Page 62 of The Sheikh's Desert Princess

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A short while later, Riaz stood at the edge of the encampment and watched, his features grim and steady, as Eva rode off into the desert. She was rapidly becoming a small, distant figure.

He felt a chill settle upon him. He struggled to contain the emotions surging through his body. Just as he'd been fighting to hold back the urge to do everything in his power to persuade Eva that she should stay with him.

Riaz could hardly believe what had just happened. Only a short while ago he had been lying beside Eva, holding her close, feeling the warmth of her body next to his. As he'd held her, he'd reflected on the incredible experience they both shared.

Making love with Eva had been astonishing. Finally the impulses which had been tormenting him had been let free. She had turned his world upside down.

Riaz watched Eva's horse reached the crest of a nearby sand dune. He saw her pause at the peak of the dune. For a moment, he was sure she was about to turn back, one last time. He was certain she was about to gaze back down toward the camp. A thought tugged at him. Tormented him one last time.

Perhaps she was about to change her mind.

Come back to him. Tell him the decision to leave had been a foolish mistake.

And he would agree. It was a terrible mistake.

One he knew they would both regret. One he was sure neither of them really agreed with. Or even understood. Not deep down.

Their physical union had been too intense, too profound for any sort of separation to make sense. And it had been so much more than merely physical. It was almost as if they'd been brought together, that their meeting had been fated.

Riaz peered at Eva, mounted there on the horse he'd provided for her. Hope flickered briefly in his breast as she remained there gazing back down at him.

But then that hope sank like a heavy stone in his chest, as he saw her tug on the horse's reins. She pulled the horse to face south-west. Then he lost sight of her as she rode off the crest of the dune.

She was gone.

He felt the chill inside again. In spite of the heat of the late afternoon, all he felt was a sudden coldness.

How could he let this happen? That question tugged at his mind as he turned away and started toward the middle of the camp. He was still alone, his men having been ordered to stay away until almost sundown.

Perhaps it was just as well he was alone, he told himself he didn't want his men seeing him like this. Didn't want them seeing Eva ride off into the desert like that. He wondered what was he going to do? What must he do in response to this? Hard impulse seized him, his usual determination to control everything around him.

But this time it seemed what had worked so well for him in the past was about to fail him.

After her clear declaration to him, her firm statement that she was leaving, he'd been tempted to demand she stay. But, he'd known there would be no point trying to stop Eva. He knew she was too strong-willed to change her mind.

And in any case, if she had decided to leave then he knew honor dictated he must respect her decision.

It was that simple. Just like everything that out here. A matter of honour and respect. It was how everything was held together. It was what bound them all together.

Not for Riaz was submission to harshness and cruelty.

Riaz would leave barbarous treatment of women to others.

Others like Ahmed.

Riaz paused, considering what this would mean. Ahmed would arrive at the camp and find Eva gone. Ahmed would no doubt savour his victory over Riaz. Because that's what it would be. A victory for Ahmed. Avoiding the need to make a public apology to Eva would spare him a well-deserved disgrace.

Riaz felt slight nausea at the thought that Ahmed would be victorious over him. Riaz sighed heavily and dismissed that thought. He would deal with that when the moment came, he told himself firmly.

All he cared about right now was Eva. He thought about the journey she was embarking upon. A dangerous journey. She would probably reach her destination before sundown.

Eva had refused his one simply stated offer to accompany her. Exactly as he'd expected she would. She had smiled at him and shook her head, saying nothing more.

Wanting to ensure she would be safe, he had given her his best advice about the desert route and how to make sure she would stay on the right course.

She had reminded him of her previous experience of the desert. In fact she had reminded him quite firmly, which, for a moment, he had secretly enjoyed. He'd resisted the impulse to smile at her sardonic reaction to his advice. Even under these circumstances, she didn't miss any chance to take a stand against him. And, as before, he had to admit he kind of enjoyed that.

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