The Sheik's Temptation

The Sheik’s Temptation By Elizabeth Lennox Register for free stories at http://www.elizabethlennox.com/subscribe Follow me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Author.Elizabeth.LennoxOr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ElizabethLenno1 Copyright 2023 ISBN13: 9781950451739 All rights reserved This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Any duplication of this material, either electronic or any other format, either currently in use or a future invention, is strictly prohibited, unless you have the direct consent of the author. Table of Contents Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Epilogue Excerpt to “Ava” Chapter 1 The music transfixed him. He hadn’t ever considered music to be something beyond…well, beyond something nice, perhaps as pleasant ambiance in the background. This music, however, was startling. It wasn’t just the melody that was enchanting. There was a vibrant, almost painful passion between the notes, a melancholy sadness that flavored the rhythm, a somber, trailing hope, the crushing defeat and heavy…disavowal? Surely a song couldn’t “disavow” anything! Shaking his head, Sheik Drago al-Hassan continued walking. This music was making him fanciful. Mentally shaking himself, Drago reminded himself that he had work to do. He didn’t have time to listen to a pretty song! There was always work waiting on his attention. The thought stunned him, momentarily pausing his forward momentum, because he’d never considered his position as ruler of Simar to be a burden. Was his job a problem? When had he started to resent his role and responsibilities? Before he could answer that question, the music distracted him once more. The sounds dramatically lightened the tension in his chest and shoulders, a tension that he hadn’t even realized was there. Still, he didn’t have time to stand here listening to a pretty song. He needed to work on his strategy. Drago knew that today’s negotiations with Sheik Tazir would be difficult and challenging. He needed an edge against an opponent that had very few weaknesses. Drago didn’t have many either and he refused to concede anything during these discussions. So why was he here? Why were two stubborn, angry men meeting to discuss an issue that neither of them would be willing to give way on? Again, the music filtered its way into his angry thoughts, melting them away as the tension in his shoulders magically eased. The notes and sweet, wistful sounds relaxed him more effectively than a massage! Startled, he looked around, hoping his mental roller coaster wasn’t evident to anyone else. Music wasn’t “relaxing”! Music couldn’t disrupt his mood and alter his temper! Impossible, he told himself. Music simply wasn’t that powerful! And yet, the music called to him in a way that he hadn’t realized was possible. The power behind the music was shocking. He looked at his guards and recognized the same stunned reaction and relaxed. If they were feeling it as well, then he wasn’t losing his mind. As he shifted, prepared to turn and find the source of the music, Drago was again immobilized as the sound changed. The hope was getting stronger, becoming the dominant aspect of the music. The song grew stronger, more powerful, then waned. He took a breath, only to hear the music crescendo, the feelings becoming stronger again and…damn, the music made him feel like he was having sex! The sudden rush of passion threatened to overwhelm him. But that was impossible! Drago frowned, looking around. His guards wouldn’t look at him and he would have laughed out loud if…no, he couldn’t make a sound that would disrupt the music. It was shifting to another crescendo and…he held his breath as the music built higher and higher, strumming his emotions as easily as a guitar. No, not a guitar. A harp, he mentally corrected. And still, the music built higher, the passion and…? Anger? How could there be anger when everything inside of him was filled with the hope? The hope had faded into the background, he suddenly realized. That damn hope was…why couldn’t the person playing the music just accept that life was hard! Drago wanted to roar with abrupt fury! He wanted to hunt and stab, to…the music again tempered the sudden rage, soothing him as if someone were now rubbing his back with a silken mitten. He wanted to purr and…? Ealayk allaena, this was insane! Drago told himself to walk away, that he didn’t have time for nonsense! He was here to meet with Sheik Tazir and negotiate a trade deal. He wasn’t here to have an orgasm in a damn hallway! Or to murder small animals! But he couldn’t move. The music swelled. Hope was winning out. Hope was building, the notes creating a crescendo of power that overwhelmed the sadness and anger. And then…he held his breath as the music hesitated…! Nothing! The music…ended? Bihaqi aljahim! Drago felt like roaring! Looking around, he noticed that his guards appeared on edge as well. He’d never experienced anything like that with mere music before. But he couldn’t apply “mere” to what he’d just heard. The sounds from that piano were powerful, passionate and…overwhelming. He didn’t like being overwhelmed. Drago was ruler of all of Simar, a vast country with complicated regional challenges that would haunt him if he let them. But he was in control. He wasn’t going to allow vying forces…or enthralling, haunting music….to get in the way of peace. Hell no! He looked around, stifling the growl that threatened to erupt at the lack of an ending to that piece of music. Whoever had turned off the stereo should have their hands chopped off. One just didn’t do that! “Your Highness?” He heard the unspoken question and spun around, ready to lash out at the speaker. His assistant