Page 32 of At the Sheikh's Pleasure
Her smile tweaked sexily at the corners.“Like what?”
He leaned in to her, so close he could smell the subtle scent of vanilla on her skin, and whispered in her ear exactly what it was he wanted to do to her.By the time he’d finished describing in vivid detail how he’d make her feel, her smile had slipped and in its place was a look of desperate desire that required all his willpower to walk away from.
“I must go now,” he said.
She swallowed, nodded and hurried away.He watched her go.She might believe she’d be leaving the next day, but he’d use everything in his power to make her stay.There could be no other way now.
Chapter15
The banquet hall was a picture of sensual opulence.The scent of lilies filled the air, priceless paintings hung from the walls below ornate friezes decorated in gold leaf, and the tables were adorned with candles that glowed with a soft golden light.The background sound of traditional music mixed with the clinking of glasses and the laughter of his guests—each one an embodiment of power and influence.But Zaire hardly noticed any of it.He did his best to concentrate on what Sheikh Saeed was telling him, but he couldn’t help continually glancing toward the door.He had to stop himself from sending someone to fetch her to him, or from going himself.But he knew neither would work—he was in unknown territory now.A place where she had all the power, and it scared him to death.
Despite knowing he shouldn’t go looking for her, he stood up, intending to do exactly that.His guest, who’d been in mid-sentence, stopped speaking with a look of surprise.But then Rosana entered the room.She looked around with a sweeping gaze, which he caught and held for a moment before Darrius, who was sitting beside him, coughed loudly and drew his attention back to his honored guest.He’d been rude.Zaire knew Darrius was trying to get him to focus.This evening was too important to allow himself to be distracted by a woman.But then Rosana wasn’t just any woman.She was a stunningly beautiful one who’d captured his heart.Darrius coughed again and shot him a dark look.Zaire took the hint this time, sat down immediately and turned to his guest, Sheikh Saeed—a friend of both Sifra and the Kingdom of Harran, and possibly the last chance to broker peace between the two countries.
“My apologies.You were saying?”
Darrius, who’d arrived to help Zaire with the delicate diplomacy which would see the tensions between Sifra and the surrounding countries ease, shook his head pityingly and took over the conversation.Zaire immediately turned to Rosana, who, ignoring all the admiring stares, followed his assistant towards his table.The only sign that she was in the slightest bit nervous was in the way she shifted her clutch bag from one hand to the other.But her imperious, calm gaze told no one this.
If she was surprised that she’d been seated by his side, she didn’t show it.Besides, he had an excuse for seating her next to him.She was, after all, a princess of a neighboring country.
Zaire rose once more to greet Rosana.“Sheikha Rosana, I’m glad you could make it.”
She smiled a warm smile for him alone, and he felt his heart swell.“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” she said.
“Greetings, Rosana,” said Darrius.“I’m glad we’re able to meet again.”
“Me, as well.How is Leonora?”
“She is very well, thank you.She’s in Oxford at the moment, preparing for the bi-centennial celebrations next month.She says you’ll be joining her in a few days?”
“Indeed.”She kept her gaze fixed on Darrius.“I’ve changed my flight to tomorrow, so I’ll be able to help her with the arrangements.”
Darrius cast an uneasy look from Zaire, back to Rosana again.“I’m sure she’ll be pleased to see you.”With the practiced manners of a former king, Darrius turned to their guests.“Sheikh, may I introduce Sheikha Rosana bint Abduallah Al Khal.”
“I am pleased to meet you, Sheikha Rosana,” Sheikh Saeed said, “although a little surprised.”
Zaire and Darrius exchanged looks.They’d been trying to move the conversation on to the prickly subject of where the sheikh’s country stood, given the impasse between Rosana’s country and Sifra.Their earlier discussions had yielded little progress in the coming together of their countries.They weren’t certain how Saeed would interpret Rosana’s presence in Sifra.
Rosana gave a small smile and took a sip of her drink before answering.“And why is that?”
Sheikh Saeed shrugged.“It is common knowledge that your father’s relations with Sifra are strained.Your presence shows your father is softening his stance towards Sifra, if he has allowed you to accept the king’s invitation.It also has implications regarding his alliance with the Faud Federation.”
Saeed’s frankness surprised Zaire, but he knew Rosana wouldn’t want him to speak on her behalf, so he kept silent.Rosana gave herself a moment, by inclining her head, which could have been interpreted as agreement, before answering.He wondered how she was going to admit that her father had no idea she was here.
“I am here on business.I am a professor at Oxford University researching a subject here, in Sifra.”
Sheikh Saeed frowned and steepled his fingers as if trying to unravel the complexities of her relationship with her father.If he could do that, thought Zaire, he was a better man than he.
“And your father allowed this visit?”
The muscles around Rosana’s mouth tightened her smile.“I do not need my father’s permission to do anything, or to go anywhere, sir.”
“Ah, so you are amodern woman.”He said the words with emphasis, as if it were a separate species.“That is very interesting.”
“Yes, it is.”She took a sip of water and placed the glass back on the table with careful deliberation, before turning to him with that imperious gaze.“Tell me, how are your daughters?Are they attending university yet?”
“No, indeed.A marriage has been arranged for my eldest, and I’m sure that none of the others are interested in further education.”
“They have said as much?”
