The Sheikh's Rescued Baby - Leslie North Page 0,30

The sound of the stream, bursting with life and hope, burbling close by. Her voice as she told him about how much work she’d done and how much the space meant to her. It had been a connection to her father, and now it was gone.

“It’s not really that important a site.” Aisha’s voice quavered. He couldn’t blame her. It had been a gorgeous place, and it had obviously meant a lot to the people of Liddah, too. She had made sure it would. “But it was mine.” Her voice went high and breathless, breaking his heart. “On top of everything else, it’s the final straw.”

Her hand went to her throat, her breathing harsh. Aisha’s shoulders sagged. She looked like she wanted to sink to the floor and disappear.

Nadim couldn’t have that. Not when he was standing right here. He gathered her into his arms, his own soul sighing with the relief of her body against his, the soft curves back where they belonged: against his own hard lines. Aisha let out a shuddering breath, and after a tense second, she relaxed. Her arms came up around his waist and she held on tight.

They stood that way for long enough that the ache that had taken him over subsided. He breathed in the light floral scent of her shampoo and smoothed her hair down with the palm of his hand. This is what matters, the small voice in the back of his mind said. This is the only thing that matters.

Nadim stepped back a couple of inches, just far enough to put a hand under her chin and tip her face up toward his. Her eyes gleamed in the light, still shining with tears. He knew what she needed. He needed it, too. There was no question—her want was plain on her face.

“Come to my room,” he murmured, pitching his voice low so it didn’t carry to Karyme and wake her up. “Let me take care of you.”

13

Aisha didn’t have the strength to resist Nadim’s invitation, and anyway, she didn’t want to. The words from his lips were a balm to her soul, even standing there in the hallway.

“Please.” It wasn’t like her to feel this broken over anything, much less a park—no matter how much that park had meant to her. Right now, it felt like the end of the world. “I would like that.”

Nadim took her hand and led her across the hall to his suite. He settled her in the overstuffed armchair by the fire and pulled a soft blanket over her, then leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“Wait here.”

Aisha closed her eyes and let her head rest against the chair. For once, she didn’t want to ask any questions. She just wanted Nadim to take charge. She’d just started to drift off when he returned, gentle hands on her face.

“This way, Aisha.”

She must’ve dozed a little longer than she thought, because he’d prepared a bath in the massive tub in the suite’s bathroom. Aisha stood on the warm tiles and lifted her arms when he said. Nadim undressed her as carefully as he might’ve carried a precious vase—with infinite care. Then he helped her into the water. It was hot and fragrant, bubbles floating on the surface, and she leaned back and closed her eyes again.

The next time she opened them, Nadim was up to his bare, muscular forearms in the water, a soft cloth in his hands. He bathed her so carefully. He washed her hair. He rinsed it out. And when he was finished, he dried her off with a series of towels. Aisha only opened her eyes when he wrapped the last one around her.

He wore a serious expression, but when she met his eyes, his gaze filled with heat. She could see him wrestling with an urge—an urge to do exactly what, she couldn’t be sure.

“Kiss me,” she whispered. Nadim didn’t hesitate. He lowered his lips to hers and pulled her close again. She let the towel drop to the floor. “I don’t want to think anymore,” she murmured against his mouth.

Aisha felt exquisitely aware of the dampness at the edges of his sleeves, pushed up to his elbows. The brush of his fingertips against her clean, naked skin made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. For once, they stood in a timeless place—no rush. No schedule. Nothing but the two of them. She should’ve been cold, but he’d filled the suite with a protective