Page 67 of The Sheikh's Desert Captive

Rashid started toward the hallway with every intention of getting a good night's sleep.

Just as he put his foot on the first step of the staircase that led up to the upper floor, he froze and turned his head toward the closed front door.

He'd heard a noise.

A car engine, which had then stopped.

Now there was silence. But he knew one thing.

Someone was out there.

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Nicole walked up the steps that led to the front door of the palace. Her heart was thudding at a furious pace. What if it wasn't Rashid who was in the palace at the moment? She hadn't thought of that possibility until she'd parked the car.

Of course it would be him, she chided herself. It had been her first thought upon seeing the lights for the first time.

By the light which spilled out from inside the palace, she could see that, unlike the exterior of Rashid's other residence, this one had been well looked after. There were none of the signs of disrepair she'd seen in the other place. It was immaculate and beautiful.

Most of the lights inside had been switched on. Surely at this time of night, there wouldn't be any staff members working here, she thought. The warm lights made the palace feel homely and welcoming. It was almost as if whoever was inside was expecting some visitors.

Nicole's curiosity had gotten the better of her back on the road and she'd decided she had to speak to whoever was here. Maybe they could tell her when, or if, Rashid was planning to make a visit.

Nicole paused at the door, then lifted the heavy brass handle, dropping it with a thud against the wooden door. The sound cut into the silence of the night.

There was a long silence. She knocked on the door once more.

The door swung open quickly and she saw Rashid standing there.

Rashid.

Her heart raced as he looked at her, his features momentarily frozen with surprise. There was a long pause when it seemed as if neither of them could believe what they were seeing.

When he spoke his voice was soft, filled with pleasure. "Nicole," he gasped quietly. He moved toward her. "It's you," he exclaimed.

Nicole was momentarily lost for words. Rashid looked somehow different. There was a brightness about his features that she hadn't seen before. His eyes had a light in them that had been missing when she had first met him. He looked like a man transformed.

Nicole took a step closer, crossing the threshold of the doorway. "Rashid," she breathed. She smiled at him. "You're here?"

Rashid nodded, but she could tell he was still struggling to find words. He gazed around the cavernous hallway of the palace. "I'm here," he said as if he couldn't quite believe it himself.

"But I thought you told me you'd never come to this place," Nicole said.

Rashid looked at her, his eyes filling with emotion. "Looks like I changed my mind," he declared.

Rashid closed the door behind Nicole. For a long moment they just stood gazing at each other. She asked herself how she could have forgotten how gorgeous he was. The truth was she hadn't. Not for one minute since they'd parted.

There was one more awkward instant when they both seemed to reflect on what this meant; what it meant that they had found each other again.

And then Rashid came to her, swept her into his arms and kissed her.

Sensations flooded through her body; relief that she was back in his arms; joy that she was with him again; happiness that their time apart was over.

His kiss was tender. He wrapped his arms around Nicole, drawing her close to him so that she could feel that familiar power of his, that strength she had savored so much. It felt so good to be with him again.

When, at last, the kiss ended, he lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. There was wonder and amazement in those dark, tempting pools of his.

"I'm so happy to see you again, Nicole," he murmured.

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