Page 5 of The Sheikh's Willing Captive

Razim shook his head. "They're perfectly legal. It is just that they cannot be signed here."

"What!" she exclaimed. "That's ridiculous. What does it matter where they are signed?"

Razim clasped his hands together and leaned even closer toward her. "For them to be entirely legal, there is one condition."

"And what is that?" she asked, feeling the worry tighten in her middle.

When Razim spoke, it was with a calmness which disturbed her. He reached down and lifted the bundle of papers. "For the divorce to be final, these have to be signed, in person, by both people. In Qazhar."

Paige felt her heart sink. She leaned back against the seat and gasped.

Razim smiled and she knew he thought he'd won an important victory. "Tonight, you're going to have to come back to Qazhar with me," he announced.

CHAPTER TWO

"I'm not going to Qazhar with you, Razim," Paige exclaimed. Paige leaned forward, grasping the sides of the seat. "No way."

The front of her dark blue coat opened. Razim's eyes widened at the sight of Paige's full body encased in a tightly fitting white dress. He felt his throat tighten. He still remembered what it felt like to hold her close to him. To be inside her. His heart quickened at the prospect of being with Paige again.

She stood quickly and started to head toward the open door. "I'm leaving," she stated. "This is ridiculous."

Before she made it to the door, Razim caught her arm and held it. Paige's head whirled around. Her eyes blazed with fury. "Let me go, Razim."

He nodded and released her arm, but not before positioning himself between her and the door. "Let me explain," he said quickly.

Paige shook her head. "There's nothing you can do to make me go back to Qazhar," she said sharply.

Razim stood his ground and peered into Paige's eyes. "There will be no divorce if you don't come back with me."

Her brows furrowed disbelievingly. "I knew I couldn't trust you," she blurted out. Now there was genuine emotion in her voice. "Let me pass," she said trying to step to one side.

Razim shook his head and moved to stop her from reaching the door. "Just give me two minutes to explain."

"Explain what? How you tricked me to come out here in the middle of the night so you could take me back there?"

Razim sighed. "I didn't trick you, Paige. You came of your own free will."

"I came to sign divorce papers, Razim," she snapped.

Razim felt a tight ball of pain twist in his gut. He wondered if he would ever get used to hearing her say those words.

One thing was for sure. Paige was beautiful when she was angry. Even more beautiful than usual, he told himself.

She folded her arms and stared defiantly at him. Her pretty features were tightened into a furious expression. Her blue eyes flashed with barely contained indignation. Her moist, full lips twisted into a tempting pout. He remembered what those lips tasted like. The incredible sweetness.

She groaned and ran a hand through the lustrous thickness of her loose blonde hair. He wanted to do what he'd done so many times before. Reach out and snake his fingers through that hair, savoring the softness of it. Lift the hair to his face and inhale the intoxicating scent.

His gaze flickered down the length of her body. The coat was fully open now, revealing her long legs, small feet encased in high heels, her wide hips, and the delicious fullness of her breasts.

Razim felt desire harden inside him. This was his wife. A woman with whom he had shared many a passionate night. He knew every one of those delicious curves. Although he and Paige had been apart for three months now, he ached to touch her. Be with her. Try to control her anger with soft caresses. And even more.

Razim moved toward her, and her eyes narrowed. "Please, Paige," he said. Reaching out, he caressed her upper arm.He felt her shift slightly, as if she didn't want him touching her.

"Don't touch me, Razim," she said in a steady voice.

He removed his hand. "Sit down, Paige. Just for a moment."

She glanced back at the seats, thought for a moment and then nodded. He followed her back to the seats. They both sat down. She faced him and folded her arms. "This better be good," she said.

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