The Return of the Sheikh (7 page)

“Then maybe you don’t know women as well as you think you do. Of course, it doesn’t hurt you’re the ruler of a country, and your house isn’t too shabby, either.”

For the first time since her arrival, he gave her his full attention and a fully formed smile. “You are looking quite beautiful tonight.”

She couldn’t immediately recall the last time any man had called her beautiful. Her shapeless aqua sundress certainly wouldn’t qualify. “Thank you, but this outfit is designed solely for comfort, not beauty.”

“I was not referencing your clothing.” He lightly touched her cheek. “You are beautiful.”

When Madison contacted those dark, mysterious eyes, that spark of awareness threatened to become a flame. With little effort, it could blaze out of control. Yet she recognized Zain was only attempting to divert attention from the seriousness of the situation, and possibly cover his internal turmoil. She truly wanted to provide him with a diversion, but the last thing Zain needed was a potential scandal involving his political consultant. The last thing she needed was to venture into personal involvement with him. She’d already started down that slippery slope.

She shored up her wavering willpower. “Now that we have engaged in sufficient mutual admiration, we should probably go inside and discuss how we’re going to handle any other problems that might arise. I’d also be happy to listen to what you have planned for the council meeting tomorrow.”

“I prefer to stay here with you.”

And she wanted to stay with him, honestly she did, but to what end? “If we stay much longer, we could make another mistake.”

He searched her face and paused at her mouth before returning to her eyes. “I have made many mistakes in my lifetime, but spending time with you will not ever be a mistake.”

Her foolish heart executed a little flip-flop in her chest. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

“Everywhere?”

One more sexy word out of his incredible mouth and she’d be too far gone to stop any madness that might occur. “The only place we should be going is into your office, and repairing your reputation is the only thing we should consider.”

He studied the stars and sighed. A rough, sensuous and slightly irritated sigh. “You are right. Business should always come before pleasure, no matter how revolting that business might be.”

Madison was admittedly somewhat disappointed that he conceded so quickly. “You will get through this, Zain. It’s only a matter of time before you earn your country’s trust. You are destined to be a great leader.”

“I sincerely appreciate your faith in my abilities.”

He both looked and sounded sincere, causing her spirits to rise. “Now let’s get some work done before dawn.”

When Zain came to his feet and held out his hand to help her up, Madison wasn’t quite prepared for the sharp sting of awareness as they stood. She wasn’t exactly surprised when he framed her face in his palm. But the sudden impact of his mouth covering hers nearly buckled her knees. The kiss was powerful, almost desperate, yet she didn’t have the will to stop him. Every argument she’d made against this very thing went the way of the warm breeze surrounding them.

She somehow wound up backed against the wall with Zain flush against her. Even when he left her mouth to trail kisses down her neck, lowered one strap and slid the tip of his tongue slightly beneath the scoop neck of her dress, she disregarded the warning bells sounding in her head. Even when he worked her hem up to her waist, slipped his hands down the back of her panties and clasped her bottom, she couldn’t manage one protest. And as he kissed her again, pressed as close to her as he possibly could and simulated the act she’d been determined to avoid with both his body and tongue, stop became go and thinking became an impossible effort.

Separated only by silk and cotton, Madison felt the beginnings of a climax, prompting an odd sound bubbling up from her throat. She was vaguely aware of the rasp of a zipper, very aware the no-return point had arrived and extremely aware when Zain abruptly let her go.

She closed her eyes and waited until her respiration had almost returned to normal before she risked a glance to see him facing the wall, both hands raised above his head as if in surrender. “It appears we’re suffering from restraint issues.”

He straightened and redid his fly. “Suffering is an apt description.”

She pushed the strap back into place while struggling for something more to say. “Out of curiosity, why did you stop?”

He leaned back against the stone and stared straight ahead. “You deserve better than frantic sex against a wall.”

“Honestly, it was the hottest few moments of my life and frankly out of character for me.”

“Leave, Madison.”

The command caught her off guard. “We still have to go over—”

“We’ll meet in the morning.”

“But you need—”

“I need you to go before I am tempted to carry you to my bed and complete your climax before giving you another while I am inside you.”

Madison understood that, loud and clear. She couldn’t remember ever having such a heated physical reaction to a man’s words. Then again, no man had ever said anything remotely close to that to her. “I’m not leaving until I make myself clear. Whatever this thing is between us, it’s going to take a lot of strength to ignore it. I’m not sure that’s going to happen, so we have two options. One, we accept we’re consenting adults and just do it and get it out of our system. Or I bow out gracefully before I cause you more problems.”

He finally looked at her. “The second option is out. The first will not be possible until I am assured you can give me what I need.”

Surely he wasn’t suggesting… “Are you questioning my lovemaking abilities?”

“No. I need to know I have your respect and above all, your trust.”

With that, Zain turned and disappeared through the opening leading to the stairway.

Madison sank back onto the ground and pinched the bridge of her nose from the onset of a tremendous headache. She did respect Zain and his ideals. Did she trust him? At the moment, she wasn’t sure.

*

“My apologies for disturbing you, Emir.”

Zain tossed his notes onto the side table to acknowledge Deeb, who had somehow entered his suite without his notice. But then he’d been distracted since he’d left Madison on the rooftop an hour ago. “What is it, Deeb?”

“I wanted to know if you required anything before I leave for home.”

He needed the woman in the bedroom next door, but he could not have her. Not yet. “You are dismissed.”

Deeb nodded and said, “Have a restful evening, Your Highness.”

That was not a likely prospect. When Deeb retreated toward the door, Zain reconsidered and called him back. “I have a few questions for you.” Questions he had intentionally failed to ask for fear of the answers.

Deeb pushed the glasses up on his nose. “Yes?”

Zain shifted in the less-than-comfortable chair. “How long have you been employed by the royal family?”

“Fifteen years last December.”

His thoughts drifted off topic momentarily. “And you never thought to marry during that time?”

“I am married. I have been for fifteen years.”

He was surprised Deeb had not mentioned that before, but then he had never inquired about his private life. “Children?”

A look of pride passed over the man’s expression. “I have six children, four boys and two girls. The oldest is nine, the youngest three months.”

As far as Zain was concerned, that was quite a feat for several reasons. “You were with me in the States for seven years, so I find that rather remarkable.”

“If you recall, you allowed me to return to Bajul during your travels.”

Clearly the man impregnated his bride every time he’d been home. “And your wife did not take exception to your absences?”

Deeb hinted at a smile. “If that were true, we would not have six children.”

Zain could not argue that. “Are you still happily wed?”

“Yes, Emir.”

Zain tented his fingers beneath his chin. “To what do you attribute that happiness?”

“Patience and tolerance. Most important, sustained passion. When you choose your mate, it is best to always remember this.”

He could not agree more, especially when it came to the passion. “I appreciate the advice.”

“You are welcome, Your Highness. Now if that is all—”

“It is not.” He had to pose one more question. An extremely difficult question. “Do you know if the rumors of my father’s infidelity are true?”

Deeb tugged at his collar as if he had a noose around his neck. “I feel compelled not to betray the king’s confidence.”

As suspected, he did have information. “You need not conceal my father’s secrets any longer, Deeb. You answer to me now.” He despised sounding so harsh, but he was that desperate for confirmation.

“I know of only one woman,” he said after a brief hesitation.

“Who is this woman?”

“I will only say that she is above reproach. She was only doing the king’s bidding.”

Zain sensed that Deeb was protecting more than the king’s secrets. He could very well have a connection with the mistress, which led him to believe she could have been a former staff member. At the moment, he was too exhausted to press his assistant for more details. “That will be all, Deeb.”

“As you wish.” Deeb turned to leave before facing Zain again. “If I may speak candidly, I would like to add that some things are not as they seem.”

He’d said that to Madison on more than one occasion. “Perhaps, yet you cannot deny that my father dishonored my mother?”

“Again, every situation is unique and at times not for us to judge.”

Zain could not help but judge his father. The man had caused him to doubt himself on many levels, the least of which had to do with personal relationships. “Thank you for your candor. You may go now.”

“Before I take my leave,” he said, “may I speak freely?”

“You may.” For now.

“If it is any solace, I firmly believe you are nothing like the king.”

With that, Deeb left the room, leaving Zain in a state of disbelief. He learned tonight how little he knew about his assistant, yet the man seemed to know much about him.

Feeling restless, Zain paced the room for a few moments, growing angrier by the minute as he thought back to Deeb’s confirmation of his father’s infidelity. He strode to the shelf housing several books, picked up the photo of the king posing with a U.S. president and hurled it against the far wall. The glass shattered and rained down in shards to the carpeted floor.

Despite Deeb’s insistence there were extenuating circumstances, Zain could never forgive his father. Not when his ruthless behavior had dealt his mother the worst fate. Death.

Five

T
he second she walked into the conference room, Madison felt as if she’d entered Antarctica. With their immaculate black suits and impeccable grooming, Rafiq and Zain Mehdi could be corporate raiders involved in a business debate, not two brothers engaged in an ongoing war of wills.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” she said as she pulled out a chair across from Zain, sat and scooted beneath the massive conference table.

“Do you have anything to report on the latest scandal?” Rafiq asked, while Zain seemed more interested in the view out the window at Madison’s back.

She set her briefcase at her feet and folded her hands on the table. “I do, actually.” A report that wouldn’t go over well with Zain. “I spent most of the morning on the phone tracking down Ms. Winterlind’s publicist. I finally heard from her a few moments ago.”

Zain finally looked at her when she hesitated. “And?”

“She told me that Ms. Winterlind did in fact leak the initial claim that you’re the father of her baby.”

Anger flashed in Zain’s eyes. “Impossible.”

“I’m afraid it’s not. She did send her apologies to you through the publicist and is in the process of retracting the claim.”

“It seems your faith in the model was misplaced, Zain,” Rafiq said.

If looks really could kill, Zain had just delivered a visual bullet, right between his brother’s eyes. “She had her reasons.”

“What would those be, brother? She has her sights set on trapping a king?”

Zain muttered something acid and probably insulting in Arabic. “She is not like that, Rafiq.”

Time for a much-needed intervention on Zain’s behalf. “Actually, Prince Rafiq, she made the claim to protect her son from her ex, who is a known batterer. Fortunately, he’s currently incarcerated on assault charges.”

Zain’s gaze snapped to hers. “Did he beat her?”

Evidently he still cared about the model, maybe even more than he’d let on in their previous conversations. “No. He beat up some guy in a bar and nearly killed him. He’ll be going away for a long time.”

“Good riddance,” Zain muttered.

“Are there other women who will surface with similar claims?” Rafiq asked Zain, venom in his tone.

Zain’s eyes narrowed. “The women with whom I have been intimately involved are trustworthy.”

“I believe the model contradicts that assertion.”

“I was not intimate with her.”

Rafiq raised a brow. “Then it would seem those whom you have bedded and spurned would be more likely to lie.”

Zain looked as if he might bolt out of the chair.
“Izhab ila al djaheem, Rafiq.”

Madison had no idea what Zain had said to his brother, but she did feel she needed to defuse the situation, possibly at her own peril. “Look, Your Highness, Prince Rafiq does have a point. We need to know if there is even a remote possibility a woman might come forward with some scandalous claim, unfounded or not.”

Zain’s expression turned cold. “My former lovers should not be a concern, unless perhaps one is interested in the extent of my sexual experience.”

His attitude, and the pointed comment, shredded her already thinned patience. “I don’t need a list, only a number. Less than five? More than ten? Fifty?” Now
she
sounded like a scorned lover.

“I assure you, my past will not affect my ability to lead,” he said. “Many married leaders worldwide have openly engaged in affairs and continued to rule.”

Madison had known more than her fair share. Some came through it unscathed. Others had not. “Any scandal could influence your people’s trust in you if it rears its ugly head again.”

He kept his gaze centered on hers. “Does that include your trust in me, Madison?”

“Trust is earned,
Zain.
”

She regretted the informality faux pas the minute she glanced at Rafiq and saw the suspicious look in his eyes. She could only imagine how the exchange sounded—like lovers engaged in a spat.

Rafiq checked his watch and stood. “The meeting begins in ten minutes. You can continue this discussion later.”

Madison might receive an emphatic no, but she had to ask. “I’d like to sit in on the meeting.”

Rafiq looked as though she’d requested to run naked through the royal gardens. “That is not permitted.”

“I will allow it,” Zain said. “You may observe from the gallery. I’ll have Deeb interpret for you.”

She wasn’t sure if Zain had granted her request because he wanted her there, or because he wanted to one-up his brother. It didn’t matter as long as she had a ringside seat where she could watch him in action.

When Zain failed to stand, Rafiq nailed him with another glare. “Are you coming now, or should I have the guards escort you?”

“I will be along shortly,” Zain said. “I need to speak privately with Ms. Foster.”

“I have no doubt you do.” With that, Rafiq strode out of the room.

As soon as the door closed, Madison directed her attention to Zain. “This is exactly what I feared would happen. My stupid miscue with your name wasn’t lost on your brother. There’s no telling what he thinks is going on between us.”

“Let him believe what he will,” he said. “He would have assumed the worst whether I had touched you or not.”

Oh, but he had touched her. “If you’re not concerned about Rafiq, then why did you need to speak to me in private?”

He looked all too serious. “First, I want to apologize. My problem is with Rafiq’s attitude, not yours. Second, I need to know if you’re all right after last evening.”

She shrugged. “I’m fine. It happened, it’s done and it’s over.”

He inclined his head and studied her. “Is it truly over?”

If only she could say yes without any reservations. Trouble was, she couldn’t. “Right now you need to concentrate on what you have to propose to the council.”

He reached across the table and took her hand. “How can I concentrate when I know you’re upset?”

“I told you, I’m fine.” She came to her feet and grabbed her briefcase. “I’m sure you’ll regain your full concentration once you’re in the meeting. Now let’s go before Rafiq calls out the guard.”

As Zain stood, Madison started toward the door. But before she made it more than a few steps, Zain caught her arm and turned her to face him. “Do you recall what I said to you last night?”

She recalled every detail of last night. “Yes, and I meant what I said to you a few minutes ago. You’re going to have to prove you’re trustworthy.”

“At times trust requires a leap of faith.”

If she leaped too quickly, she could land in an emotional briar patch. “Faith has failed me before.”

“You are not alone in that. Yet whatever my faults might be, I am a man of my word.”

She really wanted to believe that. “Speaking of words, you’ve never told me what you said to me the day you addressed the crowd.”

He rubbed his thumb slowly back and forth down her arm. Not only could she feel it through her linen jacket, she could feel it everywhere. “You really wish for me to tell you now?”

“Yes, I do.” Although she had a feeling she might regret it.

As he had the first time he’d whispered words she hadn’t understood, he rested his lips against her ear. “You should never have kissed me.”

He had to be kidding. “That’s it? You’re saying the kiss was all my fault?”

“No. It was my fault for baiting you. I simply did not believe you would take the bait. However, if we had never shared that first kiss, I would not be lying awake at night fantasizing about all the ways I would make love to you. I would not want you so badly that I would gladly reschedule this meeting and take you away from here.”

He released her then, walked to the door and left the room, while she stood still as a statue, cursing Zain for his uncanny knack of keeping her off balance. She didn’t move an inch until Deeb summoned her into the hallway.

Madison followed the entourage down the corridor, watching as Zain walked ahead with overt confidence. Several times she had to tear her gaze away after trying to sneak a peek at his notable royal butt. Once they reached the end of the hall, Zain walked through double doors while Deeb showed Madison to his right, where they descended a short flight of stairs, and into the glass-enclosed gallery.

Madison took a seat in the front row of chairs beside him and looked down on the scene. Several men were seated at a large round table—eleven by her count—all dressed in high-neck button-down white robes, various colored sashes draped around their necks, and white kaffiyehs with bands that matched the sashes. The chairs flanking either side of Rafiq were noticeably empty, one most likely reserved for Zain. She leaned toward Deeb and asked, “Who’s missing, aside from His Highness?”

“The youngest emir, Adan,” he said. “He is excused today due to the importance of his mission.”

Madison doubted Zain would be afforded the same courtesy if he’d decided not to appear. As the minutes ticked off, she began to worry he might have taken that route. And considering the way the council members kept looking around, she assumed they were worried, as well.

A few seconds later, the doors opened to the future king, prompting the men to stand. He wore the same white robe with a gold-and-black sash draped around his neck, but nothing on his head. She didn’t know if he was intentionally bucking tradition, or if someone had forgotten his headdress. Frankly, that was fine by Madison. She’d hate to see even one inch of that pretty face concealed from her view.

When Zain lowered himself into the chair, the men followed suit while Deeb reached forward and flipped a switch to the intercom. Zain began to speak in a language that Madison regretted not learning. She’d only mastered a few official greetings and the all-important request for the ladies’ room. Perhaps she would ask Zain to teach her more. She imagined he could teach her quite a bit from a nonlinguistic standpoint, and she would happily be a willing student.

Madison forced her attention back to the meeting and wondered what she’d hoped to gain by observing when she couldn’t understand a word.

Deeb demonstrated that he understood her confusion when he said, “They are currently discussing economic concerns. Rafiq is the minister of finance.”

“And Adan?” she asked.

“He is the head of the military.”

That made sense. Unfortunately, nothing else did.

As the discourse continued, Madison became focused on watching Zain’s hands move as he spoke. Strong, steady, expressive hands. Skilled hands. Her thoughts drifted back to the night before when she’d experienced those hands on her body. She’d wanted to experience more of them in places that he’d obviously avoided. The sudden, unexpected rush of heat caused her to cross her legs against the sensations. She felt as she might actually start to squirm if she didn’t get her mind back on business. Easier said than done.

Hormone overload, pure and simple. What else could it possibly be?

You’ve never been so attuned to someone that when you enter a room, that person is all you see? You’ve never wanted someone so desperately that you would risk everything to have them?

Yes, she wanted Zain, with a force that defied logic. Even more now after what he’d said only minutes ago.

I would not be lying awake at night fantasizing about all the ways I would make love to you.

Graphic, detailed images of making love with Zain filtered into Madison’s mind when she should have been focusing on the meeting. She shifted her crossed legs from restlessness and pure, undeniable desire for a man who shouldn’t be on her sexual radar. But he was, front and center, sending out signals that she urgently wanted to answer.

The sound of raised voices jarred Madison out of her fantasies and back into reality. She regarded Deeb, who appeared impervious to the disruption.

“What’s happening now?” she asked.

“The emir is explaining his water proposal. Sheikh Barad has taken exception to it.”

“Which one is he?”

“To the right of Prince Rafiq.”

Madison honed in on a fierce-looking man with a neatly trimmed goatee and beady eyes. “Is he a relative?”

“No. He is a childhood friend of Prince Rafiq’s. His sister, Maysa, is a physician.”

Maysa. The woman Zain had visited the other night. “He doesn’t appear to care for Zain.”

“He does not care for the emir’s plan, nor does he care for the emir’s demand that he halt any plans for drilling.”

Obviously oil and water truly didn’t mix in this case. “Is this going to be a problem for Zain?” Not again. “His Highness?”

Deeb didn’t seem at all disturbed by her second informality screwup. “That depends on how he chooses to handle the matter.”

Zain chose to handle it by rising from the chair and slamming his palm on the table. He then launched into an impassioned diatribe that seemed to silence everyone into submission.

“He is telling everyone that he is the king,” Deeb began. “His word is the law, and those who go against him will be summarily dismissed and tried for treason.”

Apparently Zain was dead serious. “What does that entail?”

“If found guilty, a firing squad.”

Madison wondered if that held true for unsuitable women who overstepped their bounds and slept with the king. She preferred not to find out.

Zain reclaimed his seat but continued to speak, this time in low, more temperate tones. Deeb explained that he spoke of the people, their needs and the importance of their future, the evils of profiteering and raping the land, as well as his commitment to bringing the country into the twenty-first century. “If there are those who do not support his vision,” Deeb continued, “they may relinquish their positions immediately.”

As Zain continued to address the men, Madison found his absolute control, his sheer air of power, as heady as a hot bath. Funny, she had never been turned on by authoritative men. Then again, she’d never met anyone like Zain before. Not even close. In the five years she’d lived with her former boyfriend, not once had Jay ever made her feel as if she might climb out of her skin if she didn’t have him. Not once did she spot him across a crowded room and feel an overwhelming sense of passion.