FUUUUUUCK.
There was just something about her that made him want to fucking punish her, and that was what he ended up doing the whole fucking night.
He fucked her like she was his personal slut, and even though she cursed him again and again, the way her pussy never stopped dripping wet told him that he had been right all along.
Being fucked against her will was her ultimate fantasy, and so if that was what his little chick wanted, it would be his pleasure to play the fucking bosshole for her every goddamn night.
Time lost all meaning for Ember as the sheikh fucked her again and again, and every time he did she would try to fight him off...while at the same time fighting the equally strong urge to tell Ilyas she loved him.
And she did.
She truly did love him...and that was why Ember also knew it was too soon to say the words.
Someday I'll tell him, Ember promised herself. Someday.
It was her last thought before finally passing out in sheer exhaustion, but if Ember had managed to keep her eyes open just a second longer, she would've seen the sheikh's face whiten and realize for herself that someday had already come.
Ilyas had seen the truth in her eyes, and everything between them must come to an end because of it.
Chapter Eight
The Crown Prince watched in contemplative silence as his brother stepped out of the conference room for the third time in the past five minutes, only to return to his seat a mere few seconds later.
Ilyas was never restless. The other man might be known for being hotheaded and impatient, but his younger brother was also infamous for having nerves of steel. It was why Ilyas had been in charge of negotiating with spies, rebels, and mercenaries in Huzna's civil war, and in all those years of strife and violence, not once had Saif seen his brother appear on edge...the way he was now.
When Ilyas rose to his feet yet again, Saif shook his head and asked finally, "What happened? Has one of our companies gone bankrupt?"
Ilyas looked stung at the question. "No, of course not."
"Then what exactly is eating you?" Saif demanded.
The door opened before Ilyas could speak, and Saif had his answer when he saw his brother stiffen at the sight of their cousin stride in while speaking amiably with Ilyas' secretary.
Ah.
Did this mean Ilyas had finally figured out his feelings?
Ilyas couldn't stop staring at Ember. She looked too fucking hot right now, with her usual ugly clothes replaced by a scoop-necked dress that hugged every curve of her body.
And her tits, dear God...
They were no longer made to look flat like before, but had she done it because of what he said...or because she was currently smiling up at Adam like she was about to change her name from Ember to Ever?
The thought had him seeing red even though he knew he had no fucking right to be jealous. You asked for this, Ilyas Al-Masri. You left her. And now she's with someone else.
In the meantime, the Crown Prince was clasping his cousin's arms in a gesture of greeting. "Thank you for coming at short notice."
"Ember here was very persuasive." Adam had only meant this as a joke but was surprised to see Ilyas' jaw clench at his words.
Saif glanced to see if Ember had noticed his brother's reaction, but the girl's expression remained polite and unreadable, and that could only mean one thing.
His brother had fucked up, and Ilyas would soon have to grovel.
Adam shook hands with Ilyas, and Saif saw his cousin raise a brow at the marked reserve in his brother's demeanor.
The Crown Prince waited until Ilyas had turned his back before catching his cousin's gaze, and Adam went from puzzled to amused when Saif inclined his head tellingly in Ember's direction. So that was why Ilyas was suddenly treating him more like enemy than kin. He would never have guessed that his cousin could be this possessive about a woman, but if that were the case—-
A row of chairs positioned at the back of the room was typically reserved for staff use, but just as Ember was about to take one of them, Adam asked if she could take a seat next to him instead.
"Oh, um—-"
"It's fine, Ember," Saif said. "You've been working on this program from day one. We're certain to need your input sooner or later."
Adam nearly smirked. Saif apparently knew what game Adam had been playing, and the Crown Prince appeared just as determined to force his brother in revealing his hand.
Ilyas' fists clenched as he saw Ember thank Adam with a smile when the other man insisted on assisting her to her seat.
He knew something like this would happen sooner or later, but what he hadn't expected was how much it would fucking kill him just to see his secretary - his Ember, dammit - smile at another man.