spend time with her, but his touch brought her emotions too close to the surface. And that was something she couldn’t deal with.

                His lips brushed against her temple. “I want nothing more than to spend the afternoon with you.”

                “Right.”

                He gently but firmly turned her to face him. If she could believe the evidence of her eyes, his expression showed turmoil equal to Liyah’s. And this time, he was doing nothing to hide it.

                It shouldn’t matter, but it did. Forcing her gaze straight ahead, she opened her mouth to demand again he let her go, but she could not make the words come out.

                She wanted this closeness.

                He sighed, his hands rubbing in circles on Liyah’s back. “I have spent the past two days putting out fires Tahira’s elopement sparked. We have two border countries offering a similar alliance, accepting either one of which would lead to a dangerous political imbalance and almost certain aggression on the part of the other.”