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The Desert King's Secret Heir
Annie West
The child she hid…Surrounded by society’s glitterati, Arden Wills finds herself staring up into the eyes of her first and only love. But Sheikh Idris Baddour has a surprise title and heavy responsibilities… so she clings to her precious secret even tighter.Time has done nothing to dampen the intense ardour between them. And when their kiss is blasted across the world’s front pages Arden’s truth comes to light – the sheikh has a secret son!To avoid further scandal, Idris must legitimize his heir and make English Rose Arden his dutiful desert queen!Secret Heirs of Billionaires
The child she hid...
Surrounded by society’s glitterati, Arden Wills finds herself staring up into the eyes of her first and only love. But Sheikh Idris Baddour has a surprise title and heavy responsibilities...so she clings to her precious secret even tighter.
Time has done nothing to dampen the intense ardor between them. And when their kiss is blasted across the world’s front pages, Arden’s truth comes to light—the sheikh has a secret son! To avoid further scandal, Idris must legitimize his heir and make English rose Arden his dutiful desert queen!
‘Here he is at last. Arden, I’d like to present you to my cousin Idris—Sheikh of Zahrat.’
Arden widened her smile, determined not to be overawed by meeting her very first, and no doubt last, sheikh. Coming to this formal reception, surrounded by VIPs who oozed money and privilege, had already tested her nerves.
She turned, tilted her head to look up, and felt the world drop away.
His face was severely sculpted, as if scored by desert winds. Yet there was beauty in those high cheekbones and his firm yet sensual mouth. His nose and jaw were honed and strong. The harsh angle of those beetling black brows intimidated. So did the wide flare of his nostrils, as if the sheikh scented something unexpected.
Shock dragged at her, loosening her knees till her legs felt like rubber.
His eyes...
Dark as a midnight storm, those eyes fixed on her instinctive movement as she clutched Hamid for support. Slowly they lifted again to clash with hers, disdain clear in that haughty stare.
A shuddering wave of disquiet rolled through her as she blinked up, telling herself it wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be.
Despite the frantic messages her body was sending her, she couldn’t know this man.
Yet her brain wouldn’t listen to reason. It told her it was him. The man who’d changed her life.
Secret Heirs of Billionaires (#u2ed8ac33-6a06-56c1-abe1-6fd5e06b8a96)
There are some things money can’t buy...
Living life at lightning pace, these magnates are no strangers to stakes at their highest. It seems they’ve got it all... That is, until they find out that there’s an unplanned item to add to their list of accomplishments!
Achieved:
1. Successful business empire
2. Beautiful women in their bed
3. An heir to bear their name...?
Though every billionaire needs to leave his legacy in safe hands, discovering a secret heir shakes up his carefully orchestrated plan in more ways than one!
Uncover their secrets in:
Unwrapping the Castelli Secret by Caitlin Crews
Brunetti’s Secret Son by Maya Blake
The Secret to Marrying Marchesi by Amanda Cinelli
Demetriou Demands His Child by Kate Hewitt
Look out for more stories in the Secret Heirs of Billionaires series coming soon!
The Desert King’s Secret Heir
Annie West
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Growing up near the beach, ANNIE WEST spent lots of time observing tall, burnished lifeguards—early research! Now she spends her days fantasizing about gorgeous men and their love lives. Annie has been a reader all her life. She also loves travel, long walks, good company and great food. You can contact her at annie@annie-west.com or via PO Box 1041, Warners Bay, NSW 2282, Australia.
Books by Annie West
Mills & Boon Modern Romance
The Flaw in Raffaele’s Revenge
Seducing His Enemy’s Daughter
Damaso Claims His Heir
Imprisoned by a Vow
Captive in the Spotlight
Defying Her Desert Duty
One Night With Consequences
A Vow to Secure His Legacy
Seven Sexy Sins
The Sinner’s Marriage Redemption
Desert Vows
The Sheikh’s Princess Bride
The Sultan’s Harem Bride
At His Service
An Enticing Debt to Pay
Dark-Hearted Tycoons
Undone by His Touch
Visit the Author Profile page at
millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/) for more titles.
This book is dedicated to the wonderful men in my family
across three generations:
all heroic in their own way.
What excellent role models for my heroes!
Contents
Cover (#u9478691f-d9fc-5975-a820-5227766e1455)
Back Cover Text (#u216a8c76-3538-590d-a5e6-242a885e9cc3)
Introduction (#u5a7c7cf7-f419-5a17-b370-dd2479109523)
Secret Heirs of Billionaires (#uaa456e6f-e171-5621-aea5-8bcdf1a41dda)
Title Page (#uf4494dae-a6b8-5074-8896-25472e24eda3)
About the Author (#u275516bb-0274-566f-93a2-8e1d8d97ac48)
Dedication (#ufd76a64b-1567-54ea-8337-695225b6ac46)
CHAPTER ONE (#ufcdd334b-1dd6-5f74-8c85-5c5ba4807267)
CHAPTER TWO (#ud8f53fdf-cfb4-52ec-b7b0-693aae18f31d)
CHAPTER THREE (#u5b0cc286-77f3-5255-b416-335af4e3a291)
CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#u2ed8ac33-6a06-56c1-abe1-6fd5e06b8a96)
‘LET ME BE the first to congratulate you, Cousin. May you and your Princess be happy all your days.’
Hamid beamed with such goodwill Idris felt his own mouth kick up in a rare smile. They might not be close but Idris had missed his older cousin as they’d carved separate lives for themselves, Idris in Zahrat and Hamid as a UK-based academic.
‘Not my Princess yet, Hamid.’ He kept his voice soft, aware that, despite the chatter of a few hundred VIPs, there were plenty of ears eager for news of his impending nuptials.
Hamid’s eyes widened behind rimless glasses. ‘Have I put my foot in it? I’d heard—’
‘You heard correctly.’ Idris paused, tugging in a breath before it lengthened into a sigh. He had to conquer this sense of constraint whenever he thought of his upcoming marriage.
No one forced his hand. He was Sheikh Idris Baddour, supreme ruler of Zahrat, protector of the weak, defender of his nation. His word was law in his own country and, for that matter, here in his opulent London embassy.
Yet he hadn’t chosen marriage. It had chosen him—a necessary arrangement. To cement stability in his region. To ensure the line of succession. To prove that, despite his modern reformist ways, he respected the traditions of his people. So much rode on his wedding.
Change had been hard won in Zahrat. A willingness to conform in the matter of a suitable, dynastically necessary marriage would win over the last of the old guard who’d fretted over his reforms. They’d viewed him as an unseasoned pup when he’d taken over at just twenty-six. After four years they knew better. But there was no escaping the fact this wedding would achieve what strong leadership and diplomacy hadn’t.
‘It’s not official yet,’ he murmured to Hamid. ‘You know how slowly such negotiations proceed.’
‘You’re a lucky man. Princess Ghizlan is beautiful and intelligent. She’ll make you a perfect wife.’
Idris glanced to the woman holding court nearby. Resplendent in a blood-red evening gown that clung to a perfect hourglass figure, she was the stuff of male fantasy. Add her bred-in-the-bone understanding of Middle Eastern politics and her charming yet assured manner and he knew he was a lucky man.
Pity he didn’t feel like one.
Even the thought of acquainting himself with that lush body didn’t excite him.
What did that say about his libido?
Too many hours brokering peace negotiations with not one but two difficult neighbouring countries. Too many evenings strategising to push reform in a nation still catching up with the twenty-first century.
And before that too many shallow sexual encounters with women who were accommodating but unimportant.
‘Thank you, Hamid. I’m sure she will.’ As the daughter of a neighbouring ruler and a means to ensure long-term peace, Ghizlan would be invaluable. As the prospective mother of a brood of children she’d be priceless. Those children would ensure his sheikhdom wasn’t racked by the disruption it had faced when his uncle died without a son.
Idris told himself his lack of enthusiasm would evaporate once he and Ghizlan shared a bed. He tried to picture her there, her ebony hair spread on the pillow. But to his chagrin his mind inserted an image of hair the colour of a sunburst. Of curling locks soft as down.
