Page 48 of The Sheikh's Willing Captive

She decided it would be best to watch for the dawn on top of the same dune on which she had stood with Razim. Moving to one side, she hesitated and glanced down at Razim.

One last look before it was all over.

The soft sound of her bare feet on the sand was barely a whisper. But, it was enough for Razim, whose ears were attuned, like no other man, to the sounds of the desert.

Paige froze as she saw Razim shift, lifting his head and turning. By the soft light of what remained of the fire she saw Razim's astonished features. She heard him gasp.

He sat bolt upright and stared at her as if he thought she was some kind of apparition. "Paige?" he exclaimed.

Instinctively she folded her arms across her body. Sensation swept up the length of her body. For a moment, she thought about racing back to the safety of the tent, but she couldn't move.

Razim leaped to his feet and faced Paige. His eyes were wide with disbelief and with visible appreciation. As he ran his gaze down the length of her body, she saw his jaw tighten. Heard him gasp again. He looked like he thought he was dreaming. But, she knew he wasn't. This felt all too real. Terrifying and tempting, all at the same time.

For a moment, she tried to grab hold of her thoughts, tried to seize her emotions and force some control over them. She knew she had to get away, otherwise something was going to happen which would change everything. Make it impossible to move on.

That was what she wanted, wasn't it?

Doubt flared inside her as she saw Razim take a step toward her. He looked incredibly powerful in the semi-darkness. She felt like she was his prey and he was slowly, unstoppably, chasing her down.

Her heart was pounding, and still she couldn't move. It was as if her feet had sunk into the sand and she couldn't get them out. Her breathing caught in her chest as she saw him take another step. She wanted to tell him to stop, wanted to order him to stay away from her, but something inside her rebelled at those thoughts. The promise of how he could make her feel, overwhelmed her senses. The anticipation made her throat tighten, made her heart beat even faster.

Razim took another step.

This was her last chance. She dragged her gaze away from him and looked out toward the dark horizon. The only light she could see there was that from the shimmering stars gathered at the edge of the desert.

She looked back at Razim and gasped. He was right next to her, within touching distance.

His brows were furrowed with desire and his gaze was so steady, so dark that she felt as if he was looking into her soul.

She knew she had only one moment in which to act. One last moment.

Paige met Razim's gaze. Something passed between them both. Something she couldn't put into words. It was an unspoken communication, wordless but real. An understanding.

They both knew what they wanted, she told herself. She had always known this was what she wanted. There was no man like Razim. There never would be again.

Every nerve in her body strained. She wanted him to touch her. Needed to feel his body against hers. And in that instant, she knew what she was going to to do. She knew what it would mean, but, right now, none of that mattered.

All she needed was him.

As if sensing every one of her thoughts, every one of her emotions, Razim moved quickly and took Paige in his arms. Paige gasped as Razim crushed her body against his. She moaned as his lips crashed down upon her mouth. Sensation flooded her body as his tongue probed hungrily, eagerly. His lips were moist and firm.

Paige let her curves sink against the firmness of his body. His arms wrapped her in a tight embrace. He took possession of her and she willed herself to submit. It felt exquisite. A pleasure she'd denied herself for too long.

His kiss continued. He ran his hands down her side. She felt the roughness of his fingers through the delicate fabric of her gown.

Still kissing her, Razim leaned back slightly, and moved one of his hands to the front of her body. His fingers cupped one of her breasts. A thumb teased at her nipple making it pebble beneath the gown.

Paige gasped as his expert touch sent pleasure quivering through her body. She felt her core begin to warm. Staggering slightly, unsteady on her feet because of the sudden ecstasy, she felt Razim use his other arm to hold her close, making sure she didn't tumble.

He already knew how to make her feel pleasure. But it had been such a long time, she told herself, as another wave of delight swept through her.

How had she been able to wait this long if this was what he could do to her?

Razim shifted his hand to her other breast, making her nipple rise to a peak with his touch. Once again, sensation tingled through her nerves.

Then he did something which shouldn't have taken her by surprise, but it did. It was an indication of the urgency of his need. The ferocity of his desire.

She felt Razim bunch the front of her dress in the fist of his hand and then pull it. Hard and fast.

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