Claimed by the Sheikh (15 page)

‘Yes.' His voice sounded gravelly to his ears as he looked down at her. ‘I allowed the judgement of others to colour my views, allowed them to taint your name. I failed you.'

The grief he'd experienced after she'd left Barazbin rushed back at him. He hadn't expected to feel such pain or to know that raw and mysterious emotion of abandonment and rejection, but he had. With her head held high she'd walked out of his palace and his life without a second glance. She'd turned the tables so completely that as soon as she'd gone he'd ridden out into the desert like a man possessed to shout his anger and his pain into the wind.

‘And now you believe me?' Her eyes searched his face, hope shining from them, and that all too familiar band of tightness gripped his chest.

‘I do,' he said as his fingers slid through her hair, the softness almost like silk. ‘Very quickly your father's web of deceit unravelled, exposing your innocence. In fact he has confessed all. His misguided loyalty to you led him along the wrong path.'

‘And that's it?' She tried to step away from him but the wall was at her back. The gesture of moving away from him rang alarm bells in his head. This was not going according to plan. He believed her, he'd come to apologise. What more did she want from him?

‘What else do you want?' Frustration made his question harsher than he'd intended.

‘It's not enough, Kazim, not now, not ever.' She caught hold of his hand, stilled the subconscious movement of his fingers through her hair. ‘I can never be what you want me to be.'

He dropped his hand to his side, another stab of rejection hurtling at him. She didn't want him to touch her. The angry glare in her eyes, which had replaced that brief glimpse of hope, told him that. ‘So, tell me, what is it I want?'

‘A woman who will be at your side as you rule Barazbin, a woman who will produce the heir required, but, above all, one who is dutiful and has a completely untarnished reputation.' She paused, as if waiting for him to deny those words. ‘I am not that woman, Kazim.'

He turned and walked back into the living room, needing the space, needing to distance himself momentarily from her. He pressed his hand over his eyes, his thumb and finger pressing at his temples, trying to ease the pain in his head.

Behind him, she remained silent and he knew he had to open up completely. If he wanted her, he had to do this; if not he was failing himself as well as her. His heart thumped hard against his ribcage. What if she threw it back at him? Now he knew how she had felt on their wedding night and again in the desert. She'd braved his rejection not once, but twice, and he couldn't face hers once. What sort of coward did that make him?

Slowly he turned and that tightness crushed his chest harder. It was as if his love for her was squeezing the life out of him
. Love
. He'd finally used the word, in thought at least. But what would she do if he said it out loud? Coldly reject him, as he had rejected her? It would be all he deserved.

He turned and stalked across the room, overwhelmed by the smallness of it and the magnitude of what he'd just realised. He had to say it aloud, had to face the consequences of what he'd done. He crossed the small room again, wishing he could be still and tell her. Was this why his father had been a bully—to hide from himself?

* * *

Amber watched Kazim pace back and forth across the living room. Just for a moment she allowed hope to soar inside her as he looked down at her, the ebony depths of his eyes full of more than just passion and desire. She dared to hope, dared to believe he loved her. But then he marched away and her heart sank lower than it had ever gone.

‘I can't ever go back, Kazim,' she said, forcing her voice to be calm and neutral. ‘I am not the woman you need.'

‘No.' He turned and focused his gaze on her. ‘You are more—much more.'

She drew in a breath that seemed to cut her throat and looked at him. The wild and untameable man she'd said her vows to was clearly on show, standing before her. The hungry look in his eyes made her stomach flip and her knees go weak.

She didn't dare speak, but inside she was urging him on, desperate to know and yet certain she couldn't ever know what he meant.

‘You are my wife, Amber.' He didn't move, as if doing so would stop the words. ‘And I love you.'

Inside her head she could hear her heart thumping more slowly and in her chest her breathing turned shallow—too shallow. She couldn't move, couldn't say a word, scarcely able to believe what she'd just heard.

He doesn't mean it.
How could he mean it after what he'd told her in the desert? It was just another way to charm her into doing what he wanted.

He strode towards her and all she could do was watch. He caught hold of her face in his large warm hands but still it all had a dreamlike feeling.

‘It's too late,' she whispered, almost trancelike.

‘Too late?' He drew in a sharp breath as she spoke and looked at her, his eyes full of love and passion.

‘I can never be what you need.'

‘You are everything I need—and more.' He dropped his hands to take hold of her arms, keeping her before him, preventing any escape.

Still as if in a dream, she watched as he lowered his head. Lightly his lips brushed over hers and she closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment. But it didn't come; he pulled back. Her eyes opened to look into his.

‘I've been a fool—a blind fool,' he said so gently she wanted to cry. ‘I have been running from you and your love for too long. I don't want to run any more.'

She shook her head in disbelief, words failing her.

‘I was afraid to love, afraid that if I did I would hurt you, just as my father hurt my mother.'

‘You think you'll be the same?' How could he ever have thought such a thing? ‘That would never happen.'

He pulled her to him and she held her breath, waiting, wanting to hear him say what she saw in his eyes.

‘I love you, Amber. You are my princess and wherever you are, whatever you are doing, I want to be there.'

‘Wherever?' She whispered the word so quietly she hardly heard it herself.

‘Yes, Amber, I will give up everything for you.' He kissed her then, so deeply she wondered if she'd ever breathe again, but as Kazim's arms wrapped around her she knew she'd found what she wanted and it didn't matter where they were, they would always have that. They would always love one another.

‘I've lived all my life in fear of being like my father. I didn't want to break your spirit the way he broke my mother's. I just couldn't take that risk.'

‘All along you've thought that?' She looked up at him, wanting to kiss his pain away.

‘Yes. Can you forgive me?'

Her body melted at the love and desire that was openly shining in his eyes. ‘Your love is all I have ever wanted, Kazim, but I would never make you give up what you were born to do.'

‘I was born to love you.' He pressed his lips against her forehead and pulled her close. She heard his heart beating as hard and loud as hers, beating in unison with their love.

‘I love you, Kazim, with all my heart. I was born to be your princess, so take me home.' He put her at arm's length and looked into her eyes.

‘I can't do that,' he said with a new gentleness in his voice and she smiled coyly at him.

‘Sorry, I forgot you only had a short time; you have to be somewhere else.'

‘No,' he said, brushing his lips over hers, setting fire to her body as the embers of passion rose to life once more. ‘The only place I have to be is with the woman I love, but you have a friend returning from America, so we'll stay here until they are settled.'

‘Here?' Incredulity filled her voice. ‘You'll stay here?'

‘Wherever you are, Amber, is where I want to be.'

He pulled her into his arms and, as she looked up at him, kissed her lips with so much passion and love. ‘I love you, Kazim, and always have.'

He smiled at her. ‘I have loved you since we first met, but I was just too proud and stubborn to realise it. I should never have listened to those who were against you. I should have listened to my heart. Can you ever forgive me?'

‘It might take some time,' she teased. ‘But yes, I think I can.'

EPILOGUE

Eighteen months later

A
MBER
HAD
BEEN
so happy she thought that nothing could top it. Returning to Barazbin with Kazim had been like a dream come true. Not once since he'd told her he loved her had a day gone by when he hadn't said it again.

She walked out onto the balcony to join Kazim, who was enjoying a rare moment of peace. He smiled and pulled her close against him. ‘You look amazing,' he said as he brushed his lips lightly over hers. ‘Motherhood suits you.'

‘Our son has made a difference to so many,' she teased lightly. ‘Your father is a different man.'

‘My father and I have both dealt with demons in our past and are stronger for it, but I never want my son to go through what I did.' He looked at her intently.

‘That will never happen, Kazim.' She smiled up at him. ‘But we will be in trouble with your father if we don't attend this evening's festivities.'

‘Peace in our land is a cause for celebration and it is thanks to your father. He may have acted wrongly, but it was your honour he sought to defend. Since then he has worked tirelessly to expose the rebel leaders. I owe him much.'

‘It means so much to me that you forgave him.' Amber had been stunned to discover her father's involvement with the rebels but, even more so, that he was doing it in a bid to punish Kazim for rejecting her. He'd been avenging her honour.

‘I have a surprise for you this evening,' he said as he walked back into the luxury of their suite. ‘But first we need to celebrate with everyone.'

As they entered the opulence of the hall the celebrations began. She loved the dancing and laughter, and very soon she was caught up in the atmosphere of the evening. Kazim, who had been talking to others, moved back to her side.

‘Hasim is here.' Kazim's words had her scanning the room. If Hasim was here, would Annie be too? She'd missed her friend so much.

She looked up at Kazim. ‘And Annie? Is she here too?'

‘She's here.' He smiled at her, his dark eyes full of happiness. ‘Now go, catch up with her, or whatever it is you ladies do.'

‘I love you, Kazim.' She pressed her palm against his cheek, wishing they were alone and that she could show him just how much.

* * * * *

Read on for an extract from DELUCCA'S MARRIAGE CONTRACT by Abby Green.

PROLOGUE

‘T
HAT
'
S
THE
DEAL
,
Delucca, take it or leave it. I don't think I need to tell you that if you leave it the O'Connor brand won't be affected.'

Giancarlo Delucca gritted his jaw at the arrogant tone. The unspoken insinuation from the older Irish man wasn't subtle:
But the Delucca brand might languish in European shopping aisles for years before making it globally.

Gianni, still reeling slightly, looked at Liam O'Connor, who sat in a leather chair with his back to the impressive view of Dublin's financial district.

‘And what does your daughter think of this proposed arranged marriage?'

O'Connor's grey eyes narrowed, and there was a barely perceptible tightening around his mouth. ‘Keelin is loyal to the family business.'

Gianni responded with a hint of incredulity. ‘Loyal enough to agree to a marriage of convenience?'

Suddenly feeling agitated, Gianni didn't wait for a reply and went to stand at one of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows. He put his hands in his pockets to stop himself from running them impatiently through his hair—a bad habit. He felt claustrophobic.
Marriage.
That word called up all sorts of dark images and bad memories. He'd only ever seen the worst a marriage had to offer so he'd vowed never to take that route himself. But the unpalatable fact was that he needed this merger with the vastly successful O'Connor Foods brand to break into the more lucrative global market, and namely, America.

That
would take him away from the bitter memories of his childhood and young adulthood. It would civilise the Delucca name, make him invulnerable, and in time no one would ever remember that
Delucca
had once been one of the Mafia's most notorious names.

O'Connor's voice came from behind him. ‘Keelin is a beautiful woman. Well educated. She'll be an asset on your arm as you move forward and expand.'

Gianni's mouth tightened as the kind of domestic scenario he hadn't ever envisaged took root in his mind, much to his disgust. He didn't want O'Connor to see the myriad emotions he was feeling in his eyes, so didn't turn around. ‘You think that I can't find a wife of my own choosing?' Not that he'd contemplated it!

Liam O'Connor laughed dryly. ‘Delucca, I have no doubt that you could click your fingers and find a wife in seconds. Your reputation—'

Gianni swung around then, cutting the other man off. He forced his voice to sound calm when inside he felt hot, irritated. ‘Be very careful, O'Connor.'

The other man stood up from behind his desk and came around it. He was tall and imposing. Handsome, with a head of thick silver hair. The older alpha male squaring up to the younger one, even if Gianni was taller, younger and infinitely more handsome than O'Connor ever had been. Gianni knew all about alpha males; he'd squared up to the most alpha of them all: his father.

O'Connor spoke bluntly. ‘No other company can give you the instant sheen of respectability that we can, merely by association. If we merge, people trust our name enough to automatically trust you. Your products will be on shelves across the world within months. I am offering you the chance to prove your commitment to both your brand and your family name. You don't need me to tell you that the people you will be dealing with will be more likely to put their trust and investment in a family man.'

Again the unspoken rang as loudly as a bell in the room:
And in someone who didn't have links to the underworld, or who had the damaging reputation of a playboy.
Damn him. O'Connor was right. So how badly did he want this? Badly enough to embark on a union he'd never wished for? For the sake of a deal? Social acceptance? Professional respectability?

But it's the deal of a lifetime
, whispered a little voice.

Wanting to assert his position more, Gianni pointed out, ‘That may very well be the case but don't forget that your own business will be reinvigorated by a new association with a luxury Italian brand of products, the first merger of its kind.'

O'Connor inclined his head with a spark in his eyes. He obviously didn't like to be reminded that his motives weren't exactly altruistic.

And then Gianni asked abruptly, ‘Why is it so important to you that marriage to your daughter is part of the deal?'

The spark in O'Connor's eyes was quickly veiled as he said easily, ‘She's our only child and heir. I'm an old-fashioned man, Delucca. I want her future to be secure, and through her and you, we keep our name alive.'

Gianni felt a niggle of suspicion but then something caught his peripheral vision and he looked past O'Connor to where a group of framed photos were hung on a wall. He walked over. There were pictures of O'Connor with various celebrities, including two American presidents, and then presumably his wife—an attractive woman with strawberry blonde hair and green eyes.

And below them all was an image of a young woman on a horse, head back and wide generous mouth open, clearly laughing. Slim shoulders. A snug T-shirt hugged generous firm breasts. He could just make out a narrow waist, gently flaring hips. Taut thighs. She was stunningly beautiful. Almond-shaped green eyes, lighter than her mother's. Vibrant red hair pulled back into a messy ponytail. Pale skin with flushed rosy cheeks. Freckles.

Something deep in Gianni's gut clenched at her unadorned beauty. Even though she wasn't remotely his type.

He barely picked up on the faintly smug tone in O'Connor's voice when the man said, ‘That's my daughter, Keelin. So have you come to a decision?'

Gianni didn't answer out loud. He didn't need to. They both knew the answer.

Copyright © 2015 by Harlequin Books S.A.