He should never have chosen Liyah. Asad thought his initial attraction to the woman was simply a reaction to her incessant ramblings and flushed cheeks. It was rare when the woman he was with was neither seductive nor confident. He figured the attraction should have worn off quickly, but the truth was that he felt like he hadn’t slept in a week. The moment he closed his eyes, he couldn’t help but wonder what she would feel like if he slipped his fingers inside her. Was she as wet as he was hard? Did she come quietly, or would she moan or scream?

He was starting to obsess over the idea of hearing his name on her lips.

No, Asad should not have picked her. He certainly shouldn’t have invited her for another bottle of wine the other night. That rash invitation had nothing to do with preparing her and everything to do with wanting her to stay a little longer. Maybe . . . stand a little closer. Maybe let him finally taste that sensuous mouth.

It was a good thing that she’d said no, but it frustrated him. Was she fighting her own desires? Did she go to bed wishing that he was under the sheets with her, his lips gliding over her skin?

Through the large crowd in the reception room, he caught sight of her. She wore a simple black dress—that looked anything but simple on her. From behind, her strawberry-blonde hair fell in shiny curls down her back, and he could see the curvy outline of her hips through the clingy fabric, but when she turned around, he almost broke the glass in his hand. The neckline dipped low to show just a hint of cleavage, but it was more than enough to see what she’d been hiding beneath her shapeless t-shirts.

Then he caught sight of the man whose arm was casually draped around her waist.

“Would you relax?” Amira hissed as she drifted by him with a champagne flute in her hand. “You’re supposed to be eager to show off your bride-to-be, and instead, you look like you want to kill someone. Where is your darling fiancée, anyway?”

“In the arms of Rashid,” Asad growled. Leaving the flute on the table, he stalked toward them, jaw set. Rashid didn’t bother moving his arm when he saw his older brother, but Liyah smiled warmly at him, and Asad felt some of his anger dissipate.

“There you are,” she said in a breathy tone as she walked toward him. “I was just telling your brother how easy it is to get lost in here!”

“I was just showing her off,” Rashid said with an easy grin. “And trying to figure out what she got me for my birthday. I’d love to unwrap it now.”

Liyah didn’t seem to catch the innuendo, but Asad glared at him. “You have guests to entertain,” he growled. “And I have a fiancée to introduce. Or have you forgotten?”

“I haven’t forgotten anything,” Rashid murmured. “And I look forward to getting to know your . . . fiancée . . . a bit better.”

It wasn’t the first time that Rashid had coveted something that belonged to his older brother. Most women preferred Rashid’s easygoing nature, but Asad would one day be head of the family. He couldn’t help but wonder if some of his lovers would rather be with Rashid.

And his brother knew it.

“You need to stay with me,” Asad hissed in her ear as he wrapped his arm around her waist. “I will not have people thinking that my lover is spending time with my brother.”

“What?” she blinked innocent eyes at him. “What are you talking about? He was just helping me to find you.”

So naive and innocent. Sighing, Asad shook his head. “Come along, my ‘love.’ Let’s make the rounds. People are already staring at us.”

He kept his eye on Bashar, the one man he knew for a fact was holding out—and one of the bigger influences of the investors. As he threaded their way through the crowd, he introduced Liyah to many of the family’s friends. To his astonishment, more people showed interest in her than he’d first anticipated. There were a few surprising comments about him giving up his bachelorhood. Others surmised that the woman on his arm was the reason that he’d shunned other women for so long.

It wasn’t until they stopped in front of the model for Rashid’s new stadium-arena and conference center that he realized she was pale and shaky.

“Take a breath. You’re doing well,” he murmured in her ear, putting a warm hand on her lower back. He’d only meant to comfort her, but her body shuddered beneath his touch, and desire surged through him.

“I’m fine,” she said with a shaky breath. “I’m just not used to being in crowds. What am I looking at here?”

“This is Rashid’s proposed project for the North Bank.” He wanted to usher her on past the mini-prototype, but he could see that she admired it. It was hard not to. As much as he hated to admit it, his brother was a talented designer.

“Is there a prototype for your condos?”

“There is. They usually sit right next to each other, to remind us that we’re in competition with each other, but he had it moved to the lower palace for the party.” Asad hadn’t mean to admit to the competition, and she gazed up at him curiously.

“You’re in competition with each other?”

“Pretty much since we were children,” he admitted. “We’re trying to build up the Sharif name, so the competition is good for us.”

Just then, his sister walked into view, a smirk on her face. “Admitting that you two keep trying to top one another?” she asked and rolled her eyes. “Next, Rashid will show up with a fiancée on his arm, as well. He’d never allow Asad to reach a milestone without him hot on his heels, even if it is all make-believe.”

“Amira,” Asad hissed as he glanced around. Luckily, no one was watching. “What is the matter with you?”

She shrugged. “Bored, I suppose. I remember when my brother actually hosted fun parties. Now, it’s all about business. Liyah, darling, you look like you could use a drink. Come with me.”

Asad was about to insist that she stay with him, citing business rather than pleasure, but he knew it was a lie and that Liyah probably did need a drink. He thrived in a group of people, but it was obvious that her energy was draining.

“I’ll find you in a bit,” he promised and kissed the top of her head. “Stay away from Rashid while we’re here. There’s no telling what the fool will do.”

As she and Amira walked away, he turned and found another pair of eyes studying him. “Bashar,” Asad greeted with a reverent bow of his head. “I’m so glad that you could make it.”

Bashar pulled out two cigars and beckoned Asad into the card room. “I went to greet your brother and wish him well, but there seems to be other news more pertinent than Rashid’s birthday. I hear you’re to be married. I take it the lovely creature walking away with Amira is the lucky lady?”

“Yes. Her name is Liyah.”

“An American. And you’ve hidden her away for quite some time. Why is that, Asad?”

He tried not to look uncomfortable as he accepted the cigar and lit it. Lying to those closest to him was never easy. “I wanted to keep her away from the press. We have enough presence where she’s from, and I did not want her hounded day and night.”

“Protective. I can respect that. Clearly your sister has taken to her. What about the rest of your family?”

He remembered his mother’s outraged gasp when he’d told her his plan. It was because of the lie that his parents had refused to come back early for the party. “My brothers like her well enough, but you know my mother. No one is ever good enough.”

Bashar rumbled with deep laughter. “So true. I would like to meet this lovely lady of yours, but I am afraid that I must leave the party early. Business calls.”

Business? Asad withdrew the cigar from his mouth and narrowed his eyes. “Is everything all right?”

His father’s old friend waved a hand in the air. “Everything is fine. Do not concern yourself with it. I must bid my leave with your brother. He is becoming a fine young man.”

And me? Asad wanted to ask. Bashar seemed to read his thoughts as he slowly dragged his eyes up and down the younger man. “And it seems that you have, as well. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, Asad. It seems that you’re not the boy I once knew.”

A feeling of victory settled in Asad’s chest as Bashar walked away, but there was no one to celebrate with. More than anything, he wanted to tell Liyah that her part in the plan was working, but the wallflower was difficult to find for the rest of the party.

He couldn’t help but feel disappointed.