Page 9 of At the Sheikh's Pleasure
“Testing my hypothesis about the diamond isnota wild goose chase.”She sighed heavily and then nodded and he poured a coffee and handed it to her.He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she took a sip of her coffee, cradling the cup in both hands as if relishing the experience.Her scarf slipped down and he watched her swallow.His first impressions were correct.Her neck was slender and long.
Then she looked up and blinked nervously before looking away again.She placed the cup carefully onto the table, as if giving herself time to think.“Thank you,” she shot him a brief smile.“It’s been a while since I’ve drunk coffee from home.”She clipped the last word as if she’d been surprised at what she’d said.
“Hm.Perhaps you’ve been away too long.Your family must miss you, surely?”He realized it was a personal question, but he couldn’t help it.The feeling with which she’d edged that last word made him realize she was hiding something, something which hurt her.He needed to know what lay behind it.
She bit her lip and shrugged.“I think they are managing just fine without me.”
“There’s a difference between managing and missing, surely?”He tapped his fingers against his lips as he watched her response carefully.Then he made a mistake.He leaned forward.“You are your father’s only daughter.Your place is at his home.”
Her head shot up and her eyes blazed with a passion which really shouldn’t have affected him so much.He felt his arousal instantly.
“Your Majesty,” she said, putting the cup down on the table.“I’m not here to discuss‘my place’in my father’s home, nor am I here to make small talk with you.I’m here to help solve a puzzle and illuminate your country’s history.”
“I understand,” he said, his voice softening.“But even in matters of great importance, there is always room for some relaxation.I promise you, we will get to the matter at hand.”He gave a small, experimental smile and was rewarded with a relaxing of her frown.She gave a brief nod, as if satisfied.
“Thank you, but I’m here as an academic, not as a princess.I need autonomy, not protection.I need to work, not to relax.”
“And youwillwork, but you will alsonotwork.”One glance at her expression told him she needed persuasion.Something he never had to do.He cleared his throat.“Your work, I believe, focuses on royal traditions?”
“Yes, but?—”
He held up his hand to stop her from talking.“Then how better to explore royal traditions then spending time with the king?”He raised his eyebrow in query, but her expression didn’t change.This was going to be tougher than he thought.“I spent my youth observing royal traditions and my adulthood partaking in them.You will learn from me things you cannot read about.”Other, distracting thoughts of what she might learn flittered into his head, but he firmly rejected them.Now wasn’t the time to get diverted.
The frown lifted again.“All right,” she agreed, as if she were doing him a favor.He wasn’t sure how that had happened.“Iwillspend time with you, only because it will help my research.”
“So pleased I can help,” he said, unable to hide his facetious tone.“So pleased,” he repeated, “that you will indulge me.”She licked those luscious lips of hers and he didn’t bother to rein in his imagination this time.He looked up to see her eyes flash again.
“Now, may I see the throne room?”
He gritted his teeth.She was determined to take control.“Of course.”He opened the door for her.“As you know so much about the palace, please lead the way.”
She didn’t need telling twice, and she swept out of his offices and into the grand hallway without stopping to see if he followed her.Although, he thought, if she were as aware of him as he was of her, she’d know he was.He took the opportunity to allow his sweeping gaze to check her out.The outfit she wore revealed an hour-glass figure which sent his imagination into overdrive.He drew beside her when they walked out into the marble corridors which led to the throne room.
Despite her stated dislike of superficial chat, he had to do something to fill the silence and stop himself from contemplating her lips and figure.Luckily, by the time he’d run out of small-talk, they’d reached the throne room.He stepped forward and exchanged a few words with the guard, and the doors were opened.He strode inside and looked around.
“I haven’t been in here since my coronation.”
“It’s only used for ceremonial purposes, then?”Rosana stepped inside, and looked around the room as if seeking something in particular.Then her gaze came to rest on a portrait, smaller than some, less elaborate than others, but the one which became the focus of everyone’s attention when they entered the room.
“Magnificent,” he said as he shifted his gaze from Rosana to the portrait of Queen Mandana.The likeness between her and their common ancestor was unmistakable.
She didn’t take her eyes off the portrait.“I’ve seen small black and white reproductions of this portrait in books, as well as the larger images reproduced on websites but I hadn’t expected it was look quite so…” She trailed off and shook her head, for once at a loss for words.
“Magnificent,” she repeated his word.“Queen Mandana was indeed a magnificent queen.”
His gaze lingered on her before moving to the portrait.“A distant relative of yours, of course.”
“A direct descendant.In those times, before the dispute over land, our countries were far closer than they are now.”
“I hope that will change, sheikha.”
“Peace is always preferable.For everyone.”
“Indeed.And Queen Mandana was a great advocate of peace.She exemplified it in bringing our two countries closer together than they’ve ever been—before or since.”He looked back at the portrait and frowned and was silent for a few moments.“She has a look of you.Around the eyes.”
She jerked her neck up to look into the queen’s eyes with a shocked look of recognition.
“Don’t you think?”he asked, puzzled by her silence.
