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.
As was dictated by tradition, the real divorce decree, was no thick wad of papers. It was one sheet of ancient parchment, centuries old, over which he would have to declare, in front of a witness that the marriage was ended. The parchment had its roots in the desert, from a time when tribal marriages were a very different matter from what passed for wedlock these days.
Out in the desert, there was no need for complex legalistic documents. That wasn't how such things were done in Qazhar. Just like so much that was important about his country, tradition would dictate how his marriage to Paige would end.
Razim kicked at the loose sheets of paper, now utterly useless. Before he'd prepared to fly to the US today, Razim had known he would need some kind of token, something to persuade Paige. Of course, now he realized it had been a foolish idea, to pretend that he had in his possession the actual divorce papers. At least it had persuaded her to get on the plane. And remain. Perhaps it had served a purpose.
But, now what would she think of him? He was barely able to even think about the answer to that question.
One thing was for sure, though.
Paige wasn't going to come out of the bedroom until the plane landed at Qazhar airport. He was locked out. Just as he'd been locked out so many times during their tempestuous nine months as man and wife. Before she had run off. Before she had decided she couldn't take any more of their regular disagreements. Their intense, mutual passion.
He wondered what she was thinking as she lay in there, on the bed. Just picturing that image in his mind was enough to trigger his need once again. If he'd had his way he would have ripped that gown off her body and claimed her here in the cabin.
His desire ached to be satisfied. And, as if to make his torment almost unbearable, he had his wife on board. Finally, after twelve excruciating weeks, during which he'd hardly been able to contain his need. Surely he had the privilege to claim what was rightfully his.
But it was not destined to be. At least not now, he told himself.
And he didn't blame her. There would be time to explain, and he wondered how she would take the revelation that the divorce wouldn't take place on her day of arrival. That he had been selective with the truth. But, he'd had no choice.
Paige was spirited and feisty, Of that there was no doubt. He would deal with her inevitable disappointment when she realized that her stay in Qazhar would have to be longer than she thought.
No doubt, she would complain. And he would try to console her in the only way he knew.
With dominating passion.
He'd seen how she'd reacted to his touch. To his caresses. To his kiss.
She still wanted him. Of that he was in no doubt.
Razim thought about how Paige would react to the news that she would have to stay the entire weekend until the ceremony was held during which he'd finally have to decide, once and for all, if he would end their marriage.
Paige was going to be with him in Qazhar, and he would have one last chance to persuade her that her true place was by his side.
****
The plane taxied to the end of the airstrip which adjoined the Al Kharif palace. Sitting on one of the leather seats, looking through the jet's small porthole window, Razim could see his palace.
His home.
It shimmered, bright and white, a glorious jewel in the early morning sun. Beyond the palace there was a golden expanse of desert. Razim sighed contentedly. It felt good to be back. For a moment, hope rose in his heart. Perhaps this had been a good idea, after all, he told himself.
There were times when he was glad that he had a private airstrip. And this was definitely one of them. It was one of the privileges he enjoyed the most. It made leaving and returning to Qazhar so much easier.
Razim glanced impatiently toward the door to the bedroom. There was still no sign of Paige. She hadn't emerged since their encounter hours before. For his part, Razim hadn't been able to sleep. It had given him time to prepare for the inevitable storm which he was about to face.
He wondered how she was going to take the news that just being on Qazhar soil wasn't going to be enough. That she would have to reman in his palace for nights until all the preparations had been completed.
Until the divorce could be carried out. That thought made something hard twist in his gut. Divorce. The word rang in his mind. That wasn't what he wanted, and he knew it. Felt it with every part of his being. He wasn't willing to contemplate failure. Wasn't going to let Paige go without a fight. Even if that meant bending the truth; even if it meant using every delaying tactic he could think of. He wasn't going to rest until he'd tried everything possible to persuade her she should remain in his life.
For good.
The plane taxied to a small building. Razim saw two servants rush out toward the jet.
Then he heard the click of a lock. He turned to look at the door and saw it open slowly. Paige peered out and saw Razim. Her brows furrowed when she looked at him. He didn't dare say a thing and leaned back on the seat.
Paige stepped out into the cabin. Razim withheld a gasp as he gazed at her. She looked stunning. Her hair was tied back neatly into a bun, and she was wearing an elegant, tight-fitting white dress. The hem ended just at her knees, emphasizing her long legs. She wore flat shoes which merely added to the elegance of her appearance.
Paige peered out at the runway. "I forgot," she said. "You have your own airport." Her voice sounded dry and slightly tired. Maybe she hadn't slept well, he told himself.
Razim stood and moved toward Paige. She glanced nervously at him, almost like she didn't want him to come anywhere near him. "Did you sleep well?" he asked.
Paige lifted a brow. "What do you think?" she asked.
"Look, Paige," Razim started to say. "About last night."
Paige lifted a hand. "Let's not talk about that, Razim," she said. Once again, she bent down low and peered out the window. "When are you having the paperwork brought?" she asked.
Razim looked quizzically at Paige. "What do you mean?"
Paige straightened and faced him. "You told me I could sign the paperwork once I was on Qazhar soil," she said. She shrugged. "Well, here I am."
"About that, Paige," Razim said. "When I said you had to sign it on my country's soil. I meant there would have to be others present. A witness."
Her eyes flashed with a sudden indignation. "Witness?"
Razim nodded. "Custom dictates that it has to be done in front of certain individuals."
"When?" she snapped.
Razim paused, hesitant to give her all the facts. "Not today," he replied in a flat voice.
She frowned and he saw her jaw tighten. Paige sighed heavily and shook her head. "Why am I not surprised? You already tricked me once before with those stupid papers. And now you expect me to just stay here? For how long?"
Razim took a step forward, but halted immediately he saw the stern expression on her features.
"How many more surprises do you have in store for me, Razim?"
"Paige, let me explain," he said.
She shook her head. "No, Razim. Not until you agree to tell me the truth. In everything."
"This is a complicated situation," he said.
Paige narrowed her eyes at Razim. "It's a divorce. It's what we agreed. Nothing more than signing a paper and moving on with our lives. I don't think that's too complicated at all."
For a moment, Razim was shocked. Was that what Paige thought? That he was just a lying husband, someone she was happy to discard without a thought, provided the terms of separation were favorable enough? Surely she wasn't that mercenary, he told himself.
She folded her arms. "How long do you expect me to stay here?" she demanded.
Her blue eyes were lit by an indignant fire. When she was like this, Razim couldn't help feeling an intense attraction to the feisty American. His spirited wife, he told himself, feeling familiar sensation stir within his body.
"A few days," he said firmly.
Her eyes widened. "A few days!" she shrieked. Now it was her turn to move toward him. "You are joking, aren't you."
Razim shook his head. "It will take time to gather all the dignitaries."
He saw her face turn pale. "What are you talking about? What dignitaries?"
"Ending a marriage has many traditions attached to it, Paige," he said.
"Why couldn't all of this have been done in the US?" she asked.
"We were married under Qazhar law. If it is to end, the marriage must be annulled here, for it to be legal."
Paige sighed. Her features tightened with fury and frustration. She paced the floor for a few long moments. As she did so, Razim couldn't resist glancing up and down the length of her body. He delighted in taking in the sight of her curves, her full hips; her breasts encased in the tight-fitting dress; her elegant long neck. Memory tugged at him, calling his attention back to former times, when he had held her body close to his; when she had lain beneath him as he entered her; when she had cried out in ecstasy as she'd reached her climax.
Need flared in Razim.
This was turning out to be a torment, he told himself. Having her this close, yet not being able to touch her, was proving to be almost unbearable.
Almost as if she was reading his mind, she halted and peered at him. "I suppose you've left me with no choice, Razim," she announced. She tilted her head and glared at him. "If I want this divorce, I'll have to do it on your terms."
Hearing her use the word "divorce" made something heavy sink in his middle.
Razim nodded steadily. "It is how it must be done," he said evenly.
She strode up to him and pushed her face up close. Her eyes shimmered, moist with emotion. "Let's get one thing straight, Razim. If I'm staying here, I want my old room to myself. No sharing." Her gaze hardened. "Is that clear?"
Razim drew in a deep breath. She was facing him down, drawing the battle lines. Just as she'd done so many times before. "Of course, Paige. I wouldn't have expected anything else."
She seemed surprised at his sudden agreement. But, he'd anticipated this moment. Her capitulation to his demands. And he'd prepared his response.
Razim met Paige's steady gaze. "You shall have your privacy during your entire stay here in the palace." He lifted a brow. "After all, it is your home, is it not?"
She snorted and turned away from him. The servant emerged from the front of the plane and opened the door. A blast of heat wafted into the air-conditioned coolness of the jet's interior.
As Paige busied herself, preparing to leave the jet, Razim reflected on what he'd achieved.
It was simple.
He'd brought his wife back to Qazhar and made it impossible for her to leave.
Now it was time to begin to persuade her that this was where she belonged. Forever.