Kat was wheeled out of the hospital in a wheelchair, as per regulations, but once outside she stood up, unsteady for a moment.
Zafir took her arm, leading her over to where his car was waiting.
When they were moving through the narrow streets towards the palace Kat said as lightly as she could, ‘I should still be able to make my flight tomorrow morning.’
Zafir looked at her, and the expression on his face brooked no argument. ‘I’ve postponed it, Kat. You need a day to recover. At least.’
Kat’s heart thumped at the thought of another day and night here, knowing that Zafir was just biding his time till she was gone. ‘But I’m fine.’
He shook his head, and something sparked in his eyes. ‘Is one more day really too much, Kat? You want to leave that badly?’
She was shocked. ‘No... I love it here.’
But I also love you, and one more minute than necessary is torture.
But of course she didn’t say that.
She swallowed her emotion and said, ‘It’s fine. I’ll stay.’
She turned her head to look out of the window. After their explosive conversation before the event, and Zafir’s ‘I’m sorry,’ Kat knew there was nothing more for them to say to each other. The past had been laid to rest. Now she would just have to suck up the fact that Zafir was acting out of a sense of responsibility. And possibly still that misplaced guilt. No doubt he wanted her continued presence here as little as she did.
When they arrived back at the palace Jasmine was waiting for them, and also Rahul, both looking worried. Zafir gave instructions to Jasmine in his own language and she whisked Kat back to her suite, shooting her concerned glances.
When Kat had had a bath and was re-emerging from the bathroom, feeling a little more human again without half a ton of make-up on her face, Jasmine was still there and looking determined.
Before Kat could say anything the younger woman said, ‘I’m not leaving. The King has told me someone needs to watch over you tonight in case of concussion.’
Kat knew that arguing would be futile. ‘Very well...’
She got into bed as Jasmine curled up on a large love seat nearby, her pretty face illuminated by the screen of her palm tablet. Kat felt a surge of gratitude at the thought of how much the girl had already come to mean to her.
Before she tried to go to sleep she said, ‘Thank you, Jasmine.’
The girl looked up and smiled. ‘You’re welcome, Miss Winters. Now, get some rest.’
Kat thought she’d toss and turn for a while, but she actually slipped into sleep almost immediately.
When she woke some time late
r the room was in darkness and her throat was dry. She struggled to sit up in the bed, and immediately saw movement in the corner—something big and dark. A scream stuck in Kat’s throat for a second, before she realised with a hammering heart that it was Zafir looming over her in the moonlight.
‘What is it?’ he asked. ‘Are you all right? Is your head hurting?’
‘No, I’m just thirsty. Where’s Jasmine?’
Zafir sat down on the edge of the bed and turned on a low light. Kat saw that stubble darkened his jaw and that his hair was mussed up as if he’d been running a hand through it.
He reached for some water and handed Kat the glass. She took a few gulps, hating how aware she was of Zafir’s big body. Was it only a couple of days ago he’d been making love to her with such zealous passion? Now he couldn’t be more distant.
He took the glass and put it back. His body was rigid with tension and something inside Kat broke. Clearly he couldn’t stand to be near her any more.
She sank back under the covers. ‘You don’t need to watch me, Zafir. I’m fine.’
He reached over and turned off the light and said, ‘I’m not going anywhere, Kat.’
And then he stood up and retreated back into the shadows.
* * *