The Sultan's Bed by Laura Wright Read Free Book Online Page A

“The house is enormous and the actress is anorexic, but she seems pretty into the cooking lessons so—” She paused. “Wait, what’s wrong?”
    â€œWhat makes you think something’s wrong?” Mariah asked, kicking off her covers with her good leg and reaching for the wine Zayad hadn’t touched.
    â€œYou haven’t interjected or snorted when I said the anorexic thing. What’s going on?”
    After a healthy swallow of wine, she admitted, “Well, there is something.”
    â€œI knew it. Spill.”
    â€œFunny you should say that word, because after you left today, I took a bath. And, well, I sort of had a spill when I tried to get out.”
    â€œOh my God, are you okay?”
    She thought about telling Jane the truth, but didn’t want her running home to help. “It’s just a sprain. I’m fine—if you don’t count the fifteen minutes of humiliation I had to endure.”
    â€œWhat’s there to be humiliated about? You fell—”
    â€œNaked. I fell naked. And I was lying on our ratty bath mat totally naked when Mr. Gorgeous from next door heard me scream and busted in like a superhero to help me.”
    â€œYou’re lying!”
    â€œDo I sound like I’m lying?”
    â€œWow. So then what?”
    Another swallow of wine. “So, then he picked me up and put me in my bed, called his doctor and then proceeded to tell me that he’s staying with me until you get back.”
    â€œI’ll be home in two hours.” Panic dripped in Jane’s voice.
    â€œNo,” Mariah said firmly. “Me and my bum ankle are not coming between you and your restaurant money.”
    â€œForget that. You’ve got a stranger taking care of you.”
    â€œNo. It’s fine. He’s fine. He’s actually…” Mariah set the empty wineglass on her bedside table and reveled in the decadent relaxation she felt.
    â€œActually what, M?” Jane asked.
    â€œA pretty nice guy if you ignore the killer looks, arrogant and opinionated attitude and irresistible mouth.”
    â€œOh, really?” Jane said, a wide grin in her tone. “Well, good for you. It’s about time.”
    â€œNo, no, no. Nothing like that. If anything, he’s into you. Whenever we have a conversation, the subject always seems to come back to you.”
    â€œI don’t know why. I’ve never met the guy.” Jane paused, then said, “So, are you sure I shouldn’t come home?”
    â€œYou stay with the stick-figure actress and make a ton of money. I’ll be good.”
    â€œOh, for once I hope not.”
    Mariah grimaced, feeling tired and ready to crash. “’Night, Jane.”
    â€œâ€™Night.”
    Mariah hung up the phone and without much thought popped a pain pill. Her mind was on her new roomie and his sexy bod on her old, plaid couch.
    Sigh.
    Maybe Jane should have come home, if only to protect Mariah against her own messed-up feelings. But Jane had been doing that for four years now. Wasn’t it time Mariah protected herself?
    Without an answer Mariah turned off the light and settled into the pillows, hoping sleep would soon seize her mind.
    Â 
    Zayad heard her get up and checked his watch.
    Twenty minutes past one in the morning.
    He hadn’t been to sleep yet. Could not sleep, in fact. As he tried to maintain a semicomfortable position on the thin and frustratingly short couch, his mind rumbled with activity. Though not on the subject it should be on. No, he was thinking about the softness of his patient’s cheek, the scent of her skin, the hunger in her eyes. She had made him weak with just a look, and he would wrestle a king snake for another moment such as that one.
    How was he to stop himself from making love to her? How was he to remember his mission here if the one woman who held the key to that mission also held the key to a new and boundless pleasure?
    Behind him he