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Inexperience had let her down, and now Khalid was giving her an out Perversely, she didn’t want that She wanted to stay with him She wanted more of his time, and more of his touches More of hiasped with pain pierced her at the thought of all the women he must have knoomen who’d felt his hands on their bodies, and who had seen that same desire in his eyes

‘I suppose your score card’s off the scale,’ she coht

His hard face softened into laughter ‘I’m not so bad’ He paused a moment, and then admitted wryly, ‘I’m worse’

‘And sha fondness, which was dangerous; she had no doubt the Sheikh was as shrewd in his dealings omen as he was in every other area of his life ‘So, what is your score?’ she pressed, bracing herself for the answer

‘Sheikh undefeated,’ he said

CHAPTER SEVEN

MILLIE SAT ALONE in the suite, waiting for Khalid to return frouests, her body still thru from his expert touch She shifted unco at the ti late—surely Khalid had seen everyone he needed to see by now?

She was on the point of going to find Khalid at the party when there was a discreet tap on the door When she opened it, a young maid called Sadie introduced herself ‘His Majesty’s PA sentand Whistle,’ Sadie explained

For a mo and Whistle?’ she queried, feeling like a fool as she shook her head

‘The Pig and Whistle is e call the staff mess,’ Sadie explained chirpily in a way that immediately endeared her to Millie ‘It’s where we hold our parties, and I’ht’

‘Your party?’ Millie queried

‘Well, it’s not my party, exactly,’ Sadie excused ‘It’s a tradition on the Sapphire that when His Majesty holds a party the staff that prepared everything for his guests, but who aren’t required during the actual event, are allowed to celebrate too To be honest, we don’t need rin ‘It’s fantastic working on the Sapphire It’s such a great crowd’

But now Millie orried Would Khalid find the ti her on to somebody else So was that kiss a real kiss, or a power play? She didn’t have enough experience to work it out And Sadie aiting for her answer ‘I’d love to co invited to the crew party was a hell of a lot better than hanging around on her oaiting to see if His Majesty could spare the time to talk to her

‘You’ll love it I promise,’ Sadie said as she opened the door ‘There’s always loads of good food and fun, and lots of dancing’

Curious about the next adventure, Millie followed the young maid out of the room

Where was she? Khalid had expected Millie to seek hiuests had ended, but now the night was drawing to a close and shortly his guests would be leaving He had checked with his guards, but there was no report of Millie leaving the ship A bolt of dread had run through him as he alerted his head of security to a potential problem

It couldn’t happen again

A second tragedy on board the Sapphire was unthinkable

Involving Millie?

‘I want every inch of this vessel searched,’ he couards as they lined up in front of him

‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ they chanted as one, before separating and spreading out across the ship

Nothing must happen to her, he determined fiercely as he joined the search

She’d lost track of tilanced at her watch She hadn’t had so es The Sapphire’s crew ca Irish contingent with hter in their blood The party in the Pig and Whistle had turned into such a riot she’d been up on the table dancing with Sadie for the past half-hour—

Two things happened in quick succession One of theMillie dancing solo, then everyone else turned to stare at the door

Oh, no!

As if a bagpipe had deflated, thein the doorway Tall Doel froeance on a woiant leap over the traces That would be the saled honey-blonde hair, with her skirt lifted high, and a very silly smile on her face

A smile that just as quickly died

‘Please carry on,’ the Sheikh invited as he ducked his head to join the to address the musicians ‘Play on’

The fiddler, a guitarist, and a banjo player soon started up again, and the drummer plied his beater on the Irish drum, the Bodhrán, and by the time the traditional flute had joined in it was as if there had been no interruption to the party

‘I’m sorry I—’

She got no further before Khalid demanded in an icy tone, ‘Why are you still here?’

‘We’ve still to speak—Your PA—’