LITMIR.BIZ

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wind had died down. She pushed the errant curls out of her face. “What do you think?”

      His lips twitched. When they did that, she almost had a coronary. “I think you should sleep with a man more often.” But Rafi didn’t mean himself. This was his goodbye speech and it hurt so terribly she wanted to cry it to the desert surrounding them. “Nine hours has done you a world of good.”

      “Nine? I slept that long? When did you wake up?”

      “Half an hour ago.” He handed her a mug of coffee he’d heated on a little burner.

      She took a few sips. “Ambrosia. My compliments to the chef.” She looked around and decided to walk up to the edge of dune, but Rafi stopped her.

      “Don’t.”

      Lauren turned to face him. “Why?”

      “Let the picture of last night be the one to fill your mind when you leave for El-Joktor tomorrow morning. Without the moonlight, its impact is lost.”

      Tomorrow morning?

      Pain caused her to take a deep breath. “I’m sure you’re right.”

      “Try this.” He handed her a roll from one of the bags. “It’s sweet and will take the edge off your appetite until we return to the palace.”

      “Do we have to get right back?” Then she shook her head. “Wait—don’t answer that. Duty calls and I’ve taken up too much of your time.” She finished her food before returning to the tent to roll up the quilts and carry everything out to the horses for Rafi.

      He was in a mood she couldn’t decipher. Lauren knew that in his mind she had lied to him and continued to do so, but she felt no hostility from him. She sensed he had worries on his mind that had nothing to do with her.

      Life without Rafi. It is what it is, Lauren.

      Unlike her grandmother so many years ago, she wouldn’t be going home pregnant with her lover’s child. How much she suddenly longed to leave pregnant with Rafi’s baby. He would never know and she could never tell him.

      She worked faster to stave off her pain. Without his asking, she helped him dismantle the tent. Once the stakes and poles were packed, they were ready to leave. She threw on her cloak and headscarf before mounting Zia, but inside she was groaning from unbearable heartache.

      He approached her side on his stallion and flicked her a glance. Their eyes clung for a moment. “Ready?” She nodded. They started out, making faster progress than they had last night. The horses knew where they were going. Zia was happy to have free rein.

      Lauren purposely fell behind Rafi so she could feast her eyes on him in his robe and headdress for as long as possible. This episode in her life was fast coming to an end. She didn’t want to miss a second of it.

      Every so often they stopped to drink from their water bags, then pushed on without talking. They’d said it all last night in the tent. Rafi wanted to hate her for lying to him. She could never get past that with him.

      Before long they came in sight of the Oasis. Lauren had once read that a Bedouin burst into poetry and song when he saw the greenness after being many weeks in the sand-drenched wilderness. She’d thought it such an odd thing to do until she too had been out in it.

       Ah, Rafi … I can’t bear to lose you.

      The palace loomed ahead. They made their way to the west entrance where Nazir and two other staff were waiting for them.

      “I’ll contact you later.” As Rafi dismounted, she scanned his face, which had been scarfed the whole time except for his eyes. With the bearing of a prince, he walked away from her and disappeared. Naturally his first priority was to report for work, but she almost begged him not to leave her.

      Needing an outlet for her emotions, she leaned forward to pat Zia, then dismounted quickly.

      “Welcome back, mademoiselle. A hot bath and a meal are awaiting you.”

      “Thank you, Nazir.” While he escorted her inside, the two other men took care of the horses.

      He left her outside the door of her suite and she hurried inside. After removing her cloak and boots, she quickly discarded her clothes and stepped into the bath. Rafi had ordered it especially for her because he knew how good it would feel after riding beneath a blistering sun.

      But wonderful as the scented water felt lapping around her head and body, she’d sell her soul for another night like last night. She closed her eyes, replaying every second from the moment he’d started washing her hands with the towel.

      He’d created a world of beauty for her inside that tent. They were the acts of a man who worshipped the woman he loved. If there were no lies to have destroyed his trust, would he have worshipped her enough to ask her to stay here at Al-Shafeeq because he couldn’t live without her?

      She knew what her answer would be, but realized the question would never pass his lips.

      After his shower, Rashad hitched a towel around his hips and drank a cup of black coffee. He’d had his sources checking on facts for him since early morning. So far everything Lauren had told him was the truth.

      There had indeed been a Melrose family from New York that had made a fortune in manufacturing. Certain other facts had also been verified. As for Mustafa, she’d even admitted lying about him in order to protect him because she didn’t want the poor man punished. She’d convinced him Faisal hadn’t been involved, too.

      He tossed the medallion and chain in his palm. The gold he held in his hand proved she’d come to Al-Shafeeq on a mission she still refused to talk about. But even not knowing the reason hadn’t mattered to him last night. He’d wanted to make love to her and would have, but for the one thing his father had engrained in him from the time he’d come of age.

      “You’re a prince, destined to be king, Rashad. Enjoy our women at your discretion, but stay away from forbidden fruit. The strongest man can be tempted to take a bite. Once he does, he will eat the whole and lose his way because of it.

      “You, my son, don’t have that luxury. For that to happen to you will bring disappointment to your mother and me, but that is nothing compared to the shame and dishonor you will bring upon yourself. You cannot reclaim your honor once it is gone, therefore you cannot be an honorable husband and father to your children, let alone serve a nation that needs its strongest son to rule.”

      When Rashad would have lost his head at the last moment, a picture of his wedding night to an innocent Princess Azzah in a month’s time wouldn’t let go of him and cooled his blood.

      Tomorrow morning Nazir would accompany Lauren to El-Joktor. As he should have done yesterday, but for Rashad’s need of her. It was so great, he’d gone off with her instead. Now his agony was at its zenith.

      Today he would fly to Raz and immerse himself in work. He might even stay over in order to avoid further temptation and not return to the palace until tomorrow after she’d gone. It was a lame plan, but he was a desperate man.

      Even if he pressured her enough to know the whole truth, it would change nothing. His life’s path had been set from the moment he was born. She was the forbidden fruit. The ultimate test. He checked his watch. Twenty hours from now, she’d be gone. Forever. That word was so hideous, he couldn’t dress or get away from the palace fast enough.

      Once he reached Raz, he drove the Jeep to the outskirts where the foundation of the new refinery would be built. After levering himself from the seat, he walked around the perimeter, wanting to get a feel for it before the actual work began.

      His plan for a new era of prosperity was about to get underway. In time they’d make enough money to build more infrastructure. The list of things to be done stretched from one end of the kingdom to the other.

      He looked all around, brushing the sweat off his brows with his forearm. On the one hand, Rashad had been blessed in

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