Page 11 of The Sheikh's Willing Captive

Razim stood and moved toward Paige. She glanced nervously at him, almost like she didn't want him to come anywhere near him. "Did you sleep well?" he asked.

Paige lifted a brow. "What do you think?" she asked.

"Look, Paige," Razim started to say. "About last night."

Paige lifted a hand. "Let's not talk about that, Razim," she said. Once again, she bent down low and peered out the window. "When are you having the paperwork brought?" she asked.

Razim looked quizzically at Paige. "What do you mean?"

Paige straightened and faced him. "You told me I could sign the paperwork once I was on Qazhar soil," she said. She shrugged. "Well, here I am."

"About that, Paige," Razim said. "When I said you had to sign it on my country's soil. I meant there would have to be others present. A witness."

Her eyes flashed with a sudden indignation. "Witness?"

Razim nodded. "Custom dictates that it has to be done in front of certain individuals."

"When?" she snapped.

Razim paused, hesitant to give her all the facts. "Not today," he replied in a flat voice.

She frowned and he saw her jaw tighten. Paige sighed heavily and shook her head. "Why am I not surprised? You already tricked me once before with those stupid papers. And now you expect me to just stay here? For how long?"

Razim took a step forward, but halted immediately he saw the stern expression on her features.

"How many more surprises do you have in store for me, Razim?"

"Paige, let me explain," he said.

She shook her head. "No, Razim. Not until you agree to tell me the truth. In everything."

"This is a complicated situation," he said.

Paige narrowed her eyes at Razim. "It's a divorce. It's what we agreed. Nothing more than signing a paper and moving on with our lives. I don't think that's too complicated at all."

For a moment, Razim was shocked. Was that what Paige thought? That he was just a lying husband, someone she was happy to discard without a thought, provided the terms of separation were favorable enough? Surely she wasn't that mercenary, he told himself.

She folded her arms. "How long do you expect me to stay here?" she demanded.

Her blue eyes were lit by an indignant fire. When she was like this, Razim couldn't help feeling an intense attraction to the feisty American. His spirited wife, he told himself, feeling familiar sensation stir within his body.

"A few days," he said firmly.

Her eyes widened. "A few days!" she shrieked. Now it was her turn to move toward him. "You are joking, aren't you."

Razim shook his head. "It will take time to gather all the dignitaries."

He saw her face turn pale. "What are you talking about? What dignitaries?"

"Ending a marriage has many traditions attached to it, Paige," he said.

"Why couldn't all of this have been done in the US?" she asked.

"We were married under Qazhar law. If it is to end, the marriage must be annulled here, for it to be legal."

Paige sighed. Her features tightened with fury and frustration. She paced the floorfor a few long moments. As she did so, Razim couldn't resist glancing up and down the length of her body. He delighted in taking in the sight of her curves, her full hips; her breasts encased in the tight-fitting dress; her elegant long neck. Memory tugged at him, calling his attention back to former times, when he had held her body close to his; when she had lain beneath him as he entered her; when she had cried out in ecstasy as she'd reached her climax.

Need flared in Razim.

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