Page 42 of Seduced By the Sheikh

“I’m fine. I’ll have plenty of time for rest on the plane.” Ignoring all the other people around her she rested her head on his shoulder. “Please, Zak, just take me home.”

There was no re-occurrence of the shooting pain which had made her feel so faint at the hotel. She let Zak take control, and soon found herself resting against him in the back of the limousine as they headed once more toward the airport.

“Close your eyes,” he said. “You must be exhausted.”

She nodded and did as he said. The last thoughts before she slid into a brief, deep sleep were that on one level the world was sorting itself out, and on another, things were breaking apart.

She awoke with a start to find Zak kissing her temple. “We’re at the airfield.” He was outside the open car door, reaching in to her.

She blinked, focused on where she was, and then pushed herself wearily out of the seat with his help.

His brow was creased with concern. “This isn’t like you. Are you sure you’re well?”

She summoned up a smile which she hoped was reassuring, despite the dull ache which seemed to fill her gut. “I’ll be better once I’ve eaten some good Sirunese food from home.”

It seemed to work. “I’ll have our chef prepare the best for you. It appears there’s a small delay in our departing. But we can rest in the private lounge until we’re able to leave.”

She nodded, regretful that they couldn’t leave straight away. She felt that everything would be better once she’d touched down on home soil.

They walked into the lounge and he insisted she settle onto a divan with her legs up, and drink some water. She felt a little better then, and also ate a little while he paced back and forth, constantly checking the clock.

“Why don’t you go and see what’s going on,” she suggested, wanting to be able to relax. She couldn’t when he insisted on watching her so intently.

He nodded. “Yes, lay back and rest, and I’ll find out what the holdup is.”

She couldn’t seem to get comfortable, wriggling around, and in the end sitting up again, holding her head in her hands, thinking surely morning sickness shouldn’t be like this. She looked up when she heard the door open.

“Good news. We can board now.”

With his arm around her, they boarded the plane, and they were soon in the air, heading back to Sirun. Soraiya breathed out a sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness that’s all over,” she said.

“My thoughts exactly. It’s been very stressful for us all, but for you in particular.”

She managed a smile, despite a sense of growing discomfort. “I somehow think that our life together won’t be without its challenges, Zak.”

“Maybe not, he said, but hopefully we’ll be able to take better care of you than we have been. All this jetting around isn’t good for you, habibti,” he muttered, fussing over her. “For the first time I’m glad that I inherited a security guard from my father who is a trained doctor. I’ll get him to check you over before you go to sleep.”

“I’m fine. I’m just pregnant and a little tired, that’s all.”

“You are not reassuring me,” he said solemnly. He huffed a frustrated sigh. “You must promise me that you will do nothing—absolutely nothing—when we get back to Sirun.”

She laughed. “I can just picture how you want me—cocooned in cotton wool—eating and drinking punctually so as not to harm the baby.”

He gripped her fist. “No. So as not to harm you, habibti. You.”

There was something in the urgency of his gaze but when he opened his mouth to speak, the words never came out because at the same moment she rose and took a step forward to go to the bathroom. But she stopped, as she felt moisture leak from between her legs. She swallowed hard. She must have imagined it.

“Soraiya?” Zak exclaimed, fear and urgency in his tone. “What’s the matter?”

“The matter?” she said, trying desperately to ignore the physical sensations which were hammering at her brain to be interpreted.

“Soraiya! You’re worrying me.”

She could only shake her head, trying to free it of everything as she took another step and then another, and by the time she reached the bathroom she knew. The familiar drawing sensation in her gut and aching back were the final clues she could no longer ignore. They weren’t the sensations of early pregnancy. They were the sensations of a body losing something.

She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Her mouth was dry, her eyes were wet and the only thing that escaped her lips was a wail.

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