Page 32 of The Sheikh's Willing Captive

It was all over.

In spite of all her preparation, all her careful consideration, she couldn't help feeling emotion sweep through her body. There was a sudden heaviness in her heart and she swallowed, despite her throat being inexplicably tight.

Ahmed nodded sagely and looked at Razim. Ahmed said something and then strode away from Razim and Paige. He walked out onto the terrace.

Now that Ahmed was gone, Paige felt emboldened to speak to Razim. "Is that it?" she asked quietly.

Razim nodded. "It's over."

Paige saw a heavy expression in his dark eyes. She could still see the tightness in his jaw. Looking down she saw that both his fists were clenched tightly.

For a moment, Paige didn't know how to react. Of course, it wasn't a time for any kind of celebration. But, surely she should have felt some sense of relief.

But she didn't.

There was a mixture of emotions in her body now, the most noticeable one being that of regret.

Instant, burning regret.

She hadn't expected that. Not at all. She'd been sure about this, right from the moment she'd landed in Qazhar.

But, to feel such obvious regret, wasn't something she'd expected. It had hit her from the moment she'd lifted her hand up off the parchment. A sickening sensation had settled in her stomach.

"What do we do now?" she asked Razim.

"Nothing," was his reply. "There's nothing more to be done."

His voice sounded as grim as the expression on his face. She could see just how much this had meant to him. Not that she was surprised. But, seeing him like this just brought it home to her how much the marriage had meant to him. And how much she had meant to him.

The reality of what she'd done hit her.

She was no longer married.

She was free of Razim. They had concluded their arrangement. Both of them had kept their promises to one another.

And now it was time to move on.

Razim turned to face her. "You'll be leaving soon, I suppose," he said.

She blinked, startled at the suddenness of his remark. It had been uttered in a tone of voice which had been almost clinical.

"I guess so," she said.

"I'll make the arrangements," he said. "You'll probably want to fly out later this afternoon."

She felt her mouth open, betraying the shock she felt. Did he want rid of her so quickly?

"That would be fine," she said hesitatingly.

Razim took a few steps away from her. She called out to him. "Razim." He turned. "Is that all you have to say?"

He frowned. "What would you wish me to say? Thank you?" he said. There was acid in his voice. For the first time since she'd returned she sensed bitterness in his attitude.

"Never mind," she said.

"Do you want me to send up one of the servants to help you pack?" he asked.

A knot of pain twisted in her middle as he said those words. "If you like," she replied.

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