“It’s not food.”
Sure enough, a young girl walked up and knelt in front of Emma. She held out her hand, offering a beautiful blue and red enameled necklace. Emma looked at it, then at him.
“I can’t take that.”
“You have to. You’re their princess and they want to show respect.” He leaned close and lowered his voice. “Don’t worry. All that is expected is that you are enthusiastic and love everything. When we leave, the gifts stay behind.”
“Good thing,” she murmured as she noticed a teenage boy leading several camels toward her.
Still caught up in how Reyhan’s warm breath had tickled her skin, she accepted the necklace, kissed the girl on both cheeks and thanked her warmly. Reyhan slid the necklace over her neck.
There were more pieces of jewelry offered, several bolts of amazing silk, four adult camels and one baby camel. The only gift she had trouble returning was a sweet puppy who licked her entire face and wiggled to get closer.
When she’d thanked everyone and carefully left all the smaller gifts on a blanket by the fire, she walked toward the SUV with Reyhan.
“They were wonderful people,” she said. “Do the children go to school?”
He nodded. “They attend several months at a time, then return to their families. We are fortunate in that we can afford excellent teachers and modern schools that can meet the needs of children from the city and from the desert.”
Emma thought about what Cleo had said—how she did charity work in her free time. Would that have been available to Emma, as well? Although she loved her job and knew she helped through one of life’s greatest miracles, she was willing to admit to wanting to help on a grander scale.
Not likely, she told herself. Not when she was leaving and Reyhan was marrying someone else.
By the end of the week, Emma’s parents had settled into life in Bahania. Emma was pleased to watch their attitudes slowly change from hostile mistrust of everything to pleasant acceptance. She would have loved to discuss the surprising transition with Reyhan but he continued to avoid her. So much for spending their days and nights together, she thought as she leaned close to the mirror and applied mascara to her lashes. They might physically be in the same palace, but they rarely spoke anymore. Reyhan worked impossible hours then disappeared into the guest room. The only time she saw him was at command dinners by the king.
At least tonight would be different. There was a large formal state occasion that was doubling as a welcome party for her parents. Reyhan had already informed her he was to be her escort. She would have been a lot more excited if he’d at least pretended to be happy about spending the evening with her. Instead he’d looked about as thrilled as a man facing the loss of both legs and an arm. She was determined to change his mind.
After finishing with her makeup, she pulled the hot rollers out of her hair, then fluffed the ends. After bending over at the waist, she sprayed her hair from underneath, then flipped her head to let the curls fall back into place.
“Not bad,” she murmured as she finger combed a few wayward strands.
Next up was the bronze beaded evening gown. She slipped it on and pulled up the zipper, then stepped into her high-heeled sandals.
She studied her reflection and knew this was as good as it was going to get. If she couldn’t dazzle Reyhan like this, it wasn’t going to happen.
“Good luck,” she whispered to her reflection, then walked out of the bathroom and into the sitting area.
Reyhan was already there. She nearly stumbled when she saw him in his well-tailored tux. His shoulders were broad and strong, his features lean and handsome. Her heart swelled with an affection she didn’t want to name.
“You look beautiful,” he told her.
“Thank you. You look great, too.”
He held out a velvet-covered box, about ten inches square and only a couple of inches deep.
“For you.”
She hesitated before accepting the gift and opening it. When she saw the contents, her breath caught in amazement.
A yellow diamond necklace lay on a bed of white silk. The graduated diamonds had to be at least three carats each in front, and nearly a carat in back by the clasp. Two clusters of yellow diamonds formed earrings and there was a white and yellow diamond bracelet.
Emma reached for the necklace only to find she was shaking too much to pick it up.
“I can’t,” she told him. “It’s too much.”
“You are my wife,” Reyhan said, taking the box from her and setting it on the table. He removed the necklace and placed it around her neck. “Who would wear these if not you?”
“The next woman you marry,” she said as he handed her the earrings. “You’ll want these things passed down to your children.”
As she spoke, she looked at him. Some emotion crossed his face but it was gone before she could read it. Awareness crackled between them and when he held out the bracelet to her, she wanted desperately to toss it aside and fling herself in his arms instead.
But she didn’t. She let him fasten on the bracelet, then admired the fiery stones. She would wear these lovely things tonight but with the intent of leaving them behind. They were a part of his heritage and she had no right to claim them. If things had been different…But they weren’t.
“Reyhan—” She touched his forearm, feeling the warmth of him and the tension of his muscles. “I want to mention something. About when we were together.”
He didn’t speak but a muscle twitched in his jaw. “There is nothing to say.”
“Yes, there is. We didn’t…” She cleared her throat. “When we made love…” She stopped and gathered her thoughts. “We didn’t use any protection. I wasn’t sure if you were worried about consequences. There aren’t any. I wanted to reassure you that I wasn’t pregnant.”
“I see. You’re sure?”
More than sure. Three days ago she’d gotten her period. “Positive.”
He didn’t say anything else as he led her to a large mirror in the dining room. He placed her in front of it and stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders.
“The jewels complete you,” he said.
She looked at the elegant stones glittering at her ears and around her neck. They were lovely, but they didn’t complete her. Only he could do that.
She wanted to know what he’d thought about the possibility of her being pregnant. Had he even considered it? Had he worried? Wondered? Had he hoped?
She had. Now that she knew for sure she wasn’t pregnant she could admit that there had been times she’d thought it would be a good thing. That having a child together would be what they needed to connect. The truth or a schoolgirl fantasy? Now she would never know.
“Are you ready?” he asked, holding out his arm.
She nodded and slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow. They walked out of the suite together.
Emma had seen the formal ballroom on her tour with Reyhan but standing in the large empty space hadn’t prepared her for the reality of seeing it filled with elegantly dressed people, sparkling lights and a full orchestra.
There were about five hundred guests, including several prime ministers and heads of state. A film crew working on an action movie in the desert had been invited, along with a former American president and a Nobel Prize winner.
Reyhan introduced Emma to many of the guests. She smiled, said little and reached for a second glass of champagne from a waiter circulating with a tray.
“Are you doing all right?” Reyhan asked quietly.
“Considering this is my first official function as a princess, I’m doing great. We’ll ignore the butterflies in my stomach, my knocking knees and the nearly overwhelming urge to bolt for the gardens. I have to admit I’d feel a lot more comfortable with the king’s cats.”
Reyhan smiled. “You’re charming and well-spoken. Everyone is impressed.”
His compliment made her beam. Just then her parents walked up. They were actually smiling.
Could this evening produce any more surprises?
“Kitten, you look beautiful,” her father said. “Nearly as lovely as your mother.” He kissed his wife’s cheek.
Emma’s mother dimpled. “Oh, George, you’re just saying that.” She leaned close to her daughter. “Isn’t this party wonderful? We met that action star your father likes so much. Johnny Blaze. He was very pleasant, although his girlfriend looks thin enough to need Third World aid. And did you see the former president? He was very nice, too. Oh, and the king told us he’s sending us on a cruise on his private yacht. We’re going to explore the Mediterranean for a couple of weeks.”
Emma nearly dropped her champagne glass. “You’re going?”
“Of course. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He said the boat’s captain knows all the best places to take us.”
Her father winked. “It will be like a second honeymoon.”
Janice Kennedy actually giggled, then waved at Emma and Reyhan. “You two kids enjoy yourself. We have more famous people to meet.”
Emma watched them walk off. “That was pretty amazing. I owe the king big-time. Not that I don’t love my folks. I do. But they can be—”
“Oppressive?”
She smiled. “Absolutely. And a little judgmental. I hope they enjoy their cruise.”
“I’m sure they will.”
And she and Reyhan would be able to spend time together without her parents hanging around. The only trick would be getting him out of his office and paying attention to her. For that she would need a plan—and she would come up with one, just as soon as the champagne-induced fuzziness wore off.
The orchestra struck up another song, one that made her want to be in Reyhan’s arms. She looked around and saw several of the guests dancing. They swayed to the music and laughed.
“You are more easy to read that usual,” Reyhan said, taking her glass from her and setting it on a table in the corner. “Come. I will dance with you.”
She was so pleased, she didn’t bother to worry that he was doing her a favor. Not when he pulled her into his arms and held her close. If only the song could last forever, she thought happily.
Reyhan rubbed his hands against Emma’s back and wished they were alone. Rather than dancing to music he wished to move with her in other ways. Perhaps it was the night, or how she looked or the invitation he saw in her eyes, but for some reason his resistance to her charms was weaker than ever.
He wanted her. More frightening than the desire was the truth that he wanted her in and out of his bed. He wanted to be with her, talk with her. He wanted to learn her secrets, discuss the future, name children and grow old with her. He wanted her to be his wife in every sense of the word.
He had the answer to his question about the baby. There wasn’t one and he couldn’t risk creating one with her. Yes, there was protection and it could be used, but that wasn’t the point. He had escaped the possibility and he would be a fool to risk a pregnancy.
But he had always been a fool where Emma was concerned. From the first moment he’d met her that night on campus. She had smiled at him and he had been lost.
She swayed with him, sighing softly and snuggling close. She belonged, he thought. Whether laughing with his people in the desert or conversing with heads of state. She fit in. She made people feel at ease and never expected to be the center of attention. She was smart, kind and a woman of honor.
The fire always lurking below the surface flared to life and began to consume him. The need grew until he had no choice but to give in. He took her hand in his and pulled her toward a small alcove behind on of the decorated pillars.
“But the dance isn’t over,” Emma said. “Can’t we finish the dance?”
Instead of answering, he drew her close and kissed her.
She melted into his embrace, parting her lips instantly and clinging to him. She stroked his tongue with her own and moaned softly. Her hands slipped under his jacket where she rubbed his back.
“Better than dancing,” she whispered when he pulled back to kiss her jaw, then her neck. “I’ll give up dancing for kissing you anytime.”
He nibbled the sensitive skin below her ear and made her groan. She reached for his hands and brought them to her breasts.
As he cupped her full curves, he stared into her eyes and saw an answering passion there.
“Make love with me,” she pleaded.
He knew how right it would feel. How good things would be between them. He knew she was wet to his hard, yielding and aroused. He knew he could claim her, mark her, make her his. And he knew the price he would pay if he did.
Without saying a word, he dropped his hands to his sides, turned and walked away. Emma’s soft cry of pain made him pause, but only for a second. Then he resumed his stride and left the ballroom without looking back.
Chapter Eleven
Emma couldn’t tell how much of the ache in her body came from her champagne hangover and how much came from humiliation. It wasn’t just that Reyhan had left her alone at the party, it was that he’d kissed her and touched her, making her think he wanted her, and then he’d walked away. She felt both hurt and bruised, as if he’d been playing kick ball with her heart.
She curled up in the dining room chair and tried to work up some interest in the breakfast laid out there, but it wasn’t happening. She’d taken a walk on the balcony encircling this level of the palace and that hadn’t helped, either. Maybe she should shower and see if she could wash away the sense of having been a fool for a man who hadn’t even noticed.
She stood and stretched. The good news is her parents were heading off to have a good time. The cruise was leaving that afternoon. As far as she could tell, they hadn’t witnessed her humiliation, so she wasn’t going to have to talk about it with them. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to stop thinking about it.
She headed for the bathroom. What had gone wrong? One second Reyhan had been kissing her as if he’d really enjoyed it. He’d been the one to pull her into the alcove, he’d been the one touching her. Except she’d brought his hands to her breasts. Had he disliked her being aggressive? Did he need to be in charge?
She didn’t want to think that was true. He’d never been weird about having to “be the man.” Not that she had a whole lot of sexual experience with him or anyone. Had she freaked him out when she’d—
Emma had been so deep in thought she hadn’t noticed the steam and heat in the bathroom. It was only as she came around the corner and saw Reyhan stepping out of the shower that she realized she wasn’t alone.
He was wet and naked. Water dripped from his arms and legs, from his hair. Droplets ran down his cheeks. Her gaze met his and she found herself unable to turn away.
In less than two seconds, she went from hurt and hungover to hungry. She wanted to touch him all over and have him touch her back. She was aware of his arousal growing, thickening. As if he was getting as turned on as she was.
She licked her lips. “What are you doing here? You’re usually gone long before I wake up.”
“I went riding at sunrise and came back to shower.”
He was now fully erect. The sight of him made her midsection clench. He obviously wanted her, so why was he just standing there?
He reached out his arm. For one brief heartbeat, she thought he was going to pull her close. Instead he grabbed a towel and turned his back on her.
“I’ll be done in a few minutes.”
It was a very polite invitation to leave.
Emma dropped her head, realized the sudden burning in her eyes came from unshed tears and fled to her bedroom. She closed the door behind herself and leaned against it.
Ten days ago she’d considered the king’s insistence that she stay for another two months a stroke of good fortune. Now it was torture—a prison sentence that trapped her with a man who wanted nothing to do with her.
Reyhan read his e-mail without understanding what any of it said. Instead of words he saw Emma’s hurt eyes and th
e tears that had filled them as she turned away from him and fled the bathroom. Two hours and three meetings later, he hadn’t been able to erase the memory of her confusion and pain.
He’d caused her that pain. No matter how much he wanted to escape the truth, it remained. He’d never meant to hurt her and the need to make it up to her was strong.
He instantly thought of returning to their room and offering her what they both wanted. That would ease the throbbing inside of him and hopefully bring her pleasure. But he couldn’t risk it for himself and he wouldn’t make her promises he did not intend to keep.
Determined to lose himself in his work, he returned his attention to his e-mail. An hour or so later, his phone buzzed and his assistant announced that Will was on the phone.
“There’s been a change in circumstances,” his head of security said as soon as Reyhan came on the line.
Reyhan swore. “What?”
“I’m holding Fadl.”
Fadl was the son of a prominent chief. “What happened?”
“He was caught stealing drilling equipment. Two other men were with him.”
Reyhan frowned. “Did he say why he wanted it?”
“He’s not talking. I have a few theories of my own. He could sell it on the black market and make a few bucks.”
“That sounds like too much work for him and his friends.”
“Agreed. He could also sabotage it somehow and then return it to inventory. When the replacement parts were put into service, we could have a pretty impressive disaster.”
Reyhan shook his head. Was that possible? Had the boys decided to act on their threats? “We’re going to have to inspect all parts in inventory and anything put into service in the past few months.”
“I’ve already got men on that. I’m also rounding up the rest of his buddies. They’ve scattered so it may take a while.”
“Keep on it. I’ll be there in a couple of hours.”
“Good. Maybe Fadl will talk to you. I’m getting nowhere.”
“I’ll see what I can do. As the prince, I can make certain threats to his family he wouldn’t believe from you. I’ll be there shortly.”
Desert Rogues Part 2 Page 33