Page 53 of The Sheikh's Willing Captive

Razim laughed as little Raz stumbled, but then held his ground. He was a few feet away from Paige and she held out her hands, straining to reach him. Her son tumbled into her embrace, giggling loudly.

Razim came over as Paige stood, lifting her son and holding him out for the inevitable kiss from his father. Razim kissed his son's forehead.

"You have to be proud of that," Paige said mussing up the boy's thick black hair.

"I told you," Razim said. "He's already at home in the desert."

Paige frowned. "But you know we can't stay here for more than a couple of hours."

Razim glanced toward the helicopter which rested on the edge of the encampment. "Don't worry, we'll be back in the palace in time for his afternoon nap. This is just a flying visit."

Paige rolled her eyes at Razim. "Very funny," she said shaking her head.

Paige gazed around the encampment, remembering what had happened two years before. That was when this precious little bundle had been made. And now, here they all were, enjoying a happiness she had once thought impossible.

She thought about the last two years. The return to life in the palace; finding her feet in a new world with new challenges. The continuation of their marriage.

And then she'd found herself expecting a baby. That had merely added to the happiness which had grown, day after day, between her and Razim.

"Let's go and show him the desert," Razim said enthusiastically.

They walked off in the direction of the nearby dune. The one they'd stood on during their first night back at the encampment. This time there was no slipping in the sand. Reaching the top, holding tightly onto their son, Paige gazed out across the desert.

"This is his world," Razim said proudly. "I will show him what it means to grow up to be a sheikh. To be a proud descendant of his desert forebears."

Razim sounded so serious, Paige couldn't help pricking his bubble. "And I hope you both have fun while you're doing that," she teased.

Razim laughed and wrapped his arm around her, drawing her and his son closer.

The little boy laughed. Paige took his hand and held it out for Razim to take. Razim took his son's little fingers and played with them a moment. Father and son smiled at each other and, as usual, Paige's heart filled with joy.

"We're all going to have a wonderful life, Paige," Razim said. He glanced down at her belly. "And maybe, there'll be more babies sometime soon?"

She smiled at him. "You never know," she replied.

And then they gazed out across the desert toward their future.

THE END