CHAPTER NINE
Paige walked back into her room at the palace, placed her bag down on the marble floor and paused. She was back. It was almost as if she was destined to be here. Under the same roof as the man she was about to leave forever. A hard knot formed in her middle as she said that to herself. The same sensation she'd felt on the way back to the palace.
During the drive from the city apartment, as the limo had made its way through the darkness of the Qazhar evening, she and Razim had been quiet with each other. He'd seemed thoughtful, and had spent most of the journey gazing out through the window. Paige had tried to engage him in conversation, but he hadn't take the bait.
For her part, she had to admit she was glad to be away from the apartment. Going there had been a crazy idea. She shook her head. Sometimes her need for independence just got the better of her. She had a habit of getting herself into crazy situations.
Like where she was right now. In a desert palace, with the sheikh she had married just so he could inherit his place as head of the family. Paige realized that it might be possible she would be able to leave Qazhar without speaking with any of Razim's relatives. His mother, his two brothers and his sister. They were good people and she had great affection for them.
So far, during her trip back to Qazhar, Razim hadn't even suggested she meet with any of them. Maybe he was too ashamed of this whole charade, she told herself. Perhaps he didn't want Paige going anywhere near his family. It might be his way of avoiding any awkward conversations.
It didn't matter, she told herself as she carried her bag to her bedroom. Tomorrow it would be all over and then she could make her exit. It was time to move on.
But, then again, doubt still tugged at Paige's mind. That uncertainty was caused by the way Razim had kissed her, and by the strength of his reaction back at the apartment. Paige had been convinced Razim was about to attack Abdul. She was glad it hadn't come to blows. That would just have made an impossible situation even worse.
Paige walked out through the open doors of her bedroom and out onto the terrace. The night was cool and the fresh scents wafted up from the garden which surrounded the palace. Beyond the palace walls was the desert. The sky was ablaze with stars. Paige recalled all the many nights she'd spent here.
On those occasions she'd usually had Razim next to her. Before their relationship had cooled, before she'd become sure that she'd made a terrible mistake in marrying him, she and Razim often stood on the terrace, just enjoying the peace and tranquility of the palace and its surroundings. Paige sighed, thinking of those times. She'd tried to make things work between her and Razim. But it had proven impossible.
Their relationship really had gone through two phases. The time before the arranged wedding and the time after. Even as she'd stood on the lawn, down in the garden, saying her marriage vows to Razim, she'd sensed she was making a mistake. Being with Razim before the marriage, her life had felt like she was in the middle of the most amazing, exciting storm. A ferocious whirlwind of passion, nights in Razim's bed and days spent enjoying all the trappings of his wealth and status. It had been like a dream, one from which she hadn't wanted to awaken.
But she had. With a bump.
The arguments had started a few weeks after she and Razim had been together. At first it had been small things. Little irritations. He'd started to spend time away from her. They'd argued over trivial details. What she should wear. What he had been doing while he was away from her. He'd started to become moody and often ill-tempered. At first she'd put it down to her discovering more aspects of his character.
But then it had all come to a head. And Paige had declared she'd had enough. As if she'd tempted fate, the day she'd headed to the airport had been the day Razim's father had died. He had been distraught, since his father had the physical constitution of a desert lion. Or so everyone had believed.
Paige had change her plans and then decided to stay in order to console her lover. But, even though tragedy had drawn them back together, the distance had still been there.
Soon before she had been due to leave for the US, believing her time with him was over, Razim had come to her, and said he couldn't take over as head of the family unless he was married. Right there and then he asked her to marry him. She was stunned. At first she had refused, telling him it was impossible. They were finished. She had only stayed to help him, not to become his wife.
But, as on so many other occasions, Razim had proven to be very persuasive. He eventually had made the suggestion which had changed the course of her life. She would become his wife for one year. That would allow him to take his rightful place. And then she would be allowed to leave.
Paige gazed down at the garden. Lights, cleverly hidden among the well-tended bushes and trees, illuminated the garden. That was where her marriage to him had taken place almost a year ago to the day. It had been a happy day, in spite of the surreal quality of the proceedings. She'd been dressed like a Qazhar princess, in an elegant gown, expertly tailored for her by the finest dressmaker in the kingdom.
After the wedding he had taken her away from the palace. By helicopter, they had gone into the deepest parts of the desert, to Razim's ancestral encampment. It was a place he used as a retreat. A special, magical place like something out of an ancient tale.
She and Razim had made love long into the night. After that he had held her in his arms, as they had both gazed up at the starry sky. The entire evening had been magical. Unforgettable.
But, when then they had returned to the palace, a change had come over Razim. A darkness had seemed to descend upon him. She'd seen a new Razim. One she'd hadn't liked.
All his newly acquired responsibilities seemed to weigh heavily upon him. He had become irritable with Paige. Even though he had apologized, explaining that he had been under great pressure, the frequent arguments had affected their relationship.
The following months had been difficult, until finally Paige had decided to move back to the US.
And now she was back. It felt like nothing had changed. Here she was, alone in her room. And Razim would be somewhere else in the palace. No doubt he'd be brooding and trying to prepare himself for tomorrow, she told herself.
She leaned against the balustrade. It was late. She'd slept earlier, and the last she needed, right now, was more sleep.
Paige saw a movement down in the garden. She squinted and tried to make out what it was.
The figure moved between a group of trees and was caught in the light.
Razim.
Paige watched carefully as Razim walked slowly. His head was bent down. He seemed as lost in thought as he'd been when they'd returned from the city.
Earlier, he'd been withdrawn, even melancholic.
Now, he just seemed sad. Resigned.
Paige felt a heaviness in her heart as she watched Razim walking slowly. He seemed to be heading in the direction of the outdoor folly which was situated out near the wall surrounding the palace. She recalled that she'd spent time there with him. The folly was a large, decorative round structure, built in traditional Qazhar style. It was a place of retreat and reflection. A place to spend some time on cool evenings, just like this, she told herself.
An idea flickered into Paige's mind, but she instantly dismissed it.
Too dangerous, she told herself. Ever since she'd returned to Qazhar all she'd tried to do was stay away from Razim. Being in close proximity to him was just going to cause problems for them both, she told herself.
She saw him briefly, just before he disappeared into the darkness.
Something in her shifted. Inexplicably, she felt a change of heart take over her.
Maybe this time, he needed her, she told herself. It wouldn't do any harm to be with him on this, their last night.
She headed out of the room, down the stairs and was soon striding on her flat shoes across the garden lawn. Sprinklers covered her white dress with a thin layer of dampness. It helped her feel cool as she made her way in the direction in which she'd last seen him.
Her heart was beating fast and her mind was a whirl of conflicting thoughts. It was still not too late to change her mind, she told herself. About what? Seeing him now? Or going through with the divorce tomorrow. She pushed the answer to that question firmly out of her mind.
Finally, she reached the folly. It was a about six meters in width, a tall, marble structure, decorated around the roof edges with carved details. Pillars of marble created an open space inside which was constructed a cushioned seating area.
She saw Razim.
Paige froze. She held her breath. The beating of her heart was even more fearsome. This was her last chance to change her mind. She knew she was trying to be helpful to him. He'd saved her earlier, and part of her wanted to help him in return. He was dressed in a plain white shirt and dark pants.
She took a step closer. As if sensing her presence, Razim turned and looked at her. There was a familiar dark look on his features. It was a look she had once been used to seeing. It was the expression he wore when he was deeply troubled.
Razim stood. "Paige," he said. His voice was heavy.
Paige took a few steps and halted at the entrance to the folly. "I saw you out walking on your own," she said. She shrugged. "I thought you might need some company."
He smiled and advanced toward her. "You're right," he murmured.
Paige stepped up, realizing that she was crossing a threshold. Razim's features brightened. He gestured to the curved and cushioned seat which ringed the interior space of the folly. "Have a seat," he said.
Paige sat down and wrapped her arms around herself. "You looked like you were thinking," she said.
Razim sat down, far enough away to signal to her that he understood she might be concerned about being here, alone, with him. "I like coming out here at night. I get a chance to clear my mind." He smiled at her. "And tonight is a night I really need to clear my mind."
Paige nodded, but didn't say anything.
For a few long moments they gazed out toward the garden and the distant wall. All that protected them from the desert harshness was that wall, she reminded herself. In the past, whenever they'd argued, Razim had often raced off into the desert on horseback. Even at night, if the mood had seized him.
Paige glanced at Razim. She could see the tension in his shoulders, the tightness in his jaw, the dark expression in his gaze. She'd seen him like this many times before.
In so many ways, he was a creature of the wild, a desert chieftain, cooped up in a palace. Many times he'd told her of his dream of living in the desert. Of being truly free. Maybe the responsibilities of being the eldest son and the head of the family were weighing too heavily on his shoulders.
Was she just adding to his suffering? If she was so determined to end the marriage, would she feel guilty about causing him even more pain?
She hoped not. But, right now, looking at him, she couldn't remember ever having seen him so troubled. So tortured. Was this what separation would mean to him?
All of a sudden, her own doubts seemed trivial compared to his obvious pain.
Instinctively, she slid closer to him. He glanced at her, taking note of her movement. She was sure she saw his eyes narrow slightly.
Paige's breathing felt suddenly shallow, her heartbeat quickening by the second. She knew what she was doing was perilous. Razim was like a caged animal, a coiled serpent ready to strike. So why was she offering herself up like this? What was drawing her nearer to him?
Suddenly he spoke, and his voice was a low growl. "Are you sure?" he asked. His brows furrowed.
For a moment, she wondered what he meant. Was he talking about right now, or about tomorrow?
She smiled, feeling sensation quiver through her entire being. This close, barely a couple of feet away from Razim, she felt the energy between them. It seemed to tingle with electric promise.
He gazed into her eyes and that just made things worse. She knew she should stand, that she should race back to the palace as fast as she could. But, for some reason, she was transfixed, completely mesmerize by Razim's intensity. By his contained need.
A noise from the garden caught her attention, and she looked away from him. Probably and animal or a bird, she told herself.
Then she turned back to face Razim and saw that he was right next to her. She opened her mouth, thinking she should object, but no words came out of her mouth.
Razim's gaze dropped to her mouth and she saw him smile appreciatively.
They didn't have to say anything to each other. She knew that words were unnecessary. They'd been dancing around each other since the moment she'd stepped onto his plane in New York.
Razim shifted even closer. Now he close enough to reach out and touch her.
And he did.
He swept her into his arms and his head dipped. His lips claimed her mouth. She gasped, shocked at the suddenness of his movement. But she also had to admit to herself that she was relieved. Tension drained out of her body, replaced by an exquisite pleasure. She felt the strength of his muscles, the sheer power of his desire.
His tongue probed her mouth, seeking pleasure and firing up ecstasy in her body. She groaned and that sound just seemed to make his desire even more urgent.
Razim shifted, his hands caressing the side of her face, while he continued to lavish kisses on her mouth. She felt the roughness of his skin against her skin as he traced a line down the length of her neck.
His hand reached her breasts and his cupped hand held her tenderly. She felt her nipples peak instantly. His thumb pressed against her nipple through the thin fabric of her dress. She gasped and shifted impatiently closer to him. He reacted to her movement by lowering his head and tracing his tongue down the length of her neck. She leaned her head back, and lifted her eyes to the roof of the folly.
Pleasure swept through her as his expert mouth triggered sensations she'd almost forgotten about. Memories of nights in his bed flashed into her mind. This was what it meant to be with the powerful sheikh. This was the kind of pleasure he could bring to her.
Surely leaving this pleasure behind had been simply crazy, she told herself. How could she even think about turning her back on this?
Suddenly and shockingly, Razim shifted down onto the floor on his knees. She looked down. He eased her legs apart and gazed up at her. She could see the desire written on his face. His eyes were dark with need.
Paige knew what he was going to do to her. He slid his hands slowly up the length of her inner thighs, shifting the dress away. And then his fingertips reached her core. He eased her panties aside, almost casually, almost as if he thought he had every right to do so. And, of course, he did have, she told herself. She wasn't about to deny herself the pleasure she knew he was capable of giving her.
Her mind became a delicious, wonderful blank as she felt his fingers ease to her core. Sensation flared through her body. His fingers parted her folds, and his thumb found her most sensitive area. She gasped and her legs shifted abruptly but, using gentle force, he kept her knees apart. He knew what he wanted, she said to herself. And nothing was going to stop him giving her pleasure.
His thumb started to make exquisite circles around her nub. She grasped his arm and groaned as ecstasy flamed through her.
He wouldn't be stopped.
His fingers worked delicately around her most sensitive area. Every movement sent waves of pleasure through her. Every one of her muscles shook and she tried to hold onto her sanity as the pleasure took hold of her.
She felt Razim's lips on her inner thigh, his tongue tracing a line along her soft flesh. He worked his mouth from one of her thighs to the other. It was almost as if he was feasting on her flesh. Tasting her. Enjoying her.
Then she felt his lips leave her flesh. One final time she glanced down at Razim and saw his steady gaze, full of affection, full of desire as he gave her wave after wave of delight.
Razim rose up, and settled himself over her body. His lips crashed down on her mouth, his tongue eager and hungry for pleasure. His breath was fast and warm. The weight of his body made her feel as if he'd taken possession of her. And in a sense he had. He already knew all the ways to make her feel ecstasy.
The combination of his kisses and the gentle movements of his hand across her core produced almost unbelievable pleasure. He obviously wasn't going to stop until he'd sent her over the edge.
And then she felt the wave sweeping toward her, the wave that would send her tumbling over the edge of the precipice. She slid her hands up his back, feeling the muscles, feeling the tightness of his desire. She dug her fingers into his taut muscles and he stiffened. She needed to hold onto him; needed to have something to stop her from falling.
But it was already too late for that, she told herself as the wave rushed toward her.
Then her climax overtook her. A huge wave of pleasure and absolute ecstasy claimed her. She cried out, holding onto him. He leaned closer, taking hold of her, embracing her as the climax swept through her. He lavished even more kisses on her neck and her cheeks. He held her as if she was the most precious thing in the world.
Her entire body quivered and then, slowly, gradually, she came back to him, back to the reality of where she was. Back to the truth of being with him.
This was what he was capable of doing to her. This was how he could make her feel.
For a long time, she held onto him. She felt his strong arms enfold her, embracing her.
Finally, he moved, taking a seat net to her. She leaned against him, feeling his arm curled around her shoulders. His scent was a intoxicating mixture, one that she knew so well.
It took a long time for her heartbeat to settle, but eventually it did. And she was content to be in his arms, with not a thought of what she would have to face the next day.