Page 32 of The Sheikh's Desert Princess

Eva nodded and pulled at her shirt. "I can feel sand in every crevice," she said and pouted her lips. Even looking annoyed though, he still had to fight the impulse to enjoy looking at her.

She shimmied her hips and he felt a tightness in his throat. Riaz saw Eva glance at him. She'd noticed the way he'd watched her do that. Riaz saw the hint of a smile at the corner of her full lips. She was enjoying teasing him, he told himself.

Riaz peered at her, struggling to maintain an impassive expression. "I can show you where you can wash."

"But I thought you could arrange for water to be brought to the tent," she objected.

"There's a better place," he replied. "Follow me."

He started to move alongside the edge of the river, in a southerly direction. Eva walked alongside him for a few minutes. There was a gradual downward incline and the river twisted through rocks, eventually opening out and widening.

Riaz heard the sound of falling water and smiled. He was sure she was going to be impressed.

After a few minutes' walking they came to a wide ledge which stretched away on either side. Riaz led Eva carefully over some rocks and then to the edge of a steep drop. The sound of tumbling water was louder now

Riaz heard Eva gasp. He looked at the tumbling waterfall which wove its way through clusters of large rocks There was a wide pool about fifty feet below where they stood. "This is a better place," he announced.

He could see she was impressed, but still hesitant. She gazed around the enclosed area of trees and rocks around the pool. "Your very own private pool," she said with an edge of sarcasm. "I can see why you use this place as your base." She grinned. "All the amenities."

Riaz tilted his head. "That's one way of describing it. I'd say it was making the most of what the desert has to offer."

Eva frowned. "There's just one thing. You expect me to just swim around there?"

"I can ensure no-one will interrupt you," he replied.

Eva lifted a skeptical brow. "Really," she drawled.

Riaz bowed. "You have my word."

Eva lifted her chin and peered at him. "And that's supposed to reassure me?"

Riaz felt a brief rush of indignation. He took a step closer to Eva. "Haven't I already demonstrated to you that I am a man of my word?"

She blinked, as if she'd suddenly realized she might have offended him with her off-hand remark. "I didn't mean to suggest you couldn't be trusted," she said.

Riaz gazed into her eyes, and saw the sincerity in them. "If I say you will be safe bathing here, then you will be," he stated. "No-one will intrude on your privacy."

Eva nodded. "Okay." He saw her peer down at the pool of water. "Guess there's no time like the present."

She turned to him, giving him a steady look. Riaz turned away, looking back the way they'd come. "I'll be over there. Waiting for you."

They exchanged one final look, understanding passing between them, and then he started back the way he'd come.

"I won't be long," she called out to him.

But he didn't respond, because he was too busy thinking how he was going to get through the next few minutes without giving in to temptation.

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