Page 13 of The Sheikh's Desert Princess

A few more paces and she was at the entrance to Riaz's tent. Only once she had reached there did a few sleepy faces turn in her direction from the men sleeping on the ground.

Eva halted suddenly, sliding on the sandy floor. Now she was here, she wondered what she should do. Maybe it was as simple as tugging back to flap of the entrance and asking for Riaz's help. She knew he would help her, probably would not hesitate.

There was nothing else she could do. Eva briefly composed herself and reached out, grabbing the flap of the tent entrance and tugging it aside. She ducked inside the tent.

It was dark inside the tent, and at first she couldn't make out any details. Then she remembered from earlier that there was a sleeping area to the left side of the tent, partitioned off.

Eva stood at the entrance, considering whether to go back outside. Maybe, she could just put all this down to a terrible mistake. But, even as she entertained that thought, she knew she couldn't leave. Whoever was out there would still be there, waiting to see if she re-emerged.

She heard a noise from behind the heavy partitioned off area. Someone was moving in there, and it could only be one person. In spite of all her bravado, despite every impression she had tried to give earlier, she felt instant relief.

Eva's eyes adjusted slightly to the darkness and she saw the heavy, hanging drape swept away to one side and Riaz stepped out.

Eva gasped involuntarily. Riaz was hardly wearing anything.

The only clothing on his body was a simple wrap around his middle. By the soft light which came in from the doorway behind her she saw his naked chest, sensuously matted with dark hair. The muscles of his naked legs glistened as he stepped out onto the carpet front of her. He was an awesome sight. Heat rose to her face and she was glad of the subdued light inside the tent.

"Eva!" he snapped. "What's wrong?"

At first she didn't know what to say. What could she say? That he'd been right all along. That her decision to sleep out there tonight had been foolish? That he knew these men better than she did?

Of course, all that was correct. But she wasn't about to hand him an easy victory.

Eva glanced back toward the open entrance. "I figured I'd take you up on your offer," she said. "It's getting a little chilly outside," she added, knowing that it didn't sound at all convincing.

Riaz's brow lifted in surprise. "Really?"

He moved toward her, his body moving with the lithe grace of an animal. Maybe it was because of the adrenaline flying through her system after running to the tent, but the sight of his body triggered intense sensation in her. He paused in front of her.

Now he was so close, she could see the genuine concern on his face. She saw him glance over her shoulder and thought, for a moment, that he was about to race outside, just to check that what she was saying was true.

But, instead, he reached out and gently took her shoulders. She did not do anything to prevent him touching her, and she briefly wondered why she hadn't resisted. Perhaps the urgency of what had happened in the last few minutes had warped her judgement. In any case, the feel of his hands against her arms was oddly reassuring.

As if to deflect that emotion, she peered up into his eyes and said: "And I also left my camera here earlier," she announced trying to make her voice sound bright and cheerful.

Riaz's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Your camera?"

Even nodded, probably too quickly to be convincing.

Riaz's hands removed his hands and took a step back. It took all her self-control to resist the temptation to run her gaze down the length of his fabulous body. Did he know how he was affecting her?

Of course he did.

Eva peered over his shoulder toward the sofa and saw the camera down on the carpet by the side. "There it is," she declared taking a few steps past him.

She picked up the camera and when she turned she saw that he had disappeared into the sleeping alcove. He emerged a moment later with a heavy blanket draped over his arms. He came to her and wrapped it carefully around her.

Eva was tempted to slip it off her shoulders, refuse the gesture, but then she realized he might question the real reason why she had come to his tent. She gazed into his eyes and smiled. "Thanks," she said softly.

There was a sound at the entrance and Eva saw a figure appear there. She heard Riaz curse softly. Then he turned and strode across to the entrance. She heard Riaz utter harsh words in his own language to the person at the entrance who was probably one of his men.

Riaz listened for a few moments to something the figure said to him. She saw him stiffen and again, there was what sounded like a sharply uttered curse. Then Riaz closed the flap and turn back to face her.

Riaz walked back toward Eva.

Perhaps because he had just spoken with someone else, now Riaz seemed acutely aware of the fact that he was wearing virtually nothing.

"Give me a moment," he said quietly glancing downward. He disappeared into the sleeping alcove.

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