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Zamir joined his fingertips together and rested them beneath his chin. “They do not give much away. I only know that this rehabilitation facility is considered to be the best in the world. And that I will stay until he is seeming more like his old self.”
“You don’t have duties back home?”
His lips lifted in a small smile. “My father is Sultan. He is still able to perform his role. When I return, I will take over a far greater share of his work. For now, Ra’if is my responsibility.”
Olivia felt an almost-overpowering desire to pull him to her. To wrap her arms around his powerful chest and tell him that everything was going to be okay. But she didn’t. How could she? She didn’t know that it would work out for Zamir’s brother. Nor did she have any right to comfort him.
“Last night …” His eyes met hers, and the charge of electricity that bolted through her made her core tingle.
“Don’t,” she murmured, shaking her head slowly.
“I must.” His smile was self-deprecating. “I feel an enormous, crushing sense of guilt and worry. It is not an excuse to have behaved as I did towards you, only I hope you understand that I needed to put Ra’if from my mind.”
“It’s okay, really,” she said, standing awkwardly.
“No.” He stood as she had, and he towered over her when he came to stand right in front of her. He put a finger beneath her chin and forced her to meet his eyes. “I cannot lie, Olivia. I think you are … a very desirable woman. That had nothing to do with Ra’if. But I would not normally act on those feelings. Not with someone like you, and not under circumstances such as we find ourselves in. It was an error in judgement, and I hope you will forgive me.” He cleared his throat. “I hope you will continue to work for me, while I am here.”
Her heart was racing. Her mouth was dry. She nodded. “Of course.” He found her desirable. He hadn’t just been looking for meaningless sex. He had wanted her.
“Good.” His fingers were still on the sensitive flesh beneath her chin. Her body, of its own accord, leaned forward imperceptibly, so that her breasts brushed against his chest.
Zamir’s eyes flashed with awareness at the contact, and Olivia felt a thrill of adrenalin. Common sense was being drowned out by the strength of her own desire.
“Do not tempt me, Olivia Henderson,” he warned darkly. “I found it hard enough to let you go last night. I am not my usual self at the moment, and I doubt I have the strength to resist you.” Contrary to his statement, he turned away from her. “I cannot give you what you need. I would end up hurting you.” His shoulders were locked with determination.
Olivia felt as though she was walking a tightrope. Balancing high above the earth; every step brought with it a risk of free-falling. “What do you think I need?”
Zamir exhaled slowly. “Not to be used by me.” He angled his head to stare out of the window, and Olivia had a clear view of his profile. It struck her that he was unfailingly autocratic. Even then, clearly under emotional pressure, he was strong and defiant.
“You said that last night. I’m interested in why you’re so sure you’d be using me.”
They both heard what she hadn’t said. She was speaking about the possibility of a relationship between them, and in doing so, she was admitting that she too was tempted.
He planted his hands on his hips. “I could never offer you more than this.” He turned around slowly, his eyes heavy as they met hers. “Soon, I will return to Dashan. I will become Sultan, and I will one day marry a suitable princess to breed more security into our line of succession.” He was thoughtful. “While I have no doubt you’re someone who is open to … shall we say, a more casual relationship … I do not think I would be comfortable taking what you have to offer knowing that it would purely be a question of convenience for me.”
Olivia’s temperature spiked. Her arms were covered in goosebumps. She swallowed nervously. “You think I’m into casual relationships.”
“Undoubtedly.” His smile was a weak imitation. “And I do not judge you for it.”
“Oh, good,” she murmured, though a weird, unpleasant pain was scratching at her chest.
“What you do in your personal time, and who you’ve slept with before me, is not relevant.”
“Before you?” She repeated, her cheeks pale.
He nodded. “If we were to do this.”
“We’re not,” she said quickly, but her body was experiencing a delicious tingling of anticipation.
“No. We’re not.” He took a step closer. “Unless you change your mind.”
“And if I do?”
His smile now was pure sensual seduction. “Then we shall see.”
Olivia shook her head. “This is crazy.” She took a step away from him. “I should go.”
Zamir’s sigh was pulled from the depths of his soul. “Yes. You probably should.”
