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CHAPTER FOURTEEN

SIENNA’S first sight of Hashiainst a backdrop of stars—like a distant castle in a fairy tale—and she touched her fingers to her lips in disbelief and a growing sense of wonder As if this could not be happening Not now, and not to her

But it was

She was suolden and sapphire-blue, but she was scarcely aware of the lavish and opulent décor for only one figure dominated her line of vision As he always did Tall and lean and proud—the beautiful-ugly face tense His flohite robes er, but his eyes were oh-so-fa coals that heated her skin and warmed her heart

He nodded when he saw her, as if she had just confir in his mind, but Sienna was terribly aware of protocol and of the presence of his servants—even though they had their eyes averted And so she simply nodded back—as if they were two commuters who passed each other on the train platfor

With a curt, clipped stateue he dismissed the servants, and after the roo, countless seconds

‘Now come to me,’ he commanded

She went like a wo Towards him Summoned by her Sheikh Into his arms The place where she most wanted to be

There was no kiss, just a fierce es He clasped her against him and pressed his face to her scented hair His words were muffled

‘You know that I love you, don’t you, Sienna?’

Sienna pulled away and stared up at hi rapidly, certain that she must have misheard him ‘Hashim?’

‘Can’t you feel it in the beating of my heart?’ He placed her pal of his life-blood ood, Sienna—for I have tried By the mountains and the rivers, I have tried! I have atteine life without you And I cannot I will not’

‘But love?’ she whispered

‘Yes, love’ He sle—a force as powerful as life itself—can you not feel it gathering strength, Sienna—as the bird itself does just before flight?’