Page 52 of The Sheikh's Willing Captive

"And, I think, deep down, I've always known I belong with you," she added. "I just didn't want to admit to myself."

He kissed her again, deeply and passionately.

The kiss ended, he leaned his head back and frowned. "Why didn't we know the truth?'" he asked. "Before putting each other through all this torture."

She grinned. "But it was such a sweet torture, wasn't it?" she teased.

He laughed. "I suppose you're right." He peered into her eyes "You are sure, aren't you?"

"About what?" she asked.

"That you want to stay with me," he said.

Paige lifted a hand and stroked the side of his face. "I do, my love. My sheikh."

He smiled at her. "Because of the conditions of the original marriage, we're man and wife again," he said.

"That simple?" she asked.

He nodded. "No need for a wedding ceremony."

"So we can pick up where left off?"

He nodded. "As if none of this ever happened."

"I like the sound of that," she said.

He looked seriously at her. "Why did you change your mind?"

She shrugged. "You've no idea what I put myself through," she said. "There wasn't moment when I didn't drive myself crazy with doubts. They just wouldn't let me dosomething as stupid as walking away from you."

He kissed her and then leaned back, gazing into her eyes for a few long moments. "I'm glad you saw sense," he teased. "You know what you would've missed if you'd done that."

She quirked a brow at him. "Modest as usual," she joked.

"Some things will never change," he said. "You wouldn't me going all soft on you, would you?"

"You soft? " She frowned. "I don't think that's possible."

"Speaking of which," he said shifting closer to her.

Her eyes widened as he pressed his firmness against her. "I think it's time we went back inside the tent for a while," he said. "Don't you?"

"It is a bit cool out here," she agreed.

He stood and gazed down at her. His nakedness seemed to catch her attention even more now that the sun had come up. He saw her gaze drift down the length of his body. There was appreciation in that gaze, he told himself.

He straightened and extended a hand to her. She took his hand, stood and smiled at him.

Then they began to walk back to the tent. As he did so, Razim told himself that there would be no need for them to leave this place for quite a while.

EPILOGUE

TWO YEAR LATER

"Come here, Raz" Paige called out to her young son. She stretched out her arms and the little boy laughed. "Run as fast as you can," she called out to the tiny figure, ten yards away from her.

She kneeled down on the sand next to the oasis' pool and watched as the little boy, his dark eyes bright with excitement, ran straight toward her. Behind him stood Razim, looking as proud as ever. As a father should, she told herself.

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