Annie West - Scandal - His Majesty's Love-Child

It seemed ludicrous, and yet…

‘Ah, Sleeping Beauty awakes.’ Eyes bright as the morning sun gleamed under straight dark brows. With his burnished skin and black-as-midnight hair those light eyes should have looked wrong somehow.

Yet Annalisa knew with a sinking certainty, as her pulse sped, that she’d never seen a more handsome man. His half-smile drove a deep crease up one lean cheek and her gaze fixed on it with an intensity that appalled her.

‘I hope you didn’t need me earlier,’ she murmured. ‘I can’t imagine why I overslept.’

‘Can’t you?’ This time he smiled fully, and Annalisa reached out to grab the tent post as her heart kicked and her knees loosened.

What was happening to her?

All her life she’d been sensible, responsible, dutiful. Never, not even on the brink of marriage, had she been swept away by the sheer presence of a man.

‘From the little I recall I’d guess you’ve been running yourself ragged caring for me.’

Annalisa blinked and made herself move from the tent. It felt absurdly as if she was stepping away from safety. But the only danger lay in her reckless response to those piercing blue eyes.

‘I packed up your telescope, by the way.’

Swiftly Annalisa turned to the place where her father’s telescope had been last night. The location hadn’t been ideal, close to the lights of the camp, but she hadn’t liked to move too far away in case Tahir needed her.

Swiftly she knelt to undo the battered case.

‘Thank you,’ she murmured, frantically trying to remember whether she’d covered the lens before going last night to sit with Tahir through his nightmare. If the wind had risen and blasted sand across the lens—

‘It seemed okay when I packed it up.’

He was right. There was no damage. Relieved, she sank back on her heels. ‘You know about telescopes?’

He shrugged. Unwillingly Annalisa followed the fluid movement of his shoulders.

‘Who knows?’ His lazy smile slipped and for a moment he looked grim, his eyes cooling to an icy blue.

‘I’m sorry.’ How could she be so clumsy? ‘I’m sure you’ll remember soon.’ Impulsively she stood and walked towards him, only to stop at his side, self-conscious.

‘No doubt you’re right.’ His easy smile belied the gravity of his expression. ‘Sit with me?’

Wordlessly she complied, settling out of arm’s reach.

‘I remember some things,’ he said. ‘More than before.’

‘Really? That’s fantastic. What do you recall?’ If he noticed her too-bright tone he said nothing. She’d spent days wondering who he was and how he’d got here. How much worse for him not to know?

Again that shrug. Annalisa slid her gaze from the play of muscle and tanned skin, forcing her breathing to slow.

‘Just vague images. A party. Lots of people, but no faces. Places I can’t identify.’ He paused. ‘And a sandstorm, big enough to block the light.’

She nodded. ‘That was just before I came out here.’

‘I remember the vastness of the desert.’ His eyes snared hers. ‘Which leads me to wonder how we get out of here and if you’ve got enough food to keep us both in the meantime.’

‘There’s plenty.’ Out of habit she’d catered for two. ‘As for transport, there’s a camel route through the oasis.’

‘And a camel train is coming back soon?’

Annalisa’s bright smile faded. ‘Not straight away. In a few days.’

She’d prayed they’d return early and take Tahir to hospital.

Now her desperation was edged with other emotions.

‘A few more days?’ he repeated. ‘Maybe more?’ His voice was disturbingly deep, his scrutiny so intense it was like a touch, and Annalisa sucked in a quick breath.

‘You and me, alone in the desert.’

She met his unreadable eyes. Her stomach dipped. She lifted her chin, battling emotions she didn’t understand.

Last night’s intimacy had changed everything.

For the first time their enforced solitude felt…dangerous.

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