Page 5 of At the Sheikh's Pleasure
She licked her lips and his gaze fell to them before he forced his focus once more on her eyes.It was no hardship.A momentary softening intrigued him before she looked away, toward the doors he’d originally pointed to.She was avoiding his gaze, he suddenly realized.She didn’t want him to see her unguarded by her arrogance.It softened him a little more, which he found most irksome.
“Of course,” she said at last.“That would be a useful discussion.”
“Good.If you’d care to go outside, we can talk there undisturbed.”
As they walked across the room, he was aware of the way she moved, with a grace and dignity which humbled him and made him even more uncomfortable about how rude he’d been.
He stepped outside and scanned the terrace, spotting a place in the far corner which wasn’t obvious at first glance to anyone who didn’t know the place—and he did.He’d used it before for intimate conversations—and gestured toward it.“We won’t be disturbed over there.”
She shot him a glance which didn’t show trust, but gave him a brief nod, nevertheless.He called for the waiter to bring some drinks over and pulled aside a chair for her.She dragged out a different chair, one opposite him, and sat down.He shrugged and sat down as well.It didn’t look as if this was going to be easy.
The instant physicalawareness Rosana had felt when she’d first looked at Zaire had quickly been superseded by an antipathy so strong that it was all she could do not to be as rude to him as he’d been to her.She was determined to show him she was not a woman to be messed with, not a woman to be insulted, and certainly not a woman to be seduced, which was obviously his intention given the heated glances he’d shot her, not even bothering to conceal his interest.She knew he wanted her physically, and knew, equally well, that she annoyed him intellectually.She didn’t care on either account.She was here for one purpose only.
She shook her head when offered a drink and sat forward, hands clasped on the table before her, determined to speak first rather than wait for permission to talk, as was traditional.
“So, Zaire,” she said, emphasizing his name.“As you are no doubt aware, I’m here to find the diamond.”
He didn’t look impressed by the use of his first name.A frown deepened over his eyes.She blinked, annoyed at how that intense stare pricked at the barriers she’d erected.
“And I intend,” she continued hurriedly, not liking how he’d opened his mouth as if to interrupt her, “to focus on the throne room.”
He sat back with a sigh and looped his arm over the back of the chair.“The throne room,” he repeated.“And you think it wouldn’t have been discovered there before now?You think you have some extra knowledge, some extra skill to locate it?”
“Yes,” she said between gritted teeth.“I do.Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.Obviously.”
“Obviously,” he repeated.
“I’ve been researching Queen Mandana, as I believe she is the connection to the diamond.”
He looked no more impressed.“Queen Mandana.A woman, I believe, who has been the subject of extensive research in our own country, in our own university.And you believe you have something different to add to this sum of knowledge?”
“I don’t believe.Iknow.”
“Really.”Derision oozed through the word.He tapped the back of the chair with impatient fingers.Then it was as if he’d made a decision.He swiveled in his chair until he faced her directly and shifted to the edge of the seat so that their faces were far too close for her liking.
“Well, that’s all very interesting,” he said, his eyes fixed on her, skewering her to the spot.She couldn’t have looked away if she’d wanted to.And she desperatelydidwant to.“But why should I allow you to indulge your ridiculous fantasies?What’s in it for me?”He paused and her mind raced into places she really didn’t want to go.“What’s in it for my country?”he clarified, and a deep blush filled her face at her ridiculous fantasies.She forced herself to focus.
“You don’t believe finding the diamond will be beneficial for your country?”
“I do, if it were found elsewhere, in England, where it undoubtedly is, stolen by your Lord Gleave, and if it were brought back here.But you’re looking in the wrong place.”
“I don’t believe so.”
He sat back and waved his hand.“Then continue in your fruitless search if you must, but know this.”
She was aware of only the blood pounding through her veins.“What?”she said in an annoyingly husky whisper.
“I will be beside you every step of the way.Because you are a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Harran and I don’t trust you.For all I know, this is a ruse, arranged by your father, to gain access and spy on us.”
“I am no spy.”
He shrugged.“I’ll soon find out the truth.”
She jumped up, incensed that he would believe such a thing.“I’ll go now.I’ve said what I have to say.”
He didn’t look in the least perturbed that she was breaking with protocol by concluding an audience with the king.“Go then.But we will meet again tomorrow, and the next day, for however many days you are here.”
She forced herself to meet his gaze.She refused to be cowed or intimidated by him.“I hadn’t expected you to be so”—she leaned in to him, determined to show him she was no feeble girl to be bullied—“helpful.”
