Sarah And The Secret Sheikh. Michelle Douglas
trying to tell her. ‘Oh!’ Her heart started to thump. ‘You... Ahmed was supposed to ascend to the throne, not you?’
‘Not me,’ he agreed.
Wow! Okay. ‘And...and that’s another reason you haven’t wanted to return?’
‘Yes.’
And yet he was prepared to face his demons because he had a baby on the way—because he wanted to be a good father. ‘I think you’ll make a fine ruler, Majed. I know you must miss Ahmed, but you haven’t usurped him.’
‘I know that in my head. But it’s not the way it feels in my heart.’
‘What would Ahmed tell you to do?’
He spoke a phrase in Arabic that she didn’t understand. But then he laughed and he suddenly looked younger. ‘He’d tell me to stop over-thinking things. He’d tell me I need to curb my impatience for change and to tread with respect in relation to the traditional ways.’ A sigh shuddered from him. ‘He’d tell me to take my place at my father’s side. He’d want me to fight for it.’
Fight for it...?
She wasn’t sure what that last bit meant but, as she stared into his face, she couldn’t agree more with Ahmed’s advice. Majed was destined for great things. It was time for him to embrace his destiny.
‘Will you come to Keddah Jaleel with me, Sarah? Will you at least come and see the life you could have there, the life I can give you and our child?’
‘What will your parents think about a baby?’
‘It will...’ The lines about his mouth deepened. ‘It will bring them joy.’
She had a feeling that there were family issues at play here that she had no hope of understanding.
‘Our unmarried status will not thrill them. It will...disappoint them. But if you find you like Keddah Jaleel then maybe you will stay.’
‘And marry you?’
‘That is my wish.’
‘And what kind of marriage do you think we can have?’
‘One based on respect and honesty. One based on friendship.’
She pulled in a breath. ‘What about love?’
He dragged his hand from hers. She immediately missed the warmth and connection. He pushed that hand back through his hair once...twice. ‘We said we would be honest, yes?’
She couldn’t speak. She could only nod. He was going to tell her that he could never love her...and she didn’t know why, but she wasn’t sure she could bear to hear him say it.
‘I do not believe in love.’
She blinked.
‘And if I did, I’d not want it in my life.’
What on earth...? So it wasn’t that he couldn’t love her in particular. It was that he wouldn’t love any woman at all.
‘Love—romantic love—leads people to do wild and foolish things. It clouds their judgement. I want no part of that.’
Her mouth went dry. He was talking about Ahmed and the woman who had entranced him so completely that he’d thrown caution to the wind.
Oh, Majed.
‘I can sincerely assure you, however, that I believe my happiness in marriage with you has a better chance than with anyone else I know. I like you, Sarah, and that has to count for something.’
He said that now. But what would happen when he met a woman who stirred his blood? How much would he resent the ties that bound him then—and the woman and child responsible for those ties? Would he become like her father? Would she become like her mother?
She couldn’t let that happen.
She moistened parched lips. ‘Do you believe in fidelity?’
His eyes flashed. ‘I do.’ He took her chin in a firm grip and forced her gaze to his. ‘I can assure you that, if you marry me, you will not think of other men.’
And then his lips slammed to hers with a force that was far from polite and more demanding than any kiss she’d ever experienced. One hand slid to her nape to prevent her from drawing away, while the other remained at her jaw, holding her still while he plundered her lips with a ruthless and seductive intent that had her melting even as she wanted to resist. The relentless, primal possession continued, sending the blood stampeding through her veins while the strength leached from her muscles until it finally tore his name from her throat.
He lifted his head, his eyes glittering. ‘Are we clear on this point?’
She lifted fingers that trembled to swollen lips. That kiss had been an outrageous attempt at domination, yet she wanted him to kiss her like that again...and not stop.
‘I’m clear on the fact that you expect fidelity from me. Do you demand it of yourself?’
‘Naturally.’ His chin tilted at an arrogant angle. ‘But then, I expect my future wife to make sure my mind does not stray to other women.’
She tossed her head, dislodging his grip, thrilled and appalled in equal measure. But before she could give him the put down she was sure he deserved, his lips were on hers again—warm, gentle...playful. They teased and tantalised until her anger had dissolved and she threaded her fingers through his hair to pull him closer.
He obliged until she lay half-sprawled beneath him, their only barrier the thin material of their clothes, his kisses sending something inside her spiralling free. She wanted all barriers between them gone. She wanted to move to the dance he’d taught her six weeks ago. She craved the spiralling pleasure, the adventure of it all, and the peace that followed. She ached...
A whimper broke from her when he lifted his head. He muttered words she didn’t understand but could translate all too easily.
There’d be no more kisses today.
He lifted himself away from her and then helped her back into a sitting position with a gentleness that had the backs of her eyes burning.
‘I’m sorry.’
He physically removed himself from the sofa, his words emerging clipped and short. If she hadn’t heard the regret threading through them, she might’ve fled in mortification.
‘I’m only sorry you stopped.’ She’d aimed for levity but fell far short of the desired mark. It was the truth of her words that rang in the space between them rather than humour. What the heck, she’d made a fool of herself over lesser things. ‘Why did you stop?’
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