Page 7 of At the Sheikh's Command
Leonora sat with an averted gaze for the time it took for the servers to disappear. The silver beams of moonlight flowed into the room, unhampered by curtains or shutters, making the crystal chandeliers shimmer with extra brilliance.
Only when they were alone again, did she look up at him. He hadn’t moved. He sat with his hands clasped loosely before him, untouched food all around and eyes fixed on her. He was too distant for her to interpret the look. He’d always been good at hiding his thoughts and feelings. He’d once told her that that was how he’d been raised. But she suspected it was the time he’d spent with his hawks out in the desert, watching how they were only calm when they were hooded. And only fully alive when they were free. Darrius was more hooded than ever. But he was trapped in the role of king now, a role which he’d never wanted but which had been thrust on him because he was the eldest son.
“Why are you here, Dr. Cooper?”
She blenched at the formality and the directness. He’d used to call her Nora. No one else had ever called her Nora, before or since. But that was long ago.
She took a sip of sparkling water, its bubbles bursting on her lips, before forcing herself to swallow under his intense scrutiny. She cleared her throat.
“To further my research, Your Highness.” It was kind of true.
“Religious symbolism in Middle Eastern culture, I believe.”
She inclined her head.
“Hm! It is all you westerners are interested in. Our art, our history. Few are interested in the reality and complexity of my country.”
She grimaced and lowered her head to hide her reaction to the truth of his words.
“I see you don’t disagree with me.”
She pressed her lips together and shook her head.
“And so why should I allow you into my country to further your research? Hey?”
“I…” She inhaled a shaky breath. This was ridiculous. She was never nervous. But then, she never had so much at stake before. “I am looking into something slightly different.”
“And what is that?” He moved forward, resting his elbows on the table and pressing his steepled hands to his mouth. His eyes were fiercer, if anything. She half-expected him to leap across the table and either strike her or kiss her. She didn’t know which. And, she suspected, neither did he.
“The Bahr al Noor diamond,” she whispered.
Then his expression changed, and she knew that kissing wasn’t on the agenda.
CHAPTER4
There was a shocked pause and then he sat back and burst out laughing. The sound of his laughter echoed around the cavernous room, filling the space with his derision, for there was no humor in it, nor in the look on his face. Slowly the laughter subsided, and he leaned forward, his body language combative.
“You are as priceless as the diamond,” he said with quiet menace.
She knew it wasn’t a compliment. “I don’t mean—”
He held up his hand to quiet her and she stopped speaking instantly. She was annoyed with herself because she made sure she never let a man get the better of her, but there was a part of her which enjoyed submitting to his will. She always took control of every situation and was used to people doing as she said, so to be subjected to Darrius’s innate authority was both seductive and thrilling.
“I’m not interested in what you mean.”
“But—”
He jumped up and she bit back her words. “Don’t you think I know what you mean? Countless foreigners have invaded our country and the surrounding countries over the years with only one intent—find the diamond and take it away with them, back to their own countries. They come to steal.”
It was her turn to be angered by his assumptions. She jumped up. “I donotcome to steal!”
“You have another name for finding a priceless jewel and taking it back to your country?”
“If I did find it, I have no intention of returning it to my country, or to anywhere else come to that. I only want it to be where it belongs. Here.”
“Then why come looking for it, if it’s here already?”
“Because it’s lost. No one knows where it is.”
