Page 29 of The Sheikh's Willing Captive

She smiled at him. "Are you trying to say I'm too noisy?"

He laughed. "Let's say the palace isn't the same when you're not here."

"You have your family," she said. "They come over and visit, don't they?"

Even as she said them, the words sounded almost silly. Back home in the US, family members came to visit. Usually at weekends. But they didn't come to a palace, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

"They do," he admitted. "And I have my friends. I've been spending more time with them. There's plenty to occupy us in Qazhar. I haven't been stuck in the palace every night these past few weeks." He peered at her. "And I'm sure you've been busy in New York."

Paige shook her head. "I've been too busy with work to have any time for socializing."

"New York and Qazhar are different kinds of places," he said.

Paige wondered if he was trying to tell her something. Was he trying to tell her that there'd been other women while she had been in the US? In spite of everything she'd told herself about wanting to keep her distance from Razim, she felt a tinge of jealousy when he said that. Even the beginnings of a mild indignation. But she held onto her composure. It wouldn't help for him to know that kind of thing bothered her.

"Qazhar city is smaller, though," he said. "You get to see the same faces all the time."

Paige wondered exactly what faces he was referring to. Curiosity flared into life, but she managed to bite her tongue. It was too late for those kinds of recriminations. Did she really believe that Razim would have cheated on her? While she was still his wife? That possibility seemed remote, given what she knew about him. About how seriously he took loyalty and honor. And also given how he'd treated her since her return. She'd just about managed to hold him off. But it hadn't been easy.

She saw that he was watching her. Carefully. As if he could read her mind and was waiting for her to take the bait. But she didn't.

"I can't be expected to spend every night at home. All alone. Can I?" he said, lifting a brow.

"I guess not," was all she said.

The corner of Razim's mouth curled into a sardonic smile.

She finished her coffee and stood, pushing the chair away from her with an impatient gesture she couldn't control. She walked over to the balustrade and leaned her hands on the cool marble. Razim joined her, taking a place alongside her.

Paige folded her arms and tried to force her attention out to the garden. She needed to do anything except look at Razim, because she knew he would be watching her. The awkward silence stretched for long moments.

Finally, she couldn't avoid it any longer. She turned and faced him. Just as she'd anticipated, Razim was gazing at her. There was an expectant look on his face.

Something snapped inside Paige and she sighed heavily. "Look, Razim. I know what you're thinking. That I'm going to change my mind. That I'm going to tell you to call this whole thing off."

His brows furrowed into deep ridges.

"But, I'm not," she stated firmly.

His expression changed to dismay. "You're not?"

Paige shook her head. "I've come this far, and I can't turn back. This was the way we planned it, Razim. It's the only way it makes any sense."

Razim shifted toward Paige. "Even after everything I've said to you?"

Paige nodded and held his gaze, defiance growing inside her. "You've been kind," she said. "I can't deny that. But we both know this isn't going to work."

She had to force those last words out because she knew, deep down, that she couldn't possibly be sure that what she had said was true. The only way to know for sure would be to stay. And, right now, given the way she was feeling, all the turbulent emotions sweeping through her, that possibility just seemed so remote.

Razim move closer. "You know how I feel about you, Paige," he said.

She met his steady gaze. "You've told me," she replied. She sighed and turned away from him. "I don't know, Razim." Emotion welled up in her. She felt her eyes moisten and she gasped in frustration. "Why did we do this in the first place?" She glared at him. "Didn't you realize how dangerous this would be for both of us?"

Razim reached across and laid his hand gently on her bare arm. "You did it for me, Paige."

"No, Razim," she snapped. "We did it for each other. We both got something out of this. Have you forgotten that?"

"Are you feeling guilty?" he asked.

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