One More Night with Her Desert Prince...

by Jennifer Taylor

  ‘You must have something to eat and drink first,’ Shahzad demurred, taking his duties as their host very seriously.

  ‘Later, thank you.’ Sam smiled at him. ‘There will be plenty of time for all that after I’ve seen your wife.’

  ‘Of course.’

  The relief in his voice told its own tale. Sam frowned as he instructed one of the servants to show her the way. It was obvious how worried he was about his wife and she only hoped that she could do something to help.

  She followed the young woman inside and along an airy corridor, pausing when the girl indicated that Sam should wait while she knocked on a door. When a voice bade them to enter, she stepped into the room, surprised to discover how modern it was. There was none of the ornate gilding and lavish fabrics that she had expected to see but simple furnishings and fitments in cool neutral colours.

  ‘What a lovely room!’ she declared. She smiled at the attractive young woman seated on a daybed in front of the window, taking note of her extreme pallor. It was obvious even from a first glance that Mariam wasn’t feeling well and Sam’s mind began to race as she ran through a list of possible causes for her continued sickness.

  ‘Thank you. I wanted to create a home that was comfortable for us to live in.’ Mariam gave her a sweet smile. ‘Whilst I appreciate the beauty of the royal palaces, they are a little too formal for my taste.’

  ‘Well, this is perfect. I’d say you were spot on.’ Sam put down her bag and held out her hand. ‘Sorry. I should have introduced myself, shouldn’t I? I’m Samantha Warren—Sam to my friends so I hope you’ll call me that. Your husband told me that you haven’t been feeling at all well throughout this pregnancy?’

  ‘No. I haven’t. I sailed through my other pregnancies so I can’t understand what’s wrong this time.’ Tears filled Mariam’s huge dark eyes. ‘I am so afraid that there is something wrong with the baby even though my doctor insists that there is nothing to worry about.’

  ‘It’s only natural to worry,’ Sam assured her. ‘Having sailed through two previous pregnancies, you’re bound to feel anxious when this one doesn’t seem to be going as you expected. All I can say is that every pregnancy is different and the fact that you aren’t blooming this time isn’t an indication that there is something wrong with the baby.’

  ‘You honestly believe that?’ Mariam said hopefully.

  ‘Oh, yes.’ Sam smiled at her. ‘I’ve seen it happen many times, mums who haven’t experienced any problems whatsoever during previous pregnancies but who suddenly find themselves feeling dreadful. It’s often caused by an imbalance of hormones.

  ‘When you’re pregnant, your body produces more of the female sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, as well as human placental lactogen and human chorionic gonadotrophin. If the balance isn’t right then it affects how you are feeling. The key is to rule out any other potential causes and then simply accept that this time you aren’t going to feel on top of the world.’ She laughed. ‘More often than not that helps to alleviate the problem, funnily enough.’

  ‘Worrying about it makes it worse,’ Mariam observed ruefully.

  ‘It can do.’ Sam drew up a chair. Opening her case, she took out her sphygmomanometer. ‘Now, let’s start with the basics, shall we? I’ll check your blood pressure then do a urine test. I take it that your own doctor is happy about you seeking a second opinion?’ she asked as she wrapped the blood-pressure cuff around Mariam’s arm.

  ‘Not exactly happy, no.’ Mariam grimaced. ‘However, he could hardly refuse.’

  ‘No, I don’t suppose so,’ Sam agreed wryly. She inflated the cuff, unsurprised when she discovered that Mariam’s blood pressure was a little higher than she would have liked it to be. The stress was taking its toll on her and the sooner they sorted out what was wrong, the better.

  Mariam provided a urine sample next and Sam tested that, pleased to find that there was no indication that anything was amiss. Her blood-sugar levels were fine and there was no trace of protein in her urine that could be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

  ‘Right, so far so good. I’d like to examine you now if that’s all right.’

  ‘Of course.’

  Mariam made herself comfortable while Sam carried out a physical examination. She frowned because to her mind Mariam seemed much larger than she would have expected her to be.

  ‘How many weeks are you now?’ she asked, gently feeling the position of the baby.

  ‘Twenty.’ Mariam grimaced. ‘I’m much bigger than I was with either of the girls.’

  ‘But you are certain of your dates?’ Sam clarified. ‘You’re sure that you haven’t made a mistake?’

  ‘No.’ Mariam flushed. ‘I can pinpoint the exact day this baby was conceived during a trip we made to Paris so there’s no doubt in my mind about that. Why are you asking? Is something wrong?’

  ‘No. It’s just that you’re much bigger than I would have expected you to be at this stage.’ Sam stepped away from the couch, frowning as she weighed up what she had learned. ‘What did your scan show?’

  ‘I haven’t had a scan.’ Mariam sat up and straightened her dress. ‘I didn’t have one with either of the girls either. Shahzad and I both agreed when we decided to start a family that we could never abort a child if it was found to be damaged in some way so there was no point.’

  ‘I see.’ Sam packed the sphygmomanometer in her case then sat down. She looked intently at Mariam. ‘How do you feel about having a scan if it could help to solve the problem of why you have been feeling so ill?’

  ‘You think there’s something wrong with the baby!’ Mariam exclaimed, pressing her hand to her throat.

  ‘No. What I think...and I may very well be wrong...is that you’re expecting more than one baby.’ She took hold of Mariam’s hand and squeezed it. ‘That would account for the extra amniotic fluid you are carrying, not to mention the fact that you feel so sick and exhausted all the time.’

  ‘More than one baby...’ Mariam broke off, obviously stunned by the idea.

  ‘It’s possible but we shall need to confirm it. And the best way to do that is by having a scan.’

  ‘But surely I should be able to feel if there’s more than one baby growing inside me!’ Mariam declared, placing her hand on the swell of her stomach.

  ‘Not necessarily, especially if one baby is lying directly behind the other, as I suspect is the case here.’ Sam laughed. ‘You may find that you are about to get two for the price of one. How would you feel about that?’

  ‘Ecstatic!’

  Mariam laughed out loud at the idea. They were both still laughing when the door opened and Shahzad appeared. He looked from one to the other and raised his brows.

  ‘I hope you are going to share the joke with me?’

  ‘I’ll leave that to your wife.’ Sam stood up. She smiled at Mariam. ‘I’ll get Khalid to make the arrangements, shall I?’

  ‘Please.’ Mariam returned her smile, looking so much better than she had done a short while before that Sam found herself crossing her fingers that her suspicions would prove to be correct.

  She left Mariam to break the news to her husband, knowing that they needed to be on their own at this special time. Backtracking along the corridor, she went to find Khalid and discovered that he was in the courtyard, sitting on a stone bench beside the fountain. He looked up when he heard her approaching and she could see the concern in his eyes and was warmed by it. Although he might project an image of being indifferent, he truly cared about his family.

  ‘So, do you know what is wrong with Mariam?’ he asked as she sat down beside him.

  ‘I think it’s possible that she is expecting more than one baby,’ Sam informed him.

  ‘But surely her own consultant should have realised that!’ he exclaimed.

  ‘Yes. And he would have done if Mar
iam hadn’t refused to have a scan.’ She quickly relayed what Mariam had told her and heard him sigh.

  ‘I had no idea they felt like that. If I had done then I would have urged them to have the scan done before now and save themselves all this worry.’

  ‘It’s not your fault,’ she assured him. She laid her hand on his arm, feeling her skin tingle when it came into contact with his. She knew she should remove her hand but the need to touch him was just too strong to resist. For some reason she needed to feel close to him at this moment. How strange.

  ‘Maybe not. But if I had spent more time with Shahzad then I might have been privy to his beliefs.’ He gave a small shrug, causing the muscles in his forearm to flex beneath her fingers. ‘It reinforces the decision I’ve made to spend more time in Azad. Whilst I have enjoyed working in England and appreciate how much I have learned while I’ve been there, I need to come back home.’

  He looked up and his eyes were very dark as they met hers. ‘My future lies here. In Azad.’

  CHAPTER TEN

  THE SCAN CONFIRMED that Sam’s suspicions were correct. Mariam was expecting twins, one baby lying directly behind the other, which was why it had gone undetected for so long. Khalid congratulated his brother, hoping that Shahzad couldn’t tell how he really felt. Oh, he was delighted by the news—there was no question about that. However, he couldn’t pretend that he didn’t feel upset about the way Sam had responded when he had told her of his decision to live in Azad permanently. She hadn’t tried to make him reconsider, hadn’t said anything really, but what had he expected? That she would beg him to stay in England, stay with her? That was never going to happen.

  Once they returned from the hospital, Shahzad announced that they needed to celebrate and set about organising an elaborate dinner for them. Given the choice, Khalid would have preferred to return immediately to their camp but there was no way that he could refuse to join in the celebrations. When Sam protested that she had nothing to wear, Mariam whisked her away with the promise of finding her something suitable so there was no escape on that score. Khalid guessed that Sam was as loath to drag out the visit as he was but she too didn’t want to put a damper on the evening.

  He used one of the guest rooms to shower and change into some clothes he had left behind the last time he had stayed with his brother. Shahzad was beaming with pride when he tracked him down to the salon, obviously thrilled to bits at the thought of becoming a father again not just once but twice. He handed Khalid a glass of fresh pomegranate juice, raising his own glass aloft to toast the future.

  ‘May we both find everything we are looking for from life.’

  Khalid clinked glasses, wishing with all his heart it were that simple. However, what he wanted and what he had to accept were two very different things. He glanced round when he heard footsteps and felt his senses whirl when he saw Sam come into the room. Mariam had kept her word and found Sam something to wear but it was the last thing he had expected to see her dressed in.

  In a mesmerised sweep he drank in the picture she made as she stood in the doorway, the azure-blue folds of a traditional Arab dress falling softly around her. She was even wearing a headdress, a lightweight veil trimmed with the same elaborate beading that edged the neckline of her dress. She looked so beautiful that for a moment he couldn’t think let alone speak and was grateful for the fact that his brother saved him from standing there looking as though he had been struck dumb.

  ‘You look beautiful, both of you.’ Shahzad stepped forward, taking Sam’s hand and kissing it.

  ‘Thank you.’ Sam smiled but Khalid could tell how tense she was as she came further into the room. She stopped beside the tray of drinks and he hurriedly gathered his wits. It was up to him to make this as stress-free as possible for her. After all, it was just one night, a few short hours to get through before they returned to their camp in the morning. He had endured far worse than this!

  ‘Would you like a drink?’ He picked up the jug of pomegranate juice. ‘My brother doesn’t drink alcohol but this is delicious if you’d like to try it.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Sam accepted the glass and took a sip of the ruby-red liquid. ‘Mmm, you’re right, it is delicious.’

  ‘Good.’ Khalid topped up his own glass then glanced at Mariam and Shahzad, swallowing a sigh when he realised that they were so wrapped up in their news that they were oblivious to everything else. It was up to him to play the host and it was a job he would have preferred not to do, only good manners dictated otherwise.

  ‘Would you like to take a walk in the rose garden? The scent of the blossoms is stronger at night and I’m sure you’d enjoy it.’

  ‘You don’t have to entertain me, Khalid,’ Sam said sharply. Her eyes rose to his and he saw the hurt they held and silently cursed himself for making his reluctance so apparent.

  ‘I know I don’t.’ He touched her hand, unable to lie, even though he knew how dangerous it was to admit the truth. ‘I asked you because I can’t think of anything I would like more than to enjoy the garden with you, Sam.’

  ‘Oh.’

  She didn’t say anything else; however, he could tell that she was surprised and wished he had managed to keep his feelings to himself. He led the way, opening the French doors at the far end of the salon that gave direct access to the rose garden. Night had fallen and apart from the light from the torches placed alongside the path, everywhere was dark. It added an air of intimacy, which was heightened by the fact that they had to rely more on their other senses and less on sight.

  Khalid breathed in deeply, inhaling the delicate yet potent scent of the roses. Somewhere a frog began to croak, an insistent rhythm that drummed inside his skull and made it difficult to think. His mind seemed to be awash with sensations, with all the things he couldn’t afford to feel, but he was powerless to resist their appeal. When Sam stopped and turned to him he acted instinctively, unable to weigh up the dangers of what he was doing when all he was aware of was this need burning inside him.

  ‘Sam.’ He said her name so softly that he wondered if he had actually spoken it out loud. Her eyes rose to his and his heart leapt when he saw an answering need reflected in their depths. She didn’t try to pull away when he drew her to him, didn’t resist in any way. She wanted this kiss as much as he did, needed it just as desperately too.

  The thought was the final key that unlocked his restraint. Khalid placed his mouth over hers and shuddered when he felt her immediately respond. When he pulled her to him, holding her so close that he could feel the swell of her breasts pushing against his chest, it felt as though he had come home after a long and tiring journey. This was what had been missing from his life, this feeling of completion. With Sam in his arms he felt whole; without her it was as though something vital was missing.

  * * *

  Sam could feel her heart beating, its rhythm marking time with Khalid’s, and shivered. It was almost too much to realise that their bodies were so perfectly attuned. Pressing herself even closer against him, she twined her arms around his neck and drew his head down so she could deepen the kiss, wanting...needing...this moment to continue for as long as possible. She wasn’t stupid. She knew that it would have to end, but for now it was enough that she could feel his need of her. Maybe they couldn’t be together for ever but for this moment Khalid wanted her, her and nobody else!

  They were both breathing hard when they broke apart, both shaken by the depth of their desire. Khalid cupped her cheek and she could feel his hand trembling and was overwhelmed by tenderness. Even though he projected an image of cool indifference, she knew otherwise. He was neither cool nor indifferent. Not when he held her in his arms and kissed her at least.

  ‘I shouldn’t have done that,’ he said, his deep voice grating in the silence.

  ‘Maybe not but it’s what we both wanted, Khalid.’ She tilted her head and looked him in the eyes
because she refused to lie. ‘If I hadn’t wanted you to kiss me I would have stopped you.’

  ‘It can never lead anywhere. You understand that, Sam, don’t you?’

  ‘Oh, yes. I’m under no illusions.’ She gave a discordant little laugh. ‘I’m not the sort of woman a man like you wants in his life. I’m fine for a fling but that’s all!’

  ‘That wasn’t what I meant!’ He caught hold of her by the shoulders, bending so he could look into her eyes, but Sam wasn’t about to be persuaded. She needed to face the facts and not be swayed into believing what patently wasn’t true.

  ‘If you say so.’ She gave a little shrug as she pulled away, deliberately setting some distance between them because she couldn’t trust herself. It would be only too easy to allow him to convince her that her past didn’t matter but it did. It had mattered six years ago and it still mattered now.

  ‘Ah, so there you are. Mariam sent me to find you. Dinner is ready.’

  Sam was glad of the interruption when Shahzad appeared. She could see the curiosity in his eyes as he glanced from her to Khalid. Obviously, he had sensed that something was going on but it wasn’t up to her to explain—she would leave that to Khalid. No doubt he would appreciate hearing his brother’s opinion, especially if it reinforced his own view, as she suspected it would. Despite how welcoming Shahzad had been, he would be equally loath to allow his family to become involved with someone from her background.

  Swinging round, she made her way inside, summoning a smile when she found Mariam waiting for them. Although Mariam still looked a little pale, Sam could tell how much better she was feeling now that her worst fears had been alleviated. ‘Feeling better, are you?’

  ‘Much.’ Mariam smiled her sweet smile as she came over and kissed Sam on the cheek. ‘Thank you so much for persuading me to have that scan. I only wish that I’d agreed to have it done sooner and saved myself and Shahzad all that heartache.’