Page 68 of The Sheikh's Desert Captive

It felt as if he never wanted to let her go and, right now, she was quite happy to settle herself against his firm body, feel his gentle, firm grasp.

"I can't believe you're here," she exclaimed. She lifted a hand and moved a loose lock of his hair away from his forehead. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" she asked softly.

Rashid smiled. "I wanted it to be a surprise," he explained.

Nicole quirked a brow at him. "You certainly succeeded."

Rashid's arms tightened and he sighed deeply. "You look fabulous."

Nicole felt her face flush. "I am not," she retorted, even though she loved what he'd said.

Rashid leaned his head closer. His gaze moved across her face, as if he was reminding himself of her beauty, reacquainting himself with every detail of her, everything he'd missed since she'd left him. "You are even more beautiful than I remembered, Nicole," he growled. His gaze was intense, a sudden resolve there. She'd seen that look before, back at the palace a week before. She knew what it meant; understood how he was feeling about this moment.

"I missed you so much," he breathed.

Nicole drew in a deep breath, feeling her pulse quicken, sensing the growing need in him. She smiled at him and ran the back of her fingers down the side of his face. It felt slightly rough, the beginnings of stubble scratching lightly against her skin.

"And I missed you, Rashid. I really did," she said.

He smiled and she could see the satisfaction he felt on hearing her confession, her admission that the last few days had been torture. She wondered if they had been as difficult for him. Seeing the relief on his features, she could tell that the past week had been hard for him, too.

Rashid said nothing. He leaned down and kissed her tenderly. She snaked her fingers through his hair as she submitted to the gentle caress of his lips. Because that was what it felt like. She was giving herself to this wonderful, amazing sheikh who had come back to find her.

He'd made a decision she'd never thought he'd make.

A moment of doubt took hold of her as their lips parted. She peered into the depths of his tender loving gaze searching for truth, trying to find any hint of something that could confirm her brief uncertainty.

But all she saw was love. All she saw was complete and utter adoration in Rashid's gaze.

She knew that what he'd said to her during their last moments together had been true.

She was his beloved.

And she knew one thing that was also true.

He was her beloved. She was certain about that now.

They belonged together. He had come back to her, overcoming every doubt and every fear he had. Just to claim her, simply because he knew he belonged with her.

As far as Nicole was concerned, right now, there was nothing else in the world except her and Rashid. All that mattered was that she was with him again. All she wanted was to be with him. Forever. She'd never been more sure about anything else in her life.

Rashid seemed to sense all of that. He cradled her face in his hands and gazed into her eyes. "I love you, Nicole. You know that, don't you?" he murmured, his voice a deep, emotional growl.

Nicole smiled at him, feeling her heart race furiously, every nerve in her body tingling with sensation. She drew in a deep breath and sighed, gazing into his eyes, needing him to know that what she was about to tell him was true.

"And I love you, too, Rashid," she confessed. The words astonished her because there had been times in her life when she wondered if she would ever say them to a lover. But Rashid was not just a lover. He was her love. The one true love which destiny had brought to her. That realization almost made her gasp.

Nicole had never felt more alive than she did in this moment, her face cradled in Rashid's tender hands, his gaze filled with a burning love.

She could see he wanted to say more. His eyes narrowed, as if he was searching for words. And when he spoke those words, they didn't surprise her at all, because she knew how he felt about her, how much he wanted her, how much they both needed each other. Nothing could ever be the same after this.

"Nicole. I have told you that you are my beloved. You believe me, don't you?" he demanded.

Nicole nodded and smiled at him. "I know, Rashid." She cupped his chin gently in her hand and looked deeply into his eyes, needing him to know that what she was about to say came from her heart. "And you are my beloved, Rashid."

His face lit up with a broad smile. He laughed quietly and she could see the joy in his eyes.

Rashid kissed her again. As he pressed his body against hers, she could feel the beating of his heart.

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