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A place she’d secured for him at a price she had yet to be fully cognisant of.

She’d been informed of her father’s transfer to house arrest by Fawzi this morning, but the Sultan’s private secretary had been mute about everything else, including when she would see Zaid again.

But she wasn’t going to be kept in the dark for long.

She’d watched the helicopter land on the vast green lawn abutting the sheer cliffs of the house minutes ago. From the west-facing window she’d followed the tall, imposing figure silhouetted against the setting sun as he’d ducked beneath the rotor blades before striking a path for the house. His dark robes flowed dramatically around his head and body as he walked. He went out of sight, and her stomach hollowed. The sensation wasn’t acute but it was real and astonishing enough to realise that she’d missed seeing Zaid.

Exhaling in a burst of unnerving disquiet, she frowned as her brain wrestled with the astounding revelation. She was still frozen in place when she sensed his presence. She didn’t need to turn around to confirm that those penetrating eyes were on her body. Her spine was tingling, the skin between her shoulders twitching with an awareness she had no hope of suppressing. But still she fought what was happening to her. She had to try. Giving in to even a tiny bit of it would be risking emotions she’d sworn never to dally with again. Letting emotions get the better of her, letting herself be swept away with possibilities of a different life had ended badly the only time she’d allowed someone in.

So she stood at the window, fighting the sensations rampaging through her body with everything she had.

‘Are you going to turn around and greet me, Esmeralda?’ he drawled in a deep, low voice.

Her stomach dipped and tightened at the way he pronounced her name, the sensuality it evoked. Esme clenched her fists against the feeling, and turned.

‘Hello, Za... Your Highness.’ She changed her mind over using his given name. It was safer that way. Safer to maintain distance between them.

Keep this straightforward.

Keep it professional.

‘Thank you for arranging all this for my father.’ She indicated the room, and the house. ‘And also for his care at the hospital. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t been there. So...thank you.’

‘Is this finally the frothing of gratitude you promised?’ he asked as he stepped deeper into the room, his grace and elegance evoking images of a sleek jungle predator.

The reminder of her waspish words triggered a blush, one she was still fighting when he stopped in front of her. The disparity in their heights forced her head up. Again she was unable to quell the zap of heat that arrowed through her. ‘If that is what you wish it to be.’

He remained silent for a stretch before he spoke. ‘I would’ve preferred it not to have been triggered by your father,’ he said, his voice containing a bite that produced a different reaction from her. She watched him cast a displeased glance around the room before returning his attention to her. ‘I take it he’s better pleased with his accommodations?’ he drawled.

‘Yes, he is.’

Esme wasn’t surprised at all when his mouth flattened. ‘He orchestrated everything to end up this way. You know this, don’t you?’ he bit out, his mood darkening further.

Her heart dropped because that same thought had occurred to her. ‘Maybe. But the fact remains that his health, not to mention his personal safety, was at risk at the prison.’

The hand he lifted to trace her cheek was gentle but, in direct contrast, the look in his eyes was stark, resigned with more than a trace of bitterness.

Esme swallowed, instinctively shying away from knowing whatever was coming even as her skin heated and tingled at his touch.

‘Be that as it may, you’ve proved me right after all. Nothing comes without a price.’

‘But we’re both getting what we want. Isn’t that all that matters?’ Her voice was barely a murmur, his continued caress and their opposing conversation ripping her concentration to shreds.

‘Is that how you justify coming to a criminal’s aid?’ he accused.

Stung, she jerked away from his hand. ‘I’m helping him because, criminal or not, he doesn’t deserve to be attacked! I’d do the same for anyone else.’

‘But you’re going over and above for your father, despite knowing exactly what kind of man he is.’

The urge to fold her arms in the universal posture of defence was strong. But she managed to keep her hands at her sides. ‘Did you come here merely to condemn me and my father?’

‘I came to take you back to the palace. The next stage of our arrangement needs to be hammered out.’

A foreboding little shiver went through her. ‘But my father—’

‘Will be fine. One of his guards is an army medic. Besides, our agreement doesn’t include you remaining here to play nursemaid.’

‘What does it include exactly? You haven’t yet told me.’

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