and opened the door, peering around before he nodded and allowed whoever was there to come in. He stood back and a large, linen covered tray was wheeled into the room by two uninformed servants.
There were about five different silver covered dishes but the most overwhelming scent was the coffee. She was about to say something, to ask that the coffee be removed but before she could utter a word, her entire world simply blacked out. Her last thought before she hit the floor was that the large man who hadn’t let her leave sure could move quickly.
Sidra woke up, unsure of how long she’d been out but people were yelling around her, she was being carried by strong arms and she heard Rashid’s voice somewhere. “Get the doctor” was all she could decipher as her head continued to spin.
“Please. I’m okay,” she whispered but no one seemed to be paying attention to her.
The man who had arrived last night bustled into the room, looking concerned. Before she had a chance to do anything, her arm was pricked by the needle. Sidra looked down, saw the needle and her mind blanked out once again.
By the time she woke up this time, the room was empty except for Rashid who was sitting beside her looking worried.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as she blinked in the bright sunlight.
“You fainted. Again.” Rashid took her hand in his and held it tightly. “The coffee the first time. Needle the second time.”
Her stomach churned at the thought of a needle poking her and she put her free hand to her forehead. “Needle?” she asked weakly.
“Yes. The doctor tried to get a blood sample last night, but you were too tired and weak from the plane trip. And then this morning when you fainted, he ordered a blood test immediately. When you saw the needle in your arm…”
“Stop!” she gasped and rolled over onto her side. “I really hate needles,” she said weakly.
“So I guess we’re going through natural childbirth instead of an epidural?” he suggested with amusement lacing his voice.
Sidra rolled onto her back once again and stared up at him. “What do you mean? I’m not having a baby and there’s no need for an epidural!” She shuddered at the idea of the enormously large needle that was used to administer an epidural directly into the spine.
Rashid’s mouth lifted on one side as he shook his head. “I’m afraid that you are pregnant. About three weeks ago, which technically makes you five weeks pregnant.”
Sidra gasped and shook her head. “No!”
“Yes.”
She pushed herself up so she was sitting on the bed versus lying down, unable to think clearly with him looming over her like that. She shoved her hand through her hair and shook her head once again, but the idea still wouldn’t make any sense. “How is that possible?”
He raised an eyebrow at her question but didn’t laugh. At least not outright. “We had sex three weeks ago. It was very nice, if I remember correctly.”
“Yes, but we used protection!”
“Obviously it didn't work quite as well as it should have.” Rashid knew he should be upset about the idea of having a baby but in truth, he was thrilled. He wanted this woman, and after the kiss on the plane and her words while sleeping, he knew that she felt exactly the same. They had a great deal to work out between the two of them, but he knew that he’d somehow get through to her.
Sidra’s mind went back to the moment she’d sheathed him with the condom, and how much she’d enjoyed the experience. When she looked at his eyes, she knew that he was remembering that moment as well. His eyes darkened slightly and she saw the sensuous change in his body. “That’s why you said…” she swallowed as the memories of the night before returned, “last night…we didn’t need protection…because you knew I was already pregnant.”
His hand moved casually up her thigh as he nodded his head, confirming her fears. “I was fairly sure about it when the doctor started questioning you about your period last night and you said you hadn’t had anything since we were together.” Sidra blushed and looked down, ignoring his soft laughter. “Sidra, you’re going to have to get used to being more honest with me. We’re having a baby together and as miraculous as that is, I need to know what’s going on. And it might not be the most flattering information that you need to