The Defiant Princess (16 page)

“There's always DNA, however I doubt Mustaf will consent to providing any as it will prove without a doubt that he's related to you. However his reluctance will be proof enough given your appearance and the necklace.”

She shook her head. The proof of her identity seemed to rest on circumstantial evidence. “It's said that all of us have a physical double.”

They were interrupted again by a servant. This time the servant carried plates of food and the aromas made Sabrina's stomach rumble.

“Oh!” she exclaimed as she recognised the dishes of baked dates and falafel with tahini. “Your chef must be psychic. These are my favourite foods and I haven't eaten them since I was away at university.” Without waiting to be served, Sabrina reached forward and took a baked date. She almost moaned in pleasure as the treat tantalised her tastebuds.

The king beamed. “If I'd had any doubt of your identity, it would be gone. The little Princess Sabihah I knew used to eat baked dates and falafel until her stomach ached!”

Sabrina grimaced and shifted on her seat in embarrassment. She had been a little chubby as a child. Her parents had always lectured her on eating in moderation, even while they'd indulged her in the delicacies of the region.

As the servant bowed his leave, the king grew serious. “Things will proceed quickly through political channels, but it may be necessary for the military to intervene if Mustaf refuses to step down.”

“I can't see Mustaf giving in easily.” Although she was trying to resist, her eyes strayed to the falafel.

“No.” King Hassan picked up a pair of serving tongs and placed the food on her plate. Her mouth watered. “But your return will be embraced by your people. Uniting our two countries through your marriage in two days' time will be a source of celebration for both nations.”

The food was forgotten as Sabrina sat bolt upright. “Married in two days? That's impossible. It's way too soon.”

King Hassan merely gave her a benevolent smile and took another sip of his tea. “The announcement has been made. Preparations are underway and will be completed in time.”

“But—”

“The Australian government has agreed to renew Helen St. George's passport urgently. You would like her to be present at the wedding ceremonies?”

“Of course, but—”

“I will have an aide contact her and make the arrangements immediately.”

Whoa.
Panic pricked across her chest, up her neck and all the way to her forehead. “Wouldn't it be better to wait until Mustaf is deposed before the marriage goes ahead?”

He sat forward and there was a small chink of china as he replaced the teacup onto his saucer. “Your marriage to my son will illustrate to all that I believe in your identity and that we're honouring the arrangement made with your father.”

“But there's no point in getting married if, for some reason, Mustaf cannot be removed from his ruling position.”

The king gave her a sharp look. “Don't worry, Mustaf will be deposed.”

Two days.
The timeframe was alarming.

It was what she wanted, wasn't it? A quick marriage, a divorce as soon as possible and a speedy exit back home to Australia knowing the Rhajian people would no longer suffer under Mustaf's rule. It was what she'd insisted on. Now it was all happening, she wondered at the wisdom of her plans.

“Does Khalid know about this?” she asked a little breathlessly.

“I have not yet had a chance to speak with Khalid about the time frame of your marriage ceremony.” In that moment, he reminded her of Khalid. He sat back casually, looking supremely confident that all would proceed according to his plan.

Sabrina wasn't sure he'd be so relaxed when he told his son. Khalid was bound to deliver a heated protest.

Khalid had probably been in so much of a hurry to be reunited with Inaya that he'd left before his father had a chance to warn him of the marriage plans. She raised a hand to her left temple which started to thump as she was overcome by a feeling of powerlessness. She was trapped in a situation of her own making and uncertainty rode roughshod through her.

“Tomorrow, after the council meeting, you will accompany Khalid to a local hospital where he will open a new ward. It'll be the opportunity for you to appear in public and in an official role prior to your wedding. I assure you security will remain tight.”

He may have organised bodyguards and the military to protect her from enemy bullets, but King Hassan seemed blithely unaware he'd fired a couple of deadly bullets himself and how they were tearing through her attempts at composure.

Two days.
The words ricocheted again.

“It was a long flight. I'd like to return to my rooms and rest now, King Hassan.”
I'd like to return to my rooms and never resurface.

“Of course.” He stood and offered her his hand. “We'll talk again this evening, and if there is anything at all you need, you merely have to ask one of your maids.”

She took her leave of him.

Alongside her official escort, she placed one foot in front of the other on the rich rugs of the long, opulent corridor heading towards her suite in something of a trance.

“Sabihah.” Khalid's voice jolted her from her dazed state.

Her eyes flew to his face. She was like an addict needing another fix of him as she drank in the now familiar features.

He issued an order for the escort to leave them.

“You've been with Inaya.”

Oh my God.
She'd greeted him with words that sounded like the accusation of a jealous woman. Which, she told herself firmly, she wasn't.

“Yes,” he confirmed, giving her a curious look.

“I … I,” she stuttered as she felt heat burning her cheeks. “Khalid, your father has just told me we're to marry in two days.”

He took her by the elbow and marched her a short way down the corridor and through a door into what looked to be a private study. She had no time to fully appreciate the beautiful wooden bookcases that lined one of the walls. Once the door was closed behind them, he turned to her, his face all hard planes. “I would have thought you'd be happy to marry so quickly, Sabihah,” he said, his eyes burning into hers. “Marriage is what you wanted. What you demanded.”

It was true and now he was going to hate her for it. Hate her for forcing him into a marriage he didn't want and for stopping him being with the woman he loved. She didn't want him to hate her. She wanted him to understand, but did she even really understand herself why she'd forced the marriage idea upon him?

She groaned. “I'm sorry. I should never have insisted. It was the only thing I could think of. It seemed the only way out.”

But it hadn't been her only option.

She could have refused to come. She could have tried to outmanoeuvre Mustaf—created a new identity for herself, abdicated, disappeared from his radar so those around her weren't in jeopardy.

She looked down at the plush red rug on the floor, concentrating on tracing the intricate patterns woven into it. Once she'd secretly yearned to be married to this powerful alpha-male. He was the guy she'd had the most enormous crush on as she'd surfed the internet for his images. The young man she'd watched through the window. The one she'd wished had been her intended rather than his brother, Hazim.

Surely she didn't still feel that way?

No. That was then. This was now.

Besides, it wasn't to be a real marriage. What she had proposed was on paper only.

Short-term.

Steeling herself to face him again, she wished she hadn't. He looked thunderous. “You cannot back out now,” he declared. “The announcements have been made.”

Her head pulled back. “You knew!” He could have warned her. “I … How did Inaya take the news?” Heat scorched along her cheeks and burned at the very tips of her earlobes.

“What difference does it make to you?” His tone was full of disdain.

“Khalid, please, you have to believe I never meant Inaya any harm.”

“You weren't thinking of anyone else but yourself when you made your proposal.”

“I was,” she denied hotly. “I was thinking of the safety of my students, of Helen, and the future of the Rhajian people.” But as soon as the words were out she knew the proposal she'd made affected Inaya and him in the worst possible way. She bit her lip and hung her head once more. “I wasn't thinking of you or Inaya. I'm sorry for that,” she added in a small, contrite voice. “Would it help if I went to speak with her? To explain?”

“No.” The single syllable was as savage as the crack of a whip.

She took a step away from the heat scorching her from his eyes and found she'd backed up against the desk. “But it would probably help if I reassured her the marriage will be temporary and that I don't have any designs on you.”

He moved a step closer. “But that wouldn't be true, would it?”

She felt her eyes widen as they met the shrewdness of his. Her breathing stalled.

“Stop lying to yourself and to me, Sabihah. You want this marriage and you want me.”

Sabrina swallowed hard to try to lubricate the dryness in her throat. “Khalid, that's not true. It—”

Dear Lord. How could she deny it? He knew the effect he had on her. Knew she'd gone up in flames when he'd kissed her.

“It's just as well you feel the passion thrumming between us because I feel it too.” Reaching out, he traced the outline of her lips with the tip of his index finger. “We'll marry as you intended, but it will not be a paper marriage.”

Fighting the urge to close her eyes and tilt her head to offer him full access to her mouth, she pulled to one side instead to break the contact. “Khalid, stop. You don't really mean that. You love Inaya.”

He gave a harsh laugh. “My feelings for Inaya don't matter. There'll be no marriage with Inaya now.”

“No!” Her voice was stricken. What had she done? Kept apart a couple who should be together? She placed her hand on his forearm. “She's upset now, but she'll calm down. She'll want to wait for you.” If he truly loved a woman, she knew he'd be worth waiting for.

“Inaya won't have me anymore. So I think I deserve some compensation from my fair fiancée.”

He pulled her into him, putting the desk at her back. There was nowhere for her to go as he lowered his head.

This time there wasn't anything gentle or explorative about his kiss. His lips were hot, hungry and demanding as they crashed down on hers, driving her lips apart. She was powerless to prevent him, too caught up in a whirlpool of sensual eroticism, wanting and needing his kisses with just as much urgency.

One hand cupped her bottom and the other pressed into the shallow indentation at the base of her spine, holding her against him. Sabrina didn't even entertain the idea of resisting him, craving the physical contact of being wrapped in his arms and held against his broad torso.

She gasped in shock at the imprint of his erection against her. The rock-hardness of him made her legs tremble. She longed to reach out and explore the shape of him with her fingers. To trace the evidence of his desire for her. But despite a newfound confidence in her feminine power over him, she hesitated. It was all so new to her, and he was so experienced.

The fever-pitched need roared through her blood, made her crave more intimate flesh-to-flesh contact. Did he feel it too or could she be any one of his lovers?

The thought of his many other lovers made her part her lips wider to protest, but he seized the opportunity to invade the sensitive interior of her mouth.

Oh
.
Ooooh.

Her legs buckled and her hands slid over his shoulders for support. Any thoughts of protest vanished as he consumed her senses with the thrilling, darting movements of his tongue. Daringly, she twined her tongue with his and abandoned all sanity.

There was only Khalid and the frantic onslaught of his carnal assault on her senses. Deep elemental need awakened in her. Flaming darts of longing speared deep within her womb.

One masculine hand skated up over her ribcage to close around her breast. Knowing, experienced fingers teased the prominent nipple and she strained closer against his hand, wanting more of the delicious torment he delivered.

A growl of desire came from low in his throat.

“My God, you're incredible.” His words were hoarse. “I ache to be inside you.”

The moist sweep of his tongue over her lower lip sent a high-voltage charge through her and had her crying out with needy impatience. She'd never been so aware of her body. It seemed she'd waited all her life for him to awaken her to this delicious, wanton state of need.

But he hadn't waited for her. She was just compensation because he believed Inaya would no longer marry him.

“Stop!”

His lips stilled in their journey along her jaw and toward her neck. For a long moment neither of them moved. Slowly, Khalid lifted his head. With strain etched into each of his features, he pulled away from her and instantly she felt bereft.

“You're right,” he told her with a smoky, sexual voice that shivered over her senses. “We should wait until our wedding night.”

He lifted one hand and brushed gentle fingers over her swollen lower lip as she stood mesmerised and confused by the deep expression in his eyes. “Two days, Sabihah. Two days and you'll be mine. I intend to enjoy taking you as my lover—as my wife. We'll be very good together,” he promised.

Sabrina knew in the physical sense it would be true. But it was only for the short-term. It would be so tempting to give in to her desires and experience all the heady, sensual delights Khalid offered, but it would go against every value she held dear when she knew his heart belonged to another. She had no doubt his lovemaking would make her soar to the heavens but certain disaster awaited her if she took that flight. She doubted she'd ever survive the crash back to earth when it was time for her to leave him so he could be with his true love.