Page 31 of At the Sheikh's Command
She walked quickly around the water’s edge to the far side where once, many centuries before, a Roman villa had once stood. No doubt its view would have been very different—the tumble-down remains of stones emerging from the desert like forgotten tombs testified to that. Once it had been a wealthy community providing both respite for travelers or escape from trouble. Eight years ago, it had provided both for them.
Decades earlier, a woven cloth had replaced the villa’s broken roof to provide shelter from the sun. But there was no evidence that anyone had visited it recently. It looked deserted, just as it had when they’d first come there. She walked inside and was immediately struck by its relative coolness and memories. A lot of memories. A lump suddenly lodged in her throat.
As her eyes became accustomed to the shadows, she could make out the raised plinth where they’d placed the rugs, blankets, and pillows—where they’d eaten, drunk, and made love. She looked up at the remnants of the frescoes, traces of which still adorned the ceiling and walls, and remembered again. The images blurred under her tears.
“It doesn’t seem so long ago, does it?” said Darrius from the doorway.
She choked back her tears, but didn’t dare turn around. She sucked in a quick breath and cleared her throat. “I’m surprised nothing has changed.”
He walked down the worn steps and came to a halt beside her. “I’m not. That’s what happens when you ensure a place is out of bounds.”
She turned to him then, unable to hide her surprise. “You’ve made this out of bounds? Why?”
He shot her a small smile. “I’d have thought that was obvious. It is a special place for me.”
“And do you claimallyour special places for your own?”
“No.” His gaze was steady on her now, watching her reaction. “Only this one.”
She wanted to ask why again, but didn’t dare because she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer. Instead, she tore away her gaze and bit her lip, trying to stop it from quivering.
“We should be going,” she said, surreptitiously wiping away the tears from her cheeks. “It will be dark soon.”
“There’s no hurry.” She watched him walk over the bare marble where they’d once lain, and look up at the once-beautiful ceiling. She, too, had stared at it in wonder all those years ago, after their lovemaking, knowing that something profound had changed inside of her.
“I don’t want to stay here,” she said, scared by her memories. “Let’s go now, please,” she added, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.
“Tell me, Leonora,” he said, ignoring her plea. “Have you forgotten our night here so long ago?”
She shook her head. “No.” She clipped the word so that the tumble of emotions wouldn’t spill out into words. There would be no going back then.
“So youdoremember,” Darrius said.
She sucked in a harsh breath as she tried to control her tears, but they flowed anyway, despite her anger at him. She turned around to face him. He stood blocking the light from the entrance, preventing her from moving forward, just as he’d done ever since she’d first met him.
“Why do you want me to remember so much?” She shook her head in disbelief. “What difference do you think it will make?”
“It will make all the difference to me.”
He approached her, pushed a strand of hair back from her face, and frowned at her. “Tell me, what is it you remember?”
She blinked back the tears as the memories assailed her, unlocked by his touch. “I remember everything!” she suddenly burst out. “I remember the texture of the rug beneath my skin, of the moonlight coming through the awning, and most of all I remember how you made me feel.” She wished she could retract the last words, but it was too late.
He placed his hand on her arm. “Habibti, tell me. How did I make you feel?”
She shook her head. “Don’t do this to me, please, Darrius. Just don’t.”
“I’m not doing anything. Your struggle is with yourself, not me. It is good that you are upset.”
She slapped his hand away. “How is my being upset good? Hey? It doesn’t feel so good to me!”
“It’s good because it means your barriers are breaking down. You’re beginning to feel something other than desire for the diamond.”
“Since when did you become such an expert on human nature?”
“I’m not. I’m only an expert on you.”
The tenderness in his eyes caused only pain in her. She looked away. How the hell was she going to survive days on end with him, when she could barely survive a few hours in his company? His charm offensive was going into overdrive and he didn’t evendocharm.
