by Kristi Gold
“If you are also worried that I am only interested in making love to you,” he added, “and I used a marriage proposal to achieve that goal, I assure you that is not the case. I have simply not been able to sleep without you in my arms.”
Such a sweet thing to admit, but Maysa was still a bit suspicious. “It’s a little past four o’clock, Rafiq. Isn’t it too early to retire for the night?”
He presented an endearing grin, with a side of sexy devil tossed in for good measure. “Perhaps we could consider it a long nap?”
Now that her adrenaline level had plummeted, Maysa could probably nap standing up. She released Rafiq and stretched her arms above her heads. “I am very tired, so I suppose we could manage that.”
Rafiq then swept Maysa into his arms, carried her into his bedroom as if she were already his bride and laid her on the bed for their “nap.” After they undressed down to only skin, they did actually sleep for a while before they officially made love as an engaged couple. A soft, sensuous lovemaking session that almost brought Maysa to tears. Joyful tears.
And in the peaceful moments that followed, they were content to hold each other as if they had no other plans for the foreseeable future—until Maysa remembered they did have one monumental plan to make.
“When do you suggest we have the wedding, King Mehdi?”
He nuzzled her neck. “Tomorrow would be preferable, unless we can find someone to officiate tonight.”
She elbowed Rafiq’s side, causing him to release an exaggerated wince. “I am serious.”
“And I am now injured, as well as serious about wanting to marry you quickly, before you change your mind. But I suppose we need sufficient time to make the arrangements.”
“We only need a month at best,” she said. “Just enough time to organize a small, intimate ceremony. Perhaps we should consider traveling south to the beach, or perhaps here at the lake. I have always thought it would be nice to marry without shoes.”
Rafiq lifted his head from the pillow and frowned. “You do not wish to wear shoes or have an elaborate undertaking?”
“I wish anything but a large wedding. We have both been through the pomp and circumstance before. I see no need to repeat that now. And yes, I want to marry without my shoes and feel warm sand beneath my feet.”
“I will leave the decision to discard footwear to you. But when a Mehdi king takes a new queen, he is expected to hold a large celebration in honor of the event, complete with a feast and thousands of people, most of whom he has never met, nor does he care to meet.”
That was not Maysa’s idea of a good time. “I will agree to the feast and the hordes of strangers, as long as we exchange our vows in private with only close friends and family in attendance.”
He scowled. “I hope family does not include your brother.”
“Bite your tongue, future husband. I would rather consume a plateful of salt than have Shamil at our wedding.”
He kissed her gently. “I agree, my future queen. Your brother is not welcome in our world.”
She smiled. “And for future reference, I prefer to be addressed as Dr. Queen. I believe I have earned the title.”
Rafiq laughed then—a rich, deep laugh that provided masculine music to Maysa’s ears. “As you wish, Dr. Queen,” he said, followed by a lingering kiss. “And I believe I have thought of the perfect setting for our wedding ceremony.”
“That cove by the lake?”
“No. The place where we began our journey together. Our past.”
Epilogue
Exactly one month later, the reigning king and the physician queen exchanged vows, surrounded by olive trees and fifty or so of their closest friends and family. The bride had exchanged her preferred gauze dresses for a gown made of champagne-colored silk. The groom sported an open-collared, white tailored shirt with a beige jacket and slacks. Neither wore shoes, a sincere scandal in the making.
Maysa’s attendants, Madison and Demetria, wore aqua dresses, while Zain and Adan reluctantly donned matching navy suits to meet their responsibility as groomsmen. None of the bridal party appreciated the no-shoe policy, a true uprising in the making.
Perhaps the ceremony wasn’t quite as intimate as Maysa would have liked, but everything was going as planned…until two international news helicopters began buzzing overhead, forcing them to hurry their vows and the official kiss.
The disruption sent everyone to their awaiting cars for the brief trip to the palace. A trip too brief for the bride to agree to the groom’s suggestion they begin the honeymoon on the journey. Just as well, Maysa decided. Had she agreed, the wedding guests would probably see guilt written all over her face.
Moments later, the newlyweds entered the massive banquet hall to a round of rousing applause. Maysa was extremely thankful for the show of approval and somewhat surprised. Fortunately, the press coverage had been favorable, and she hadn’t been exposed to overt hostility, aside from the palace chef, who had not been pleased when she’d changed her mind about the menu twice.
Maysa could not recall being so blissfully happy, or so ready to begin her life with Rafiq. First, she had to assume her first duty as the queen—mingling with some of the most influential people in the world.
She spent well over an hour exchanging polite greetings with guests who’d waited a long while in the lengthy reception line to meet the monarchs. During a brief break in the line’s flow, she surveyed the decorations made from bouquets of fragrant jasmine and the candles set out on the tables. And when one esteemed, unfamiliar guest held Rafiq captive with endless chatter, she turned her attention to the bounty of food spread out on the nearby tables. Enough food to feed half of Bajul, and she would swear more than half had come. By the time the last well-wisher left, she was ready to consume her fair share. Unfortunately, Rafiq had been detained again, this time by a woman at least twenty years his senior. That didn’t stop her from fawning all over him, and Maysa didn’t mind a bit. After this free-for-all food fest ended, the king would be taking her to Cyprus for two weeks filled with sea, sand and on-demand sex.
Thinking about the honeymoon led her to seek out her husband. When he caught her gaze and winked, she considered dragging him away now, a very un-queenly thing to do.
“Have you been enjoying your first hours as the queen?”
Maysa turned to Madison and frowned. “I am not enjoying having to wear these high heels. I’m definitely not enjoying the limited time with my new husband.”
“They both take some getting used to,” Madison said as she acknowledged a guest with a wave. “Both the heels on your feet, and the human kind who think it’s their right to have the king’s ear, even when that king is the groom.”
Madison waved yet again, this time at a handsome, middle-aged gentleman. “I have no idea who that was,” she said through a fake grin. “Some dignitary I invited I think. I believe he’s from Albania, or maybe it’s Australia. First rule of thumb, smile and pretend you know them, even if you don’t.”
“That’s what I’ve been doing since we arrived, and I didn’t understand what some of them said to me. It’s a true disadvantage.”
“I’ll be glad to teach you some basic foreign greetings if you’d like,” Madison said. “I know at least fifty.”
“You and Zain will return to California before I master even five.”
Madison brought her attention from the crowd and gave it to Maysa. “Actually, we’ve decided to stay in Bajul indefinitely.”
Maysa decided her sister-in-law deserved a hug for delivering such glad tidings. “I’m thrilled to know you’re staying. I’m going to need all the support I can get. Rafiq will be pleased, too. But exactly why did you decide to relocate from Los Angeles and leave the beach behind?”
“We want the children to be raised here so they can learn about their heritage. And I
want Cala to lead the future generation of Bajul’s kick-ass women, just like her aunt Maysa, who defied all odds and received the ultimate prize.”
“Rafiq?”
Madison frowned. “No. Premium tickets to the local sheepherder’s ball.”
Maysa grinned. “I was not aware of that perk.”
“Of course I meant Rafiq, silly queen. He’s always been considered quite a catch, just like Zain before he came to his senses and married me.” Something, or someone, behind Maysa drew Madison’s attention. “Speaking of our catches, here they come, plus the lone bachelor prince who mysteriously went missing after the wedding.”
Maysa turned to see the approaching trio of gorgeous Mehdi brothers. Rafiq and Zain’s resemblance to each other had always been remarkable, but even more so now that her husband decided not to regrow his goatee. Yet Adan, with his lighter-colored hair and skin tone, as well as his deep, deep dimples, did not favor his siblings aside from his tall stature and distinctive gait. Clearly he had inherited his looks from some unknown relative.
After Rafiq came to Maysa’s side and kissed her soundly, Adan inserted himself between them. “Congratulations to the bride,” he said, then leaned to kiss Maysa’s cheek. “And my apologies for my tardiness in arriving here tonight.”
Rafiq demonstrated his disapproval with a scowl and showed his possessive side by wrapping one arm around Maysa’s waist and pulling her close to his side. “May I ask where you went after we left the grove?”
Adan adjusted his collar that seemed perfectly fine. “Since I am a gentleman, I will only say that I was preoccupied with a lovely little lady right here in the palace, and she is quite charming.”
“Only you could manage to pick up a woman in less than an hour’s time,” Zain said.
Adan grinned. “Yes, I definitely picked her up.”
Zain pointed at him. “Enjoy your freedom now, because mark my words, I predict you will soon meet that special someone and she’ll drag you onto the marriage merry-go-round.” When Madison glared at him, he added, “I meant she will introduce you to the state of marital bliss.”
“You are wrong, brother,” Adan said. “I intend to adhere to my plan of waiting until I am at least forty before I settle down. And as of this evening, I have decided to remain celibate for a while.”
“That will most likely be the longest ten minutes of your life,” Rafiq said, drawing laughter from everyone but Adan. “Now that the festivities seem to be dying down, have you notified the airport of our impending departure?”
“I have and the plane is ready and waiting.” Adan began to back away as he spoke. “And I am prepared to deliver you to your destination safe and sound, after I say goodbye to the lady.”
“Hurry,” Rafiq called after his brother before Adan disappeared through the double doors.
Madison pushed up her sheer sleeve and checked her watch. “The celibacy thing didn’t even last seven minutes.”
The conversation continued until Adan suddenly returned with a beautiful baby girl wearing a pink satin dress, her thumb planted securely in her mouth. But not just any baby—Zain and Madison’s baby girl, Cala.
He walked up to the group, a mischievous look splashed across his face. “Did I not say she was special?”
Zain kissed his daughter’s cheek. “The most special lady in the world, and the niece of quite the deceiver.”
Madison moved closer to examine Cala’s dress. “Where did this come from?”
Adan’s grin expanded. “I saw it in a boutique window the last time I visited Paris. I could not resist buying it for her. I bought Joseph a miniature tuxedo for the occasion. He’s wearing it now, but unfortunately he passed out in Elena’s lap and will be missing the party.”
Who would have thought a reputed rogue like Adan would have such a soft spot for children? Not Maysa. She only wished Rafiq shared in his brother’s enthusiasm. As far as she knew, he had never held his niece and nephew, and she wondered if he would ever recover from losing the child he’d believed to be his for months. Then as if by magic on this magical night, Cala reached for Rafiq.
Everyone went silent while Maysa held her breath as she awaited her husband’s reaction. He hesitated a moment before he took the baby from Adan. Cala extracted her thumb, touched her uncle’s face, then laid her head on his shoulder, as if she sensed he needed help with his healing. The scene was so very, very sweet, Maysa’s already full heart filled with more joy.
“She apparently realizes who to go to when she needs her demands met,” Adan said, shattering the silence. “I hate to disappoint you, Cala, but he will make you jump through hoops before he’ll grant you your wish. But if you learn to curtsy—”
“She will not do any such thing,” Madison chimed in. “Bow maybe, but never curtsy.”
Rafiq tenderly kissed the now sleeping Cala’s cheek before returning her to her father. “It is time for us to go now.”
Maysa was more than excited to get on with the honeymoon and get out of her heels. “Good night, everyone, and thank you all so much for being there for us.”
After doling out hugs and kisses, Maysa and Rafiq entered the armored limousine flanked by escorts on motorcycles. Adan took another car, leaving them alone at last.
Maysa rested her head on Rafiq’s shoulder and sighed. “Today is perfect.”
He lifted her chin and kissed her softly. “You are perfect.”
He might not think so as soon as she asked the question she’d wanted to ask for some time. “Rafiq, do you want to have children?”
“At one time I was not certain I did, but now I am sure I do want children. Perhaps as many as five.”
“You cannot be serious, Rafiq. We’re both four years past thirty. We wouldn’t have time to—”
He touched a fingertip to her lips to silence her. “I am not serious, but I would like to have two. I would also prefer to wait a year before we begin the process, but as Zain said, we may practice frequently until that time.”
“I wholeheartedly agree with practicing often and waiting a year, but not any longer. We do need time together before we start a family.”
“Fortunately, time is now on our side.”
Thankfully, that was true. “There is something else we need to cover. Actually, a few rules.”
“So we are back to rules again, are we?”
“A few minor rules. First, I believe it’s all right to go to bed angry, as long as we make up in that bed before morning.”
“You will receive no argument from me.”
“Second, we both need autonomy and time away from each other now and then. We will appreciate each other more when we are together.”
From the sour look on his face, evidently that rule did not set well with the king. “How much time?”
She tapped her chin and pretended to think. “I would say perhaps the occasional lunch hour, but never breakfast or dinner. We might want to shower separately—”
“I draw the line there.”
She was not surprised by the command. “All right. I wasn’t particularly fond of the idea anyway.”
He gave her his smile and took her breath in exchange. “Anything else, my queen?”
“I prefer Dr. Queen, remember?”
He lifted her hand and laced their fingers together. “I prefer to call you the woman who saved me from a lonely life. The center of my existence. The love of my life.”
The vows were less rushed and more poignant than those they’d exchanged earlier. Beautiful vows coming from an equally beautiful man. “And you, Rafiq Mehdi, have always been, and always will be, the king of my heart.”
He touched her face with reverence, then said the words she would never tire of hearing. “Ana bahebik. Always.”
She laid her hand on his palm, and entrusted him with th
e rest of her life. “Ana bahebak. Forever.”
Dr. Maysa Barad-Mehdi had received several miracles at last—permanently reuniting with the man she had wanted most of her life, a career that continually fulfilled her and, most important, realizing that abiding love could be more than enough.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from Temporarily His Princess by Olivia Gates
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One
The present
Vincenzo Arsenio D’Agostino stared at his king and reached the only logical conclusion.
The man had lost his mind.
He must have buckled under the pressure of ruling Castaldini while steering his multibillion-dollar business empire. And being the most adoring and attentive husband and father who walked the planet. No man could possibly weather all that with his mental faculties intact.
That must be the explanation for what he’d just said.
Ferruccio Selvaggio-D’Agostino—the bastard king, as his opponents called him, relishing it being a literal slur, since Ferruccio was an illegitimate D’Agostino—twisted his lips. “Do pick your jaw off the floor, Vincenzo. And no, I’m not insane. Get. A. Wife. ASAP.”