Read Online Awakened by Her Desert Captor by Abby Green - Free Book Online Page B

‘Come to check your prisoner is still here?’
    Arkim’s mouth lifted slightly at one corner, as if he were wryly amused, and Sylvie felt it like a punch to the gut.
    â€˜Somehow I don’t think even you would be so foolish as to try and escape again.’
    Sylvie scowled. ‘Next time I’ll prepare better.’
    His smile faded. ‘There won’t be a next time—believe me. You won’t be leaving until I do.’
    She stood up, frustration running through her blood. ‘Look, this is crazy. I need to get back to Paris. I have to—’
    Arkim interrupted her. ‘You have to eat.’
    She could see staff now, coming up behind him, carrying things.
    He stood aside and said, ‘I’ve arranged for dinner to come to you this evening. We’ll have it on the terrace.’
    She felt completely impotent. What could she do? Storm off to another part of the castle in protest?
    She preceded Arkim out to where the staff were setting up on the terrace, and when she saw lanterns being lit, sending out soft golden light, her heart flipped. She’d imagined this seductive scenario...
    Plates of fragrant steaming food were being placed on a low table and the scents teased Sylvie’s nostrils. She was an unashamed foodie, and the prospect of an exotic feast was too much temptation to resist.
    Halima arrived then, with a bottle of champagne which she put in an ice bucket by the table. Sylvie scowled at it, just as Arkim came into her line of vision and held out a hand.
    â€˜Please, take a seat.’
    Sylvie sat down cross-legged on a low chair, and watched as Arkim lowered himself athletically into a similar pose on the other side of the delicately carved table. It should have made him look less manly, but of course it didn’t.
    â€˜How are your arms?’
    She glanced down, noting with relief that the vivid pink had faded and they weren’t so hot. In this day and age of knowledge of sun damage she’d been very stupid.
    She said, ‘Much better. Halima’s ointment was very effective.’
    She looked at Arkim and words of apology for running off earlier trembled on her tongue. But he wasn’t looking at her—he was piling a plate high with different foods before handing it to her. Like a coward, she swallowed the words back and took the plate, telling herself that he would only spurn an apology.
    There was a faint popping sound as he expertly opened the champagne and poured her a glass of the sparkling wine. She accepted it after a moment’s hesitation.
    Arkim arched a brow. ‘You don’t like champagne?’
    â€˜I don’t drink much of any alcohol, I never really acquired the taste.’
    Arkim made a noise and she looked at him, seeing him fill his own glass as he said, ‘You forget that I’ve seen you inebriated.’
    Sylvie frowned, and then that night in the garden flooded back. Hotly she defended herself. ‘My shoe got stuck in the ground. I was still on antibiotics from a chest infection that night—the last thing I’d have done was drink alcohol.’
    He just looked at her, eyes narrowed, and she glared at him. After a long moment he shrugged and said, ‘It hardly matters now, in any case.’
    Sylvie was disconcerted by how much it did matter to her. She looked away from him and put down her glass without taking a sip, choosing to focus on the food instead and trying to block him out. Ha! As if that was possible.
    * * *
    Arkim could see how tense Sylvie’s body was as she resolutely avoided his eye and picked at the food. Her jaw was so tight he thought she might break it if she had to chew. Her vibrant hair was piled high in a haphazard bun, tendrils trailing down to frame her face. His fingers itched to undo the knot and let her hair fall around her shoulders and down her back.
    He diverted his attention from the urge he felt to undo that knot and watched with growing incredulity,