Page 33 of The Sheikh's Matchmaker Bride

"But, why did you tell Nadyah..." she started to say.

"I didn't tell her anything, really. I just mentioned that I might be seeing someone. Maybe Nadyah misunderstood me," he said.

"She didn't mention anything about Zarif," Aliyah said.

"You could always check with him, if you don't believe me," he said.

Aliyah frowned at Shahid as if she knew he'd gone one step too far in suggesting that she thought he'd been lying to her. "Don't be ridiculous, Shahid. I know you wouldn't lie about that," she said. Did she suspect that he was playing with her?

Shahid moved a step closer, almost to within touching distance. "I wouldn't lie to you, at all, Aliyah. I'd never do that," he murmured. "What we have is too special for that," he added in a soft voice.

Aliyah peered up into his eyes, as if searching for some hint of insincerity. But, he'd be damned if he was going to allow this moment to slip, he told himself. He gazed at Aliyah, willing every ounce of his strength into his eyes, desperate that she should believe him.

He saw her eyes flicker with emotion and then she looked away from him. Had she seen something that troubled her? Had he gone too far? But, he'd had no choice, he told himself. The fact that she was here, standing so close to him, was proof that he'd made the right choice. She'd come to him, and she'd listened to him. That was all the confirmation he needed.

Shahid reached out and placed his hand on her bare arm. She looked up at him, and he saw her cheeks flush slightly as she felt his tender touch. She didn't even try to move her arm away from him, and that realization prompted him to move even closer. He inhaled the sweet scent of her perfume, as intoxicating as ever.

Then he leaned forward, closing the final distance between them and placed his lips gently upon hers. He heard her breath quicken and, for a moment, he thought she was going to push him away. But then he felt her head lift, and her lips opened slightly. The taste of her mouth was delicious.

When he probed her mouth with his tongue, he heard a low moan from her, and then he took her by the shoulders, crushing her soft body against him. He felt her hands on his shoulders, and then they were entwined in each other as he wrapped his arms around her.

Sensation coursed through his body as they kissed. With each moment that passed she seemed to soften even more against him. He realized that he was experiencing an almost physical sense of relief as he kissed her. Relief that she was back where she belonged. In his arms.

They kissed for a long time, and it felt as if the world had suddenly become less important, and all that mattered now was them, here together at the entrance to his domain. It felt exquisite to hold her like this.

Until this moment, he hadn't realized the strength and urgency of his need for her. But, holding her against him, with his lips caressing hers, tasting her sweetness, feeling her warmth against him, made him feel the reality of what they had together. He knew he would do anything to win her heart; knew that it wasn't going to be easy, but that he would do whatever it took to possess Aliyah's heart.

When their lips parted, he gazed down into the depths of her shining, moist gaze. She looked up at him and, for the first time since she'd arrived, he was sure he could see a hint of the familiar happiness in her eyes. Her skin was flushed with visible desire, and her breathing was soft.

All the tension seemed to have drained out of her body as a result of the kiss. Her body was nestled against his. Right now, he never wanted to let her go.

He could see that her previous doubts had faded away. The truth was a great cleansing force, he told himself. He would always be truthful with this amazing woman, always be faithful, always honor her with his every action.

Shahid smiled at Aliyah. "You want to come in? I can have some lunch brought, if you want."

Aliyah gazed into his eyes and he instantly saw that she was weighing up his suggestion. He'd expected her to agree, but maybe he'd gotten ahead of himself.

Her eyes flickered from side to side, and her lips pouted. Then she shook her head. "Maybe not right now, Shahid," she said.

He lifted his brows inquiringly at her. "You're not hungry?" he asked.

Aliyah eased away from him, and he released her. She smiled at him. "I've got some things to do."

"Really?" he said disbelievingly.

Aliyah nodded. "That wedding won't organize itself," she replied.

Shahid shrugged. "I guess not."

Aliyah glanced down toward her car. "I best be going."

Shahid watched as she stepped away from him. She looked back at him. "I'll call you, Shahid," she said.

She was leaving him, he told himself. Even after the way they had just kissed, she was still determined not to submit to temptation?

"Is that a promise?" he asked.

Aliyah smiled at him. "You know it is," she admitted.

"I'll hold you to that, Aliyah. You know that, don't you?"

Aliyah gazed at him, and he saw the certainty in her eyes. "Oh, yes, Shahid. I know you'll hold me to that."

It wasn't over, he told himself. Even though she was resisting coming into the palace, even though she was walking away from him, he knew it wasn't over between them.

"Bye," she said casually. She waved at him and started down the stairs.

He watched her get into the car and drive away. She'd come to him, exactly as he'd hoped. But, in the process she'd given him a message. Loud and clear. It wasn't going to be easy to win Aliyah's heart.

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