The Sheikh's Forbidden Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs series Book 1) (6 page)

Kamal shook his head and paused. Finally, he stood and looked down at Zayed. "You know that I will be meeting with the father of Zahra very soon, don't you?"

Zayed did not respond. There would be no sense in trying to argue with his father over the subject of Zahra. They had had that conversation too many times.

"A decision will have to be made," Kamal said. "Sooner rather than later."

Zayed merely nodded.

Kamal started toward the door. He turned before leaving. "Please try to make sure these movie people are gone quickly. I only agreed to have them here because you have finally seen what Zahra means to the situation we find ourselves in."

Zayed watched Kamal leave the room. As the door closed behind his father, Zayed leaped up off the sofa.

What was he going to do? He knew that his father had not approved of his involvement with Chloe. That was one reason why Zayed had left her so suddenly. But, was that really the only reason? Had it only been devotion to his father that had compelled Zayed to flee? Because, in the end, that was what he had done.

He had deserted Chloe right at the moment when their relationship had been at its most intense and most pleasurable.
 

Zayed strode to the balcony and sucked in a deep breath of cool evening air. His nerves were shaken by the conversation with his father.
 

Zayed recalled receiving the message from Kamal that it was time he returned from his "escapades" amongst people Zayed knew his father despised. Kamal had often railed against the decadence of the men and women who worked in the movie business. However, Kamal was also a pragmatist. It was how he had guided his kingdom into the modern age, improving living standards for all, extending influence to neighbouring kingdoms and enriching the family in the process.

And now Kamal wanted to draw back from all that progress?
 

Did Chloe represent something repellent to Zayed's father? Did she represent everything Kamal hated about the modern world? Was that why Kamal was so determined that Zayed follow his guidance? Was his father so determined to be a barrier between Zayed and Chloe?

Zayed sighed and leaned once again on the balustrade. He glanced along the palace exterior toward Chloe's room. Still, she hadn't emerged from her room. What he would have given to have seen her standing there, looking at him, smiling.

Zayed shook his head and was pleased that he was alone. He wouldn't want anyone to see him like this. He felt a sudden urge to roar like a lion, yelling his displeasure to the stars and sea. Anything to get these feelings out of his body, to cleanse himself of the doubt and desire coursing through him.

Then he slammed the side of his hand against the marble balustrade, ignoring the pain that shot through his arm. He had to speak about this to someone. And the only person he would speak to would be the very woman his father wanted out of Zayed's life.

Chloe.

CHAPTER SIX

Chloe had unpacked her bags and placed what clothes and personal items she had brought with her into the huge wardrobe and ornately carved sideboards. A servant woman, dressed in traditional plain robes had knocked gently on the suite door and asked whether there was anything that Chloe needed. Too embarrassed to ask even for drink or food, Chloe had politely declined and been grateful for the opportunity to settle quietly into the sumptuous suite.

How could people live like this? There was so much wealth on display in even the smallest piece of furniture that Chloe struggled to comprehend what it could mean to live permanently with such privilege. Because that was what it was.
 

Privilege.

Chloe had known some of the Hollywood elite. She had seen how they lived. But, their gaudy trappings of success paled into insignificance next to what she had seen since arriving at the palace.

When she and Zayed had been together in America, Chloe had understood that he came from a wealthy oil rich family. But, now that she was actually present in the place where Zayed had been born and grown up, she realized just how naive she had been three years before.

This was wealth beyond imagining. And with that wealth came power and influence. She could feel it in the way Zayed looked at her. His eyes were filled with a familiar possessive look that had burned its way into her soul. Once seen, Zayed's hungry, predatory gaze could never be forgotten.
 

And Chloe had never forgotten a single thing about Zayed. Not his ravenous looks; not the sizzling touch of his hands on her body; not the feel of his body as it crushed her in a fierce, unstoppable embrace.

Chloe drew in a deep breath and made her way to the balcony, desperate for some air to calm her turbulent mind. She wrapped her arms around herself and felt her racing heart.
 

The soft, sibilant sound of the palm trees were a soothing whisper that temporarily calmed her soul. But it wasn't going to last. She knew that.
 

Chloe went back inside the room and put on a dressing gown and slipped on her favorite beige pumps.
 

She needed to move, needed to get out of the room and get a sense of just where she had agreed to come.

Chloe opened the door and peered out into the corridor and stepped out.

She closed the door to her room behind her. There was no-one in the corridor. Not that she'd expected to find anyone guarding the door. Although, knowing Zayed as she did, she wouldn't have been surprised if he had placed a guard at her door.
 

Her footsteps were soft on the marble floor of the long hallway. She recalled how she had been led up to this level by Zayed's sister. A vague flashing memory of the sound of a fountain from somewhere toward the center of the palace guided her steps. She made her way down the wide staircase and paused in the main hall. Chloe recalled how Zayed had turned his back on her as he'd made his way hurriedly away from her. In spite of herself, the knot of disappointment she'd felt at his leaving still lingered.

Chloe turned and made her way past the staircase and toward what she guessed was the central part of the palace. Still she met no-one. Not surprising, since it was so late. Zayed had swept her away from the party and Chloe had lost all sense of time since that moment. Perhaps it was even later than she imagined.

Chloe was staggered by the beauty of the palace. The architecture was stunning. The details of the designs captivated her, forcing her to briefly adopt a professional eye, judging whether the palace would be a suitable location for some of the important scenes in the movie. Of course it would be ideal, she admonished herself. It was perfect.
 

The only problem was that getting permission to film inside the palace wouldn't be easy to obtain. Chloe had already been told that Zayed's father had refused to grant such a permission. Maybe Chloe could persuade him.

She was wondering just how she could do such a thing when she turned a corner in the corridor and was greeted with a beautiful scene.

Chloe stopped in her tracks and gazed in wonder at the scene before her. She was in an open, square space with a high vaulted roof. Before her was a sumptuous mosaic marble fountain. The sound of the water that flowed from the fountain was gentle and soothing. Around the central fountain the water pooled inside an ornately carved center piece.

Chloe went over to the fountain. She felt the coolness of the air around the tumbling water and immediately understood the necessity of such a thing in a hot climate. How welcome it must be for someone to come here and feel the cooling water.

Chloe leaned against the marble fountain edge and reached a hand down into the water. She sighed when she felt the cool of the water against her skin. The sound of her own voice echoed slightly within the courtyard. Chloe smiled to herself and drew in a deep breath.

There was an astonishing feeling of peace and tranquility in the courtyard. Chloe raised herself and sat on the cool marble edge of the pool.
 

Chloe felt as if she could sit next to the fountain for the entire night. She was just beginning to imagine the actors playing out a romantic scene by the fountain when she heard the sound of footsteps. Chloe's head whirled and her eyes locked on the one person she least expected to find gazing at her.

Zayed.

"Enjoying the cool water?" he asked. Zayed was leaning against the archway, his arms folded, his eyes locked on the scene by the fountain. The corner of his mouth had creased into a wry grin. Zayed was wearing a silk gown that stretched down to his knees and loose pants. Chloe felt her heart skip a beat when she saw Zayed's gown slip open, revealing his bare chest. Before he quickly tugged it closed, she saw the massed curls of dark hair across his tightly muscled torso. Chloe felt her throat tighten.

Seeing her look of obvious approval, Zayed smiled at Chloe, but she quickly drew her gaze back to the fountain.

Chloe wrenched her hand out of the water and stood up straight, leaning back against the fountain's edge. She reached up a hand and pulled some loose hair back into place, causing drops of water to spill down the front of her neck.

Chloe looked at Zayed and saw his eyes widen upon seeing that simple sight.
 

Chloe rolled her eyes and tried her best to sound casual, aware that she was failing miserably. "This is a beautiful fountain," she said.

Zayed started to move toward Chloe. His movement seemed almost animal, his body coming toward her as if stalking her. Had he heard her in the corridor? Had he followed her from her room? She wouldn't have been surprised at anything Zayed would have done.

"This has always been one of my favorite places. I used to play in this fountain as a child."
 
Zayed laughed, his voice filling the cavernous space of the courtyard. "My mother used to scold me every time I went into the water. She was frightened I would drown."
 

Chloe watched Zayed cover the final few feet separating them both. He came to her side and she was sure she could feel the heat of his body burning through the cool fountain air.

"What are you doing up?" Chloe asked, her voice tight.

"I was about to ask you the same question," Zayed replied.

Zayed leaned in closer to Chloe. His eyes gazed deeply into Chloe's. For a moment her mind went utterly blank. Seeing Zayed so close to her, in a place that was so much his own, Chloe felt like an intruder.
 

"I needed to get out of the room," she said.

Zayed's eyes flashed with concern. "You do not like your room?"

Chloe shook her head. "No, it's not like that at all. The room is perfect," she gasped. "In fact I've never been in a room like it before. It's beautiful."

Chloe saw a flicker of satisfaction move across Zayed's features. "I'm glad. I want you to feel at home while you are here," he said.

Chloe narrowed her eyes. "At home?"

Zayed nodded. "You are my honored guest, Chloe. Did you not already know that? I want you to feel as if this is your home." He gestured toward the room and paused. Chloe felt his gaze penetrate her. "You do know what I mean, Chloe. Don't you?"

Chloe felt the breath halt in her chest for a moment. What was he telling her? "I don't think I do, Zayed. I'm just a visitor here. I'm here to do a job. You know that. Don't you?"

Zayed sighed and moved toward Chloe. She responded by leaning away from him and he froze, puzzlement filling his eyes.

Chloe turned and started to move slowly along the side of the fountain's pool. She was aware that Zayed was following her, but she steadfastly resisted the urge to turn and look at him.

Zayed was silent for a long moment, apparently content to follow Chloe around the edge of the pool. After a few more steps, Chloe halted and turned to Zayed.

"This is just business, Zayed," she stated defiantly.

Chloe saw him draw in a deep breath and glance down toward the water. He dipped his hand into the water and his gaze softened. Chloe thought Zayed's attention had suddenly gone a very long way away.
 

"Is it, Chloe?" he said slowly. "Can it ever be simply business between us?"

Chloe swallowed and tried to respond, but the words just wouldn't emerge from her tight lips. She saw Zayed's gaze drop down to her throat. She knew he was looking at the fountain water which had run from her hand across her skin. Chloe saw a brief moment of hunger in Zayed's eyes and then his eyes lifted to hers. He took a step closer to Chloe and she was suddenly aware that the last thing she wanted to do was step away from him. Zayed's shoulders seemed suddenly wider, his chest more powerful than she remembered.

Seeing her rooted to the spot, Zayed nodded imperceptibly. "I think you know the answer to that question already, Chloe," he growled. "Things can never be just business between us."

Zayed was so close to her now that she felt the heat of his skin against her. She inhaled his scent, a mixture of spice and the aroma of his own body. For a moment, she felt unsteady on her feet, and she leaned back against the cool marble.

Zayed reached out a hand and grasped her wrist, holding her gently, but firmly.

"I don't know what you mean, Zayed," she managed to blurt out.

"Of course you do, Chloe. It's why you agreed to come to my palace. You know you belong here. You always have."

Chloe frowned at Zayed. "I'm here to do a job, Zayed. Nothing more."

"What about the past, Chloe? Have you forgotten what we meant to each other?"

Chloe sighed. "What we meant to each other? That's gone Zayed. It finished the day you walked out on me."

Chloe saw Zayed visibly flinch at her words. It had hurt her to say those words, but she knew them to be true.

"I didn't want to leave you, Chloe," Zayed said. She could hear the emotion fill his voice, a passionate pleading making his words shake.

Chloe shook her head. "Then why did you, Zayed? Wasn't I good enough for you? Didn't I fit in with your plans?"

Chloe heard Zayed exhale loudly and she saw a sudden tension in his shoulders. His fingers tightened on her wrist. "It had nothing to do with my plans," Zayed said.