Page 65 of Modern Romance November 2024 5-8

Violet waved—because, honestly, she knew otherwise she’d sit on the stool and watch, or offer to wash her hair.

The bath was bliss, and she lay with her eyes closed, listening to the wind, wishing she’d stroked that little foal, that she’d dared to say yes to riding Josie. Because even if she should be snarling and angry, in truth...

She stopped right there and hauled herself out of the bath, dashing across the lounge, while Sahir was in his quarters as Amal set up for dinner.

She thought the robe selection must have been left over from harem days, or everyone in the harem had been slender, because they all clung ridiculously.

As well as that, she’d just washed her only set of underwear.

She settled for a nice, safe pinkish beige robe, that had long sleeves. They were a bit tight and...too long.

Far too long.

She found that out at dinner, as they sat in candlelight and she tried to roll up her sleeves in case they dragged in the gorgeous food.

‘Here.’ He picked up her hand and took the hem of one sleeve, hooked it over her middle finger.

‘Oh.’ She let him do the other one, looking at her fingers peeking out of the silky fabric. ‘I hope I don’t ruin it.’

She was close to ruininghim, Sahir thought. He had sworn nothing would happen, and then she’d walked out. And in candlelight the dress was the shade of nude flesh, outlining her hips, her waist and breasts.

Violet was determined to remain cross, but as they ate in silence she looked at the candelabras, the food and the goblets, and then she looked at the man opposite her.

She put down a very fat date and said what she knew she had to.

‘Your staff were all kind. Well, there was one who was abrupt. But he was never rough or...’

‘How did he get you onto the plane?’

‘I was told there had been a security breach and that we needed to leave. I thought you were hurt or...’ She took a shaky breath. ‘Pria arrived as we were getting in the car. She seemed shocked. She was trying to call you, Faisal was too, but Aadil said it was on the King’s orders.’

Sahir gave one nod.

‘I thought you were on the plane.’

Violet had run up the steps, sure he would be there, but she didn’t tell him that part!

‘It took off. I went a bit crazy. It was then that Aadil told me to calm down. That he was trying to avoid a scandal because you were soon to marry.’

He closed his eyes, then opened them as she spoke on.

‘Pria was lovely. She told me not to be scared, that you would sort it out.’

‘What about the helicopter?’

‘It was waiting at the palace. Like I said, no one was dreadful. I just don’t get it.’

‘I don’t fully...’ His voice was both serious and thoughtful. ‘Your marriage age is thirty?’

Violet frowned.

‘You said you hoped to marry by thirty. I was aiming to get to forty. I think things were being moved along.’ He looked at her. ‘And then you were seen on the balcony.’

‘I’m hardly the first woman you’ve brought back home.’

‘No, but after I left you, I demanded to take some time off. My father told me about an important meeting and I said my younger brother could step up. I don’t usually. I just wanted...’

He met her eyes, and she could see the candlelight flickering in them, a dance of flames with dark corridors of desire behind them.

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