The Sheik and the Christmas Bride

by Susan Mallery

  The girls crowded close, as if seeking comfort from him. Although he had no time for this, he resisted the urge to push them away and instead awkwardly patted them on their shoulders.

  “All will be well,” he told them. “I will find Kayleen and return her to you.”

  “Promise?” Pepper asked, her lashes spiky from her tears.

  He crouched down until he could look her in the eye. “I am Prince As’ad of El Deharia. My word is law.”

  Pepper sniffed. “Promise?”

  He gave her a slight smile. “I promise.”

  Ten minutes later the girls were settled with Lina and he was in the garage, sliding into an open Jeep. The desert was a vast space and in theory, Kayleen could be anywhere. But in truth, an inexperienced rider would stick to trails and not get far. Unless she had been thrown.

  He did not allow himself to consider that option. He would find her and if she were hurt, he would deal with the situation as it arose.

  He found the riding trail easily. He had been taking it all his life. As it bent to the left, he considered how far Kayleen might have traveled, then accelerated. A mere ten miles into the desert was the permanent outpost of a local tribe. If Kayleen kept to the trail, she would end up there.

  He drove slowly, checking the area for signs of any accident, or a woman walking without a horse, but found nothing. At the outskirts of the outpost he saw a cluster of people gathered around a petite woman with flaming red hair. She was holding on to a horse and gesturing wildly.

  As’ad eased the Jeep to a stop and picked up the satellite phone. When he was connected with his aunt, he informed her he had found Kayleen and that she appeared fine.

  “Will you be coming right back?” Lina asked.

  As’ad considered. “I believe we’ll stay for dinner.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll put the girls to bed. Thanks for letting me know. They were worried.”

  He disconnected the call and parked, then walked toward the crowd.

  Kayleen saw him and excused herself from the group, then raced toward him. When she was close enough, she launched herself at him.

  He caught her and held her against him as she trembled in his embrace.

  “You came,” she breathed. “It’s the girls. They’re gone. They were late and we had no way to get in touch with them and I was so worried, so I took a horse out myself. I found this village, but no one speaks English and I can’t tell if they’ve seen the girls. What if something happened to them? I’ll never forgive myself.”

  She was distraught and panicked and surprisingly beautiful. Her hazel eyes darkened with emotion and her cheeks were flushed. Impulsively, he bent down and lightly brushed her mouth with his.

  “They’re fine,” he told her. “All three of them returned unharmed. You are the one who is missing.”

  “What?” She drew in a breath. “They’re all right?”

  “Perfectly fine, although suffering from guilt for causing you distress. Kayleen, the girls are good riders. The head groom took them out himself to confirm that. They also had someone with them. Why did you feel it necessary to go rescue them yourself?”

  “I don’t know. I was worried and I acted.”

  “Impulsively.”

  She glanced down. “Yes, well, that’s an ongoing problem.”

  “So it seems.”

  She looked around and noticed the villagers gathered close. “Oh.” She pulled back.

  As’ad let her go, but only reluctantly. She had felt good in his arms. He wanted to kiss her again—but thoroughly and without an audience. He wanted to push aside her unattractive clothing and touch the soft skin beneath. Instead he stepped back and turned to greet Sharif, the village chieftain.

  “She is your woman?” Sharif asked.

  Kayleen spun toward the old man. “You speak English? You stood there, pretending not to understand and you speak English?”

  “They don’t know you,” As’ad told her. “They were being cautious.”

  “What about desert hospitality? What about claiming sanctuary or asylum or something?”

  “Did you?” he asked.

  Kayleen pressed her lips together. “No. I was asking if they’d seen the girls. They wouldn’t answer and they weren’t speaking English.”

  As’ad glanced at Sharif. “She is mine.”

  “Then you are both welcome. You will stay and eat with us?”

  “It is an honor.”

  “Arrangements will be made.”

  “Arrangements?” Kayleen asked. “What arrangements? And what’s all this about being your woman? I’m your nanny. There’s a really big difference.”

  He took her by the elbow and led her to the Jeep. “It makes things easier if they think you belong to me. Otherwise you would be fair game for every man here. You’re very exotic. They would find that tempting.”

  Kayleen didn’t know what to say to that. She was so far from exotic that if they put her picture on that page in the dictionary, it would have a circle with a line drawn through it over her face. She couldn’t imagine a man ever being tempted by her.

  It was the hair, she thought with a sigh. Bright red hair tended to call attention to itself.

  “Fear not,” As’ad told her. “I have claimed you. You are safe.”

  She shivered slightly, but not in fear. It was more from the memory of the brief kiss he’d given her when he’d first arrived. An unexpected and warm touch of his lips on hers. She’d been shocked by the contact, but not in a scary way. More surprised, but pleased.

  “We’re staying for dinner,” he said.

  “I got that.”

  “It’s the polite thing to do.”

  She looked around at the tidy camp. “I don’t mind. I like it here, out in the desert. Although it would be nice if they didn’t pretend not to understand me.”

  “They are private people. You rode in from nowhere, babbling about missing children. They were cautious.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “I do not babble.”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “Not often,” she amended. “I was scared. I thought the girls were lost.”

  “You were not equipped to find them, yet you went after them.”

  “Someone had to.”

  “Perhaps one of the grooms. Or you could have called me.”

  Oh. Right. “I didn’t think of that. I’m not used to having resources.”

  “Perhaps next time you will consider that you do.”

  It would take some getting used to. “You came after me yourself,” she said. “You could have sent one of the grooms.”

  “The girls were most distressed to think they were the cause of your being gone. Coming after you myself seemed the quickest way to allay their fears.”

  “It was a little impulsive. You have resources, too.”

  “You mock me?”

  “Maybe.”

  “A dangerous path.”

  “I’m not afraid.”

  Something flashed in his eyes. Something dark and primitive that made her heart flutter. She didn’t know if she should throw herself at him or run into the desert, so she stood her ground.

  “So what do you think is for dinner?”

  The women of the village prepared a rich stew with lots of vegetables and a flat bread that smelled so good it made Kayleen’s mouth water. She did her best to be friendly and polite, helping with the cooking as much as the women in the camp would let her.

  Zarina, Sharif’s oldest daughter, was the only one who would speak to her in English.

  “Am I really that scary?” Kayleen asked quietly as she stirred the stew.

  “You are different. From the city and from another country. You do not know our ways.”

  “I could learn.”

  Zarina, a dark-haired beauty with a flashing smile, laughed. “Give up your comforts to roam the desert? I do not think so.”

  “Comforts don’t matter to me,” Kayleen told her. She would give up many things to bel
ong somewhere.

  “Yet you live in the palace with the prince.”

  “It’s a long story and I don’t live with him. I take care of…” She shook her head. “It’s a really long story.”

  Zarina glanced at As’ad where he sat with the leaders of the tribe. “The prince is handsome. If I were not happily married, I might try to steal him from you.”

  Kayleen started to say he wasn’t hers to steal, but figured there was no point. “He’s nice.”

  Zarina laughed. “Not nice. No man worth having is nice. As’ad is a desert warrior. He takes what he wants, but then he protects those he claims. He is a strong man. A powerful husband. You have chosen well.”

  A lion of the desert? As’ad? He was strong and powerful and he did seem to take care of those around him. His presence here was proof of that. But a dangerous animal? She didn’t believe that. As for her choosing him…as if.

  He looked up and met her gaze, then rose and approached. “What troubles you, Kayleen?”

  “Nothing. I was just thinking. Zarina says it’s good she’s happily married, otherwise she would steal you from me.”

  He laughed. “She is a beautiful woman.”

  Kayleen didn’t like that answer. “You and I don’t have that kind of relationship.”

  “So you would not mind if she and I…”

  “No,” Kayleen said carefully, even as a knot formed in her stomach. It was hard and hot and made her feel uncomfortable. “You have a family now. You should be with someone.”

  “You suggest Zarina?”

  “She’s already married.”

  “I am Prince As’ad of El Deharia. I can have whomever I choose.”

  How annoyingly arrogant. “I don’t think so. You’re just a man. There are women who would say no to you.”

  He moved closer. “Who would that be?”

  She stood at straight as she could, tilted her head back and glared at him. “Me, for one. I’m not interested.”

  His smile was slow, sexy and confident beyond measure. “You think so.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “I see.”

  He reached toward her. Before she knew what he intended, he pulled her close and kissed her.

  Chapter Five

  K ayleen had almost been kissed once in her life, on a date with a young man in college. He had been nice enough, but she was so inexperienced that just being around him had made her nervous. At the end of their awkward evening, he’d moved in for a kiss and she’d bolted for the safety of her dorm room.

  But there was no bolting from As’ad. With his arms around her, she had nowhere to go. Not to mention the fact that she didn’t want to run.

  She’d wondered about kissing, had wondered if she was the last innocent in a world where even twelve-year-olds seemed to know more about men and sex than she did. She’d wondered how it was possible to enjoy someone being so close, pressing his mouth against hers. Worse, using his tongue in some intimate way.

  Would she feel trapped, uncomfortable, violated?

  The short answer was no, she thought as As’ad moved his mouth gently against hers, teasing, caressing, but not taking. Even though his arms were around her, she didn’t feel trapped. Instead she felt protected and wanted.

  The wanting was new, as was the odd hungry sensation inside of her. She needed to be closer, although she couldn’t say why.

  She put her hands on his shoulders, feeling the strength and heat of him. As’ad would keep all in his world safe, she thought, distracted by the pressure of his lips. It would be nice to feel safe.

  She inhaled the masculine scent of him, liking the fragrance. She enjoyed the feel of his body so close to hers. She grew bolder and slipped her arms around his neck, bringing her front in contact with his.

  He increased the pressure of his mouth on hers. His strong hands traveled up and down her back. When he stroked his tongue against her bottom lip she gasped in shock, then felt the soft, erotic touch of his tongue against hers.

  Fire shot through her. The unexpected heat made her tremble as she almost expected to go up in flames. Sensations exploded everywhere, especially in places that were usually without them. Her breasts ached in a way they never had before. Her legs felt funny—trembly and weak. She stood frozen, unsure, awkward, yet willing him to keep on kissing her.

  Fortunately As’ad seemed more than capable of reading her mind. He explored her mouth with his tongue, making her tingle and want to lean into him. She ached, but couldn’t say for what. She clung to him, and at last, tentatively, slowly, carefully, touched her tongue to his.

  A low, masculine groan burst from him. The sound filled her with a sense of sensual power she’d never experienced before. She touched his tongue again and felt a reaction in her own body. A clenching. A wanting. A hunger.

  She let herself get lost in the touching, the intimate kiss. It was heaven. She could do this for hours. She liked how her body turned to liquid. She liked everything about kissing him.

  But instead of reading her mind again, he put his hands on her shoulders and eased her away from him.

  “What?” she breathed.

  “Perhaps another time,” he said calmly. “When we are alone.”

  Alone? What was he…

  Kayleen bit her lower lip and turned her head. While much of the village had gone about their business, there were still several obviously interested people observing their kiss. As she looked at them, they grinned. A couple waved. A few of the women laughed knowingly.

  “Now no one will question that you are mine,” he told her.

  They arrived back at the palace shortly after ten. Kayleen met Lina in the suite she, Kayleen, shared with the girls.

  “We’re back,” she said. “Thanks for staying with them.”

  “It was fun,” Lina told her. “So how was your evening?”

  Kayleen did her best not to blush, although she could feel heat on her cheeks. “It was fine. Good. I really liked meeting everyone in the village. They’re wonderful people. Dinner was good. They let me help a little with the cooking. Everyone was friendly.” She realized she was babbling and pressed her lips together, then blurted, “Nothing happened.”

  Lina slowly raised her eyebrows. “Excuse me?”

  “Nothing happened. With As’ad. In case you were, you know, wondering. Nothing happened.”

  “I see.” Lina smiled. “You’re protesting an awful lot, especially when you consider I never asked if anything happened.”

  “Oh.” Kayleen shifted. She needed to stop talking now or Lina would find out about the kiss. Not that Kayleen regretted it—on the contrary, it was a delicious secret she wanted to keep to herself.

  Lina waited another few seconds, then walked to the door. “I’ll see you later, then.”

  “Uh-huh. Thanks again for staying with the girls.”

  “Anytime,” Lina said, and then left.

  When she was alone, Kayleen tiptoed into the girls’ bedroom. All three of them were asleep. She smoothed covers, adjusted the nightlight, then went into her own room. When she had shut the door behind her, she sighed with happiness, spun in a slow circle, then sank onto the bed.

  She’d been kissed. Really kissed and it had been wonderful. Better than she could have imagined.

  She’d liked everything about kissing As’ad…the taste of him, the heat, the way he’d held her. She wanted to kiss and be kissed again. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the sort of thing she could simply ask him to do. Worse, she wasn’t sure why he’d kissed her. Had he wanted to, or had he just been proving a point in the village? And why did it suddenly matter which?

  Several days later As’ad returned to his rooms to find Kayleen sitting at his dining table in front of a sewing machine. Fabric covered every available surface. She’d pulled over a floor lamp for additional light and didn’t notice his arrival.

  His reaction was as powerful as it was instantaneous. Not about the fact that she’d once again ignored his request that she tak
e care of all things involving the girls. Instead his body recognized the woman who had most recently brought him to his knees with a single kiss.

  A virgin’s kiss, he reminded himself, still annoyed and aroused at the sight of her. What should have been meaningless, done only to prove a point, had instead started a fire within him that still burned hot and strong. He’d been hungry before kissing her—now he was starved.

  He hadn’t been able to sleep for wanting Kayleen. The kiss had shown him potential where he’d seen very little. She’d felt right in his arms—all soft curves and innocence. Yet there had been heat in her, an instinctive passion that had matched his own.

  The event should have meant nothing. He should have been able to walk away without thinking of it again. Instead it was all he could do not to cross the room, pull her to her feet and kiss her over and over until she surrendered. He wanted her wet, naked and begging. He wanted all of her.

  She looked and saw him. “As’ad.” She smiled. “You’re back.” She stood and held up both hands. “I know what you’re going to say. This is a big mess. I’m sorry. I meant to get it cleaned up before you got home. I lost track of time.”

  Her mouth. He couldn’t seem to look away from it. The shape, the hint of white teeth and nimble tongue. His brother Qadir was right—he should have gone to Paris and spent the week mindless in an unknown woman’s bed. Now the opportunity was lost. He had a bad feeling it would be some time before he could use someone else to forget the appeal of Kayleen.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, pleased his voice was so calm. Nothing of his turmoil must show.

  “Making costumes for the Christmas pageant. All three girls are in it. I want the costumes to be a surprise.”

  “The school will not provide them?”

  “I suppose they could. They asked if some of the parents could help out. I said I would. Lina found this machine for me. It’s fabulous and practically sews on its own. You should see the instruction manual—it’s as thick as a dictionary. But I’ll figure it out.”

  He fingered a length of fabric. “I am sure there are employees in the palace who could do this for you.”