The Sheik and the Runaway Princess (13 page)

She curled her feet under her and closed her eyes. “In a final attempt to punish him, I told him I would forbid him to see his son.
That the heir to the city would be raised by me and my father.
Givon was not to approach the child ever. I made him swear.”

Cala opened her eyes and looked at Sabrina. “So you see
,
I have many sins to atone for. I have kept Givon and Kardal apart all these years. I nearly destroyed a king and I did serious damage to his marriage. So what, after all this time, am I supposed to say?”

Sabrina had no easy answer. “There were circumstances you couldn’t control,” she told Cala. “You didn’t seduce him from his marriage. Your father arranged it and Givon agreed. Aren’t you the innocent party in all this?”

“Perhaps I was once, but not anymore. What about Kardal? He hates his father. How am I supposed to explain the truth?”

Sabrina bit her lower lip. She had thought her situation was complicated and difficult, but Cala’s had been much worse.

“Do you want me to speak with him and try to explain?” she asked.

Cala nodded. “I’ll admit I’m willing to take the coward’s way out of this. I don’t want to see the hate in my son’s eyes when he finds out it was my fault he never knew his father.”

Sabrina didn’t think Kardal was going to hate his mother when he found out the truth, but he wasn’t going to be happy with the information. She wondered if it would change his attitude toward Givon. She wondered if her impossible story was going to have as unhappy an ending.

“So you see,” Sabrina said that evening when she and Kardal had finished dinner. “It’s not all Givon’s fault. Cala made him swear he wouldn’t contact you.”

Kardal stared into his coffee, but didn’t speak.

Sabrina shifted on the cushions in front of the low table. “Don’t you believe me?”

His dark gaze settled on her. “I don’t question that you are repeating the story as it was told. However, that does not make it the truth. Givon had a choice in the matter. He could have come to see me when I was at school. He could have invited me to visit him in El Bahar.”

“But he’d given his word!”

Kardal raised his eyebrows. “He had given his word to his wife, yet he bedded another woman.”

“That’s not the same thing at all. His being with Cala was a matter of state.”

She could tell that Kardal was not impressed by her argument. She wanted to reach across the table and shake him. Didn’t he understand how important this was to her?

“What are you thinking?” he asked suddenly.

“Nothing.”
She stared at the napkin draped across her lap.

“Sabrina?”

She slowly raised her gaze. “I don’t understand why you’re being so difficult,” she admitted. “I’m not saying that Givon wasn’t wrong, but there might have been mitigating circumstances. I think you should talk to your mother about this. Hear her side of the story.”

“No.” He rose to his feet. “I do not wish to discuss this anymore.”

She stood, also. “Maybe that’s not your choice. You said you wanted my help in this matter. You can’t pick and choose when you want me to participate. Either we each have an equal voice in this matter or there isn’t any matter between us.”

He glared at her. She thought he might be trying to loom over her but she was too upset to notice.

“We are not equal in this circumstance or any other,” he announced. “I am Kardal, Prince of Thieves.”

“That’s hardly news. I’ve been aware of your title practically since we met. And while we’re on the subject of titles, I happen to be a princess, which makes us pretty much the same. And if you dare to get into some macho conversation about you being a man and me merely being a woman, I won’t just scream at you, I will come into your room while you’re sleeping and cut out your heart.”

Thick silence filled the room. He glared down at her and she didn’t even blink. Finally one corner of his mouth turned up.

“With what?”

“A spoon.”

He chuckled. “Ah, Sabrina, don’t fight with me.”

His voice was low and husky as he moved around the table toward her. She recognized the danger signs and took a step back.

“I’m not fighting with you—you’re fighting with me. If you would just listen with an open mind you would see the sense of what I’m s—”

His lips pressed against
hers,
cutting her off before she could complete her sentence. In the half second before passion claimed her she knew that Kardal would never see anyone’s view but his own on the subject of his father. She could speak for a thousand years, but his mind had long since been decided.

Then she gave herself up to the glory of his body pressing against hers, the feel of his strong arms wrapping around her body, and the sweetness of his mouth claiming hers.

Being with him felt so incredibly right, she thought dreamily as she parted her lips to welcome him home. Fire began, as it always did, heating her breasts before settling between her legs. She longed to feel his strong hands on her body. She was embarrassed to admit—even to herself—that she wanted him to touch her again, the way he had before. She wanted to feel that amazing release and this time she wanted to put her hands on his body. She wanted to know what he would feel like and look like. She wanted him to take her.

Unable to resist the need growing inside of her, she rose on her tiptoes and pressed against him. If only there was a way to crawl inside of him, she might at last feel that she belonged. When his tongue touched hers, she answered with more intensity, following him back, tasting him, circling him,
silently
begging him never to stop. She ran her hands up and down his back,
then
boldly pressed her palms against his rear. The action forced his hips forward, thrusting his arousal against her belly.

She might never have seen a fully aroused man before, but she knew exactly what that bulge meant.

“Sabrina,” he growled when he dragged his mouth from hers. His breathing was as heavy
as her own
. “I want you.”

Unwelcome tears sprang to her eyes and before she could blink them away, they spilled onto her cheeks.

He frowned. “What is wrong? You cannot be shocked by my declaration.”

“I’m not.”

A sharp pain thrust through her chest. She didn’t know what it meant, nor could she state its cause. For some reason his words had stung.

I want you. Not—I love you.

Time froze. Sabrina couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything but stand there as harsh reality sank into her being.

She wanted Kardal to love her.
But why?
The situation was impossible. They could never be together. She was betrothed to someone else. Her father would never forgive, never understand. Kardal had responsibilities. She should be pleased that his desire was only physical.

But she wasn’t. Because…because…Because she wanted more. She wanted Kardal to long for her heart as much as her body.

“Sabrina?” He touched the tears on her cheeks. “Why do you cry?”

She couldn’t tell him the truth so she searched for something that would satisfy him. “We can’t do this,” she said quickly. “Be together physically. If you take my virginity you’ll be killed, or at the very least, exiled.”

He surprised her by smiling. “How like my little desert bird to worry. But you must let that be my concern.”

“I can’t. I won’t be responsible for something bad happening to you.”

She felt confused. Her words were the truth; she didn’t want him hurt in any way. Even though he didn’t care about her the way she cared about him, she wanted only the best for him. So they couldn’t become lovers.

She was both pleased and dismayed by his recklessness. Would he really risk his life to play in her bed? She thought that he might. Yet he wouldn’t let her touch his heart.

She was confused and afraid.

“You have to go,” she said, pushing him away. “We can’t do this anymore.”

For a number of reasons, some of which she would never explain.

Kardal watched as Sabrina turned from him. Fresh tears trickled down her cheeks. Her distress pleased him. Things with her were going exactly as he had planned.

“As you wish,” he said formally. “I will see you in the morning.”

He left her bedroom and headed for his office. Sabrina had obviously come to care about him. Her fear for his physical safety was proof. While at first he had resisted the betrothal, now he found that she was nearly the perfect wife. Her intelligence meant that their sons would be good leaders. She cared for the people and the castle. She had adjusted well to life within the city walls. The marital connection to Bahania was an advantage, of course. Her body aroused his and he didn’t doubt they would do well in bed. Yes, she would be a fine wife. He would call King Hassan this very evening and tell him that he agreed to the match.

He paused in the hallway. When would he tell Sabrina? Not now, he thought. Not until after Givon’s troublesome visit. Then he, Kardal, would be free to deal with her. They would plan the wedding together. She was a sensible woman and would be most honored to know that he found her worthy.

He remembered the fear in her eyes. How concerned she’d been about his safety. Perhaps she was even falling in love with him. He resumed walking, pleasure lightening his step. He would like Sabrina to love him, he told himself. She would love with the same fire and determination she brought to all her other occupations. Yes, he had chosen well.

Kardal called the king of Bahania and was quickly connected with Hassan.

“You are sending her back,” Sabrina’s father said as soon as he came on the line. “I suppose I should not be surprised. She has never been very good for—”

“Be very careful about what you say,” Kardal told the monarch in a low, deadly voice. “You speak of my future wife.”

“What?” Hassan spluttered. “You can’t mean to marry her.”

“That is my intention. I have not informed her of the fact yet, so while you may go ahead with the plans, I wish you to keep them quiet for now.”

“But—”

“You have been wrong about Sabrina,” Kardal said.
“Very wrong.
I do not know her mother, but I can tell you your daughter is a treasure. She is loyal, determined, caring and even intelligent.”

“Yes, well, perhaps.” Hassan sounded stunned. “Kardal, you realize that I can’t vouch for her virtue.”

It was the final insult. Kardal rose to his feet, still clutching the telephone in his hand. “I will vouch for her virtue. I know that she has been untouched by any man.” Then, because he couldn’t resist tweaking the tiger’s tail he added, “Until now.”

“Kardal!”
Hassan’s outrage traveled the nearly thousand miles between them. “If you have defiled my daughter, I’ll have your head on a platter.”

“Don’t you think it’s a little late to pretend you care?” he asked contemptuously. “She is no longer your concern. Despite your neglect, she is all I desire in a bride. I accept the conditions of the betrothal. See that your staff prepares a wedding fitting for your only daughter and the Prince of Thieves.”

Then, without saying goodbye, he hung up the phone. Satisfied he’d captured Hassan’s attention, he turned to the work waiting for him.

The helicopter appeared in the sky, first as a small bird, then growing larger and larger against the impossible blueness of the desert afternoon. Kardal stood alone, watching the security personnel that Rafe had assembled rather than the approach of his father.

Sabrina stood behind him, next to Cala who was practically hyperventilating from nervousness.

“I can’t do this,” Cala murmured, turning as if to leave.

Sabrina put a reassuring hand on her arm. “You’ll be fine. You look beautiful. He’ll be too stunned to speak.”

She was telling the truth, Sabrina thought. Cala wore an elegant suit in deep purple. She’d swept her long hair up into a chignon. Diamond earrings glittered. They were her only adornment and didn’t distract from the loveliness of her features.

Rafe stood to their left. He looked calm, but then Sabrina doubted anything ever ruffled the city’s head of security. As for herself, she was prepared to do whatever she must to make this visit a success for Kardal. He was her main concern. Despite the times they’d talked about it, she knew he wasn’t prepared for the impact of meeting his father for the first time. He said he didn’t care, that Givon would have no effect on him, but she knew he was wrong.

Wind swept around them as sound filled the air. Sabrina tried to imagine what it would be like to meet a man who had ignored her for her whole life. What was Kardal feeling now? While she had problems with her own father, at least he had acknowledged her from the beginning.

But when the helicopter’s doors were opened by two of Rafe’s men and King Givon stepped out into the afternoon, she was surprised to find he didn’t look like an evil man. He wore a tailored suit, which made him look more like a European businessman than the El Baharian king. He was a couple of inches shorter than Kardal, strong looking with dark eyes he’d passed onto his son. She saw wisdom lurking there, and sadness. There was something about the set of his mouth that made her wonder—for the first time—if he’d been suffering, too.

Had he missed the opportunity to get to know his son? Kardal didn’t believe Givon had stayed away because he’d given his word to do so, but Sabrina thought it might be the truth.

She sighed. There were no easy solutions to this situation. What a thing to realize in the first thirty seconds of Givon’s visit.

The king stepped away from the helicopter. A single security agent stepped out after him. The pilot shut off the engine. As the noise wound down, Sabrina waited for Kardal to say something. As the leader of the city, it was his job to greet his father first. Yet he didn’t move or speak.

Cala solved the problem by stepping around her son. She walked slowly and proudly toward a man she hadn’t seen in over thirty years. Sabrina watched as his expression changed. Emotions followed each other—gladness, pain, longing. In that moment, Sabrina knew that Givon had loved Cala with all his heart.

“Welcome to the City of
Thieves
,” Cala said warmly. “It’s been a long time, Givon.”

“Yes, it has. I had begun to wonder if I would ever see this place again.”

Or you.

He didn’t say the words, but he didn’t have to. Sabrina heard them and judging from the hesitation in Cala’s step, she heard them, too.

Sabrina’s throat tightened as the older couple stood in front of each other. There was a moment of awkwardness as Cala thrust out her hand to shake his, then withdrew it. Givon took a half step forward. Cala cried out softly and opened her arms. The king stepped into her embrace.

The naked longing on his face was so private and intimate that Sabrina quickly looked away. She glanced at Kardal. He, too, had found something else to interest him. What was he thinking?
she
wondered. Was he beginning to understand that no one person was to blame for their current circumstances?

Cala released Givon and stepped back. “It is time for you two to meet,” she said.

The king approached his son and held out his hand.
“Kardal.”

Kardal nodded as he took his father’s hand. “King Givon, welcome to the City of
Thieves
.”

While Givon continued to smile, Sabrina saw the flicker of pain in his eyes. He had hoped for a more personal greeting.

Give it time, she said silently to herself. Kardal needs more time.

“And this, of course, is Sabrina. Perhaps you know her by her more formal title—Princess Sabra of Bahania.”

Givon bowed to her. “Sabrina.
A pleasure.
I did not know you were staying here.” Confused, he drew his brows together. “I spoke with your father just yesterday. He didn’t mention anything.”

“She is my guest,” Kardal said quickly. “She is here, ah, studying our treasures.”

“Oh, sure,” she said with a laugh, hoping to ease some of the tension. “You say that now.” She held up her arms, allowing the full sleeves of her dress to fall back and reveal the gold slave bracelets around her wrists. “That wasn’t your story when you captured me in the desert and took me as your slave.”

Givon looked shocked. “You took a Bahanian princess as a slave?”

Kardal shot her a look that warned her she would answer to him later. Sabrina merely smiled. She didn’t care if he was angry with her or not. All that mattered was that he’d forgotten about being distant toward his father.

“The story isn’t quite so simple,” Kardal said stiffly, still glaring at her.

“Actually it is,” she said breezily to the king. “I’ll give you all the details as I show you to your room. This way,
Your
Majesty.”

Givon hesitated. He glanced at his son, then at Cala. Finally he nodded and moved next to Sabrina. “Please, call me Givon,” he told her as they walked toward the open doors of the palace.

“I’m honored. I mean what with being a mere slave and all.”

Givon looked at her. A smile played across his mouth. “I see that you have probably been more than Kardal bargained for, however you came to be in the City of
Thieves
.”

Finding herself starting to like Kardal’s father, she linked her arm through his. “I believe you are right. At times I frustrate him immensely. Let me tell you all about it.”

Kardal watched them leave. He hated that Sabrina had been so easily blinded by his father’s practiced charm. He would have expected more of her.

“What do you think?” Cala asked. Her voice quivered slightly as she spoke.

“I do not know what to think. It is always stressful to have a visiting dignitary in the city. The security concerns, the disruption of the routine.”

Cala faced him, her eyes stormy. “Don’t play that game with me, Kardal. I’m your mother. I’m not asking about the inconvenience of the visit, I’m asking what you think of your father. You’ve never seen him in person before, have you?”

Of course he’d known what she was asking but he hadn’t wanted to answer the question. “No, I’ve never seen him before.”

At joint conferences, he’d always managed to avoid King Givon and the man had never sought him out. When there was direct conversation between the city and El Bahar, representatives had been
sent.

“So, what are you thinking?” she persisted.

“I don’t know.”

In that he told the truth. Givon was not the devil, nor even a bad man. Kardal felt confused and angry and hurt. He couldn’t explain why he felt such emotions, nor did he know how to make them go away.

“I’m sorry,” his mother said, touching his arm. “I shouldn’t have kept you apart all these years.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

She met his gaze. “Yes, it was. You don’t want me to have any blame in the matter, yet so much of it is mine. I was young and foolish. When Givon returned to his family, I was destroyed. I ordered him out of my life, which was my right, but I also ordered him out of yours, which was wrong.”

Kardal shrugged off her concerns. “He had a wife and sons of his own. He would not have been interested in me.”

“I think he would have been. While it would have been difficult for him to openly acknowledge you, there could have been private meetings. You needed a father.”

He didn’t like that her words made him ache for what he’d never had. “My grandfather was the best man I have ever known. He was more than enough.”

“I’m glad you think so and I hope it’s true because I can’t change the past. I can only tell you that I’m so sorry.”

He pulled his mother to him and kissed the top of her head. “You have no need to apologize. What is done is done. The past is behind us.”

“I don’t think it is.”

He straightened and looked at her. Color stained her cheeks and she wouldn’t raise her gaze past his chest.

“What are you saying?” he asked.

She swallowed. “I’m afraid my worst fear has come true. Despite the time that has passed and different people we have become, I’m still very much in love with him.”

Sabrina opened the door to the guest quarters she had prepared for the king. As Givon followed her, she gave the room
a
once-over, taking in the elegant sitting area with its view of the desert from all three large windows. A tile mosaic showed marauders thundering across the desert, arms held high, swords at the ready.

There were several sofas and occasional tables. Small pedestals had been set up around the room, each displaying a different treasure. She had chosen them herself.

Givon stepped into the center of the room. He glanced around, saw a small golden statue of a horse and crossed to the display. After picking up the animal, he turned it over,
then
looked at Sabrina.

“Are these to honor me or mock me?” he asked.

“I had wondered if you would recognize some of your country’s history.”

“I have a full-size version of this in bronze in my garden.”

“Ah, that would make it easier then.”

She cleared her throat. What had seemed like a good idea at the time suddenly didn’t. Would King Givon be angry with her choices?

“I didn’t intend to mock you…exactly.”

Kind eyes crinkled as he smiled. “What was your intent?”

“Perhaps I simply wanted to get your attention.”

“Something my son has wanted to do all his life?” he asked, then returned the horse to the pedestal.

Sabrina took a step toward him. “I’m sorry,” she told him. “I didn’t mean to make this situation any more difficult than it needed to be.”

He crossed to the window and stared out at the desert. “I’ve always thought the city a most beautiful place,” he said conversationally. “How much of the story do you know?”

“Some of it.
Cala told me what happened but only you and she know the details. I doubt anyone knows the entire truth.”

“I suspect you are correct.”

He nodded. There was much gray in his hair and lines by his eyes, but he didn’t appear to be an old man. There was still an air of vitality about him. Did Cala find the king attractive? Sabrina thought she might.

He turned away from the window and walked to the far end of the room where an ancient tapestry showed several women being gifted to the king of El Bahar.

“That was a long time ago,” he said.

For a second Sabrina thought he meant the tapestry. “Yes, it was.”