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Again that flash of emotion. ‘Life rarely plays out the way we envision.’
‘That’s not true for you though, is it? You’re exactly where you want to be, aren’t you?’
Slowly he advanced to where she stood. The folded arms dropped to his sides. He didn’t reach for her, but he didn’t need to. Her entire being was focused on him.
‘Do you think you could’ve conceived my child, Lauren?’ The words were low, deep, throbbing with a kind of possessiveness that warned that, should she answer in the affirmative, life as she knew it would be over.
She could’ve prevaricated. Or simply refused to answer.
‘I’m within my ovulation window. But that means nothing. Unfortunately for you, you can’t control things this time, Tahir. And as to whether I want to be your queen, whether I’m carrying your child or not, the answer is no.’
The answer is no.
In the short space of time between realising his blunder with protection and reaching her, Tahir’s imagination had gone on a wild rampage.
He’d imagined Lauren’s belly round with his child.
He’d imagined holding his child for the first time.
He’d imagined doing things differently. Better. To stop the sins of the father being visited upon the son.
Because...
Every child deserves to be told they’re loved...
Those words especially, said with wide, earnest eyes, had drilled into his very soul. Had made him believe...in those frantic minutes...that he might have what it took. That, decades from now, no child of his would confess to another human being that his or her father didn’t love them. Instead, they would boast of his affection. They would go through life secure in his unconditional love.
Damn it, Lauren had made himhopeagain. And this time the fall would be greater...because he loved her.
While she...
Whether I’m carrying your child or not...
Tahir couldn’t even summon the power to be furious at her. He had absolutely no one to blame but himself.
‘Did you hear me?’ she bit out, her face still pale from his news. Hisunwantednews.
‘Oh, yes,habibti. I heard you.’
Did she now flinch at his endearment? When she’d shuddered with delight at it a mere two hours ago? Extracting himself from the wall, he tugged the shroud over the depleted hourglass and set the tray before her.
Startled eyes rose to his. ‘What are you doing?’
I don’t know. But I can’t bear this to end yet.‘We’re not done.’
She opened her mouth and every sinew in his body strained for her next words. Because the hope she’d awakened refused to die. But all she said was, ‘Fine. Have it your way.’
Her hand shook as she spun the tray.
Lauren knew he’d seen but she didn’t care. He was determined to finish his game and she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of begging him to release her from it.
But even as she went through with the sham of finishing a game that no longer mattered, her other hand dropped beneath the table to her belly.
Pregnant.
A baby...Tahir’s babycould be growing inside her right this minute. She swallowed, the enormity of that possibility shaking through her. She’d come off the pill after swearing off dating following her thirtieth birthday. And the idea of having sex with Tahir on her arrival in Jukrat had been nigh on laughable.
A wave of dizziness swept over her, making her squeeze her eyes shut once more.
