Page 36 of The Sheikh's Desert Captive

Nicole made her way to the fountain and leaned against the waist-high edge. She dipped her hand into the water. It felt icy cold. The chill raced up her arm, making her body feel instantly cooler.

Rashid came to her side. "The water comes from the river you saw on the way in here."

"It's so cold," she said.

"Mountain water," he explained. "The river runs down from those border mountains."

Nicole took a few moments to savor the feeling of the water against her skin. She thrust her other hand in, swirling her fingers in the clear water. She lifted her hands up and ran her wet fingers across her face, feeling the cooling effect on her cheeks. After the way he'd looked at her over on the seat, she needed something to cool her down.

Nicole felt rivulets of water run down her neck and onto her blouse. She glanced at Rashid and saw that his gaze was firmly fixed on the sight of the water drops making the skin on her throat wet. Nicole felt some of the droplets trace a line down between her breasts. She felt her nipples harden against the inside of her bra. Somehow, Rashid watching her like that had triggered a reaction in her.

Did he think she was doing that deliberately? Did he think she was teasing him? There was definitely the hint of hunger in his steady gaze. Had she meant to cause that?

The chill of the water was suddenly matched by the realization that she might be sending out all the wrong signals.

Nicole stepped back from the edge of the fountain.

"Can we see the garden?" she asked quickly.

Rashid's brows furrowed. He seemed surprised by her sudden request."Of course. If you wish."

"I can't promise to give you any advice about how to look after it," she joked.

He nodded slowly, trying to laugh at what she said, but she could tell he was still affected by what he had just seen her do.

Nicole tapped her foot nervously on the stone beneath her feet. The sound mingled with soft murmur of the tumbling water.

She'd definitely gone too far. What had she been thinking of? It was obvious that Rashid was beginning to pay attention to every one of Nicole's gestures, her every movement. He was paying really close attention to her; had been since she'd come downstairs for breakfast.

Rashid gestured with his hand. "If you follow me, I'll take you to the garden."

With a sense of relief flooding through her, Nicole followed Rashid as he led her away from the fountain and back into the palace building.

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