Read Online Claimed by the Sheikh by Rachael Thomas - Free Book Online
Authors: Rachael Thomas
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tone and she turned from the window and stared at him.
He looked tired. Something tightened inside her, just as it had done that first moment sheâd seen him on their wedding day. His raw masculinity then had robbed her of the ability to think clearly and now she wondered if it had all gone wrong from that moment. Had she fallen in love with the man she wanted him to be rather than the man he was?
âIf you had told me I would need evening wear I could have packed something for the occasion.â Precisely what that would have been, she didnât know. Nothing in her wardrobe would have been remotely suitable for dining out in public with a man such as Kazim. Sheâd left the glamour of a desert princess behind to take on a normal life. And sheâd achieved that, proved to herself she could surviveâuntil Kazimâs arrival had sent the first blocks of her new life tumbling down. âIâll stay here. You go.â
She turned her back on him and focused again on the view of Knightsbridge bathed in sunshine. Every time she looked at Kazim, a tingle of awareness slipped down her spine and when his gaze met hers that tingle intensified, just as it had done from the moment they had first met.
As Amber continued to study the view Kazimâs silence almost frazzled the air but, as far as she was concerned, it was settled. She wasnât going with him this evening. Determined that she wouldnât be swayed from this decision, she folded her arms across her chest, ignoring the urge to turn and look at him again. But it was too much and finally she gave into the temptation. When she turned round it was to find him looking at her, his eyes narrowed, his stance regal and loaded with authority.
He was the epitome of power, his shoulders broad enough to carry the burdens his position in life had given him, but, as a man, his tall figure held an air of isolation. Did he ever let people close?
âAre you determined to cause trouble, Amber?â Command rang in every word he spoke. âYou are my wife. My princess and, as such, you will go where I goâat least until we return to Barazbin.â
That told her enough. As soon as he returned to his homeland she would be forced into the role of dutiful wife and once again be surplus to requirements, but she had to go if she wanted Claude to get the treatment he needed. Even though Annie didnât yet know what chance her son had, Amber couldnât deny him. Once the treatment was over sheâd leave, return to Paris and Annieâs unwavering friendship. Why stay with a man who didnât even like her, let alone love her? One whoâd shredded her heart as if it were nothing more than waste paper.
âWell, youâll just have to go alone tonight because even if I did have something
befitting my position
to wear, I would rather stay here.â She knew she shouldnât be provoking him, but she couldnât help it. Just because he was a desert prince didnât mean he could order her around, especially as heâd been constantly reminding her she was
his
princess.
Her heart rate accelerated and butterflies took flight in her stomach as he walked across the room. His strikingly handsome face was marred by a thunderous expression as he came close to her. âWe made a deal, yet already you think you can assert authority over me.â
She stood her ground despite wanting to slip past him. âI have not yet received any kind of indication that you have honoured your side of the
deal
, as you call it.â
âIs my word not enough for you?â he said as he walked away again, giving her the impression of an animal trapped in captivity, stalking the perimeter of its reduced territory.
She looked at his broad shoulders, tight and firmly set. He had exploded into her life again, opening up wounds which had only just begun to heal, and the only way she could tolerate it was to know that he would keep his promise of
He looked tired. Something tightened inside her, just as it had done that first moment sheâd seen him on their wedding day. His raw masculinity then had robbed her of the ability to think clearly and now she wondered if it had all gone wrong from that moment. Had she fallen in love with the man she wanted him to be rather than the man he was?
âIf you had told me I would need evening wear I could have packed something for the occasion.â Precisely what that would have been, she didnât know. Nothing in her wardrobe would have been remotely suitable for dining out in public with a man such as Kazim. Sheâd left the glamour of a desert princess behind to take on a normal life. And sheâd achieved that, proved to herself she could surviveâuntil Kazimâs arrival had sent the first blocks of her new life tumbling down. âIâll stay here. You go.â
She turned her back on him and focused again on the view of Knightsbridge bathed in sunshine. Every time she looked at Kazim, a tingle of awareness slipped down her spine and when his gaze met hers that tingle intensified, just as it had done from the moment they had first met.
As Amber continued to study the view Kazimâs silence almost frazzled the air but, as far as she was concerned, it was settled. She wasnât going with him this evening. Determined that she wouldnât be swayed from this decision, she folded her arms across her chest, ignoring the urge to turn and look at him again. But it was too much and finally she gave into the temptation. When she turned round it was to find him looking at her, his eyes narrowed, his stance regal and loaded with authority.
He was the epitome of power, his shoulders broad enough to carry the burdens his position in life had given him, but, as a man, his tall figure held an air of isolation. Did he ever let people close?
âAre you determined to cause trouble, Amber?â Command rang in every word he spoke. âYou are my wife. My princess and, as such, you will go where I goâat least until we return to Barazbin.â
That told her enough. As soon as he returned to his homeland she would be forced into the role of dutiful wife and once again be surplus to requirements, but she had to go if she wanted Claude to get the treatment he needed. Even though Annie didnât yet know what chance her son had, Amber couldnât deny him. Once the treatment was over sheâd leave, return to Paris and Annieâs unwavering friendship. Why stay with a man who didnât even like her, let alone love her? One whoâd shredded her heart as if it were nothing more than waste paper.
âWell, youâll just have to go alone tonight because even if I did have something
befitting my position
to wear, I would rather stay here.â She knew she shouldnât be provoking him, but she couldnât help it. Just because he was a desert prince didnât mean he could order her around, especially as heâd been constantly reminding her she was
his
princess.
Her heart rate accelerated and butterflies took flight in her stomach as he walked across the room. His strikingly handsome face was marred by a thunderous expression as he came close to her. âWe made a deal, yet already you think you can assert authority over me.â
She stood her ground despite wanting to slip past him. âI have not yet received any kind of indication that you have honoured your side of the
deal
, as you call it.â
âIs my word not enough for you?â he said as he walked away again, giving her the impression of an animal trapped in captivity, stalking the perimeter of its reduced territory.
She looked at his broad shoulders, tight and firmly set. He had exploded into her life again, opening up wounds which had only just begun to heal, and the only way she could tolerate it was to know that he would keep his promise of
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