Page 7 of The Innocent Carrying His Legacy

‘And I’m pregnant.’ She ignored the interruption. ‘With your child.’

Nazir stared at her. She was challenging him, no doubt about it, matching his will with hers—or at least, attempting to. And part of him had to admit to a certain reluctant admiration at the sheer gall of her. No one challenged him, except for his enemies and those with a death wish. Which was she?

She’s right, though. Sheiscarrying your child.

He glanced down at her stomach before he could stop himself, the slight curve veiled by the dusty white robes she wore. Something raw and hot and primitive stirred inside him in response.

He ignored it.

‘Water,’ he said.

‘Yes, please.’ She clasped long, delicate fingers together in her lap. ‘A small glass would do.’

Well, if it was water she wanted, then water she would receive.

Nazir strode over to the door, pulled it open, and spoke briefly to the guards outside, then shut it again and turned back to where she sat, small and precise and utterly self-contained.

She met his gaze squarely, though he thought he detected a slight hint of wariness. Which was good and proved she had some intelligence after all. Because she should be wary. It was clear she was used to having her own way, but she would not get it here.

This was his fortress and he ruled it with an iron fist.

He folded his arms and stood in front of her, holding her coppery gaze with his own.

And waited.

‘I’ll need water first before any explanations,’ she said.

‘Indeed.’

Another moment or two passed.

She shifted restively but didn’t look away. ‘If you’re trying to intimidate me, Mr Al Rasul, it won’t work.’

‘I’m not trying to intimidate you,’ he said. ‘I’m merely looking at you. You’ll know if I start trying to intimidate you.’

‘Is that a threat?’

‘Not at all. Did you take it as one?’

‘It was hardly meant as anything else.’

‘Good.’

She opened her mouth and closed it again.

He kept staring.

She had the most beautiful skin, very fine-grained and soft-looking, though she’d definitely caught far too much sun. Her cheeks were quite rosy, as were her forehead and chin.

You should have given her the umbrella. Especially considering she’s pregnant.

The hot, primitive feeling inside him shifted again. Again, he ignored it.

No, he’d been right not to acquiesce to her demands. He had to protect this fortress and his men, which meant he couldn’t afford to acknowledge random passers-by who sat outside his gates demanding water and sun umbrellas. His fortress wasn’t a tourist stop.

Besides, it had been her choice to come out into the desert to find him. Clearly this was due to the pregnancy and the fact that he was the father, but there also had to be some explanation for why she’d felt the need to track him down. Whatever it was, again, that had been her decision and it had nothing to do with him.

Her eyes were pretty. In this light, the light brown coppery colour had gone almost gold, and her dark lashes looked as if they’d been brushed with the same gold. Was her hair that colour too? Was it dark? Did it have those same streaks of gold? Or was it lighter? Amber, maybe, or deep honey...

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