Page 23 of At the Sheikh's Command
Suddenly, a phone rang out from his suite of rooms. He was needed. He swore under his breath, but focused once more on her.
“Tell me!” He spoke louder this time, knowing the moment had slipped away. But he was right, it was too late. The tangled veil of lust and love had been lifted from her eyes and she closed her legs to him, and her eyes to him. She shook her head.
The insistent sound of the bell filled the air. He knew the moment had passed. And he also knew that the bell only rang for emergencies.
“I must go now, but I won’t leave this matter here. I will have you revealed totally to me. No shadows of distrust, nothing except you. Iwillhave it, Nora.”
But, despite his words, as he went inside to answer the phone, he wondered if anyone, least of all him, could ever possess the real Leonora Cooper.
CHAPTER11
She was losing her mind. She had to be. Why else was she allowing a maid to fix her hair in a way that made her look like someone else? Why else was her heart racing at the thought of seeing him again? Why else did she want a man she couldn’t have?
Leonora stared at her reflection, hoping for answers in those heavily made-up eyes. But there were none. She was looking at a woman who wanted her man. From the feline eyes, enhanced with upswept eyeliner and lashings of mascara, to the elegant hairstyle her maid had created, she looked like a temptress after her man.
There was no doubt about it. Darrius was getting to her like she’d never believed possible. She’d come here intending to remove him from her mind. Instead, he’d slammed hard, with all the finesse of a sledgehammer, directly into its center, dominating every thought and feeling she had. And for the life of her, she didn’t know how to get him out again. She let out a harsh breath. Defenses? What defenses?
“You look beautiful, madam,” murmured the maid, their eyes meeting in the mirror.
“You’ve done a superb job,” said Leonora, moving her head to see the full effect of liberal amounts of hairspray. She had to admit it was impressive, and she also had to admit that it was perfect for what lay ahead.
Apparently tonight wasn’t a night for traditional or subdued dressing, something she’d guessed when a stylist had arrived earlier in the day with racks of clothes for her to choose from. There wasn’t a bling-less dress amongst them. They’d sparkled and shimmered in the light. She’d selected a black dress studded with brilliantly cut stones whose facets caught and threw off the light, making the dress shimmer as she walked. It had a deeply cut v-neck which showed her slight curves off to maximum effect.
Leonora rose, smoothed the figure-hugging dress down her hips and swallowed. Oh my! She wasn’t only losing her mind, she was losing herself.
She shook her head and frowned at her reflection.
“Madam, please, is anything wrong?”
“No, Mariam, you’ve done an amazing job transforming me into”—she shrugged—“someone else, I think. I was just wondering if it was really necessary.”
Mariam smiled, reassured. “Of course, madam. The five-year anniversary of our beloved king must be celebrated. Everyone will be there, including the two princes, his brothers.”
“Right,” said Leonora. “And there will be many people there?”
“Of course, madam, as is fitting such a celebration.”
She could do this. She’d be seated away from the royal family, tucked in a corner, indistinguishable from the crowds, there just for form. That was all. And, once it was over, she’d slip away. And hopefully slip into bed with Darrius. The thought brought a blush to her cheeks.
“Madam?”
Leonora looked around to see the maid was holding out a black velvet jewelry box to her.
“What’s this?” she said, taking it from her.
“His Majesty requested that you wear them.” The maid lowered her eyes.
Leonora opened the lid and gasped at the sight of two large diamond drop earrings. They were exquisite. She held them up to the light. She’d never seen such enormous diamonds before. For a moment, she hesitated, wondering whether she should defy him. But it was too late for that. She realized that what had happened in the garden proved it. She was his for the taking. And, above all, she wanted to be taken. Tonight, at least. Tomorrow? That would be an entirely different story. Because whatever Darrius was trying to signal by asking her to wear these diamonds, she was still determined to locate the Bahr Al Noor diamond and then return to her world in England. To stay any longer would risk the independence she’d worked so hard to achieve and which she couldn’t live without.
She fixed on the earrings and without a further look at the woman in the mirror, who she no longer recognized, followed the maid out the door.
“Well,brother, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the palace look so spectacular,” said Crown Prince Zaire.
Darrius followed his brother’s gaze, which rested on Leonora. He gave a brief grunt, the best he could do to conceal the proprietary growl which had emerged as Zaire’s roving eye had come to rest on his woman.
Amare, his youngest brother, hooked his arm over the back of the chair and looked around with his usual casual insouciance. “She’s a looker. Where did she spring from?”
Darrius had always envied Zaire’s natural leadership and outgoing personality, and had looked upon Amare’s charm with frustration. And never more so than now.
