Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 49415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“I’m not being—-”
Because she looked a lot cuter the angrier she got, the sheikh cut her off, saying pensively, “But if that’s not the case either, then maybe—-”
“Can we please just stop talking about this?” Hyacinth hissed.
“It’s the unexpected intimacy of what happened between us,” he murmured decisively.
Hyacinth’s mouth opened and closed. Finally, she asked, “What did happen?”
Innocent blue eyes turned to her. “I saw your panties—-”
AAAARGH!
It took superhuman effort not to let hilarity get the better of him as Hyacinth glared at his neck like she was a vampire dying to rip his throat open.
“That’s not it?”
“No, that’s not it,” Hyacinth half-yelled, half-growled. “That’s never it, so will you please stop bringing that up—-”
“But I want to know why—-”
“There’s no sane reason for it,” Hyacinth cried out. “Do you get it now? Because I’ve tried figuring out the same thing the past four months, and I absolutely got nowhere. All I know is that I just like you—-” Her voice died, and silence – tense, damning, and absolutely undeniable – exploded between them.
SHIT. OH SHIT.
What had she just said?
Hyacinth was staring at the sheikh, a look of self-loathing and revulsion on her face.
Rayyan’s inscrutable expression was an exercise of superhuman self-discipline. Admitting out loud to her infatuation of him had the most extraordinary effect on Hyacinth, who now looked like she was on the verge of throwing up.
It was definitely a first for him, but Rayyan wasn’t at all offended. There was always a first time for everything, the sheikh mused philosophically, and he was glad that this particular first happened with someone as wildly interesting as Hyacinth Kahveci.
“Things are going to be a lot more interesting from here,” Rayyan murmured.
“Speak for yourself.”
“May I ask you something, anisdi?”
“No.”
“Is it truly infatuation, or could it be possible you’re in love—-” Rayyan chuckled when Hyacinth headed to his office’s seating area with the clear intent of looking for something to throw at him.
“I hate you, I really do.”
“But you don’t. You really don’t—-”
“Shut up.”
“Why?” he asked seriously. “Does every word I utter make you like me even more——”
“Oh, for the love of God!” Hyacinth didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, tear her hair out, or let her toes curl as they were dying to do. The media had it so wrong, she thought in despair. Reporters often complained at how little the sheikh spoke, but obviously that was just all for show.
Rayyan watched Hyacinth plant her hands on her waist with interest, thinking that there were some ways that the girl definitely took after her older sister. He had seen Anisah strike the same poise when readying to do battle –
“Fair is fair, sheikh.”
And clearly, he thought in amusement, it was what Hyacinth had geared up for as well.
“Some girls may be masochistic enough to go for one-sided relationships, but that’s never been my thing, which is why—-” Hyacinth pointed at him. “I’ve decided I’m going to make you fall in love with me.”
Rayyan nearly choked. Now that he did not expect at all.
“And when that happens,” Hyacinth warned him, “and I promise you it will, I’m going to have so much fun wrapping you around my little finger.”
A smile slowly curved over the sheikh’s lips. “Is that so?”
“Yes, that is so.”
“Because – and let this be a fair warning for you as well...”
“Warn away as much as you like,” she said airily, “but it won’t make a difference.”
“Innocence has never been a turn on for me.”
Hyacinth didn’t even hesitate, asking tauntingly, “Who says I’m innocent?”
Instead of answering, the sheikh simply let his gaze slowly roam her body, moving farther and farther down until his blazing blue eyes began to reach –
AH!
Unable to bear the heat of his stare, Hyacinth let out a choking sound as she defensively crossed her arms over herself just as she felt her breasts begin to swell. A moment later, she heard the sheikh chuckle, and fire burst in her cheeks.
Rayyan’s eyes glinted with humor. “You were saying?”
“You just wait,” she muttered. “I will make you fall in love with me.”
The sheikh’s lips curved. “Of course you will.”
“I’m serious,” she growled.
“Nem, nem.” Yes, yes. “I believe you.”
“You better.” But she only spoke just for the sake of having the last word, and one look at the sheikh told her he knew this, too.
Shit, shit, shit.
You are so damn fucked, H.
“Can you please stop staring at me like that?”
“Why? Does it make you uncomfortable to have my eyes on you—-” The sheikh paused, and his voice lowered another notch when he spoke again. “Or does it excite you—-”
Aaargh!
Hyacinth let out another gasp even as she quickly pressed her hands to her face in a futile attempt to keep herself from blushing even harder.
Shit, this was bad.
This was just...over-the-top, fucked-beyond-recognition, no-way-out kind of shit, and she was genuinely lost at what she should do next.