Page 26 of The Sheikh's Desert Captive

She was taken aback by the abruptness of that statement.

"And what did you tell him?"

Rashid pulled the door fully open. "Why don't you come inside," he said.

Nicole hesitated. "Into you bedroom?"

The corner of Rashid's mouth lifted. "I give you my word, it'll be alright."

Nicole lifted a brow. "Really. Your word?"

Rashid nodded. "You already know I'm a man of my word."

"So you keep telling me," she replied.

Nicole walked into Rashid's room and he closed the door behind her. She gazed around the room. It was as exquisitely furnished as her own suite. His room had a distinctly masculine touch; furnishings were darker colored; the walls were decorated with masculine images showing hunting scenes and men on horseback; the flooring had darker mosaic patterning with red and black coloring predominant.

"So this is your retreat," she observed turning back to look at him.

"What do you mean, retreat?" That word seemed to catch at his attention, almost offend him. Or so it seemed to Nicole. Why was he so sensitive to a word like that. It wasn't the first time she had a sense that this palace was some kind of sanctuary for him. His room merely emphasized that feeling even more.

"Are all the other rooms like like this?"

Rashid peered at her. "Are you uncomfortable in your room? Would you like to change it for another?"

Nicole tilted her head at him. "How many bedrooms do you have in this place?"

"Enough."

"You've lost count?

Rashid sighed softly. He walked past her. "Take a seat," he instructed gesturing to a long sofa. He sat down and she joined him, leaning into the corner. Nicole was aware that he was watching her as she took her seat. She tugged at the white robes, trying to get comfortable as she sat back.

Rashid smiled. "Still trying to get used to wearing traditional robes?"

Nicole pulled at the fabric and eventually managed to tuck her feet beneath herself with the robes settled around her legs. She saw him glance at her bare feet.

"You're not too cold with no shoes on, are you?"

Nicole glanced down at her feet and then back at him. It was time to put the playacting to one side. She needed an answer from Rashid.

"What did Hakim say?" she asked.

Rashid looked at her. For a moment he seemed to be deliberating what to say in answer to that question. Was he trying to hide something from Nicole?

"He wasn't happy," Rashid said evenly and then smiled. "I can't blame him. He lost face tonight, and he knows it."

"He deserves it," Nicole said sharply.

Rashid grinned. "I would agree."

"Did he threaten to do anything foolish?" she asked.

"Like what?"

Nicole rolled her eyes. "I don't know. Like storm the palace with a hundred men?" she asked with a shrug of her shoulders.

Rashid laughed quietly. "I know things seem primitive out here, but that kind of thing only happens in movies."

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