Bella and the Merciless Sheikh by Sarah Morgan

pounding. ‘Sorry?’
    â€˜You have to understand that I am a very disciplined man,’ he said fiercely. ‘I am not accustomed to losing control.’
    â€˜Really? I’m hardly ever in control. I’m more of an impulse person.’
    His smile was wry. ‘ That , I have no trouble believing, habibiti. You’re extremely emotional.’
    â€˜Whereas you are frighteningly unemotional.’ Remembering how he hadn’t touched her after sex, Bella felt her cheeks flush and turned away from him. ‘So we’re imperfectlymatched, then. Having finally realised that, I suppose you’ve decided you’re finally ready to take me back to the city.’
    He inhaled deeply. ‘That isn’t what I have decided.’
    â€˜Look, this is supposed to be your week of rest and relaxation so you hardly want to be tiptoeing round an awkward situation, do you?’
    â€˜Precisely. This is my week of relaxation, there fore I shall spend it as I please.’
    â€˜What’s that supposed to mean?’ She rubbed her hand over the mare’s neck. ‘What pleases you?’
    â€˜ You please me.’
    Bella’s stomach tumbled and she turned her head, her eyes wide. ‘What did you say?’
    â€˜You please me greatly. You’re extremely passionate and responsive and once you’re in my bed you stop fighting me.’ He gave a sardonic smile. ‘There fore I intend to keep you in my bed for the rest of my time in the desert.’
    â€˜So I’m going to be your personal harem while we’re here, is that it?’
    The corner of his mouth twitched. ‘One woman does not constitute a harem, habibiti , although you certainly have enough spirit to share generously between at least ten women.’
    â€˜Now wait just a minute—’ Flustered, her face burning, Bella backed into the horse who threw up her head and nudged her hard in the back, pushing her straight into Zafiq.
    Strong hands closed around her arms, steadying her, and Bella moaned as she felt the immediate explosion of chemistry.
    â€˜You’re not my type. I’m not your type. This goes against my better judgement.’
    â€˜Mine too—’ his mouth hovered close to hers ‘—but I think we’ve suspended judgement at this point.’ Without warning he swung her up into his arms and Bella thumped him on the shoulder.
    â€˜Where are you taking me?’
    â€˜Back to bed,’ he drawled, striding into the tent. He deposited her gently on the mattress and yanked her tunic over her head without giving her the chance to resist. ‘When you’re underneath me you’re soft, compliant and all woman so that’s where you’re staying while we’re here.’
    Bella gave an outraged squeak and made a grab for the tunic. ‘That was a one-off performance, caused by too much sun and the fact that you bulldoze your way over everyone.’
    He threw the robe out of reach, a dangerous gleam in his eyes as he stripped off his own clothes. ‘ Why do you fight me?’
    Averting her eyes from temptation, Bella glanced past him, trying to gauge her chances of making it out of the tent without him catching her. ‘Once was a mistake—twice would be a disaster.’
    â€˜If you run, I’ll just bring you back.’
    She looked at him then and was trapped by his devastating smile and the unmistakable look of raw sexual intent in his eyes. Her body melted with a desire so intense that it was impossible to breathe. He was unreasonably, unfairly gorgeous. ‘I’m not your prisoner.’
    â€˜No.’ He retrieved the knife from the folds of the robe. ‘You’re an aggravating, feisty, defiant woman. And I find that unbelievably erotic.’ There was an elemental primitive strength about him that made her shiver and Bella was suddenly acutely conscious that she’d never dealt with anyone like him before in her