She needed an opportunity to discover if he knew anything about Maia. If, as she was beginning to think, Maia wasn’t in Sitra and he knew nothing of her whereabouts, then she could enjoy herself. As her suspicions had lessened during the day, so, too, had her defenses against her attraction to Razeen. The reasons for keeping her distance were diminishing by the hour. But until her suspicions were completely proved false, she had to keep a barrier between them.
“Couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do.”
“Good. Until later, then.” He touched her cheek in a gentle, yet intimate farewell and turned to walk away.
“Where shall I go?” She called after him.
“I’ll come for you at seven.” He turned and grinned. “And bring a bikini.”
CHAPTER FIVE
The fiery ball of the sun dipped below the horizon and dusk fell like a curtain bringing sudden darkness to the city, leaving Lucy with a heightened sense of anticipation for the night ahead.
She glanced down at the loose trousers and shirt she wore and for the hundredth time and hoped they’d be suitable. Razeen had assured her she could wear what she wished tonight, that they wouldn’t be going anywhere too public. The thought had both reassured and thrilled her. And the deep thrumming thrill had only intensified as she’d waited for him to arrive.
Right on time, there was a knock at the door. Lucy sucked in a long, slow breath, willing herself to be calm as she answered the door. The air rushed right out again at the sight of Razeen, his tall, strong body clad not in robes, but in casual trousers and open-necked shirt that revealed just how toned his body was. He stood, one hand leaning against the wall, his gaze focused on the ancient tiles at his feet as if deep in thought. His shirt sleeves were rolled up revealing muscled forearms and his chest… It was all she could do not to spread her fingers out over that chest and feel the friction of the sprinkling of hairs against her skin. When he lifted his eyes to hers, the contemplative look was swiftly replaced by a devastating heat that reflected her own.
“Miss Gee. Are you ready?”
She nodded, unable to stop her heart skipping out of time at the sight and scent of him. Without his keffiyeh Lucy could see his hair was shortish, but long enough to run her fingers through. His cheekbones were broad and his lips were habitually pressed firmly together, as if showing restraint. Despite the control, the intensely sensual look in his narrowed eyes as they met hers, showed his true thoughts.
“Absolutely. Do I need an abaya?”
The silence lengthened as he looked her up and down appreciatively. “You are perfect, exactly as you are.”
“It’s just that I wouldn’t want to offend anyone, I, well…” Lucy trailed off, embarrassed by the compliment, evident not only in his words, but also in his eyes.
“I can assure you, you do not offend me, quite the reverse. Shall we go?” She took his offered arm gratefully and he squeezed it against his body in a momentary, subtle embrace designed to reassure.
“Sure.” She tried to keep focused, but walking closely beside Razeen, inhaling his personal scent, would have destroyed the concentration of a Zen master. “So,” she gulped another lungful of Razeen-laden air, “where exactly are we going?”
“Back where we first met, the next bay along to be exact. We’ll dine there. My family has a lodge there. I’m thinking of using it as a model for the first phase of tourism. I’d like your opinion of it.”
A flutter of anticipation ran through Lucy. It had nothing to do with Maia and all to do with the thought of an evening alone with Razeen.
“Sounds good.” Too good. She needed him; but she also needed to keep her distance and her head.
Instead of walking through the palace down to the city, Razeen took her through secret gardens surrounded by high walls: ancient enclosures, far bigger than the courtyards and gardens elsewhere within the palace, where columns, that appeared to be Roman, still upheld stone pergola. They followed the lie of the land down from the crest of the hill through lush greenery until they came to a large door that Razeen unbolted. He nodded in greeting to the guards in the guardhouse beside the door and then they walked on, down the long flight of ancient steps to a small private bay. The bay was empty except for a large, modern boathouse. Ignoring the huge motor launch Razeen guided Lucy to a small motorboat. He pressed a button on the large doors which slid back revealing the inky blue water and night sky.
“Quite a contrast: state of the art boat shed next to Roman ruins.”
“I need my escape to be secure.” He grinned and her stomach tied into knots.