Page 20 of The Sheikh's Desert Captive

Had he just given her a look? When he had said the word "important" she was sure she'd seen his eyes brighten slightly. Apart from that, she was amazed to learn that he was here every single night. What kind of life did this sheikh live if it meant he never left the confines of his palace for even one night? Every sheikh she'd ever known had only used their palaces as a base for their extravagant lifestyle. Sometimes they'd be gone from their palaces for days or weeks.

So, what was it that held Rashid here? What made him use this place as some kind of sanctuary?

Rashid drew the horse to a halt at the bottom of the steps. He hurriedly dismounted and reached up to her. Nicole gazed down at his out-stretched arms and then across at the man and woman who were watching her.

"I can get down on my own," Nicole announced.

Rashid's mouth opened slightly and he glanced at his staff members. He nodded. "Of course," he said taking a step back. His posture stiffened with sudden formality.

Nicole twisted and jumped down onto the courtyard. The two servants came down the stairs. Rashid spoke to them briefly and they bowed and raced back up into the palace.

Nicole gazed at the exterior of the palace front. Up close, she could see that some of the latticework on the outside of the building was cracked and damaged. The whiteness of the palace now seemed less bright, now that she was up close. The steps leading up to the front doors were chipped in parts. Paint on some of the walls on the upper floors was flaked and peeling. All in all, the palace had an appearance of being slightly rundown.

Nicole looked at Rashid. She thought about asking him why the palace looked like that, but she was prevented from doing so when he gestured for her to walk up the stairs.

Rashid walked alongside her as she stepped gingerly up the steps. Once through the open doors, Nicole found herself standing in a wide hallway which was brightly lit by lamps set in sconces on the walls. It was a sudden relief to be back in a space where she could see clearly. After the darkness of the desert, she had to squint her eyes so that she could see where she was.

A wide staircase led to the upper floor of the palace. On either side of the staircase she saw entrances to rooms. Inside the rooms she could could see tasteful furnishings and all the trappings of luxury living. Alongside the staircase, ornately decorated white, marble pillars lined the passageways that led further into the palace.

It was clear the palace was huge, bigger than she'd realized from a distance. It was certainly too big for just one person, she told herself, looking across at Rashid. He looked as if he was waiting for some kind of approving remark from her. She didn't want to disappoint him: "This is a beautiful home, Sheikh Rashid," she said.

"Just call me Rashid," he said narrowing his eyes at her. "While you are a guest in my home, I would like us to be on friendly terms."

Now what had he meant by that? Nicole examined him for any hint of something that would give her cause for concern. But she didn't see anything. All she saw was a man who was pleased for her to be a guest in his home. That was all. Again that barrier of formality, the coolness of custom had descended upon him as she looked at him.

"Okay," she said and nodded. "Rashid, it is."

He looked pleased and she briefly wondered whether she had done the right thing in encouraging him like that.

Rashid's brows furrowed. "Are you hungry?"

Nicole shook her head. "Not really. I just seem to be completely covered in sand," she said gazing down at her pants and blouse.

Rashid looked concerned. "You must be tired."

Nicole sighed. Right at the moment he'd uttered those words, she'd felt every muscle in her weary body become suddenly heavy. Also, it didn't help that sitting in the horse had made her inner thighs ache. She knew they would hurt in the morning.

"I haven't any things of my own," she said. She'd left every one of her personal belongings back at the camp. Leaving in a hurry would make someone do that, she told herself.

"There may be some things you could use,"he said tentatively.

"Women's clothes?" she asked raising a brow at him.

He smiled. "No. But we have some robes and other things you might find useful." He glanced down the entire length of her sand-covered body. As he did so, she felt a slight, self-conscious rush of sensation. Had his gaze lingered just a little too long as he'd looked at her?

"If you wish, I can have the staff arrange for your clothing to be washed and dried."

And then what would she wear while she was waiting for that to be done? Nicole couldn't help questioning Rashid's motives, even if he had been courteous toward her.

As if sensing her unease, Rashid added quickly. "It could be done while you are resting. Your things would be ready for you when you wake," he said quickly.

Had he just blushed? Nicole was sure she could see a flush of color on those cheeks of his.

"That sounds fine, Rashid," she replied.

Rashid glanced up the staircase. "I can show you to your room, if you wish."

"My room?"

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