Page 2 of The Sheikh's Willing Captive

He'd required a wife. And quickly.

And it was convenient that Paige and Razim had been in a relationship at just the right time. A stormy relationship, it had to be said. One that probably would have blown itself out with turbulent and exquisite emotion if they'd given it time.

When events had taken their course, and Razim had found himself needing a marriage of convenience, Paige had found herself viewed as being suddenly very useful. Not disposable, like so many of Razim's conquests.

She was sure if it hadn't have been for the need to marry, Paige would become just another of Razim's many former lovers. There had been plenty of those, Paige reminded herself.

Before she knew what had happened, Razim had proposed to Paige, but with some serious strings attached. He'd explained to her why he needed to wed, and that the marriage would be for only one year. During that year, Paige would be required to portray herself as the perfect wife for the sheikh.

In return?

Paige smiled to herself as she thought about the staggering amount of money Razim had offered. Of course, she'd turned down the money. A cash settlement seemed somehow distasteful.

Instead, she'd negotiated an arrangement whereby he would finance her design company for years to come. He'd been happy to agree and then they'd married.

Now, the time had come to annul the marriage. They would go their separate ways. Razim had satisfied the conditions of his family succession. He would have no need for Paige. He'd be free to remarry a Qazhar woman of his own choosing.

And Paige?

She would move on.

Why did that thought trouble her, just like it had these past few weeks? Surely she was ready to start again, she told herself. Paige had told herself that plenty of times. It was just that, somehow, she still hadn't quite convinced herself that it was what she wanted.

She drew her attention back to the present. Still, no-one had appeared at the jet's open door. When the jet had landed and taxied to the hanger, she had been given instructions to make her way to the hanger, which was tucked away in a quiet corner of the small airport.

Paige frowned, feeling suddenly impatient and took a few steps closer to the sleek, expensive looking plane. Still, no-one had emerged from the doorway. She wondered what she was expected to do. This wasn't turning out the way she'd anticipated. But then again, Razim Al Kharif was an unpredictable man given to flashes of impulsive emotion.

A man who enjoyed making unreasonable demands. In and out of the bedroom.

Did he expect Paige to just walk into his trap? Because that was what it was beginning to feel like.

Paige glanced through one of the small windows. Then, she saw a figure move. A familiar figure dressed in a dark suit.

Razim.

Paige felt a hard bundle of nerves twist in her middle. Just the thought of seeing him again made her legs feel inexplicably and inconveniently weak. It had been three months since they'd last been together. She'd been here, in New York that whole time. And Razim had remained in Qazhar. No doubt he'd had a good explanation for his wife's absence from the massive palace on the outskirts of Qazhar city. In any case, no-one would dare question the sheikh. His privacy was aggressively guarded.

Paige moved slowly toward the open door. The fact that Razim hadn't yet emerged didn't surprise Paige. Every day, every moment with Razim was like a battle of wills. That was one reason why she'd insisted on coming back to New York these past few weeks. Anything to get relief from the tensions which had built up between her and Razim.

Now she was a few feet away from the open door. She halted and folded her arms, watching intently for any sign ofRazim.

She started to move closer and then froze.

Razim emerged, looking like a dark prince of the desert. In spite of herself, Paige gasped. Her arms fell to her sides and she drew in a deep breath of the cold night air.

Razim halted in the doorway, one foot planted on the top step.

He smiled at Paige. "There's my wife," he growled in a deep voice. His smile broadened. "You came," he announced as if he couldn't quite believe it.

Paige tilted her head. "Of course I came. This is an important night."

His brows furrowed. "Our anniversary," he said. She knew he was trying to joke with her.

"If you like to think of it like that," she replied.

Paige swallowed and briefly took in the sight of the sheikh.

Her husband. For the moment, at least.

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