Page 36 of The Sheikh's Desert Princess

CHAPTER NINE

Two hours later, Riaz sat with his men around the campfire waiting for Eva. The sun had set and the only light came from torches which had been placed at intervals around the camp. The sky was filled with stars and there was a full moon.

His men were talking animatedly, their spirits high. They were all waiting for their guest to emerge from Riaz's tent. And Eva seemed determined to keep them all waiting.

He wasn't at all surprised at that. He knew she was awake since he'd gone to the tent a short while ago and found her getting herself prepared after her brief sleep.

She'd stood at the entrance, her body language making it clear she didn't want him coming into the tent. He'd respected her wish, even though he'd wanted to go inside just to make sure she was settling in comfortably.

But, one look into her determined eyes had warned him off trying to insist.

That had been fifteen minutes ago, and he wondered just what was keeping her.

Riaz thought back to their arrival at the camp. He was pleased she seemed impressed by what she'd seen. That was important to him, because he now realized the last thing he wanted was for her to leave the camp in the morning. Even if her own horse was lame and wouldn't be completely fit for the desert crossing for a few days, he knew she could demand he give her another horse, and that he'd find it hard to refuse her request.

But he didn't want her to leave.

Not after the time they'd spent together after the run-in with Ahmed's men. Not after the way he'd found himself reacting to her closeness on the desert journey to this camp; not after the way he'd felt while he'd been showing her around.

Especially not after the way he'd felt waiting for her while she bathed in the river's pool. That wait had been excruciating and it had taken all his strength to resist the temptation to check that she was okay while she bathed only a short distance away from him.

But he'd given her his word. Keeping that promise had made every moment a sweet torture. He'd waited by the riverside, throwing stones into the water, feeling like a child denied a pleasure he believed he every right to enjoy.

At one point he'd reminded himself that Eva suffered a fall and that she might still be suffering the effects of it. For that one reason he'd allowed himself to edge toward the waterfall, still out of sight of Eva.

Riaz had stood back from the edge, listening for sounds of Eva bathing. He'd smiled when he'd heard the splash of her entering the water. When he'd heard her scream out, for a moment he'd contemplated making his way down to ensure she wasn't in trouble. But then he'd heard her delighted laughter and he'd held back, remaining completely out of sight.

Once he'd reassured himself she was okay, he'd made his way back to the river's edge and resumed tossing the stones idly into the water.

She'd made him wait then, just as she was doing right now, he told himself. But he could wait for Eva. The waiting only increased the anticipation, as far as he was concerned.

Anticipation for what? He knew the answer to that question. Desire flared in his middle, just as it had done so many times today.

He gazed around the hungry faces of his men, trying to make sure his features didn't betray the thoughts about Eva drifting through his mind.

One of his men stood, looking over toward Riaz's tent. Riaz turned and saw Eva emerging from the tent. He stood and went across to her, meeting her midway between the tent and the campfire.

"Finally," he said with a grin.

"Getting hungry?" she asked smiling right back at him.

Riaz looked over toward his men. "Not just me."

"Oh," Eva said looking genuinely shocked for a moment. "I thought you'd all start without me." She peered at the men. "I didn't realize they were all waiting for me."

"It isn't the first time they've gone hungry," he joked.

Eva lifted a hand and swept it across her blonde hair, smoothing it. She'd tied her hair back. Doing so only highlighted the delicate oval shape of her face, merely emphasized her high cheekbones, the width of her forehead.

Riaz felt himself approve. In the soft light of the torches, he saw that her skin had taken some of the day's sun. It gave her features an attractive lustre, enhanced by the brightness in her blue eyes.

The rest she'd taken had helped her expression become more relaxed. Less like the tense, slightly nervous woman he'd first encountered at the fort.

She looked like a different woman now, he told himself.

But it had been worth the wait.

Riaz extended a hand, making it clear he wanted to lead her to the campfire. He meant the gesture to be polite, even formal.

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