Page 72 of The Sheikh's Desert Princess

Eva turned and saw Riaz heading toward her. He was dressed in white desert robes. For her part she was dressed in similar loose robes. She had taken on the outward appearance of a woman of the desert.

He called her a desert princess.

Eva still found that mildly amusing. As if she could ever be a princess, she told herself.

But, every time he'd described her like that, she had seen the expression in his eyes. He believed she was a princess of the desert and that was enough for him.

The desert breeze swept across the top of the dune, causing her robes to shift loosely around her body.

Then Riaz was by her side.

"You wanted me to meet you here?" she said.

Riaz nodded slowly, curling an arm around her, drawing her close to him. "I want to ask you something."

Eva peered at him, lifting a curious brow. "Really," she said in a flat. "And what exactly would that be?"

Riaz smiled. "I think you know."

Eva sighed softly. She'd been right. He had something to say to her and she knew what it was. A short time ago, such a proposal would have seemed impossible.

But not now.

After all they had been through together, there really was only one way for this to end.

Riaz took her in his arms. "Eva." His eyes narrowed. "Habibti," he murmured. The sound of that word made her quiver slightly. She'd come to love the sound of it. She was his beloved. Just as he was her beloved.

"Eva. Will you grant me the greatest honor a man can hope for and consent to become my wife?"

There was nothing shocking about those words. All she felt was a tremendous relief, a wonderful sense of joy and inevitability.

Eva ran a hand gently down the side of his face. She smiled at him and nodded. "I will, Riaz."

His features lit with an inner glow. He smiled joyfully and drew her closer. She felt the strength of his embrace and let herself sink into it.

Then, Riaz kissed her.

Joy filled her heart. There would be so much more of this to come, she told herself.

Years of such joy.

This was where she belonged, she told herself.

This was the place destiny had chosen for her.

And she was happy.

THE END