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Such intent He was carrying her to yet another session of deliriuather in her limbsitself for his onslaught, his possession…

But as each of his strides transmitted their effortless power to her bones, realization seeped through, until everything crashed back into her awareness

This wasn’t the past He wasn’t carrying her to his bed, or anywhere else where he’d ravish her with pleasure This was now In the oppressive present

Shehe wouldn’t take Mennah from her

She convulsed in his arms from the resurrected dread His scowl deepened, and his hold firmed as he shouldered open her bedroom door “Be still You passed out”

“Put ht now”

“I’ll put you down on your bed B’Ellahi, quit struggling”

She shook her head, crushing his lapels in spastic fingers

“You said you on’t…?”

He didn’t answer her amputated question, deposited her on her bed with ut her head His eyes swept down her length as they’d always done, as if he were struggling with the decision about which part of her to ravish first

When he had her quaking, he swept back up to her eyes, drawled, “I won’t take Mennah away fro ht you were a monster”

“No? The man you claim to think would have forced you to abort your baby, or would take her from you to banish her soitimate so he’d secure his position? If this isn’t ato his forearan to withdraw, desperate to make him understand He extricated himself as if froe, I couldn’t afford a in of error, could only consider worst-case scenarios I was afraid you’d think I’d lied on purpose, h to kno you’d react to perceived betrayals or threats And then it wasn’t about you, oris about her She’s everything to ”

E her It was a aze away, razing her single bed, her roo his tean to realize the depth of his affront, his fury

Everything he’d said was the opposite of what she’d iined It shriveled her to know she’d taken extreme actions that had hurt him on so many levels…

No They had hurt him on only one level—where Mennah was concerned He suffered anger that she’d hid the baby, offense that she’d dared fear hi any child, even one conceived without his will and knowledge What they’d shared was not worthexcept to reference her exit act, which he’d h it

Suddenly a gurgle tore through the silence One of the sounds Carht between the back to hers for aand burbling hich Mennah entertained herself upon waking up Astonishment invaded his eyes as they fell on the miniature receiver buckled on Carmen’s waistband Then he murmured, clearly not to her, his deepest baritone soft with amazement, “Ya Ullah, she’s awake…”