His eyes darkened. ‘I will not race a woman.’
‘Why? Because you might lose? Don’t worry, Your Highness. I promise not to tell anyone when I beat you.’
He stared at her in incredulous silence and then he shook his head and started to laugh. Trans fixed by the change in him, Bella’s own smile faded.
Moody, he was incredibly handsome but when he smiled… Oh, no, no, no—
Her limbs felt weak and suddenly she was thinking about that kiss.
About his wickedly clever mouth…
This is not good, Bella thought uneasily, trying to ignore the heat spreading through her body. Finding a total chauvinist so shockingly attractive was incredibly embarrassing. Not something you’d ever admit in public. Still, at least no one she knew was around to see her temporary lapse in taste and judgement.
Watching her, he lifted an eyebrow. ‘Now what? No smart remark?’
Arrogance just wasn’t attractive, Bella told her self firmly. ‘I’m just psyching myself up to beat you. I hope you’re a good loser.’
‘I wouldn’t know.’ A sardonic smile touched his beautiful mouth. ‘I’ve never lost.’
Bella gritted her teeth. ‘Everyone lets you win because you’re the Sheikh—obviously.’
‘You think so?’
‘If you’re not afraid to be beaten, then you’d let me race you.’
‘What would be the point? You cannot possibly win such a race, habibiti.’
Bella put her hands on her hips, her irritation increasing by the minute. ‘Watch me! Watch me as I disappear into the distance, Your Highness. You can’t possibly swim that fast because you’re hauling the weight of your ego—’
He was still laughing, as if the mere thought of being beaten had genuinely entertained him. ‘You are the most aggravating female I’ve ever met. And you really do need to learn to show respect.’
‘Respect should be earned.’
‘I agree. So when I win, this ends.’ His smile faded and his tone was suddenly hard. ‘You will stop annoying me on purpose in the hope that I will return you to the city. I am prepared to give you a start.’
As infuriated by his patronising tone as she was by his arrogance, Bella faced him. ‘I don’t need any favours.’ Holding his gaze, she undid the belt she’d made for herself. Reluctant to spend another hour plaiting date-palm leaves, she flung it out of the water and watched as it landed with a splat in the sandy dust by the side of the pool. Then she grabbed the hem of her robe and stripped it over her head.
Get a load of that, handsome, she thought smugly and had the satisfaction of hearing the breath hiss through his teeth.
Without looking at him she bunched the robe into a ball and threw it non chalantly after the belt. Standing only in her wet bra and pants, she turned and gave him a sunny smile.
‘I was wearing more clothes than you. That gave you an unfair advantage,’ she said airily, but her heart thudded as she saw the blaze of disapproval in his eyes and a tiny part of her wondered just what he’d do if she did push him too far. ‘That’s all the start I need. Ready, steady, go!’ Without waiting for his response, Bella plunged forward into the water, lithe as an otter, driving forward in a stylish front crawl that was the result of endless races with her siblings in the lake at Balfour Manor.
At school she’d been unbeaten in the swimming races and she was confident that, over a short distance, she’d be the winner. She was fast, light and strong and she had the additional advantage that he clearly underestimated women. So confident was she of success that when she turned her head to breathe and saw him passing her, she felt a flash of shock. Shock was immediately eclipsed by a burning determination to win and Bella put her all into the last few strokes, her heart pounding and her lungs bursting with the effort.