Page 9 of The Sheikh's Willing Captive

Paige gasped and turned, ready to run back to the safety of the locked bedroom. But, at that moment, the plane lurched and she fell forward.

Right into Razim's arms. He enfolded her instantly into an embrace, wrapping his arms around her body. He pressed her against him. She felt her breasts crushed against his hard, firm chest. She lifted her head, ready to refuse, desperate to avoid what she knew was coming.

But when her eyes met his, something moved in the core of her being, and she opened her lips, both shocked and ready.

His head dipped and his lips crashed down upon hers. Sensation flared throughout her body as he kissed her. His tongue probed her mouth without hesitation. She moaned, the sound of which seemed to only strengthen his desire.

His hand slid to the base of her spine and he drew her against him. She could feel the hardness of his need as it pressed against her.

For a moment which seemed to last an eternity, she felt enclosed in his embrace. Utterly consumed by him. A part of her welcomed his touch, realized she had wanted this for a long time. Even if she had told herself the last thing sheever wanted was to be in his arms again.

His powerful muscles took hold of her, took possession of her, claimed her, just as he'd done so many times before.

Paige felt heat at her core and knew that at any moment she might surrender, might submit to the tsunami of emotion which he'd reawakened in her. How could he make her feel like this with just a touch? Just an embrace? Hadn't she convinced herself that there was nothing left between them?

His hand slid around to the front of her gown and parted it. She felt his hand cup one of her breasts, his thumb teasing her nipple. Electric sensation flooded her body and her core warmed even more. She gasped and he pressed his firmness against her. This had to stop, she told herself. There was no future in any of this.

But it felt so good.

His expert touch ignited her desire just like it had always done.

His head shifted and he started to run his tongue down the side of her neck. He already knew every way to make her feel new, to make her come alive.

She closed her eyes and drifted into a space she knew all too well. It was a place where Razim could make her feel like no man had ever made her feel.

But, snapping her out of her dream, she stepped her bare feet onto the sheets of paper which were lying on the floor. That one simple realization snapped her back to reality. It reminded her of his betrayal. No matter how good this felt, she knew she couldn't let him go any further.

No matter how strong her need. No matter how powerful his desire.

She lifted her hands and pushed hard against his firm chest. She stepped back, feeling the sudden absence of him. Realizing how exposed she was, she tugged the gown around her body.

Razim frowned, his breathing fast and harsh. His eyes were wide with incredulity, but, for the moment, he seemed lost for words.

Paige's throat was tight. She forced herself to speak and pointed to the sheets of paper on the floor. "You can explain that to me when we get to Qazhar," she snapped. "And then we can finally get this over and done with."

She saw Razim's mouth open, ready to reply. But before he had a chance to say a word, Paige raced back to the bedroom, slammed the door and locked it tight.

CHAPTER FOUR

Razim knew he should go to the door and demand that she open it. Or at least try and explain what had happened.

If he could.

He knew he needed to explain his actions. But, for some reason, all he could do was stand, rooted to the spot where, moments before, he had held Paige in his arms.

Right now, every nerve in his body tingled with the memory of her touch, her taste, her scent. He drew in a deep breath and started to pace the narrow passageway between the seats. The sound of the jet's engines couldn't compete with the roaring in his ears. The thundering rhythm of his pulse made it impossible to think.

He tried to force some sense into his brain. He'd been seized by an unstoppable impulse. From the second he'd laid eyes on her, standing over him, looking like something out of a dream, he'd lost all self-control.

His entire body still quivered with sensation, with unsatisfied need. It had felt so good to hold her again. So good to feel those perfect curves; to taste those sweet lips; to hear her groans of delight as he took possession of her again.

Razim sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. He'd been shocked to see her standing there when he'd woken up. And to see her almost naked body wrapped inside that delicate gown. Need had flared instantly in him, like a primal impulse that would not be denied.

But, just as quickly, that desire had been dampened when he'd seen her holding the blank sheets of paper. A chill had ran up the length of his spine.

For a moment, he'd considered explaining, trying to justify what he'd done. But the unstoppable wave of need had overwhelmed him. All he had known was that he had to hold her. That she was his, even though she clearly wanted to deny the truth.

The time for explanations would come later, he told himself. He told himself he would do anything to persuade her to come to Qazhar. The real divorce contract awaited them back at the palace. It was nothing like the useless pile of paper which lay on the cabin floor.

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