There was nothing to fear from Karim. Only from herself and the yearning he ignited in her. Yet she couldn’t shake her atavistic response. The instinct to flee was overwhelming. She was desperate to get away from this man she hadn’t been able to escape even in her thoughts. He crowded her, confronted her, made her feel things she didn’t want to feel. Even after ten days of waiting for him to come to her she found she wasn’t ready to face her weakness for him.
Safiyah turned and urged her horse faster, first to a canter and then, as the thunder of hoofbeats closed in, to a gallop. The mare leapt forward and Safiyah leaned low, feeling her hair stream behind her as they raced away, exultation firing her blood.
But they weren’t fast enough. Even over the sound of Lamia’s hooves and her own heartbeat Safiyah heard the grey close in. Each stride narrowed the gap.
Her breath was snatched in choppy gasps. Her pulse was out of control. Still she sped on, desperate to escape her pursuer and all he represented. The man who threatened her not with violence, but because he’d awoken a need inside her that wouldn’t let her rest.
He’d stolen her peace.
She had to get away. To preserve her sanity and the last of her self-respect.
Eyes fixed on the end of the beach, and the narrow ribbon of track that rose from up to the next headland, she wasn’t aware of how close he was till a dark shadow blocked the silver of the sea and the thunder was upon her, filling her ears and drumming in her chest.
Even then Safiyah wouldn’t give in. If she could get up on to the headland track before him—
It wasn’t to be. One long arm snaked out and grabbed her bridle, then they were slowing, her mare easing her pace to match that of the stallion.
Safiyah’s heart hammered. Her flesh prickled all over as the fight-or-flight response still racketed through her.
Finally they came to a halt in the shadow of the headland. Safiyah’s blood pumped too fast and her breath was laboured. Each sense was heightened. The mingled scents of horse, sea salt and hot male flesh were piquant in her nostrils. The brush of Karim’s leg against hers unleashed a storm of prickling response.
She stared at the sinewy strength of Karim’s hand and wrist, clamped like steel on her reins. The silence, broken only by the rough breathing of the horses, grew louder.
‘What the hell did you think you were doing?’ The words sliced like a whip. Karim’s eyes glittered diamond-hard even in the gloom.
Safiyah sat straighter, refusing to be intimidated. ‘Going for a ride. Alone.’ Was he going to take issue with that? After the thrill of being allowed to ride again for the first time in years, it was too much.
‘You were heading straight for the rocks.’ He sounded as if he was speaking through gritted teeth.
‘You think I couldn’t see them?’ She shook her head, too annoyed to be quelled by the warning jut of his arrogant jaw. ‘I was about to take the track up the headland.’
Karim’s grip tightened on the reins and her horse sidled, pushing Safiyah closer to the big, glowering form beside her.
‘Not at that speed. You’d break your neck.’
Safiyah glanced towards the pale track. This time the route didn’t look quite so easy. Yet she refused to explain the urgent impulse to escape at any cost. She knew it would only reveal the fear she’d vowed to hide from Karim. That if she wasn’t careful he’d overwhelm her and all her hard-won lessons in self-sufficiency.
She’d learned to cut herself off from the thousand hurts of a casually uncaring husband. She couldn’t afford to lose that ability now when she most needed it.
‘I’m more than capable of deciding where I ride. I don’t need you dictating to me.’
A sound like a low growl emanated from Karim’s throat, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She’d never heard anything so feral. Karim had always been the epitome of urbanity, always in control.
‘Do you have a death wish? What about Tarek? How would he cope if you broke your neck up there?’
Red flashed behind her eyes. ‘Don’t you bring Tarek into this!’
How dared he accuse her of being an irresponsible mother? Her mouth stretched into a grimace and her belly hollowed as she thought of the sacrifice she’d made for her son. Giving up her freedom for his sake by yoking herself to a man who disliked her.
Fulminating, Safiyah released the reins and vaulted from her horse.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’
Safiyah set her jaw and stalked away. Let him work it out for himself.
She’d only taken half a dozen steps when a hard hand captured her wrist, turning her to face him. He towered above her, imposing and, though she hated to admit it, magnificent.
‘Don’t turn your back on me, Safiyah.’