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"I'm sorry," she heard him say softly.
She turned back to him. "Why?"
He drew in a deep breath and looked serious for a moment, all his previous levity gone. "I've embarrassed you."
She shook her head. "No, you haven't."
He nodded. "I've made you feel uncomfortable. I can see that. I have no right to pry into your life. After all, we've only just met."He gazed at her. His dark eyes were deep pools that contained absolute sincerity. "We don't really know each other," he said, his voice deep. And then he added: "Yet."
That additional word made her pulse quicken slightly.
She shrugged. "I'm sure we'll run into one another while I'm here," she said nonchalantly. "This isn't a big town. And, after what I saw tonight, everyone seems to know one another."
"You'd be surprised. Many of the prominent families are connected by business. And by marriage. In fact, in recent years we've had quite a few American women marry sheikhs." He smiled. "I know most of them. They all seem quite happy here."
"How nice for them," she replied in a flat voice. She tried to sound disinterested, but there was a part of her which was immediately curious.
Who were these women who had given up their life back home and come here to start over? Maybe she'd get a chance to meet some of them while she was here.
But then another thought drifted into her mind.
What was he suggesting? That she had come here to find a husband? Maybe to marry herself off to some wealthy, powerful sheikh. Like himself? Was that what he really thought of her?
He obviously didn't know the slightest thing about her, no matter how much of her public life was posted online. And there was a lot, she reminded herself.
Probably too much. The whole thing about social media was that you willingly agreed to put yourself in the spotlight, for all to see. Two years ago, when she'd started all this, that had seemed like an innocent idea. Something she could handle.
But, in recent months she'd been having her doubts about the whole thing. There had been some incidents she'd much rather not think about. Just because you were online, some people believed they had a right to intrude on your life in the most intimate manner.
Particularly men.
Part of the reason she'd come to Qazhar had been the promise of a fresh start, perhaps even a chance to expand her follower base into a new territory, with new people who had different kind of values and needs.
She certainly wasn't here to find a husband. How dare he even suggest such a thing!
Up ahead, she saw the apartment block where she was staying. "We're here," she announced, relieved.
The limo drew up in front of the building and the driver got out and opened the door. As she waited for the door to open, Gemma busied herself, fussing with her dress and straightening herself in the seat. All the while she did this, Ahmed watched her, apparently enjoying the sight of her impatience to get out of the limo.
Gemma turned to him. "Well, thank you for the ride. And the chat," she said and smiled.
She tried to make it sound as if this latest encounter with the sheikh had been of no consequence. Gemma knew that wasn't true, but she wasn't going to hand him another victory this evening.
"It was my pleasure," Ahmed replied.
The door opened and she stepped out. Ahmed followed and they faced each other. She glanced up at the tall apartment block. There was an awkward silence and then she held out a hand, intent on shaking his hand politely. Then, she realized she should have known better.
Ahmed took her hand, bent his head down and lifted her hand swiftly to his mouth. She didn't have a chance to stop him before his lips were on the back of her hand. This time his warm mouth lingered on her skin. She felt the same racing sensation up her arm, only this time it was more intense than earlier.
In contrast to previously, back at the hotel, Ahmed lifted his gaze and looked straight at her as he kissed the back of her hand. There was something about that look, something that hinted at possession, as if he was claiming some small part of her. And he knew he was doing so. There was a glint of appreciation in his eyes.
Ahmed released her hand and she drew it instinctively up to her chest. Gemma saw that he'd noticed her reaction, but he showed no response of his own. Perhaps he'd realized he'd overstepped the mark.
Again. For the second time that evening.
He glanced up at the building and she thought he was going to offer to accompany her into the apartment block. Even try and invite himself up to her apartment.
She knew that wasn't going to happen, and she was relieved when he finally said: "Goodnight, Gemma. It has been a most enjoyable evening."
