‘No. Anyone would have done the same.’
‘Perhaps, but not as magnificently.’
He shook his head. Stroked her face. ‘We were blessed the day Fadia met you.’
‘Fate.’
‘Perhaps. My brave Carmen, I just wish I knew what fate had planned for both of us.’
His hand rose and cupped her cheek then he leant down and kissed her. Firm lips tightly leashed with control yet full of dark emotion as he took her mouth and showed her he had been truly rocked by the morning’s events. In return she couldn’t help share her own horror and both grasped the lifeline, and a promise that they could forget how close they’d been to disaster.
For a moment sanity surfaced and she pulled back reluctantly. ‘Can you let the pain go? Please. From now—and from the past?’
His eyes burned into hers. ‘At this moment I need you held against my heart.’ If only she could, and as if she’d spoken out loud he drew her back against him. ‘The horror if you had not been there…’
‘Let it go, Zafar.’ She didn’t want to think of horror in this moment. She saw his need. Answered it. ‘You were there too. You made it happen.’
He tightened his grip. ‘For once. Take the comfort I offer.’
But what if she lost herself? ‘And will you take mine?’
That was all she wanted to do. Feel every glorious inch of him against her; be crushed by his power and reborn with his possession. Stop fighting, for once, against the magnetism of this man who drew her like no other. Put away her fears of the ramifications she knew would follow.
His mouth came down and she sighed into him, let herself go, savoured the defeat of her fears, absorbed his pain and ached to heal it. Her shirt buttons fell away, as did his; she tasted his skin, dug her fingers into his corded muscles, soaked his strength into hers and gave freely and openly of her own. He lifted her and she wrapped her legs around him as she held his face against hers.
The world shifted under her as they turned as one, skin against skin, his eyes adoring as they skimmed her body. Then a shift, a shrugging off of more clothes, and she could do nothing but glory in his possession as she opened herself to him, her back against the wall, the rhythm of their need pounding in her heart until both were lost in the maelstrom. Soaring into the light. Suffused with heat like the desert that stretched away on the other side of the drapes.
Lost in a sandstorm of sensation she’d never imagined. Clinging to the centre of her world. Until slowly they returned to earth like the blown grains of sand outside.
They rested, panting against the wall, eyes wide and stunned at each other and the storm they had created between them, until Zafar carried her across and lay down with her still cradled in his arms.
* * *
When Zafar lifted his head the world had changed, along with his acceptance of the inevitable. He needed her. Loved her. Was endangered by her in his very soul, for how would he let her go? Staring into the shadows of his room with Carmen’s cheek resting on his chest, Zafar inhaled the scent of her. He stroked the thick silken strands of her hair and a part of him died inside to think of her gone. What had he done?
A magical connection that had smashed into a million brightly jagged shards his foolish idea of perhaps loving her once and banishing her hold from his heart.
The most glorious foolishness of it all was he could not regret his heart’s decision. He’d had no idea this was how it was meant to be. Or what price he would pay. All he knew was that if he did not return tomorrow, he could not regret this knowledge.
When they woke she shifted against him. ‘I must go.’
Her forehead leant into him as his hand touched her cheek. She turned her head and with her own hand she stroked his fingers. With such tenderness she held his heart.
‘Go to Fadia.’ Yet even as he said it his hand tightened to keep her in his arms ‘And later I will come to you.’
He sighed, captured her hand, and drew it to his mouth. ‘We are going to regret this.’
‘Perhaps.’ So she realised that, too. ‘But thank you.’
So he was already regretting it. Carmen understood because her mind had already accepted that this man was no ordinary man. Zafar the prince made her feel like a queen, more woman than in her whole year of marriage, more girl than a decade of flirtation, and, no matter what, she would always remember this time of mutual need as part of her destiny, even if their future could not lie together.
Later that night he did come to her but he didn’t stay.
He pressed a key into her hand. ‘I leave tomorrow. If I am detained…’ he glanced away at the windows and then back at her, and she couldn’t deny the flicker of unease his words caused ‘…perhaps unavoidably, then I would like you to remember there is magic in Zandorro as well as the things you don’t understand.’
He sighed. ‘I tell you that if I do not return shortly I have arranged for you to fly back to your own country as soon as possible. But in the meantime you may use the east courtyard as your private sanctuary.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘To have you here is a gift but difficult times lie ahead and I wish you back in the safety of your own country. As it stands now, there is no future for what we have.’
‘Are you in danger?’
‘I have safeguards arranged but I will be safer if I do not have to worry about you.’ Unable to argue with that, she nodded reluctantly.
* * *
The next morning the sun was shining in through the windows when Kiri opened Carmen’s blinds. ‘Good morning, Miss Carmen.’
No. It wasn’t. Zafir had gone. Probably into danger.
Carmen felt cold. Which was ridiculous. She was in the middle of a desert city. Eggs could fry on car bonnets. It seemed her heart lay packed on ice for its own protection.
She hated that here, as a woman, she had no power; she was not allowed to help Zafar. But, then, would Zafar even want her help? He’d hinted that they had no future. The uncertainty was stretching her heart to breaking point. She couldn’t live like this. To be here was to be helpless.
She needed to believe that for her own safety. The safety of her heart. She was just a pawn like Fadia and the twins and even Zafar himself. As soon as Fadia was settled she would go home. The sooner she went home to the world she understood, the better.
Zafar was away for days and Carmen told herself she was glad. The distancing effect of time allowed her to see how powerless she was. How ridiculous her attraction to Zafar was in the royal scheme of things. How little future they had, no matter how she felt.
Thankfully every day Fadia seemed to recover a little more of her self-confidence and enjoyment of the simple pleasures in her life grew as she became more comfortable that Bailey would be fine in the long term.
Contrary to her fear, the older ladies in the palace were kind and helpful and doted on her babies and her. But the biggest change in Fadia was that from victim to advocate against Tom, against people who could so coldly plot the death of her husband, perhaps her babies. And Carmen began to see the fighting spirit of Zafar’s family.
When the babies’ feeding had settled into a routine and Fadia became more confident and her boys began to develop personalities that made them all laugh.
Hariz truly was the leader. Along with his demanding roar his little clenched fists waved impatiently when he wanted to be fed, while Ba Leegh would lie quietly, watching the world, observing, secure in the knowledge his needs would be met.
Carmen grew fonder of the young maid, Kiri, and her sister and the way they cared for Fadia and the twins. And so the days passed but Carmen began to fret at being stuck in the castle. She never did get that tour.
Often she was superfluous in the boys’ care now and took to spending an hour at the hi
dden eyrie Zafar had shown her as she prepared herself to return to her old life.
On the third day after Zafar left, word came to their wing that Prince Taqu, who had arrived in the palace the day Zafar had left, wished to take Fadia and Carmen for an outing to the souks.
‘I do not want to go,’ Fadia said as she wrung her hands and Carmen tried to calm her.
‘Of course you don’t have to go. We can say that.’ Carmen peered out the window but she couldn’t see the forecourt. ‘Is that what you want?’
‘Yes.’
‘Aren’t you a little curious?’
‘No.’
‘Fine.’ She walked to the door. ‘I’ll go down to apologise and say you’re too tired today.’
Fadia twisted her hands. ‘Do you want to go, Carmen?’
‘I’d like to get out, yes. But I can see the souks when Zafar comes back.’
‘You could go.’
Carmen laughed. ‘I’m sure the prince would love that. A strange foreign woman instead of you.’
‘Let me think. Perhaps he could come back tomorrow and if Zafar is not back we could go out for a short time. I do not like leaving the babies.’
‘Of course. But I won’t promise anything in case you change your mind.’
Carmen’s first sight of Prince Taqu reminded her how much she missed Zafar. The man was tall, not as broad across the chest as Zafar, but a truly impressive specimen, and with a smile that promised kindness, not greed. She wished Fadia could see that she didn’t need to be afraid of this man.
He came towards her. ‘You must be Miss Carmen. Zafar has told me about you.’
‘Prince Taqu. I bring apologies from Princess Fadia.’
He didn’t look surprised. ‘And they are?’
‘That today she is tired. And her sons need her.’
‘I am here for a few more days. Perhaps tomorrow.’
Carmen couldn’t help her smile. It was too early to be sure that Fadia would but she liked this man. ‘Perhaps. But the princess thanks you for your kind offer.’
‘Does she?’ Too polite to disagree with her. He shrugged. ‘Or perhaps you do out of kindness. It does not matter. I will return this time tomorrow and ask again.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Please tell Princess Fadia I await her pleasure. Assure her we will go out for a short time only and perhaps a change of scenery will assist in her recovery. And for your entertainment too, of course.’
‘Of course. Thank you.’
On the fourth day, despite Fadia’s misgivings, she and Carmen visited the souks, accompanied by Prince Taqu. Vendors bowed respectfully as they showed their wares, much less vociferous than Carmen had expected. No doubt their escort helped with that. Although the first day proved very formal, by the time the two-hour visit was over Fadia looked less strained and had agreed to another foray.
The next day, the fifth Zafar was away, saw them examine all the mosques in the city, along with a leisurely lunch at a city restaurant. Prince Taqu had studied at the same university as Zafar and his stories of their escapades had Fadia giggling in a way Carmen had never seen.
On the sixth day, the day Prince Taqu was to leave, they went back to the souks to search for more treasures for Carmen to take back to Australia. This time the prince brought his daughter and afterwards they all returned to the palace to show the young princess the twins.
It proved to be a delightful day and by the end of it Carmen’s presence was barely necessary. Unobtrusively she drifted further away from them.
She was glad to see Fadia more relaxed and there was no doubt that Taqu had planned a concentrated assault on the princess’s defences. His promise to return the following week seemed to be greeted with pleasure by Fadia and already there was rapport between his daughter and Fadia.
Carmen realised her need to be in Zandorro was drawing to a close, which was a good thing. Carmen just wished watching them didn’t make her feel so alone.
On the seventh day Zafar returned, and even the sight of Yusuf coming towards her made her smile in anticipation.
‘Prince Zafar wishes to see you.’
‘Where is he?’
‘The library.’
Zafar waited. Pacing back and forth over the carpets. Unseeing as he strode from side to side. Every morning and every night of the last six he’d looked forward to this day. The day he would return to Carmen. But now the day filled him with dread. Taqu had discovered a spy in the palace and unearthed plans to kidnap Carmen and Fadia.
Imagine if he had not asked his friend to come and watch over the women while he had searched for the rebel stronghold. He needed to have Carmen safely back in her own country before the final coup attempt. If he’d realised how dangerous the situation would become so quickly, he would never have brought her here.
The door opened and she was there. Her face shining, her eyes alight, looking at him as he’d dreamed she would look at him. How had all this happened without his knowledge? To give his heart to a woman from the other side of the earth when his world balanced on the edge of danger.
To fall for a woman who did not understand the dangers. Who unwittingly exposed his own throat and hers. Who could prove his next failure to keep those he loved safe. A failure he could not bear to repeat. She was so fragile. So unprepared. So precious.
When she entered the library she didn’t know what to expect but the distance between them came as a shock. Zafar nodded in greeting but there was no smile in his eyes, no move towards her, and she halted inside the door. Yusuf let himself out and closed the door.
‘Is everything all right?’
‘It is time for you to leave.’
CHAPTER TEN
THE words flew like darts from an unexpected ambush and punctured her euphoria. Destroyed her dream of him opening his arms to her. Mocked her anticipation until it fell in tatters around her slippered feet.
‘Fadia’s fine now and the boys are settled. It’s time for you to return to Sydney.’
She heard the words, glanced around at the opulence of his office and unconsciously rubbed her arms. ‘Today?’ Go home. It would be soon but…leave them all right away? ‘Why the hurry?’
Zafar’s dark brows drew together as he looked past her shoulder. ‘Your job is done. Your time here is over.’
Carmen looked away herself. To hide the shine of tears she could feel. She was such a fool. So she’d slept with him and that was that. And she’d been like a damsel in the tower, waiting for her prince to return. More fool her. Huge fool her. ‘As you say, you want me gone. There is no reason for me to stay.’ Still she wouldn’t look at him. Couldn’t.
She heard him move and her heart leapt. She turned her head and he was pacing, but not towards her.
Fool again. What did she think? That he hadn’t really meant it and she could stay? That the royal family would greet her with open arms because she’d kissed him a few times? Slept with him once.
She lifted her chin. Well, damn him. That was that. And she felt remarkably, frozenly calm. It proved he wasn’t to be trusted. She had reason to hate him now, which was so much safer than that other emotion. Why was that?
It all happened very fast after that. Her clothes were packed when she arrived back at the children’s wing, Fadia was stunned and white-faced, Kiri sniffed and hid red eyes as she gathered all Carmen’s things. In the background, waiting, Yusuf stood, arms crossed, impatient for her to say goodbye.
She was bundled down to the car, and when Yusuf opened the door he seemed surprised Zafar was already seated. ‘I will accompany you to the airport.’
Yusuf stared at his master for a moment and then inclined his head before shutting the door. Carmen became more confused. The car started and within minutes they were leaving the palace behind. ‘Wha
t is going on here?’
‘I need you out of the country. For both our sakes.’
She thought about that and couldn’t help a glimmer of foolish hope that he didn’t really want her to go.
As he sat beside her in the limousine the darkened windows kept the interior dim and intimate. He didn’t speak so she looked out the window as they drove through the winding streets. She never had got to explore on her own. She should have.
‘I understand you saw the souks with Prince Taqu and Fadia?’
‘Yes. I enjoyed it.’ How could he carry on a normal conversation after the last half an hour?
She looked away again and a woman dressed in black with all but her eyes covered disappeared into a doorway as they drove through the big gates out into the desert. ‘It’s very difficult for a woman like me to understand your culture and customs.’
‘But not impossible?’
‘No. I should thank you that I had the chance to set out on an adventure to an exotic land in the company of exotic people.’ Once started, she couldn’t stop. ‘Just as long as I remembered this was a job that would end…’ she glanced away from him to the sand that stretched into the distance and her mouth hardened ‘…suddenly. But, of course, I am only the hired help.’
‘Have you finished?’
She inclined her head mockingly. ‘Of course, Excellency.’
He ran his hand through his hair and she smiled grimly. At least he wasn’t immune to how he was treating her. ‘Listen to me. You are at risk and I need to have you safe. I will not be responsible for harm befalling you.’
‘I can look after myself.’
His eyes burned into hers. ‘You will leave now and be safe.’
She narrowed her own, sifting through the mixed messages, reading between the lines. ‘You said I could never be bowed.’
‘Listen to me, Carmen. At this moment—’
A sentence he never had the chance to finish as gunshots rang out. Disjointed cracks like stones hitting the side of the car. She’d never heard them for real before but she’d watched enough movies to get the gist of what was happening.
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