Page 22 of The Sheikh's Desert Princess

The prospect of such a meeting triggered an unexpected charge of anticipation in his body. His mind drifted to thoughts of what it would be like to welcome her to his encampment, to have her again in his tribal tent. Enticing images drifted into his mind, igniting sensation.

Riaz peered back along the line of his men. These men were loyal to him, part of his own tribe. They believed in this kind of life, a life that most were convinced had been consigned to the past.

So, how was it that he could even consider someone like Eva fitting into that kind of life? He had no immediate answer to that question. She had stepped into his life, a surprising temptation. And now she was gone. At least for the moment.

He wondered for a moment how far she had gone on her journey home, and then his mind went to the argument with Ahmed before leaving the fort.

The man was incorrigible. Insufferable.

Even worse than that, he was a menace. His disagreements with Ahmed had continued throughout the last year or so since Riaz had left his family behind and come to the desert.

Ahmed had accused Riaz this morning of not being serious about being a true desert chieftain. And that was one accusation too many as far as Riaz was concerned. And when he had defended his right by family to claim his place in the desert, Ahmed had resorted to low insults about the American woman, as he called her.

Riaz had been forced to defend Eva, defend her right to be here as well as her right to be left to her own devices. But Ahmed had his own selfish ideas.

A chill traced a line down Riaz's spine. One of the last things Ahmed had said before he and Riaz had parted angrily had been that Eva faced a long journey, which by happy coincidence, as far as Ahmed was concerned was in exactly the same direction as his journey back to his own settlement.

Riaz drew in a sharp breath and tightened his hold of the horse's reins. Surely Ahmed would not be so foolish as to do something which would cause even further disagreement between him and Riaz.

The thought chilled Riaz.

Riaz drew suddenly to a halt, raising a hand in the air. The men behind him slowed their mounts as Riaz turned.

He thought for a moment and then made up his mind. He wasn't about to take a chance.

Riaz spoke quickly to his men, explaining what he was about to do, and told them to continue in their way and that he would catch up with them soon enough. Some men offered to accompany him, but Riaz dismissed their offer.

Then, seizing the reins firmly he headed off in the direction of the western horizon.

***

Eva drove her horse up the side of a dune and felt the animal struggling beneath her. The horse's hooves sank into the soft sand.

Finally they reached the crest of the dune and she paused bringing the horse to a temporary halt. Eva gazed into the distance. It was an awe-inspiring scene. Golden sands stretched for miles beneath an azure blue sky.

She looked back east. The fort could no longer be seen. She was going to make good time today, she told herself.

It was almost midday and the sun was high in the sky. She felt the heat intensely, the sweat trickling down the back of her neck. She reached into her pack and pulled out the water bottle. She drank the lukewarm liquid, savouring the sensation as she swallowed, feeling her parched dry throat moisten.

It would be good to wait here for a few minutes, she told herself. Apart from anything else it would give the horse a rest. She patted the animal on the side of his neck.

Eva settled back in the saddle and sighed. She thought about her last conversation with Riaz. That hadn't gone well at all, she told herself. But at least she'd tried to get some more out of him. She had to admit to feeling frustration at how tight-lipped he'd been the whole time she had been there.

But, at least she now knew the stories about Riaz were true. He had completely turned his back on a life of wealth and privilege and was now the personification of the desert sheikh.

That was a story in itself, she told herself. Still, she couldn't help feeling annoyed at her own personal failure. She just hadn't been able to get him to talk. The barrier he'd put up had been impenetrable. Maybe she should just put it down to a professional failure. It wasn't the first she'd experienced, and she was sure it wouldn't be the last.

But there had been at least one consolation.

She'd met just about the most unbelievably sensual, handsome and attractive man she had ever seen in her life.

All during the ride from the fort, images of Riaz had floated into her mind, tormenting her, teasing her, making the heat even more intolerable.

And not only had she met this incredible man, but it was clear that he had taken serious notice of her.

That was no bad thing, she thought, then immediately chided herself.

There was no future in it, she reassured herself.

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