Claimed by the Sheikh

Author:Rachael Thomas [Thomas, Rachael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-01-10T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

AMBER WOKE TO new sounds as the palace came to life around her. The heat of the desert invaded her room and scents from the courtyard garden drifted in through her open window. It was a magical place but right now, just as she had been on arrival late last night, she felt immune to its beauty.

Emotionally bruised by the last few days, she just wanted to curl back up under the crisp sheets of her massive bed and stay there. She had no idea what time it was; the night flight to Barazbin had totally confused her, as had the man who’d accompanied her.

She hadn’t been able to help herself and had fallen utterly under Kazim’s spell. Memories of the time they’d spent making love still warmed her body. His callous dismissal before he’d left for his meeting reminded her she needed to guard her heart against him. She’d been silly to believe, even for one moment, that he really desired her. All he’d wanted was to do his duty and make her truly his wife and she’d made it easy, falling into bed with him.

She heard voices and sat up in bed, the opulence of the room startling her. High ceilings, domed and ornately painted, rose above her and the vastness of the room was broken by intricately carved marble pillars. The four-poster bed was so large and soft white tulle hung from it, draping to the floor as if the room was meant for romance. This wasn’t the room she’d spent her wedding night in.

As confusion settled over her she heard Kazim’s voice, unmistakable and strong. It sent a ripple of awareness cascading over her. It wasn’t right that he could be so unaffected by her when she only had to hear his voice to stir all those longings.

She couldn’t let those heady desires take over again. They served only to expose her emotional vulnerability—to herself and Kazim.

The tall double doors opposite the bed opened and he stood on the threshold. Nothing could have prepared her for that moment. Dressed in full white robes, he took her breath away, rendering her completely speechless. The last time she’d seen him like that it had been their wedding day.

He looked regal and totally relaxed in the palatial surroundings. A wild prince of the desert tamed, just a little, by his unwavering duty. His eyes met hers, his expression guarded, and pain lanced through her. She was back in a country she had no wish to be in, one that was painfully close to her father’s country of Quarazmir and with a man who only wanted her there out of a sense of duty. But she would never let him know that and demurely clutched the sheet against her. He, on the other hand, didn’t appear fazed by the situation at all.

‘I trust you are rested?’ The enquiry was polite, his voice resonant yet powerful; she still couldn’t speak but nodded.

‘Good. Your maid will help you dress then you will receive your first visitor.

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