Free Jewel in His Crown by Lynne Graham

‘I’ll light a fire—there is enough wood.’
    â€˜What on earth are we going to do?’
    With relaxed but economical movements, Raja began to light a small fire. ‘A search for us will already have begun. The Najari air force will mount an efficient rescue mission but they have a very large area to cover. We have food and shelter. This is an oasis and bedu tribesmen must come here sometimes to water their flocks. Many of them have phones and could quickly summon help. I could trek out to find the nearest settlement but I am reluctant to leave you alone—’
    â€˜I would manage,’ Ruby declared.
    â€˜I don’t think so,’ the prince told her without apology as a spark flared and he fed it with what appeared to be dried foliage. ‘I will make tea.’
    â€˜I could come with you—’
    â€˜You couldn’t stand the heat by day or keep up with me, which would put both of us at greater risk.’
    Stymied by his conviction of her lack of stamina, Ruby dug her toes into the quilt in an effort to defrost them. ‘How come you’re so calm?’
    â€˜When all else fails, celebrate the positive and…we are safe and healthy.’
    The warm drink did satisfy her thirst and drive off her inner chill though even the effort of sitting up to drink made her very aware of how tired and dizzy she still was.
    â€˜Try to get some sleep,’ the prince advised.
    The thin mat that was all that lay between her and the ground provided little padding. She curled up. Raja tucked the quilt round her as if she were a small child. The cold of the earth below pierced the mat, making her shiver again and, expelling his breath in an impatient hiss, Raja got below the quilt with her and melded his heated body to the back of hers.
    â€˜What are you doing?’ Ruby squeaked, her slight figure stiff as a metal strut in the loose circle of his strong arms.
    â€˜There’s no need for you to be cold while I am here.’
    â€˜You’re not a hot-water bottle!’ Ruby spat, unimpressed, her innate distrust of men rising like a shot of hot steam inside her.
    â€˜And you’re not as irresistible as you seem to think,’ Raja imparted silkily.
    The heat of her angry suspicion blazed into mortification and if possible she became even more rigid. Ignoring the fact, Raja curled her back firmly into his amazingly warm body.
    â€˜I don’t like this,’ she admitted starchily.
    â€˜Neither do I,’ Raja confided without skipping a beat. ‘I’m more into sex than cuddling.’
    Outrage glittered in her eyes in the flickering light from the dying fire. She wanted to thump him but the horrible cold was steadily receding from her body and she was afraid that she would look comically prudish if she fought physically free of his embrace.
    â€˜And just think,’ Raja remarked lazily above her head. ‘All those miserable old diehards who think we shouldn’t be getting married will be so pleased to find out we are married now.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜If you were still single your reputation would be ruined by spending the night out here alone with me. As it is you’re a married woman and safe from the embarrassment of a scandal, if not much of a catch in the wife stakes.’
    Ruby twisted her head around, brown eyes blazing. ‘And what’s that supposed to mean?’
    â€˜A sex ban would exude zero appeal for the average male in either one of our countries.’
    â€˜You signed up for it,’ Ruby reminded him stubbornly, furious that he could be so basic that he deemedsex with a virtual stranger a necessary extra to a successful civilised relationship with a woman.
    Raja was not thinking with intellect alone. In fact his brain had little to do with his reactions for he had a raging hard-on. Strands of fragrant silky blonde hair were brushing his shoulder, her pert derrière braced against his thighs while he