by Cara Albany
Khalid leaned closer to her and traced a finger down her back. She felt a tingle of pleasure as his finger moved down her spine, and all the way across to her hip. He rested his hand against her soft flesh, cupping his fingers gently against her.
"Perfect," he murmured.
Belle turned her head and stared at him. "Don't think you're going to get around me with compliments," she teased.
Khalid sat up and rested a hand on her shoulder. His lips settled on her bare skin, following a line up her neck and to that sweet spot just behind her ear. Pleasure ignited as his tongue worked wonders there. She lifted her chin and moved her neck hard against his lips, wanting more of the exquisite sensation.
Khalid's hand moved around to her belly, cupping her flesh. She wondered if he wanted more from her, if he intended to make love to her all morning here. Was he physically capable of doing that? His desire for her seemed to know no limits. He had unbelievable stamina as well as an unquenchable thirst for her body.
His hand moved up to her breasts. Once again his expert fingertips teased pleasure from her, and it was all she could do to contain the moans which leapt to her throat.
It felt amazing to be possessed by this man, she told herself. Surely she was the luckiest woman in Qazhar. No, make that the world, she said to herself. Her breathing was quicker now, and she knew that any moment now she would have to give in to temptation and submit to him.
Because that was all she wanted to do, right now. Take her pleasure, and give him his pleasure, too. It seemed like the right thing to do.
So much had changed in the last few days. A week ago she would hardly have believed it possible she would be back in the sheikh's bed. But here she was.
And it felt glorious. Wonderful. Beyond words. Just like being with him. There were no words to describe this man who had taken possession of her, had claimed her again. He'd brought her back into his life.
As she turned to face him, accepting his kiss again, she knew there was nowhere else she would rather be than in Khalid's bed.
****
Later, after making love again, they showered together. That was a whole new level of sensation as far as Khalid was concerned. Of course they'd done it before. But, for some reason being next to her as the water tumbled down across her naked body was so intense. With her close, watching her and being watched by her as they cleaned themselves, he really felt as if some of the remaining barriers had been broken down.
As they dressed, he thought about what had happened only hours before. It had been astonishing. She was literally the most beautiful woman he'd ever known.
About that simple truth he harbored no doubt. Not that he had ever doubted that. Since the first time he'd seen Belle, he'd known she was the one he was destined to be with. Fate had delivered her into his arms. He'd almost lost her once before. After last night, after the passion, the closeness, the sheer intimacy, he knew he would never let that happen again.
Never. Not while he breathed. Not while he walked this earth.
Khalid watched Belle slip on her dress and settle her small feet into the low heels. There was something special about simply watching her every move. He'd never known such pleasure.
And last night, the connection between them had been real. It could no longer be denied that she was his. That he was hers.
At that thought, a flickering sensation shifted in his middle, accompanied by thoughts that he instantly pushed into the back of his mind. He knew what that sensation had been, even if he didn't want to admit it.
Doubt. Uncertainty.
Did she feel the same about their relationship as him? He knew she'd declared her feelings to him during their love-making. As had he. They had both declared their love to each other. Hearing her say that word to him had made his spirit sing. And when he had declared his own love for her, he had seen her eyes shine bright with emotion.
It was real.
Wasn't it?
He finished putting on his shirt and pants and a pair of loafers. Ready to go downstairs for breakfast with the woman he loved, he told himself. The last twelve hours had completely turned his life around. Days before he had been desperate to find a way to reawaken something he'd feared had died. His feelings for Belle hadn't changed one bit during what he now believed had merely been a temporary separation.
One that would never be repeated. If he had his way.
He was a sheikh, wasn't he? Sheikhs always got their way, didn't they?
That thought might have seemed outrageous to someone other than a sheikh. But to him, it was the most natural thought in the world.
Belle stood in the center of the room and looked at him. "I'm ready," she declared.
Khalid lifted a brow and examined her. "You sure?"
She tugged at the dress. "I don't exactly have any choice about what to wear for breakfast, do I? Evening wear," she said, moving her hips slightly, catching his attention again.
He walked to her and put his arms around her. "I think you look amazing," he growled.
She smiled, visibly pleased at his simple compliment. It wouldn't be the last one of today, he told himself. There were plenty more where that had come from.
That thought made him think of ways to persuade her to stay longer. The last thing he wanted was for her to go running back to the embassy. There was no need for her to leave. He would have to think of something over breakfast.
They walked downstairs, hand in hand. He was glad that when he slid his hand into hers, she did nothing to discourage him.
He'd called down earlier, so breakfast had already been laid out for them on the terrace table. He held the chair for her as she sat, savoring the sight and scent of her as she made herself comfortable.
It was a gloriously sunny day. The garden which surrounded the palace looked beautiful, a wonderful compliment to the gorgeous woman seated opposite him.
They ate breakfast, chatting about the party. She was obviously hungry, and reacted defensively to his remarks about her appetite. He could tell she took all his jokes in good humor. And she wasn't shy about teasing him either.
After they finished breakfast they walked in the garden. Hand in hand again. The sun shone through the branches of the trees and the air was filled with the scent of flowers. Belle paused beneath a tree, gazing up the blue sky through the branches which shifted slowly in the soft breeze from the distant desert.
Khalid plucked a flower and tucked it behind one of Belle's ears. She squinted at him and laughed. Needless to say, she looked even more pretty with the pink flower at her ear.
They walked on, talking little, content just to enjoy the moment, this precious time as far as Khalid was concerned. His thoughts turned to how he could persuade her to remain with him. He was worried that at any moment now she would turn to him and ask to be driven home.
Then an idea came to him. One that had occurred to him once before, just a short while after he'd met her, at the point when he had realized she was more than just another casual acquaintance, someone who might become significant in his life. Someone like that surely should understand from where Khalid and his family had come.
They'd already shared so much about each other. But, he knew there were still unexplored corners for each of them. It would take a long time for them to really get to know everything about one another. There would be plenty of time. He was sure of it, especially after last night.
"You never asked me about my family's past," he said to Belle.
She gazed at him, slight surprise at his sudden mention of that. "I didn't think you wanted me to," she replied. "Not after everything that happened."
Khalid halted and she paused alongside him. "That's different. What I'm talking about is where my family really came from."
"Your father?" she asked.
He nodded. "My mother was descended from a neighbouring tribe. But, my father is descended from something altogether different. Something quite special."
Her eyes widened with curiosity and he
continued.
"I've never shown anyone what I'm talking about," he said evenly. He was more sure of what he was about to do than anything he'd ever felt in his life. If anyone should know about his father's ancestry, his own ancestry for that matter, it was the woman he intended to make so much more than a simple, casual conquest.
Belle frowned. "What are you talking about, Khalid?"
He looked away for a moment, his final deliberation brief and conclusive.
"I want to take you somewhere today."
Belle looked surprised. "Okay. Where?"
"My family's ancestral palace."
"Your what?"
"The seat of power for my father's family. Going back hundreds of years."
Belle gasped. She frowned. "Wow. I didn't expect that," she said. "Did you say palace?"
Khalid nodded. "There's one catch. It's located in an out of the way location. In the mountains east of here."
Her brows rose and he could see she was trying to come to terms with what he had said. She paused a few moments and then squinted at him. "The mountains? And you want to take me there?"
Khalid nodded.
"How would we get there?" she asked looking at him, curiosity etched on her features.
"That's the thing," he said. "It's a bit complicated."
She looked immediately suspicious. "Are you sure you're not just making this up?"
Khalid frowned and peered at Belle. "I don't joke about my ancestors, Belle," he said grimly.
She nodded. "Sorry," she replied. Her gaze flickered apologetically. "I can see that."
"Do you want to come?" he asked.
Belle looked thoughtful for a few moments. "How did you say we'd get there?"
"I didn't," he replied with a smirk.
Belle nodded and smiled back at him.
"First we'll have to take a helicopter part of the way," he explained. "There's an encampment close by. Then it's a short horse ride into the mountains. It can all be done in a day."
She pouted at him, her brows furrowing. He could see she wasn't yet convinced. "Helicopter. Then horses," she said as if she still thought he was joking.
He nodded silently, holding his gaze firmly on her face.
"Your helicopter, I presume," she tested.
"Yes. And my horses. The camp belongs to my father's tribe."
Belle frowned. "And the palace?"
"There's not much of it left. It's a ruin. Hasn't been lived in for over a hundred years." Khalid moved closer to her, intent on making one last effort to convince her. "But it isn't the stone or the ruined palace that's important, Belle. It's what it represents to my family. To me. It's where we came from. And I want you to see it. See it for yourself. Do you understand?"
Belle's eyes widened. He could tell she'd felt the sincerity of his statement. Because what he'd said was true. If she saw where his family had emerged from, then she might understand what his father had been fighting for; what had driven his father to bring disgrace on Khalid's house.
She might see understand what Khalid's father had been fighting to maintain, and that he hadn't just been the unreasonable, ignorant man so many had accused him of being. And, since Khalid was his only son, those same people tended to assume that Khalid had been tarred with the same brush.
By taking Belle to the place, which was in effect his origins, he hoped that she would see Khalid in a fresh, new light. At the very least he'd get a chance to spend the day with Belle.
Belle considered what he'd suggested for a few minutes. They were minutes that seemed to last for an eternity. Eventually she turned to him and nodded. "A helicopter ride over the desert sounds like fun," she said with a mischievous smile.
Khalid felt relief seep through him. "You can ride a horse, I assume," he asked and then immediately regretted it.
"I'm American," she retorted pretending to be annoyed. "Don't you know that all Americans can ride horses?" she teased.
He smiled and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her, feeling her body settle against him. Her lips tasted sweet and he could feel her heart beating against his chest. He wanted to hold her forever, here beneath the tree, with the scent of the desert sweeping in from beyond the garden. Every moment he held her in his arms felt more magical than the previous one.
Their lips parted and he gazed deeply into her eyes. "I love you, Belle," he whispered.
He saw the emotion in her eyes. They shimmered, moist and beautiful. "And I love you, Khalid," she murmured.
He kissed her again.
It was going to be a wonderful day, he told himself.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The helicopter settled down on the sand a hundred yards from the encampment, the rotors throwing up a cloud of sand. Belle looked at Khalid seated next to her in the passenger seat behind the pilot. He gestured to her to keep her headphones on until the rotors slowed. The noise was deafening and through the cloud of sand she could see the three large tents. Men in white desert robes stood watching the helicopter as its rotors began to slow.
In the distance, Belle could see the mountain range, high and bright in the sunshine. She'd scrutinized the mountains as the helicopter had swooped toward the camp. They weren't that far off. Perhaps what Khalid had said was true. It looked like it would take a short horse ride to reach the foothills.
The journey across the desert had been amazing, Belle reflected. She'd marvelled at the stark beauty of the desert, grateful that they were covering the distance to the mountains by air and not overland. The desert looked beautiful and forbidding.
Belle had limited experience of being in the desert, having only made a few short trips with tourists. She didn't even want to think about the trouble her sister Nicole had gotten into during a reckless adventure. The prospect of forced marriage had driven Nicole into the hands of a sheikh who had eventually become her husband.
Well, she thought with a sigh. That's kind of thing that happens in a country like Qazhar.
Finally it was safe to step out of the helicopter. Back at the palace, before leaving, the staff had found an outfit of white robes for Belle to wear. She felt strange in them, but she'd also seen how Khalid had looked at her when she had shown herself off to him. By his expression, it was safe to say that he approved, she told herself.
Every day with him she was becoming something different. Life with Khalid had changed so much for her. And, it was all happening so fast. Too fast? She thrust that thought out of her mind.
Belle followed alongside Khalid as they made their way toward the tribesmen who awaited them. Belle carried a small bag containing some essentials. Khalid had another bag which contained things he'd said they would need in case they couldn't make it back to camp before nightfall. Although he said the chances of that were slim to none.
It was clear from the way the men greeted Khalid that he was held in high esteem. Words were exchanged for a while. Belle assumed Khalid must be explaining what he intended to do. Belle felt no awkwardness as she waited for everything to be agreed between the men. As Khalid's companion, it was clear that the tribesmen were following some unwritten rule about how to act toward her. They were polite and deferential. She wouldn't have expected anything else.
Khalid came to Belle and explained that the men had horses they could use. She followed him to the camp which was composed of three large tents around an oasis pool of clear water. The pool was ringed by a few small trees.
It was like something out of a movie, Belle told herself, feeling momentarily ashamed at that disrespectful observation. Although she knew that for the men, this was the difference between life and death on the desert. They were a long way from any kind of settlement. Life out here must be hard, she reflected.
It was clear Khalid had no intention of wasting any time. Small packs were loaded onto two horses and within a half hour she and Khalid were on their way.
They left the camp behind and were soon riding slowly across the dunes and toward the foothills of the mountains. Now t
hat she was on solid ground, she realized the foothills were closer than she'd thought.
Belle glanced across at Khalid. Like her, he was wearing traditional white robes. She smiled. He looked every inch the Qazhar sheikh. Noble, defiant and powerful. She had to admit he looked like he belonged in this place, amongst the dunes, in this wild, dangerous place.
"How long will it take for us to get there?" she asked.
Khalid gazed at the foothills. "An hour or so," he replied.
"And then?"
"The palace ruins are a short climb up into the mountains. The helicopter wouldn't have a place to land," he explained. "The terrain is too restrictive. The cliffs are too treacherous for a helicopter."
It was convenient too that he would get a chance to be alone with her, Belle told herself. Maybe that was the real reason he'd suggested this journey. Or perhaps she was being unkind.
She could tell by the way he spoke about the palace that it had a special meaning for him. It represented a past he still valued, a sense of traditional values. Those were the very same things which Khalid's father had used as a reason why it was necessary to turn back the clock, to hold onto the past, to reject some or even most of the progress Qazhar had benefitted from these past decades.
So, this trip was more than just an excuse for Khalid to spend precious time with her. As far as what that meant, she was still reeling from what had happened yesterday. It had thrown her plans into confusion.
Did she even have any plans? Until yesterday, she had thought she might move to Europe, make a new start at the embassy. Do what she'd always done. Start a new life.
She knew that if she did that she would probably regret it for the rest of her life.
But, what was she going to do? Khalid's obvious affection for her had turned her world upside down.
Again. Just like before.
The possibility of leaving him behind was becoming increasingly difficult to consider.
But, committing to a future with Khalid brought with it a whole collection of other problems. Could she do that?