To Tempt a Sheikh by Olivia Gates Page B

and the rest of her senses had melted in the sluggish heat of her blood. “Stars. They are still up there.”
    He nuzzled her cheek with his lips. “You don’t see them much where you live, eh?”
    She sighed in deeper contentment. “Make that don’t see them at all. Not for years. But even when I did, I never saw so many. I didn’t think there were so many. Scientifically speaking, I know there are endless numbers of them in our galaxy alone. But I never thought we could actually see them. There are millions of them.”
    Her voice sounded intoxicated to her ears. And she was. With the overpowering mixture of the virility enfolding her and the desert’s magnificent menace.
    His voice poured directly through to her brain, frying more synapses. “Actually, only about eight thousand are visible to us poor earthlings in any given hemisphere, no matter how clear the skies are. And you won’t find any clearer anywhere in the world.”
    That piece of info she hadn’t known. She turned in his arms languidly, looked up at him. “Don’t tell me you counted them.”
    â€œI tried. Then had to borrow good scientists’ findings.”
    â€œThey seem so much more. But I’ll take your word for it. I’m just glad they all showed up tonight.”
    â€œI ordered them to be present especially for you.”
    Coming from any other man, that would have sounded like an outrageous—and annoying as hell—line. But somehow, from Harres, this force of nature who seemed to be as one with the powers of this land, his land, it didn’t seem far-fetched. She did feel as if he had an empathy, an understanding with their surroundings, as if they let him divine their secrets and share their strengths. And then, coming from the man who’d risked his life to save her, who’d lavished such care on her, showed her such admiration andrestraint and solicitude, she could easily believe his wish to please her, to gift her. So even the sentiment behind the claim seemed right, sincere. Profound.
    And if an inner voice told her it was his need to learn her secrets that fueled all of the above, she couldn’t listen. No one could be that good at hiding ulterior motives. And she had experienced him through the worst that could be thrown at a person. He’d shone through with gallantry and resourcefulness, with kindness and control.
    She at last sighed again. “I wouldn’t put it past you. So they’re your subjects, too?”
    â€œOh, no. They’re just old friends. We have an understanding.”
    Just as she’d thought. “I sort of believe you.”
    â€œI could get used to hearing you say that.”
    The rolling r ’s of the accent that caressed his perfect English thrummed that chord of ready desire that seemed to have come into existence in the core of her being. Instead of agitating her, it lulled her. She suddenly wanted to sleep. Like this. Ensconced in his power and protection.
    She yawned. “You’re comfy.”
    â€œ I certainly am not comfy.” His chuckle vibrated through her. But it was the powerful jerk against her buttocks, what she could no longer doubt was his hardness, seeming to be getting bigger, if that was possible, that lurched her out of her stupor.
    He pulled her back against him. “Don’t move.”
    â€œBut you’re…you’re…”
    â€œAroused? Sure. I’ve been hard as steel since I laid eyes on you. And no, I’m not like that by default. But I don’t mind.”
    â€œI thought men didn’t mind anything more.”
    â€œI’m not ‘men.’ And even though it started out as uncomfortable, veered into painful and is now bordering onagonizing, I’ve never enjoyed anything more. I’ve never felt so alive.”
    She squirmed with his every word, only to be struck still when she realized it only made him harder. She’d never