Page 32 of Warlord’s Empire

“Radik has a reason. We just don’t know it yet.”

She snuggled against him, closing her eyes with a sigh, allowing exhaustion to take over. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

He picked her up and carried her to their bedroom.

Chapter Fifteen

Saskia woke abruptly, sitting up and looking around blearily, unsure what had woken her. It was still dark outside. She checked her phone. 2 AM.

A muffled thumping sound, followed by a grunt had her sliding from her bed and hurrying to the door that separated her room from Radik’s. She pressed her ear to the door and heard another thump, this one louder.

She thought about knocking, but it was the middle of the night and she didn’t want to draw attention to herself. Especially when herself came with a wicked case of bedhead and morning breath.

Radik was probably just getting ready for bed after a late night of warlording or whatever he did when he wasn’t with her.

Feeling a little overheated, she wandered to the balcony doors, opening them and stepping out onto the patio. Closing her eyes, she enjoyed the feel of the clay tiles at her feet and the cool breeze as it caressed her warm skin. It smelled of the flowers from the vines that creeped up the side of the house.

“Help, they’re killing us!”

The shout made her jump as it pierced the early morning darkness. She recognized the language as Sudanese and the shout had come from Radik’s room, further along the balcony.

She hurried to his door, which was cracked open. “Muhammed?” she whispered, and when there was no response, raised her voice. “Muhammed, are you okay?”

It was still quiet and she almost turned away, but then a muffled shout stopped her. Mustering as much bravery as she could, she pushed the door open and stepped into his room. It was so dark, she had to pause until her eyes were accustomed to it. She followed the groans to his bed.

“Muhammed,” she said softly, reaching out to touch his bare shoulder.

She didn’t know exactly how it happened, but in a rapid blur she was suddenly on her back on the bed, a knife to her throat, a gun to her head and a very heavy man on top of her.

“Radik!” she squeaked, frozen beneath him.

She could barely make out his face in the weak moonlight filtering through the balcony doors, but she could see his features were twisted into an expression of pain. His eyes were open, blinking rapidly as consciousness came to him.

His tense muscles softened and he shifted the knife away from her throat. She felt a slight sting as it left her. Her body was numb with shock so she couldn’t tell if he’d just nicked her or actually sliced.

“Saskia?” Recognition dawned and he rolled off her.

Relief flooded her veins and she began to shake. Unable to move, she lay motionless on the bed, watching as he stood and walked away. Seconds later, lamplight illuminated the bed.

Gasping, Saskia sat up, her hand going to her throat. When she looked at her fingers, there was no blood, thank goodness.

Radik didn’t move. Just stood next to the bed, staring at her, as if trying to work out how she’d gotten there.

He was magnificent. Strong, beautiful, and very, very naked. Mahogany skin stretched over thick slabs of muscle, rippling with sinew and veins, shining with sweat. His bald head was also shining, streaked with sweat.

Though she glanced down, she didn’t linger. It was huge, of course, and she wanted a better look, but she didn’t want to be obvious. Especially after he’d probably just woken from a nightmare.

“What are you doing in here?” he asked, his voice rough with sleep. He sounded confused.

“You left your door open,” she said.

“I know, but why are you here?”

Now that the shock of his abrupt waking was over, he seemed less confused and more… interested. He was devouring her with his eyes. She was wearing a thigh-length nightshirt, but he made her feel like she was barely wearing anything.

“You were talking in your sleep,” she told him, swinging her legs over the side of the bed and pulling her nightshirt to her knees, tucking the edges under her thighs to hold it in place.

“You shouldn’t come in my room while I’m sleeping,” he said gruffly, opening the patio doors wide. A cooling breeze washed over them and he sighed with relief.