The Sheik and the Bought Bride (7 page)

“Kateb isn’t like other men,” Yusra told her.

“He’s just as stupid as they are.”

“That is true,” the other woman said, then smiled when Victoria looked at her. “Men see what they want to see.”

“He thinks I’m only after what I can get. That I’m tricking him.”

“For now. He will calm down and see reason.”

“Want to give me a date when that’s going to happen?”

“Soon.”

“Now you’re just saying things to make me feel better.” Victoria dropped her hands to her lap and sagged back against the sofa.

“Come with me,” Yusra said as she stood.

Victoria hesitated. “You’re not taking me to the dungeon, are you?”

“No. There is something you should see.”

Yusra stood, waiting patiently until Victoria stood and followed her. They walked down several hallways before walking into a large room that was totally empty. There were big windows, but no furniture. Before she could ask the point of their visit, she turned and saw a massive tapestry on the wall.

It was perhaps twenty square feet and had to have taken dozens of women several generations to complete it.

Victoria approached it slowly, taking in the detail of the huge family tree. Up close she could see the tiny stitches, the intricate and perfect work.

“This is Kateb,” Yusra said simply. “He can trace his family back over a thousand years. Their blood has been spilled on the sand, their sons and daughters have lived and died here. To be one with the royal family is to have a place in history.”

Victoria had grown up in a small Texas town where she’d hated that everyone knew her past. That everyone knew her father was useless and a gambler and that they were poor. She’d wanted to go somewhere else and start over, without that horrible legacy following her everywhere.

But this was different, she thought, wishing she could touch the tapestry but knowing better. This was living history. This wasn’t about one generation or one king. This was about a dynasty that had survived longer than many governments.

A stab of longing cut through her. Not to be royal but to be a part of something bigger than herself. Something more important.

“If you have his child, your name will be added,” Yusra told her.

“That’s a big
if
. And if I have his child, I’m trapped here forever.”

“Life is not a trap.”

“Sometimes it feels like it.” Like now.

A baby? She didn’t think it was possible.

She considered Kateb’s words—that she would have trapped Nadim with a pregnancy. Honestly, she couldn’t imagine going on a date with him, let alone sleeping with him. No, Nadim had represented a kind of security she’d never experienced. Nothing more. Not that she would ever convince Kateb of that.

If she was pregnant, everything would change. Did she want that? Her name on the tapestry? A child with Kateb?

The answer came quickly. No. Not like this. Not with him believing she’d tricked him. Not with them angry and accusing each other. That was no way to bring a child into the world.

“If I’m not pregnant, he said I could go,” she told Yusra.

“Is that what you want?”

She thought about how he had been the previous night. The passion that had consumed them. She thought about the man who had brought her electricity for her curling iron, despite the fact that they were in the desert.

There was kindness there—perhaps a good and gentle man. But she wasn’t interested in giving her heart and he would never see her as anything but a woman out for what she could get.

“Yes,” Victoria said. “I want to leave. I guess it will take a couple of weeks to know if that’s going to happen.”

Yusra stared at her. “You would go so easily?”

“I’ve barely known Kateb a week.”

“Still, he is the prince.”

“You sound disappointed.”

“I am. Kateb must marry soon. If he does not pick a bride, one will be found for him.”

An arranged marriage? “I wouldn’t think he would allow that,” she said. “He’s too stubborn to let someone else influence his life that way.”

“Yet he will let it happen.” Yusra looked as if she had more to say, but she was silent.

“I’ll believe that when I see it.”

“No, you will not. You will be gone.”

She was right, something that should have made Victoria happy. But it didn’t. Talk about trapped, she thought sadly. She didn’t want to stay and maybe, just maybe, she didn’t want to go. Which left her nowhere.

Kateb found himself so distracted during his late-afternoon meetings that he had to reschedule them for the next day so the points in question could be addressed. He resented his inability to focus on the concerns of the elders and knew there was only one cause.

Victoria.

Tomorrow would be better, he told himself as he made his way back to his rooms, only to find the cause of his inattention waiting for him there.

Victoria sat on a sofa, reading a fashion magazine. She hadn’t heard him approach, so she didn’t look up. He was able to study her without being observed.

Her long, curly blond hair tumbled down her shoulders. The soft gold color made his fingers ache to feel the silkiness. Her lush curves threatened to spill from the sleeveless top she wore and the long, layered skirt seem to call to him to explore what was hidden.

How could he want her? Knowing what he did, he should resent her, or at least not think of her. But she had haunted him all day. Even through his anger, he wanted her and that offended him most of all.

He must have made a sound because she looked up, then dropped the magazine onto the cushion before standing.

“They’re saying navy is going to be big this fall,” she told him. “It’s the new black. Have you noticed they’re always saying this or that color is the new black? There actually isn’t a new black, no matter what they want us to believe. There’s just the old black.” She paused, then sighed. “You have no idea what I’m talking about, nor do you care.”

His voice was rough. “Why are you here?”

“To talk to you about Rasha and the other women making jewelry. We were so busy with your overwrought accusations that we never got to talk about that.”

For some reason, he couldn’t seem to summon the anger. It should have been there—she had earned it—yet it was nowhere to be found.

“I am not overwrought,” he told her sternly.

“Want to take a vote on that?” She held up her hands. “Never mind. I’ll stay on topic. The women should be
selling in places other than the city marketplace and to the camel guy.”

“That is their decision, not mine.”

“Au contraire, great prince. You’re the man, or at least you will be when the elders pick you. Everyone knows it’s going to happen, so they’re acting as if it already has. Rasha got all quivery when I mentioned talking to you about them selling elsewhere. They need your permission. And as I don’t have a computer of my own to get started on this…I do, too.”

She didn’t sound happy about the fact.

“You are very persistent.”

“Someone has to be. They deserve a chance at this. A chance to make a living.” Her blue eyes flashed with annoyance. “And while we’re on the subject of making a living, I’m going to need access to my savings account while I’m here.”

“Why?”

“To buy things.”

“Whatever you want will be provided.”

“Does a little man with a bucket of gold follow me everywhere I go? What if I want to go into the bazaar and buy a dress or something?”

“They’ll bill me.”

“I don’t think so.” She glared at him. “I have money, I just need access to it.”

“While you are here, you are my responsibility.”

“Not really. I’m just the money-hungry tramp who tricked you into sleeping with her. Isn’t that the story you’re telling yourself?”

He crossed to the armoire in the corner, opened the doors and poured himself a drink. “You want anything?” he asked, before picking up his glass.

“No, thank you.”

He swallowed the scotch, knowing it wasn’t nearly enough to help. He turned back to her.

“It wasn’t what you think,” she said. “Nadim was very much more a theory than a man. I didn’t want to be that little girl in the charity clothes. I didn’t want to have to stand in line to get a special meal. I don’t expect you to believe me, but it’s the truth.”

She spoke defiantly, as if she
did
expect him to believe her but knew he would never take the time.

What was the truth? It would be relatively easy to investigate her past and determine what had actually happened. And as soon as he had the thought, he realized he did believe her. At least about that.

“I was going back to the States,” she continued. “I was going to figure out what to do with my life and open my own business. You can ask Maggie. That’s Qadir’s fiancée.”

“I know who Maggie is.”

“She’s my friend. She knows what I was thinking.”

“Nadim would not have made you happy.”

“You mean because he’s lacking a personality?”

He did his best not to laugh. “That is part of the problem.”

“Let me guess. The other part is he’s male. Your gender has some real issues.”

He stared at her. “Must I remind you who I am?”

“No, but I have a feeling you will anyway.” She shook her head. “I didn’t try to trick either of you. I didn’t even want to fall in love. I saw what it did to my mom. Love is for suckers.”

He sensed she believed the words. “You’re too young to be so cynical.”

“And yet, here I stand.” She moved toward him. “Kateb, I’m not pregnant. It was one time and the odds are seriously against it. At the risk of providing you with too much information, I just finished my period last week. That
makes it even more unlikely. I understand you want to be sure. So do I. But I’m not playing you. I never was.”

Her blue eyes promised she spoke the truth and he found himself wanting to accept her words.

“We will see,” he said instead.

Victoria sighed. “I guess so. So now let’s talk about Rasha and the jewelry. This would be good thing for the village. Weren’t you talking about diversification? Plus, the women need a little power.”

“How do you know?”

“It’s El Deharia. Sure, the country is very forward-thinking, but come on. Are you saying they get an equal vote at home?”

“Probably not.”

Her suggestion had merit and he would be a fool to ignore it simply because of the source.

“Bring me a business plan,” he said. “I will consider it.”

She grinned, which made him want to kiss her—which annoyed him.

“Great. I even know how to write one. There wouldn’t happen to be a spare computer anywhere?”

“I will have one delivered to your rooms. Anything else?”

“M&M’s? Any color. I’m not fussy.”

“You want candy?”

“I want chocolate. There’s a difference.”

He sighed. “You may go now.”

She turned and left.

He found himself watching her walk across the room. His gaze dropped to her ridiculous high-heeled sandals. They were impractical and foolish and they suited her perfectly.

For a moment he wondered if the same held true for her? That she suited
him
perfectly.

K
ateb heard the loud clacking sound in the hallway and knew that Victoria approached. He hadn’t seen her in several days, which was to his liking. The less contact they had, the better. Unfortunately not seeing her had not removed her from his mind. He couldn’t seem to go an hour without images of her haunting him. Memories of her naked body filled his dreams at night causing him to awaken hard, hungry and restless.

He heard voices outside his office, then the door opened and she strolled in. He looked at her and raised his eyebrows.

“I know, I know,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Yusra brought it to me. Apparently it’s traditional and as I’m your mistress, I’m the one stuck wearing it. I had a hard time finding the right shoes and I don’t know what to do with my hair. What goes with the ‘Hey, look, I’m the local harem girl’? I was thinking of just leaving it loose. Your thoughts?”

He took in the two-piece outfit that was more costume than clothing. The top was part bikini, part short vest, done in quilted silk and heavy beading. Her midsection was bare, and the silky trousers sat low on her hips. There was more beading in front and at the bands that hugged her ankles. Everywhere else, the fabric was sheer.

“Yusra has a sense of humor,” he murmured, knowing the old woman wasn’t the least bit subtle. She wanted him to consider Victoria as more than a temporary fixture in the palace.

“You think?” Victoria turned so he could see the sheer fabric in back, making her rear completely visible. “I’m not comfortable with the whole world seeing my butt.”

She was close enough to naked that his body reacted predictably. He tried telling himself it was because he hadn’t been with a woman in so long. Except he had…just last week. And the wanting wasn’t about biological need—it was about being with Victoria again. Touching her and tasting her. Pleasing her and being pleased.

He moved behind his desk so his condition was not obvious.

“How did you get here?” he asked. “Or is palace staff different than the entire village?”

“I have a cloak. Desert fashion seems very cloak oriented. This one is beautiful. The beading matches. Shoes were a problem.” She held out a foot, showing him her high-heeled sandals.

He glanced at them, then wished he hadn’t when his gaze traveled up her bent leg to her thigh. He quickly looked at the report on his desk.

“You are not expected to wear that to the nominating ceremony,” he said, thinking no one would pay attention to the elders if she did. “Regular clothes are fine. In fact you don’t have to attend at all.”

“I thought it might be interesting. I’ve never been to one. But if you don’t want me there, that’s fine. I heard the camel is in and I’m hoping he brought my new issue of
People
magazine.”

There was something about the way she spoke, as if she were protecting herself from something. “Do you want to attend?” he asked.

She shrugged.

“Victoria?”

She sighed. “Look, I’m lonely, okay? No one talks to me but you and Yusra. I know Rasha and she’s really nice, but she has a job. I’m working on the business plan, which is harder to do in real life than in a college class, and I’m making great progress, but that only fills eight or ten hours a day. I have nothing to do. Everything is done for me. It’s boring.”

“I thought you wanted a life of leisure.”

“Do
not
go there again,” she said, and put her hands on her hips.

The action wasn’t the least bit intimidating. Not only because she was more kitten than tiger, but because it would be difficult to take anyone seriously in that costume.

“I wanted security, not days of lying around eating bonbons. I’ve worked my whole life. I’m used to doing things. Seeing people. I need to be useful.”

She raised her chin as she spoke, as if daring him to dismiss her words.

“What would you like to do?” he asked instead.

“Well, it depends. Assuming I’m not pregnant, I’ll be gone in a couple of weeks. Getting the proposal together for Rasha should be enough. But if I have to stay here longer, I was thinking about maybe trying to catalogue the art in the palace. There are plenty of books in the library to help and we could call in an expert if I got stuck.”

She continued to surprise him. Perhaps a case could be
made that was a good thing. “We will discuss it when the time comes,” he told her. “Now if you wish to attend the ceremony, you will need to change.”

She glanced down at herself and smiled. “Only if you’re sure.”

He would prefer her in nothing, but that wasn’t possible. He’d vowed he would not take her again. But right now, the reasons for that promise didn’t seem at all clear.

“Go change,” he told her. “You have an hour. If you are late…”

She’d already started for the door. “I know, I know. Insert royal threat here. I’ll be ready.”

She waved and was gone, so she wasn’t in the room to see him smile.

Victoria scanned her wardrobe, not sure what was appropriate for a formal ceremony. She went with a simple dress that was very classically elegant. Pale blue fabric, wide belt, boat neck, matching heels that had taken her weeks to find and a white leather clutch.

She put her hair up, added nearly real pearl earrings and a thin gold chain bracelet. She walked into the foyer of the palace with five minutes to spare.

Kateb stood talking to several old men. The elders, she would guess. He looked good—very princelike, despite his simple clothes. It didn’t seem to matter what he was doing—he always appeared royal. Was it in the blood or the result of years of training?

She studied his profile. The side with the scar was to her, but the slight twisting of his face no longer bothered her. The scar was a part of him, a reminder of a difficult time. Nothing more.

She waited off to the side, watching him. She hadn’t meant to admit she was lonely—the words had just slipped
out. Yusra was friendly enough, but even she kept her distance. There was no one to just hang with and the person Victoria knew best—namely Kateb—had made it clear he didn’t think much of her. It did not make for a fun day.

Nearly as bad was that she wanted to be with him again.
Be with
in a man-woman kind of way. She wanted to kiss him and touch him and make love until they were both breathless. Not that he was interested. Irrational blame seemed to be even more effective than a cold shower.

He looked up and saw her, then gestured her over.

“Very nice,” he murmured as she approached. “And no one can see your butt.”

She smiled.

He introduced her to the other men. Their names blurred. Then they were all walking out to the front of the palace where several Land Rovers were parked.

“We’re driving somewhere?” she asked as Kateb held open the rear door for her. A man was already behind the wheel.

“It isn’t far. The nominating ceremony takes place in the arena.”

Who knew? “What kind of arena? Big sports facility where they hold trade shows or more stone and Rome Colosseum?”

He sat next to her and closed the door. “The latter.”

“I can’t wait to see it.”

The Land Rover began to move through the village. There were very few people on the street. Those who were waved at the vehicle. A few tossed flowers toward the hood.

“So you’re going to be nominated,” she said. “Does the king know?”

“I spoke to my father this morning. He is not happy.”

Not a surprise
, she thought. Kateb was in line for the
El Deharian throne. If he accepted the nomination, he would be abdicating his inheritance, in essence turning his back on his heritage. It wasn’t something to be done lightly.

“Did you explain this is what you really wanted?” she asked.

He glanced at her. “The king is not interested in what I want.”

“He’s disappointed. I’m sure he sees your decision as a rejection of him and what he has to offer. Gee, the throne of El Deharia isn’t good enough. That kind of thing. But in his heart, he wants you to be happy. You’re his son.”

“
Your
father isn’t interested in what makes you happy.”

“I know.” Her presence here was proof of that. “But he’s not like other fathers. His heart belongs to the cards, not to any one person. The king loves you.” She touched his arm. “He’ll get over it.”

“You sound very sure.”

“I am. I’ve heard him speak of you. There is so much pride and love in his voice. This will get better.”

He squared his shoulders and faced front. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

She noticed her hand was still on his arm and she pulled it back.

Tension seemed to fill the space. Victoria decided a quick change in subject might help.

“Once you’re in charge, are you going to make any big changes? Bring in a mall? A couple of chain restaurants?”

One corner of his mouth twitched. “I had not planned to.”

“What about the harem? Keeping that open? You could have your own bevy of beauties calling your name.”

“One woman is plenty. Any man who seeks more is a fool.”

“Right,” she whispered, suddenly deflated.

One woman. A wife. Because Kateb would marry someone and have a family.

It made sense. He would want children—probably sons, but maybe daughters, too. It was the circle of life. He probably had to marry to keep his people happy. Good for him. She would be long gone, back in the States, content in her world.

They’d barely been in each other’s company two weeks. It wasn’t as if they were friends or anything. She wouldn’t miss him. It would be foolish to think she would. Or that he would remember her. Once she was gone, it would be over. Forever.

They arrived at the arena. It was larger than Victoria had imagined, tall and open, with dozens of rows of seats circling a surprisingly large space. An awning shaded the front. As she climbed out of the Land Rover, she could hear the roar of an unseen crowd.

“How many people will be here?” she asked.

“Nearly the entire village,” Kateb told her.

He put his hand on the small of her back and guided her through the people milling by the entrance.

Someone jostled her and she nearly lost her footing in her high heels. Kateb reached for her hand and drew her close.

She knew he was only being polite—making sure she didn’t get hurt. But she sort of liked her fingers laced with his. It felt right.

They walked around the inside of the stadium, under the seating. Up ahead she saw large wooden double doors with guards.

“Is that where they keep the lions who rip apart the unruly prisoners?” she asked.

“Only on even days. You’re safe.”

The humor was unexpected. She glanced at him and smiled. He smiled back. Warmth seemed to blossom inside
of her, making her feel kind of melty and feminine. If only he would kiss her.

Afraid he would know what she was thinking, she quickly looked away.

“So, um, what happens now?” she asked as they approached the doors.

“Yusra will stay with you through the ceremony. When it’s finished you’ll be escorted back to the palace. I have assigned two guards to you because there is a large crowd. Don’t make a fuss about it.”

She paused in front of the double doors. “A fuss? Me? Have we met? Because I’m very easygoing.”

“Of course you are.”

The double doors opened. She and Kateb walked into a large room filled with thirty or forty people, mostly of them older and male.

The elders, she thought, looking around and feeling a little nervous. Most everyone turned to look her way. Or maybe they were staring at Kateb, she told herself. He was going to be nominated today, not her.

The room itself had food and drinks set up on tables pushed against the wall, and lots of comfortable sofas, not that anyone was sitting. As she watched, a couple of guys started unlocking big doors, then sliding them along the track. The room opened up to the floor of the arena.

Victoria spotted Yusra, who came over.

“Stay with her,” Kateb instructed.

“Where are my guards?” Victoria asked.

“Staying out of the way. When it’s time for you to go back to the palace, they’ll be going with you.”

She stared into his dark eyes, not sure what to say. “Good luck” seemed weird and “Have a nice nomination” was stupid. Before she could settle on something else, he moved away.

“Come,” Yusra said, taking her by the arm and leading her to a sofa on the side. “We will have an excellent view here and stay out of the way.”

Victoria’s instinctive protest was that maybe she wanted to get in the way, but she held it in. The elders had lined up, with Kateb at the rear. Everyone looked solemn, as if this was a great occasion. Then she heard music and the arena went silent.

“It is the procession of the elders,” Yusra whispered. “They will file out and present themselves. The oldest will call for a leader to be nominated.”

“I didn’t know there’d be a band,” Victoria said.

Yusra smiled. “We enjoy music.”

“It’s nice.”

The men filed out, leaving behind a few big guys she assumed were guards. Yusra had been correct—they could see everything from where they sat.

The men approached a podium she hadn’t noticed before. One of them, walking slowly and leaning on a cane, approached. He raised one hand and the music was still.

“Good people of the desert, we, your elders, come before you.”

He spoke about the importance of wisdom and how the village had been prosperous. Then he mentioned Bahjat, the previous leader, and how fortunate they had been to know him.

Yusra leaned close. “They will nominate Kateb now.”

Victoria turned her head so she could speak into the other woman’s ear. “By the way, he said that outfit you left for me wasn’t exactly traditional.”

“I am surprised.”

“Like I believe that. Did you really expect me to wear that here? I don’t think the old guys want to be looking at my butt.”

Yusra chuckled. “Or perhaps they would like it too much.”

Victoria didn’t want to think about that. “What did you think you were doing, sending me in there dressed like that?”