The Sheikh's Desert Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs series Book 8) (19 page)

Lucy noticed that Raz and Ella were still dressed in casual clothes. She suddenly felt completely overdressed.

She glanced around. Where was Azim? The disturbing thought that he'd left for some reason overtook. She saw Ella smile reassuringly at her. "I know what you're thinking. Where's Azim?" Ella said.

"It had occurred to me," Lucy said.

Ella took Lucy's hand and led her over to the balustrade.

"He's down there. Waiting for you," Ella said looking down toward the jetty.

Lucy frowned and then followed Ella's gaze.

Down at the jetty, standing beside the large brightly illuminated yacht, she saw Azim pacing nervously. He was dressed in an elegantly tailored dark suit and white shirt open at the neck.
 

"What's going on?" Lucy asked peering at Raz and Ella.

"We thought you'd like some privacy with Azim," Raz explained. "So, we've arranged for you and Azim to have dinner aboard the yacht."

"What!" Lucy exclaimed. "But what about you both?"

"We'll just have our dinner here, as usual," Ella explained.

Lucy heard a low rumble from the direction of the yacht. She saw the ripples emerging from the rear end of the yacht. Was it getting ready to leave?

"We thought it might be romantic for you both to have a moonlit dinner out there," Ella said pointing out to the shimmering dark of the sea.

Lucy gasped quietly. The night was taking on a whole new perspective.
 

"Ella and I have done the same, many times," Raz explained. "The sea's calm tonight. Perfect for a romantic dinner for two. Our staff have been briefed. They know exactly what is expected. They'll serve dinner and then respect your privacy."

Lucy eyes widened. "That's such an amazing thing for you to have arranged for me. For us," she added correcting herself and glancing down at Azim.

Ella took Lucy's elbow and walked her over to the top of the steps which wound down the cliffside to the jetty.

Lucy hugged Ella and smiled at Raz. Then she started down the stone steps, which thankfully weren't too steep. She had to lift her dress above her ankles, just to be safe.

Halfway down she paused and saw Azim was watching her, the broadest smile on his face. She lifted one hand and gave him a tentative little wave. He smiled right back at her and she continued on down the steps.

After a couple of minutes she stepped onto the jetty and saw Azim had come to her, and was extending a hand toward her.

She took his hand, feeling a sudden, very familiar tingle trace its way up her arm and down her body. Why was it that just touching him could make her feel like that?

"Good evening," Azim said. He was looking at her as if she was the most beautiful woman in the world, his eyes bright and eager, his smile broad as if he was now satisfied that she was by his side.

"Good evening," Lucy replied.

Azim curved an arm out and she hooked her hand through, feeling him draw her arm nearer, gently taking hold of her. They started to walk toward the yacht.

"Can you believe Ella and Raz did this?" Lucy asked.

"That's the kind of people they are," Azim replied. "They're just so generous."

Lucy gazed out at the sea, feeling the cool breeze against her face. The moonlight created a bright, silvery hue that was like something out of a dream. Just like this entire experience, Lucy told herself.

The yacht's engine sounded louder now that she was standing next to it. The boat was so large, it almost took her breath away. It looked big enough to host a party of probably a dozen or so people, she thought. There was a large open area at the rear of the boat, and she saw a table had already been set, ready for dinner to be served. Lucy saw the entrance to below decks and wondered what it was like down there. Probably it housed a reception room and more than a few bedrooms. She thrust that thought away and readied herself to step aboard.

One of the staff, a middle-aged Qazhar man, attired in traditional white robes, introduced himself as Abdul and welcomed them on board. Lucy allowed Azim to guide her footsteps, holding onto her hand as she eased herself onto the wide, flat deck.

Then she was standing on deck, feeling the boat shift slightly beneath her, and watching Azim step onto the boat. He spoke quickly to Abdul and then he gestured for Lucy to make her way toward the back of the boat, next to where the table had been set up.

Lucy stood, hand on the rail and glanced up at the palace balcony. She saw Ella and Raz watching them, smiles on their faces.

"They're such good people," Lucy said.

She felt Azim's arm slide around her back and she looked at him. His eyes reflected the bright lights of the yacht. "They sure are," he agreed.

Then she heard the engines roar and the boat lurched. She felt Azim's arm tighten protectively around her. The boat slid away from the jetty and Lucy felt suddenly that everything was real, that it wasn't some crazy fantasy. She was actually heading out into the moonlit sea on a astonishingly expensive yacht while being held in Azim's arms.

Lucy watched the cliffs become distant. From out here the lights of the palace on the cliff-tops were bright, making Raz and Ella's home look like a beacon in the darkness that stretched along the coast on either side.

"How far out are we going?" she asked urgently.

Azim smiled. "We'll be stopping soon," he explained. "We're only going a short distance out. Then, it will be time for dinner."

"Sounds nice," she said.

Abdul brought a tray with glasses of champagne. Azim took the two glasses and handed one to Lucy. She took the glass, feeling the chill of the champagne on her fingers.

Azim lifted his glass. "To us?" he asked.

She nodded and clinked her glass against his. "To us," she said with a smile. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he'd approved of her response.

The champagne was delicious, especially after barely having enough water during their trip across the desert. It was as if this was a way of drawing a line across that, as if saying they were back in the world of privilege and wealth, his everyday world, far away from the harshness of the desert and the mountains.

The boat rocked gently and she held onto the railing. She gazed up at the huge full moon and felt the air cool her body through the gown.

Azim gazed down at the gown. "You look stunning in that, you know that, don't you?"

Lucy felt color flush her face. "Ella let me borrow it. In fact, she said, if it fits, I can keep it. But, I can't do that."
 
Lucy tugged gently at the gown. "Have you seen the label on this? I can't imagine how much it cost."

"I'm sure she meant what she said," Azim said evenly.

"It was a pretty good idea you had," Lucy said.

"What?"

"Coming down to the coast, instead of trekking the longer way across the desert," she said.

"It seemed like the best thing to do." He lifted his glass and gazed around the wide deck. "Seems like I was right."

"Do you have one of these?" she asked.

He lifted his brows and gave her a look. "Do you know how much this cost? And how long you have to wait before you take delivery?"

Lucy shook her head. "I couldn't even begin to take a guess."

"In any case, I'm way too busy on land to have one of these. Although, I have been tempted, I have to admit."

Lucy sipped her champagne and peered at him. She was sure that, if he really wanted, he could afford to buy one of the yachts. Although they'd never talked about money, after they'd first met, Lucy had quickly surmised that Azim was extremely wealthy. It was just that he didn't like to make a big show of it.

"I can't imagine you anywhere else except in the desert, or a boardroom," she said.

Azim raised a brow. "Really? That's the way you think of me?"

"It's all I know," she explained.

Azim leaned closer and gazed into Lucy's eyes. "You know there's so much more to me than just those two things." His voice dropped to a vibrant growl. "I'd have thought the way we were back at the encampment would have shown you that," he added.
 

Why did he have to look at her like that? Didn't he know how that gaze affected her? Threw her right off balance? Of course he knew, she told herself. Since they'd reunited he'd been playing her, toying with her in every conceivable way. And hadn't she just loved every minute? Hadn't she just wanted it to continue forever?

Of course she had, she admitted to herself.

Lucy cleared her throat. "When's dinner?" she asked desperate to shift the conversation to something else.

Azim seemed to quickly snap out of whatever state he had gotten himself into.
 

"You hungry already?"

She squinted at him. "Don't you remember the diet we existed on over the last few days?"

Azim nodded, conceding her point. She was looking forward to seeing what the chef down below had prepared.

"I'll go and tell them we're ready," Azim said placing his glass down. "Don't go away," he added with a sly grin.

Lucy glanced at the waves tumbling past the yacht. "As if I'd leave you," she joked.

Azim's brows furrowed. "There's no chance of that, Lucy," he said. His eyes darkened, purpose filling the dark pools. "As far as I'm concerned, you're not going anywhere anytime soon," he said.

She felt her heart quicken and she twisted away from him, determined he wouldn't see how his words had affected her.

Lucy heard his footsteps as he made his way to the front of the yacht. She gripped the handrail and stared down at the waves rippling away from the yacht. Further away from the yacht, the sea was calm. Nothing like her insides which were churning, nerves unsettled. She drew in a deep breath and lifted her head, gazing up at the moon.
 

What was she going to do? She should have insisted they stay on land, that all four of them have the polite evening meal she'd anticipated. But, now she was here, with Azim and there was nowhere to go to escape him or her feelings. Even if she didn't want to escape, the impulses that had driven her two years before still tugged at her, still tormented her.

What had he meant by that last remark? What was he planning? Whatever it was, she was determined to get through the next hours with as much dignity as she could summon up. And if he did do as she thought he might, she'd just have to tell him the truth. No matter what it would do them both.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Lucy hadn't been hungry, after all, Azim reflected as he gazed across at her, watching the way she was idly moving her food across her plate. Or maybe, there was something else interfering with her appetite. Maybe this whole trip had been a bad idea.
 

From the start of the meal she'd seemed preoccupied. Every attempt he'd made at casual conversation had failed. He'd never seen her like this, as if she wasn't really here with him, as if she might even want to be somewhere else. Anywhere except by his side.

The yacht was moored a short distance from shore, and Azim could still see the lights of the palace on the top of the cliffs. It was the only light for miles. That and the soft glow of the yacht's lights out here on the flat, calm sea. The moonlight cast a silver glow across everything.
 

He sighed and wondered why such a romantic setting, such a special situation, could have possibly failed to put Lucy at ease. He desperately wanted to say the words he'd been rehearsing in his mind all evening. But, every time he came close, his throat tightened and his heart started to hammer at a crazy speed.

They finished eating as much of the meal as they both wanted and made their way to a long couch which was positioned so they could both sit beside each other and gaze at the moon, the sea and the coastline. It was intended to be romantic, but right now, as Azim walked beside Lucy, it felt anything but romantic.

They sat down side by side setting their drinks down on the table in front of them.

"I notice you didn't eat much," Azim said quietly.

"Maybe its the movement of the yacht and the sea, but I didn't feel like eating much. Sorry," Lucy said.

Azim shook his head. "Nothing to be sorry about. Just means you're going to be hungry during the night."

The instant he said those words he knew he shouldn't have said them. Lucy's brows furrowed. What had he been thinking, saying that? He'd given her the completely wrong idea. This whole trip wasn't about enticing Lucy into bed for one final night before she left him forever. And those words had just created that distinct impression. He was sure of it. He could see the way she'd reacted.

Lucy lifted her glass and drained it. "Can I have another?" she asked wide-eyed.

Azim took the glass from her and shook his head. "Maybe later. Champagne and moonlight are a potent mixture." He said placing the glass down next to his own.

"What do you mean?"

Azim rested his hand on Lucy's shoulder and gazed at her hair. "Your hair really catches the moonlight," he said slowly. He reached up and loosened it, watching how it tumbled around her neck. He ran his fingers through the softness of her hair, savoring the delicate feel. He dipped his head and brought her hair to his face, inhaling the sweet scent. It smelled like roses.
 

Azim heard Lucy sigh. He lifted his gaze and saw that she was looking at him, moistening eyes brimful of emotion.

He slipped a hand around her shoulders, resting his fingers against the soft skin of her neck. His other hand settled on her leg. He felt the softness of the gown, felt the firmness of her flesh beneath it. Touching her like that triggered his own desire.

Azim heard a small sob escape from Lucy, and he glanced quickly at her, seeing that she had thrust her head back and was gazing up at the moon. He could see her long neck, see how hard she was working to control her emotion.

Was this what he wanted? Feeling as if he'd misjudged her, Azim sat back, no longer touching her at all. She seemed to notice that immediately, because she lowered her head and gazed at him. There was passion in those eyes, he told himself. Such strong passionate feeling. Was that passion just for him? Or was it a passionate determination to put an end to the madness which was turning both of their worlds upside down?