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Looking at him, Harper still had difficulties believing that the newly appointed king had spent most of his formative years in America and that, once upon a time, he had been a commoner as much as she was.

An extremely wealthy commoner, but still.

Prior to his official inclusion in the royal family, the sheikh had led a fairly quiet – albeit significantly accomplished – life. Straight As in school, a successful business, awards in philanthropy – he had been blessed with a charmed existence, with only one controversy to mar it, and that was the scandal attached to his then-fiancée, Sapphire March, a senator’s daughter who was now married to a famous rockstar.

But that had been five years ago, and by the time Jeremy Raybourne had succeeded to the throne and taken on the royal name of Khalil Al-Atassi, the furor had died down and his slightly colorful past long forgotten. Ramil’s most illustrious families now clamored in presenting their most eligible daughters in hopes of having them as the kingdom’s future queen –

And yet the sheikh remained single, much to everyone’s regrets – and hers.

The sheikh, flanked on each side by his vassals, continued to speak with the guests that approached him, a polite but intent expression on his handsome face as he listened to their words. Whereas most ruling members of other Arab nations kept to themselves, the king and the four other Al-Atassi sheikhs had never acted like they believed their royal blood placed them one station above the rest. Rather, they liked to stay in touch with their subjects and never shied away from a day’s hard work, even if it meant having to literally roll up their sleeves and toil under the harsh desert sun along with their men.

They were, in other words, the kind of princes that fairytales were made of, and every moment the world fell deeper and deeper in love with them.

Ever since Khalil’s ascension three months ago, the press had been writing about them nonstop, with the most viral being theBeastsarticle. In it, six men of different nationalities had been named in recognition for their “beast-like” performance in bed, as shared by the men’s former lovers.

In the tell-all of the sheikh’s former mistress, Noemi had shared graphic details of her sex life with the sheikh following his public breakup from Sapphire March.Rough sexwas his specialty, and he was by far the most dominant lover she had ever had.But he was also a cold bastard, Noemi had shared candidly, with the sheikh never sharing a bed with her or even taking her in his arms after a wild bout of sex.

Remembering the article made Harper’s cheeks flush while her gaze involuntarily searched for the sheikh in the crowd. She stiffened when she realized he was too near—-

Shit.

“I need to go to the restroom,” she mumbled to Howard just before fleeing. She had to escape before he realized what she was doing, had to make sure that their eyes wouldn’t ever meet—-

In her haste, Harper accidentally bumped into someone, and the woman in front of her yelped.

Shit.

When the woman gasped, Harper realized she had accidentally spoken the word out loud.

Shit.

She had forgotten that women in this kingdom didn’t curse.

And then the woman gasped for a second time—-

Oh, shit. She had just done it again!

By now, a lot of people had turned to look at them, and cheeks flushing, she muttered, “Sorry.” She lifted her gaze up, intending to apologize again, but instead the first thing she saw was –

Him.

Even though he was still a few feet away from her, Harper could practically feel the sheikh’s amusement like a taunting caress on her skin, and her jaw clenched as she found herself torn between annoyance – and exhilaration.

And wasn’t that the stupidest thing ever?

Khalil Al-Atassi wasn’t just a sheikh. He wasthesheikh. And here she was, more ordinary than most girls, having a crush onthesheikh. It was why she hated, hated going to Ramil at this time of the year. It would mean seeinghim, which would then cause her to remember just howstupidshe was.

And yet even knowing you’re being stupid about this, you still insist on being stupid, crushing on him for eight years!

The thought made Harper mentally wince, but she told herself this year would be different. This year, she would absolutely have nothing to do with the sheikh.

As in, nothing!

And so she started to turn around again—-

“Marhava, Harper.”

Harper almost jumped in surprise.Where the heck had Altair Al-Atassi come from?