Page 18 of At the Sheikh's Pleasure
“I thought my stories would entertain you, but you look sad.”
She forced a smile.“They did entertain.Believe me, they did.It’s just…” she trailed off.She wasn’t about to admit that she was sad because she didn’t believe she’d ever experience love on the same level as Leonora or Janey.
He tilted his head so he could see her more clearly.“It’s just?”
She shrugged and shook her head.
He placed his hand on hers.“Don’t do that.Don’t evade the question.Please, I’d like to know.”
She frowned.“Why?”
“Because I’d like to know you.And I can’t do that if you don’t tell me things which are important to you.”
“But I’ll be gone in a few days.What difference does it make if you know me or not?”
“A lot to me.”
She still didn’t understand.But before she could question him further, he squeezed her hand and sat back.
“Humor me, please.Tell me what brought that wave of sadness to your face.”
She would be gone in a few days.What did it matter?And she wanted to.Why, she didn’t know.But for the first time in her life, she felt the urge to get closer to a man.
“I was simply thinking of Leonora and Janey and how much they love your brothers.They seem changed somehow.So different and”—she shrugged—“I don’t know, I wondered what that would be like.”
“Ah, I remember.You said you’ve never been in love.”
She kept her gaze steady on his.His words were spoken kindly, gently.If there had been any hint that he was ridiculing her, she’d have run a mile.But this wasn’t the King Zaire she’d first met.And, for the life of her, she couldn’t look away.She shook her head in an awkward, jerky movement.Even that seemed too much, and she felt a blush of fear rise within her.Had she given too much of herself away?
“Then I am sorry, because being in love is one of the most amazing things in life,” he continued.
She had to ask.“You said you’d been in love.Or maybe you were kidding me?”Her flushed skin would have told him how interested she was in the answer, even if her question hadn’t.She was sure he’d know that there was nothing casual about her inquiry.He’d realize that she’d lied earlier about not wanting to know anything about him.Because, apparently, she did.
“No.I wasn’t kidding,” he said with a rueful press of the lips, as if he regretted it.“Ihavebeen in love.”
She couldn’t have said why, but she felt disappointed.She hardly knew the man and yet she felt hurt that he’d loved someone.She was being ridiculous.
“And you still are?”
The night air pulsed with the sound of night insects and darkened a shade further as clouds passed over the stars.She held her breath, waiting for his answer.Because, despite all her resolve, all her determination to keep separate from this man, his answer was unbearably important to her.
“Yes.”The single word floated to her like a puff of air.Insubstantial, but holding a wealth of meaning in that single syllable.
She exhaled and bit her lip and looked away.She felt deeply disappointed.She rubbed her chest.Suddenly, he reached out and took her hand.
“Yes,” he repeated.“I do still love the woman I fell in love with as a kid.I?—”
She held up her hand.She really didn’t want to know the details.She needed to put an end to this now.While she could.“Please?—”
Buthestoppedherthis time.“No, hear me out, Rosana.I want you to know.Galila and I were inseparable from a very young age, and that closeness changed when we became teenagers.Eventually we became lovers, in secret, no one knew.My father would never have entertained a marriage between me and Galila, but wehadto be together.It was too elemental, too strong, to resist.”Then he looked down, stopping suddenly, lost in thought.
She swallowed down a hard lump.“What happened?”
Slowly he raised his face.At that moment, the clouds passed over, leaving the stars bright once more, shining light on his face, revealing a pain she wished she hadn’t witnessed.It was soul-deep.
“She died.”
“I’m so sorry.”
