The Sheik's Secret Bride (26 page)

“You’re not being fair,” Liana said. “I know that
Malik
is a much better man than Chuck. I just have to be sure.”

“I might not have been able to protect him when he was a child,”
Fatima
told her coldly. “I know now that I should have fought my son on that point. Nor was I able to protect him from the horror of his first marriage. But you can be sure I will not let anyone else destroy him.”

“I would never do that.”

Fatima
glared at her. “What do you think leaving him will do?”

Much as she tried, Liana couldn’t get
Fatima
’s words out of her head. She felt that the queen was blaming her for wanting to be sure that her marriage to
Malik
was the right thing for both of them. But the older woman either wouldn’t or couldn’t see her side of things.

Their unfriendly parting made Liana restless, and she paced in the luxurious suite until she felt as if she knew every square foot of marble flooring by heart. Time passed slowly. She kept glancing at the clock, but even the approaching late afternoon wasn’t going to make any difference.
Bethany
was staying at school until dinner so she could work on a special project with two new friends and their teacher, so she was all alone, with only her memories and her conscience for company.

Was
Fatima
right? Would her leaving hurt
Malik
? Did he care about her? How on earth was she supposed to be able to figure that out? The man wasn’t overly forthcoming with his feelings. And what did she think of him? While he could be charming and a pleasant companion, he was also dictatorial and demanding. She paused by the French doors and touched the cool glass. On the other hand, he was a sweetheart with her daughter and an incredible lover. The tiny glimpses she’d had into the workings of his mind told her he was both intelligent and incredibly isolated. He’d held himself apart for so long, she wondered if that would ever change. Was he capable of an emotionally intimate relationship, and did she want to stay if he wasn’t?

Once again she had more questions than answers. Last night had been wonderful. Not just the sex, but before. She’d actually had a good time at the state dinner, even though she’d been terrified. She and
Malik
had worked well together—they had the potential to be a good team. She sensed that he desperately needed someone on his side—someone he could depend on and trust.

She stared at the beautiful ocean in the distance. Maybe she was going about this all wrong, she thought suddenly. Maybe instead of figuring out what she wanted, which was impossible because she didn’t have enough information, she should figure out what
Malik
wanted. Did he want emotional depth in his relationship? Was he looking for a surrogate daughter and easy sex, but little else? Her decision depended somewhat on his expectations.

“There’s only one way to find out,” she told herself and quickly left the room.

This time the journey to his office was relatively simple. She remembered where to turn and soon found herself once again facing the imperious Zachary, who gazed at her with faint disapproval.

“You didn’t make an appointment yesterday,” he said by way of greeting. “And the prince is just as busy today. I’m afraid you can’t see him.”

She leaned forward, bracing her hands on the desk and bringing her face to within inches of the secretary’s. “I am Princess Liana, wife of the Crown Prince, and if I want to see my husband, I will. You may either announce me or get out of my way. Those are your choices.”

Zachary flushed. “I’m sure there’s no reason to be rude.”

“Then don’t be.”

She straightened and headed for the closed door on her left. If
Malik
wasn’t in there, she would keep opening doors until she found him. She might not be sure what was going to happen with her marriage, but while she was here she was not going to let anyone push her around.

“You can’t go in there,” Zachary said as he hurried to get in front of her. They reached the door at the same time. The secretary threw himself against the wood and glared at Liana.

They were about the same height and Liana was fully prepared to take the man on. She was confused and tired and feeling more than a little lost in her current situation. Her husband was an enigma, her grandmother-in-law no longer approved of her, and she had to worry that any decisions she made about her personal life were going to have international ramifications.

“Get out of my way,” she ordered.

Just then the door swung open.
Malik
stood in the opening looking tall and handsome and annoyed. Liana
swallowed,
half-afraid he was going to take Zachary’s side. Instead he turned his attention to her and smiled.

“Have you come to see me?” he asked, sounding pleased.

She nodded. “I don’t have an appointment, so that seems to be a problem.”

“No problem.” He took her hand and drew her past the secretary. “This is Princess Liana. She is always welcome and you will interrupt me whenever she asks you to. I don’t care who I’m with. Do you understand?”

Zachary’s flush deepened. He nodded,
then
gave them both a slight bow.

Malik
ushered her into his office, which was nearly as nice as the king’s had been. She had a brief impression of a huge desk and bookcases before he led her to a corner grouping of low sofas. She settled on one of the cushions and
Malik
sat next to her.

“He’s an annoying little man,” she said, motioning to the now-closed door.

Malik
squeezed her hand. “I agree. However, if there was a way to organize the sands of the desert, Zachary would find it. He’s most efficient, so I put up with his pretensions. However, I will not have him insulting you.”

The tone of possessiveness made her knees go weak. Just being this close to
Malik
, taking in the freshly shaven jaw and the way his suit emphasized his strength, made her want to throw herself at him and beg him to take her. Around him she felt wildly alive.
And safe.
As if he would always take care of things.
Which was insane.
She could take care of herself, thank you very much. Still, the feeling lingered, and she found herself wanting to move closer to him.

“Thank you for last night,” he said.

She smiled even as she felt a faint heat on her cheeks. “Yes, well, it was amazing. Thank you.”

“We do well together. Not just in bed,” he added. “I thought we were well matched at the dinner.”

His comments mirrored
her own
thoughts. She stared at him, at his dark hair and the strong line of his mouth. Centuries of wisdom seemed to glow in his eyes. He had a history, both recent and ancient, that she couldn’t possibly understand. Their lives had nothing in common. Yet she felt as if she understood him. She wanted him and liked him. She cared about him. Which meant it wouldn’t be very difficult for her to fall in love with him.

She pulled her hand free of his gentle hold and laced her fingers together on her lap. “What do you want from me?” she asked. “Is our relationship about sex? Are you looking for a friend and a companion? What do you expect from me? What is my role in all of this? I can’t make any decisions until I understand your goals.”

Malik
was silent for a long time. Liana studied his face, trying to figure out what he was thinking. But she didn’t have a clue. Finally, he leaned close and touched her cheek.

“You have slender ankles.”

She blinked. “What did you say?”

He picked up her hand again and held it. “I can wrap my fingers around your wrist with room to spare. You are a delicate flower of a woman, yet so very strong inside.” Then he kissed her palm.

“
Malik
, what are you talking about?”

He stared intently into her eyes.
“Your ankles.
They are delicate. I imagine them, seeing them, touching them.”

Something was very wrong, she thought through a haze of confusion. “I’m trying to have a serious conversation about our relationship and you want to talk about my bones?”

Warm fingers stroked her knuckles. “All of you
is
wonderful.”

If she didn’t know better, she would think he was drunk…or deranged. Was this an El
Baharian
thing? Maybe they were having a culture clash, and he thought this was how to woo a woman. “I don’t want to talk about body parts right now. What about us?”

“Your skin is the color of cream.”

She jerked her hand free. “You’re not making any sense.”

“I want you to know how much I cherish you.”

“Cherish is all fine and good, but what do you want from me?”

His adoring expression changed into something unreadable. He released her hand and straightened. While he didn’t turn cold, he definitely withdrew from her. At first she felt hurt. As if all his compliments had been some weird game. But then she knew with
a clarity
she couldn’t explain that
Malik
wasn’t playing—he was protecting. Her question had terrified him and he didn’t want her to know.

The truth appeared without warning. It burst into her mind like flowers blooming in spring—all bright and beautiful and tempting. Was she right? Could she truly believe?

“You want me to stay,” she breathed. “You want me to fall in love with you.”

He rose to his feet. “Of course,” he said curtly. “What did you think? Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting in five minutes.”

Still stunned by
Malik’s
revelation, Liana didn’t know what to make of an invitation to dine with the family that night. She was more than a little nervous about seeing
Fatima
again and wondered if she was going to be lectured by the king and
Malik’s
brothers. But instead she and Bethany were made welcome in the private dining room and spent a pleasant evening enjoying their host’s company. Afterward,
Malik
walked them both to their suite.

“I’m going to bed now,”
Bethany
said as soon as they entered the living room. “I’m really, really tired, and I’m sure I’ll be asleep in five minutes.”

She gave them each a hug and a good-night kiss,
then
skipped down the hall and into her room. When the door shut, Liana sighed.

“My daughter is many things, but she’s not subtle.”

Malik
stared after her. “She is a wonderful child. You’re very lucky to have her.”

“I know, but thank you for noticing.” She shifted uncomfortably, not sure if she should invite him to sit down or simply throw herself into his arms. “I appreciate that you’ve taken so much time with her.”

He turned his steady, dark gaze on her. “I do it because I want to.
For no other reason.”

She smiled. “That’s what makes it so meaningful.
Bethany
thinks the world of you.” She pressed her lips together,
then
decided this wasn’t the time to explain to
Malik
that her daughter thought of him as a surrogate father. It was too late to prevent
Bethany
from being hurt if they left El
Bahar
.
Better for her to enjoy her time here.
And who knows. Things might work out between
Malik
and herself. Speaking of which…

She cleared her throat. “What were your plans for the rest of the evening?”

He stepped close and cupped her face. “You are a light in the evening sky.”

“Huh?”

“All other beauty pales before your radiance.”

“
Malik
, you’re being weird again. It makes me nervous.”

He kissed her mouth. “I want you to know how I appreciate your womanly charms.”

She felt herself melting against him. “You have some impressive male charms, as well.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I don’t think
Bethany
will be asleep in five minutes, but it’s not going to take her too long to settle down. Would you like a drink while we wait?”

He brushed his lips against hers again…slowly, seductively. His tongue moved against hers and made her gasp. She was already on fire. Heat filled her and she felt her panties growing damp as her body readied for his invasion. The thought of having to wait even five minutes was physically painful.

“I will dream of your slender ankles, your pale skin and the sweet scent of your essence,” he said, stepping back.

“Would you please speak in English?”

Malik
shrugged regretfully.
“Sorry, Liana.
I’m not staying here tonight. You are my wife and when we next make love, it will be in my room, in my bed and with your daughter sleeping down the hall.”

Irritation joined the passion. It made for an interesting combination. “You’re blackmailing me.”

“I told you I wanted you to move into my suite. It’s where you belong.”

Her gaze narrowed. “You expect me to give in on everything. What do I get in return?”