Page 50 of The Sheikh's Unexpected Bride

He dragged in a deep breath and sighed, closing his eyes. He pictured in his mind the image of her pretty, even features, her glowing cheeks, her slightly opened lips, her bright blue eyes.

What was it about this woman which had affected him so much? How had she found a way into his heart?

Because, as he stood leaning back against the tree, he knew she had taken up a place somewhere inside him. A place he'd once believed had been exclusively reserved for someone really special.

But, wasn't she just such a woman?

Absolutely unique in every possible way?

A woman he could only hope to meet once in a lifetime?

He felt his jaw tighten and frustration curl his fingers into balls of exasperation.

So, why had he reacted like that to seeing her taking photos? It had been simple, really.

Instinct had kicked in. Instinct to refuse her world any access to his.

He hadn't wanted images of his private world spilling out across the globe for others to stare at in their moments of idleness.

No. This life was too precious to allow it to be devalued like that.

He'd assumed she'd understood that. Hoped that she would respect it. But she hadn't.

In the end, though, she had deleted the photos and apologized.

Perhaps that was why she'd allowed him to hold her like that. She'd finally understood something crucial about him.

Now, though, the day would be long, even longer without her by his side. But, he was determined to honor his commitment to her. He would leave her to her own devices, give her the space to do what she'd come here to do.

Ahmed thought about how he could make everything up to her. He thought about the arrival of the food from the town. He'd arranged some special food to be brought up by some of his trusted locals. He knew the food would be delicious.

Ahmed planned to erect a rudimentary spit and cook some fresh meat. There would be fresh vegetables and many of the local side dishes. Some drink, too. Everything would be local and unique. He hoped Gemma would be excited with the planned meal.

It would be her first experience of true desert eating. She'd get to see how well someone could live out here.

Perhaps it might even rid her of some of her misperceptions about this kind of life. The same misperceptions that had prompted her to snap photos as if she was in some kind of exotic tourist spot.

But, he couldn't really blame her. All of this must seem so alien, so unbelievably different. She couldn'tbe expected to adjust to this in a single day.

A thought flickered own his mind.

Would it be possible for Gemma to become a Qazhar woman?

His Qazhar woman?

That thought made him pause. He hadn't thought of her in those terms before. Everything was moving so fast. For both of them, it seemed.

But, now that he'd gotten to know her even more, now that he'd seen her in this place, dressed in local clothing, the idea didn't seem to impossible. She seemed to be fighting a growing curiosity about life here, he told himself.

There would be only one way he would ever find out.

His attraction toward Gemma was real. It was vital and undeniable. He wasn't prepared to pretend that attraction didn't exist. That would be simply foolish.

The connection between them was being forged with every passing moment; with every word spoken; with every glance exchanged.

And now with every touch.

No.

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