Desert Prince's Stolen Bride by Kate Hewitt

Author:Kate Hewitt [Hewitt, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarlequinUKLtd
Published: 2018-03-31T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

ZAYED STILLED AND Olivia sensed the shock in him, although at what she didn’t know. Everything had spiralled out of control so rapidly—his admission of desire, the blatant invitation she’d seen in his eyes. If he hadn’t developed a migraine, who knew what would have happened? Although Olivia could imagine it all too easily—and evocatively.

‘What is it?’ she asked because Zayed still hadn’t moved.

‘I...’ His jaw bunched. ‘I can’t see.’

‘Can’t see? At all?’

‘No.’ The single word was a gasp of pain. A light sheen of sweat coated his pale face and his eyes were glazed.

‘Let me get someone—’

‘No.’ The single word was like the snick of a blade. ‘I don’t want anyone else to see me like...this.’

‘All right.’ Olivia absorbed that, along with his sudden blindness. Here, at least, she could be as useful as she knew how to be. As needed. ‘Then we’d better get you to your bed.’

Slowly they walked from the room, Zayed gripping her hand tightly as she put her arm around him and guided him with halting steps.

‘I don’t actually know where your bedroom is,’ she said in a low voice when they’d reached the thankfully empty hall outside the room where they’d been dining. ‘Can you direct me?’

‘Yes.’ Zayed drew a quick breath. ‘To the right, up the stairs, and then along the hallway.’

‘All right.’

Each step felt painstakingly slow, as Zayed felt his way and battled his pain. Olivia could tell from his tightly clenched jaw just how much pain he was in, and her heart ached for him.

On the upstairs hallway Zayed suddenly went still, then shrugged away from her, even though Olivia could see that it cost him.

‘What...?’ she began in a whisper, but Zayed shook his head, a flinch of pain crossing his face.

Then his aide, Jahmal, came down the hallway. Zayed straightened.

‘My Prince,’ Jahmal said. He gave Olivia a cursory, curious glance and then looked away, dismissing her. ‘Is everything well? I thought you were dining downstairs.’

‘I’m finished.’ Zayed spoke tersely. ‘I will work in my room. I don’t wish to be disturbed, please.’

Jahmal glanced at Olivia again, a frown marring his forehead. ‘Very well...’

‘Miss Taylor is helping me with a matter.’

Jahmal’s frown cleared. ‘The message to Sultan Hassan?’

‘Yes. Leave us now, please.’

Jahmal sketched a short bow and strode down the hallway. After a few tense seconds Zayed expelled a low breath and then leaned against Olivia again; she took his weight, wrapping her arm around his waist.

‘Get me to my room,’ he said through clenched teeth. ‘Before I humiliate myself even further.’

‘There’s no shame in pain.’

‘You are wrong in that, at least for me.’

They didn’t talk further; all their energy was expended on making it down the hallway.

‘Here,’ Zayed said when they were in front of an arched door that looked like any one of the dozen others along the corridor.

‘How do you...?’

‘I counted.’

Olivia turned the handle and the door swung open into a room that was sparsely furnished and masculine in every detail. She led him to the king-sized bed in the centre, and then guided him down onto the soft mattress.

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