Page 26 of The Sheikh's Willing Captive

He paused a moment, realizing that she was speaking the truth. Razim knew he had changed after the marriage had taken place. But, didn't she realize that had been inevitable. There had been so much for Razim to think of after his succession to being head of the family. There had been so many demands placed upon his time, that he'd not had time for his new bride. At least not to the extent that he would have wished.

Was she still holding that against him? Hadn't she seen how he had changed? Because Razim was sure that his life now, at the palace, was much more settled than before. And it was that life which he was offering to her. So, why was she so determined to reject it. To reject him.

Paige looked at him sternly. "You know I'm speaking the truth, Razim. There's no use denying it. We've both changed. We've drifted apart."

"No!" he snapped. His voice echoed up to the high roof of the hallway. "Paige. We have an obligation to make this marriage work."

"I served my purpose, Razim," she said. "I was useful. Nothing more than that."

Razim was shocked that Paige could even think such things. Was that how he had made her feel? Even after the events of the day? He'd tried to protect her, lavish attention on her, made her feel that this was her home. But it seemed as if it had all been in vain.

"Do not say such things," he commanded. "I respect you more than you can imagine. You are my honored bride. My wife. My most precious possession."

The second he uttered those words, he knew he had said the wrong thing. A native born Qazhar woman might have understood that language. It came from custom. From tradition. But, coming from another world, Paige was almost certain to misunderstand the purpose of such words.

Paige's brows furrowed. "I believe you really think that, Razim," she said. Now there was a fresh acid tone to her voice. She ran her gaze around the expanse of the hallway. "In your world, I suppose that makes sense." She peered directly at him. "But, I'll tell you this. I am no man's possession."

Something primitive arose within him at the sound of her challenge. He took a step toward her. She didn't move a muscle, holding her gaze on him.

"A sheikh has the entitlement to hold onto his wife in any way he chooses," he announced. "There are customs of which you know nothing. And those traditions stretch back many centuries. They grant me rights." His breathing was faster now as the emotion swept through him. "I am doing you a great honor by consenting to the annulment tomorrow."

She folded her arms and tilted her head. "A great honor? Is that what you think?"Her gaze ran down the length of his body. "Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?"

"I am your husband," he stated, raising his chin and looking imperiously at her.

"For now. But not for much longer," she snapped.

When she turned and started toward the stairs, he reached out and seized her arm. She glared at his hand, and he removed it instantly.

"We must discuss this, Paige," he demanded.

She shook her head emphatically. "There's nothing to talk about, Razim. We both know what's going on here."

"What do you mean?"

She narrowed her eyes. "This is the end," she said.

Once again, Razim felt his heart sink. "You cannot be speaking the truth, Paige."

She nodded. "This was over the day we got married. You got what you wanted," she said looking around the interior of the palace hall. "It's been quite a return on investment," she added.

He flinched at the harshness of her words. Was that how she saw all of this? As some kind of transaction?

Then, before he had a chance to reply, she turned and started up the stairs. He knew he could have gone after her. If he had wanted. But she had said what she had wanted to say. The words had sounded true. Authentically from her heart. The memory of their time in the garden was already fading fast.

And, as he watched her racing up the stairs, he wondered if it truly was what she had said.

The end of everything.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Paige was glad that Razim hadn't followed her upstairs. And glad that he hadn't even tried to come to her room. That would have been awkward after the way they'd just spoken to each other.

But, even in spite of that, Razim was clearly determined to behave with at least some sense of decency and honor toward her. And for that she had to be grateful.

Sleep proved to be difficult. Memories of their time in the garden tormented her. Remnants of the pleasure he'd given her still lingered in the muscles of her body. And at her core.

It had been amazing.

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