There was no shrugging or grimacing or rolling of eyes behind his back. He was liked, all the way down the line, and Emily couldn’t help liking him, too, for the way he dealt with his people. It forced a revision of opinion on how he’d dealt with her.
In all honesty, she had to concede her story had probably sounded unbelievable. Zageo could well have been justified in not even listening to her, just handing her over to the police as an associate of Jacques Arnault. Instead of which, he’d given her the benefit of the doubt, proceeding to check the facts she’d given him while extending his highly generous and luxurious hospitality. Looked at objectively, this was more than fair treatment.
Except somehow none of it had been objective.
From the first moment of meeting it had been personal. Very, very personal. And it hadn’t been all on his side, either. She’d been reacting against an attraction, an unwelcome one in both its strength and unsuitability, although when it came to a point of physical connection, she hadn’t stopped him from kissing her. Now it was totally impossible to deny how much she wanted him to keep wanting her.
It even frightened her when he asked if she’d prefer to relax by the resort swimming pool, not accompany him on yet another safari trip. ‘I thought you wanted me with you,’ she answered anxiously, wondering if she had displeased him in some way.
He frowned, looking both exasperated and frustrated. ‘You do not have to be a slave to me for your sister’s sake,’ he said tersely. ‘I am here to carry out my responsibilities. I do not wish you to be bored, to put on a face of interest when you would rather be…’
‘Bored?’ Emily cried in astonishment. ‘I’m not the least bit bored, Zageo.’
His dark intense eyes lasered hers for the truth. ‘You have had day after day of rough travel. Perhaps you would like a long session of relaxing massages…’
‘And miss out on seeing what I may never have the chance to see again? No way!’ she asserted emphatically. ‘I’m with you!’
A smile twitched at his lips. ‘So. The adventure appeals.’
‘I’ve always loved the world of nature. There’s nothing in the animal kingdom I find boring,’ Emily assured him.
One eyebrow arched. ‘Including me?’
Him least of all, she thought, but looked askance at him, unwilling to give away too much. ‘For me, you are an adventure, too, as I’m sure you’re perfectly aware.’
Yes, he was, Zageo silently conceded.
And so was she for him—totally unlike any other woman he’d been with. Her lack of sexual sophistication had challenged him into making each new experience in the bedroom not only a titillating surprise for her but a sensual delight to be savoured over and over again. Her response was always intensely gratifying, sometimes quite intoxicating.
She also had a natural joy in life that revived his own. Gone was the jaded feeling with which he had left France to begin this trip. In fact, he was conscious of feeling a deeper pleasure in Emily Ross than any of the women who had preceded her. Which made it all the more vexing that she had come to him on such frustrating terms, denying him the satisfaction of winning her to his side.
She was happy enough to be there.
No doubt about that.
She didn’t have enough artifice in her to pretend.
But would she have ever submitted to his will, given there had been no problem with her sister, pushing a choice that might resolve it?
He hated this trade—hated it with a vengeance. He wanted done with it as fast as possible.
But Africa was Africa and very little moved at a fast pace. The days wore on with no progress towards an agreeable settlement between Malcolm Coleman and the hostile elements responsible for holding his family under house arrest.
Abdul was working overtime on pressing acceptable negotiations. The stumbling block was Coleman himself, not trusting anything he was offered and refusing to give up ownership of his farm. Abdul finally advised that direct confrontation would probably be required to gain an effective outcome.
‘So a way to Coleman’s farm must be cleared,’ Zageo decided. ‘Best to go in by helicopter.’
‘But how not to get shot down?’ Abdul muttered worriedly. ‘I don’t like this, Your Excellency. Why not explain to Miss Ross that her brother-in-law will not cooperate with the rescue plan? Perhaps she…’
‘No!’ Zageo flicked him a scornful look. ‘Failure is unacceptable. The conference scheduled at our hotel in Zambia…find out what officials are coming from Zimbabwe and ensure that one of them has the power to grant me access with immunity. If you can also get some idea of what inducement would be welcome…’
Abdul nodded, looking relieved to be directed back into familiar territory.
Zageo reflected that this mission could end up costing him far more than he had anticipated. Endangering his own life was certainly going too far just to please a woman, yet there was no question in his mind that if it had to be done for Emily Ross, it had to be done. There had been no quarter asked in her giving to him, no excusing herself from anything he’d demanded of her, no protest at his leading her where she had not gone before. It was as though he had bought a slave. Which went against his every grain.
He needed this business finished.
Only after the trade had been honoured by him would he know if Emily Ross desired to stay at his side for reasons other than her sister’s safety.
Emily couldn’t help fretting over not knowing how things were for Hannah. She wished she could ask Zageo but he interpreted her need for information as a lack of trust in him. Having been sternly rebuffed for showing an impatience about getting results from his side of the bargain, she was wary of bringing up the subject again. However, his announcement that they would be flying on to Zambia instantly loosened her tongue.
They were in bed, relaxed after another exhilarating peak of intimacy, and Emily’s mind leapt to a very different connection. ‘Zambia and Zimbabwe share a border. Does this mean—?’
‘It means we are going to Zambia,’ he stated tersely, cutting off the spill of words from her.
Emily gritted her teeth as a wave of rebellion surged through her. She had been obedient to his wishes. She had been patient over the time he needed to clinch his side of the deal. But she was not going to be fobbed off as though she had no right to know what was happening with Hannah.
She heaved herself up, planting her hands on either side of his head, positioning herself directly above him for a very determined face-to-face encounter. ‘What for?’ she demanded.