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Chapter Five

“IDON’T UNDERSTANDwhat the problem is.” Howard’s voice matched the stony expression on his face. Even though he had been retired for almost a decade now, Harper’s father still hadn’t lost the ominously intimidating air that those who had gone to war possessed. It had the younger guards quailing and stammering in his presence, but even so the men managed to stand firm, their loyalty to their duty trumping their fear.

“My daughter desires to return to America. Why aren’t you allowing her to?”

“I’m sorry, sir. There’s an...issue.”

“What issue?” Howard demanded. “Are you sayingmydaughter is a security threat to your kingdom?”

Oh, shit.The last time her father had raised his voice like this was a disaster, and she definitely didn’t want it to happen again, and especially not on her account. Placing a calming hand on his arm, Harper said soothingly, “I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding.”

“Places like this don’t allow for misunderstandings.”

“No place is imperfect, Dad. You know that. It’s how all the Gate scandals happen.”

Seeing that Harper’s words were having a mollifying effect on the ex-soldier, the guards breathed a sigh of relief, with one adding helpfully, “We have tech on its way, sir. I’m sure we’ll have her cleared in no time.”

Right, right.Harper wanted to believe that, but something was telling her she would have better chances of waiting for pigs to fly. Beside her, Howard, now having calmed down, started to apologize for his outburst, to which the younger guards vehemently shook their heads.There was no need to say sorry, the boys were quick to stress. And she could see in their starry gazes that it was true. Military heroes were a big deal in the kingdom of Ramil, and it had probably killed the boys to be responsible for something that had pissed Howard off.

As Howard and the boys chatted, Harper tried to make herself relax as well, but her anxiety levels simply kept increasing. Being surrounded by these larger-than-life marble walls didn’t help, making her feel cooped up, and knowing that this was only thefirstof several security borders she had to go through before making it to the airport only made it worse.

If that man wanted to keep her from leaving, he could—-

Harper mentally shook her head.Stop it, stupid.Khalil Al-Atassi could have any woman in his life, so why would he bother with someone like her? They had fun last night, and that was it. This was nothing but a tech issue.

“Sheikh!”

The stunned exclamations coming from the boys behind her made Harper jerk.Shit.In the corner of her eye, she saw the guards fall on one knee and bow their heads, and she almost wanted to do the same, just so she wouldn’t see who was coming. Or maybe she had nothing to worry about. There were so many sheikhs in the palace today. It could be—-

“Howard.” The voice was soft, deep, and familiar. “What seems to be the problem here?”

Shit. It was him!

“A tech issue, it seems like,” her father answered. “My daughter unfortunately has to leave because of an emergency.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I hope it’s not bad?”

“No, no. Just something to do with her work.” She could feel Howard throwing daggers at her back as he spoke, and Harper knew she had to turn and face the sheikh like protocol demanded – and before her father had a heart attack at her lack of manners.

Taking a deep breath, she turned and lifted her gaze to the sheikh. “Your Majesty.”

“I’m sorry to hear you’ll be leaving us soon.” His tone was gentle, but his dark gaze was not. His eyes promised retribution, and she swallowed hard.Shit.Her body was reacting to his gaze, alright, but instead of shrinking away in fear or bristling in anger, it was foolishly melting, her breasts swelling under the layers of lace and cotton.

Images blazed in her mind, of seeing his head bent over her breast, suckling her nipple—-

Shit. Why was she thinking about that now?

When she looked at the sheikh again, his nostrils had flared, and he was looking at her with eyes that glittered even more brightly now. Oh God. Those eyes told her he knew—-

He knew she was remembering last night, and it had turned her on. It had arousedbothof them.

He murmured something softly in Rami to her father, and as her father answered, she used the time to get her body back under her control. Stupid, stupid hormones! Didn’t it know how dangerous it was to get addicted to someone like the sheikh? Crushing on him from afar was one thing. Actually doing something about it was another. A whole hella lot of another, and—-

“If you’re certain it won’t be a bother?” Howard’s careful tone drew Harper back to reality, and she frowned. Whatwerethey talking about?