Page 17 of At the Sheikh's Pleasure
“No curfew,” he said, his casual tone unperturbed.“Simply concern that my guest shouldn’t go to bed hungry.”
“How considerate,” she said lightly.“Are you like this with all the palace’s guests?”
He laughed and poured her a drink.“No.”He held out a glass of fragrant sahlab to her.“Only the veryimportantones.”
There was something ambiguous in his use of the word ‘important’, and she was dying for clarification while, at the same time, not wanting to hear why she might be important.To cover her confusion, she accepted the glass.The warmth of the glass in her hand, combined with the smell of cinnamon, made her suddenly realize how thirsty she was.She took a long sip and sighed as she placed it on the table.
“Thank you,” she said.“That was kind, but I must get an early night.”
“Of course.But,” he said, pouting a little, “it’s a shame to waste this food.”He took the lid off a plate and the mouthwatering fragrance of aromatic spiced rice wafted over and her stomach rumbled.She could hardly deny her hunger now.
She shrugged.“I guess I won’t sleep so well on an empty stomach.”
“An excellent decision.Come, take a seat and help yourself.I promise I won’t keep you indefinitely.”
She sat down and began to eat, grateful for the food.Somehow, she’d forgotten how hungry she was.
“You enjoy our food,” he said with a smile.
“It’s been a long time since I ate it.”
“And you don’t miss it?”
She shrugged evasively.It seemed she didn’t need to answer.
“Of course you do.And the land.That much is obvious.”He sat back thoughtfully and tapped his fingers against his lips.“And yet you still choose to stay away.”
“I have my reasons.”
“Anyway, I did not intend to continue the inquisition.I apologize for asking so many questions earlier.I thought this might giveyouthe opportunity to askmequestions.If you like,” he added.
She had to smile.“Not particularly,” she said.She almost laughed to see his confidence falter slightly.She very much doubted that any women had ever shown anything but interest in him.
“May I ask why?”he asked.
“You may, and I’ll even answer you.I don’t have any questions to ask because I’m not interested in the answers.”
He winced as if he’d been shot.“You know how to hurt a man.”
All humor suddenly drained away.“No, you’re wrong there.Menknow how to hurtme.”
She was shocked she’d let her guard slip and spoken her true thoughts.She was even more shocked by the look of intense look of sympathy in his eyes.She didn’t need sympathy.The only thing she needed from this man was help in finding the diamond.
Chapter8
It horrified Rosana that she’d revealed even a little of her past to Zaire because it made her vulnerable and that was the last thing she wanted to be.She opened her mouth but closed it quickly, not trusting herself to speak in case she incriminated herself further.
Zaire’s lips were pursed as if he wanted to say a lot more but was stopping himself.“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said finally, leaning on his arms on the table across from her with a gentle smile.“And, as I sense you don’t wish to discuss this, how about we change the subject?”
“Gladly,” she said with a sigh of relief.
“Well, if you’d like to be entertained, I can tell you all the secrets about my brothers.Things”—he leaned forward confidentially—“which they would hate anyone to know.Including their wives.”
“Then how can I resist?”she said, unable to prevent herself from grinning.He was impossible.And he was also impossibly charming.No woman could be immune.Certainly not one like her, unused to flirtation.Her barriers were usually enough to keep men at a distance.Unfortunately, those barriers were no longer in evidence.They’d gone.Been wiped out by the blast of emotions and memories which had demolished them from the inside out.She’d never expected her armor would have to be defended from herself.
And he didn’t disappoint.He told her anecdotes about his brothers, which turned them into real people—not simply royalty or seducers of her colleagues.Apart from the evening of her arrival, she’d only met them in the formal visit of her father and brother when they’d appeared distant and intensely royal, barely able to conceal their hatred for her family.
Little by little she relaxed, her laughter coming spontaneously when he delivered the punchline on some embarrassing story about Amare.He was particularly prone to getting himself into very un-royal situations, which their elder brother Darrius inevitably had to retrieve him from before their father discovered the predicament.Women, being stranded miles from anywhere wearing the most inappropriate clothing, lost luggage—they all featured in one story about Darrius this time.Rosana very much doubted whether Leonora knew of it.Although even if she did, she doubted whether it would ever dent her colleague’s love for Darrius.Nothing external could touch her relationship.Same went for Janey, she was sure.The thought of such love that she’d never allow herself made her heave a sigh.She looked up, suddenly aware that Zaire was silent.
