Her Billionaire Sheikh

by Allen, Jewel

  Still, the desert sun bore down on them mercilessly.

  “I should have had you bring a hat to keep the sun off your face,” Samir told her.

  She was ready with a flirtatious retort, which she swallowed in silence. Of course he wouldn’t have warned her specifically about wearing hats. He no longer had her for his concern.

  She followed after him, looking down, and was run into by a child barreling along at full speed. Reese fell onto the edge of a stair on her hip and cried out in pain. A burning radiated from her leg to her hip.

  Samir walked briskly back to her, his face concerned. “Are you all right?”

  Reese gazed up at him, and the world stopped on its axis. He held her hand and supported her with the other.

  Like old times.

  “I think so,” she said, her cheeks warming at his nearness.

  Axel and Jason acted as though the child were a criminal. They grabbed him by the arm and scolded him.

  “It’s all right,” Reese said. “It was an accident.”

  Axel nodded, schooling his features. “Of course, Your Highness.”

  Her skirt was ruined, but she didn’t care. It was just a dress. The last thing she wanted to do was to get the child in trouble.

  She walked with a slight limp and took in with one glance the rest of the steps cut into the village.

  “Maybe you should just sit this one out,” Samir said.

  Her face fell. She had been looking forward to seeing the top. But he was right.

  “Okay. I’ll just sit here.” She indicated a slab bench.

  He hesitated and then offered, “Let me carry you.”

  Her eyes flew to his face. “What?”

  “I’ve carried you before. I can carry you again.”

  Yes, he had, but that time was a romantic night when Reese had fallen asleep on a lounge chair beside him, and he’d picked her up, kissing her on the way to the palace.

  She cringed at the twinge of pain in her hip as he carried her effortlessly. And then it was a different kind of pain as putting her arms around his neck brought back memories and yearnings she thought she’d put to rest.

  23

  In his arms, she was light as can be. Did she ever eat? She wasn’t overly thin, maybe just petite. He focused on getting her up the steps through the maze that was the hillside village. Media who had been shadowing them were having a field day.

  Her arms were twined around his neck, and her head was close to his. If she wanted to, she could lean forward and tuck her face in the crook of his neck like she’d done a few times when he’d carried her at the palace.

  Except those were tender moments. He had carried her in from the pool one night, and the smell of honeysuckle filled the breeze. She had laughed until he took her up through the palace hallways and down to her bedroom, her gaze alighting on his lips. And before he’d even set her down, he’d lowered his mouth for a goodnight kiss that lasted several delicious minutes.

  He tried to push that out of his mind, but he couldn’t. Her scent clung to him like a flower on a trellis on a hot, sultry night. Her lips that had been his for the taking were close. Her body was soft and warm against the length of his. By the time he had reached a few sets of steps, he was breathless, and not just from the exertion.

  “You should set me down,” she said in a low voice.

  “Don’t you want to go up to the top?”

  “I can probably walk now.”

  “Let’s see you do it.” He set her down, and she promptly winced.

  “Maybe not,” she conceded. “But we can stop here for a bit.” They had come to an artist shop. She bought a little piece of art which the vendor rolled up in a plastic sleeve.

  When it was time to go, Reese flashed Samir an apologetic glance. Wordlessly, he carried her again a few more flights of steps until they reached the top, where a stiff breeze blew.

  In the hillside, the roofs of the different clay dwellings made for a fascinating mosaic. Patches of farmland formed a quilt on the outer edges of the village. Farther on, open land with rustic dwellings made up the balance.

  “Beautiful,” Reese breathed out.

  “It’s such a great legacy for our people.”

  * * *

  Reese nodded, stealing a glance at his profile. His expression was somber, and she knew he thought a lot about his people and the legacy he would leave as a king.

  With a pang of sadness, she knew she wouldn’t be sharing that experience with him. They would part ways in time, she to Italy or America, him to his duties with a different wife.

  A cloud scuttled past the sun, providing a cooling moment. But also mirroring her sadness. She tested her leg and tried walking. She took tentative steps and only felt a bit of pain on her bruised hip. She didn’t need Samir’s help, and she was relieved.

  Each time he touched her, she remembered experiences they’d shared. Each time their faces were close, she wanted to nuzzle his beard. And each time she smelled his musk scent mingled with clean soap, she yearned to be held by him forever.

  Her forever dreams were gone. This was the reality of their relationship, parched like the desert. Belonging to the past but not having a future.

  She was slow to move down the steps, just to be sure not to hurt herself.

  He turned to her with a veiled expression. “Will you be fine?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said, waving him away. “Don’t worry about it.”

  She watched him make his way down with his bodyguards, and she almost called him back so she could take his arm perhaps.

  But, of course, that wouldn’t do.

  As she turned the corner, two men came out of a doorway. It all happened so fast that she didn’t know how to react, but they grabbed her on either arm.

  “What do you want?” she asked.

  When they said nothing, just staring at her with those fathomless eyes, she struggled to get away. But their grip was stronger.

  “Let me go!” she yelled.

  At the sound of footsteps from below, they scattered.

  Samir and his bodyguards appeared.

  Samir strode over to her. “What happened?” he asked.

  “Two men came and…held me by the arms.” She stretched out her arms, and fingers were imprinted on her tanned skin.

  “I’m sorry.” He turned to Axel. “How come neither one of you were with her?”

  “Sorry, Your Royal Highness,” Axel said. “I thought Jason had stayed behind with her.”

  “I don’t want that to happen again. Understand?”

  “Yes, Your Highness.”

  He used a gentler tone as he turned back to Reese. “We got ahead of you, and I’m sorry.”

  She wanted to cry. Normally, he’d have been attentive and solicitous beside her, but of course he didn’t care as much now. He could simply assign a bodyguard to her.

  “It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not.” His gaze took in the shadows of the hillside village. “There are people who would be happy to take you, perhaps for ransom.”

  She winced at the irony of the situation. “Unfortunately, you’re eager to get rid of me, so that wouldn’t do them any good.”

  He stared at her and then ran his fingers through his hair. “Of course I would care.”

  “Would you?” she asked softly.

  At the sound of her whisper, his gaze met hers. Time was suspended for a long moment, and it felt like the past two months, when he had been in love with her.

  And then that moment was gone, blinked away in an instant.

  “Come on,” he said. “We’ll walk together.”

  She stayed as far from him as the steps would allow. There were times when she could have used an extra hand with a relatively tall step, but she gritted her teeth and did it all by herself.

  Samir didn’t love her. He couldn’t wait to get rid of her. And she had to start getting used to helping herself instead of counting on a man to solve her problems.

  24r />
  That little incident with the men at Aït Ben Haddou shook Samir more than he cared to admit. When he realized Reese wasn’t anywhere near him, he panicked. Then he heard her cry out, and his blood ran cold. Seeing the grip marks on her arms drove home the fact that she was as vulnerable to attacks as he was.

  Axel talked about assigning Jason to her, but the truth of the matter was, she would be safer if they lodged together on this so-called honeymoon.

  Of course, that would be intolerable. They would just have to be vigilant.

  He saw red. If anything were to happen to her—

  Samir closed his eyes. Why was he acting as though he still had a say in her life? And why did he still care about whether or not she was safe?

  As they slid into the limo, he knew the answer.

  He still cared deeply about her.

  But his pride wouldn’t let him admit it. He didn’t want her to hurt him again. So he continued building a shell around his heart.

  From Aït Ben Haddou, they traveled on. Samir explained, “We’re heading to the Sahara desert, where we’ll stay in a Bedouin camp. Does that interest you?”

  Her eyes glowed with happiness as she raised them to his. “Oh, yes. I would love that.”

  He was transfixed with the light that shone from within her. He turned his gaze away to remind himself that it was foolish to trust her once again, or to even express hope for a future with her.

  Meanwhile, he could still make sure she was safe. Until they went their separate ways.

  The miles stretched on as the limo took to the roads of Morocco. He imagined Reese looking at the traditional homesteads of his people still living with wells and little houses, camels tethered at oases.

  “The Bedouin live deep in the Sahara,” he said. “We’re approaching lodging for us here, and then at sunset, we will travel by camel to join some people I know, time-permitting.”

  She nodded, watching the passing scenery. “You have a beautiful country.”

  “Thank you. We do. Progress doesn’t come easily, however.”

  “It’s fine.” Her eyes swept the plains. “That’s what I love about this place. You’ve been able to preserve your way of life. In America, having stretches of land like this wouldn’t fly. Someone is always trying to put some modern building on it.”

  His eyes followed her gaze. “Water does seem to be a limiting factor here for those who live on the land. There will never be huge development because of the water restrictions. Unless you have oil like Dubai. They have certainly not let the lack of water stop them.”

  “Ah, yes. Dubai. True. I’ve been both places, and personally, I like Morocco.”

  He was pleased with her words, and he hid a smile as he turned to his window.

  The owners of their lodging, a walled-off riad at the edge of the Sahara, made a big fuss over their arrival. Short of having an orchestra perform for them, they laid out the red carpet. Literally. Samir escorted Reese on the carpet, and they were shown their bedroom.

  With one bed. In a suite without another bed or major piece of furniture. He wasn’t about to ask for a rollaway.

  It was slightly problematic but not at all odd, considering the newly crowned king was visiting with his wife on their honeymoon.

  Perhaps Samir would have to seek shelter in the camel pen he noticed in the back.

  Reese came into the bedroom too, a dismayed expression on her face. “The bed looks big enough that we could put pillows between us.”

  At one time, he’d have teased her about that. The ridiculousness of their situation struck him. As did the pain of how they’d gotten there.

  But he resolved that he would stay strong. For the sake of his kingdom. Even if this woman seemed to be the opposite of what Axel’s research had exposed.

  “Will we be going to dinner?” she asked.

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  “Then I’ll shower first.”

  She went into the bathroom, and soon the sound of the shower water hitting the walls resonated loud in his ears. Samir busied himself laying out his clothes for the camel ride and stretched out on the bed. His eyes felt droopy and heavy, and all he wanted to do was take a nap on this hot afternoon.

  25

  Reese came out of the shower with trepidation. She didn’t know what kind of reception she would get from Samir. Would he act awkwardly once again? Or would they feel the tug of attraction and fall into a kiss?

  He was asleep on the bed.

  She blew out her bangs. All that angst for nothing. And then she stared freely at him.

  Like a weary god, chiseled out of granite and blessed with beauty. In a past life, she would have been able to climb in bed and snuggle him.

  She shook herself of her fanciful thoughts. That past was gone, replaced with a matter-of-fact future that didn’t bind them together.

  Heading back to the bathroom, she blew-dry her hair until it was shiny and silky and she felt like herself again. She wore the turquoise dress she’d worn at Port Eggai, the one he seemed to like a lot.

  She wondered why she was still trying to catch his eye.

  Disgusted with herself, she walked into the room, thinking he would wake. But no, he lay there like a rock, out cold.

  Come to think of it, a nap would feel good.

  She would stay as far away from him as possible and nap between the sheets. That way, there wasn’t a chance of her rolling toward him and snuggling him, of all things.

  A memory flashed in her mind. Snuggling him at his friend’s observatory in Eggai on a blanket as they lay out to watch stars shooting through the night sky.

  She buried that thought and went over to the bed. She peeled back the covers and climbed in. As she lay there drowsily, she glanced at his sleeping face turned her way. In sleep, he looked so sweet. Unworried. Untouched by their odd relationship right now.

  Sighing, she burrowed her head into the pillow and fell asleep.

  In her sleep, she dreamed of Quinn. They were children again, and she followed him through an abandoned warehouse in a questionable district.

  “Wait up,” she said, for her legs were too short to keep up with him.

  “Hurry,” Quinn said, and as though to prove his point, he walked even faster.

  She couldn’t keep up, even if she wanted to. She called his name, but he didn’t turn. Soon, she couldn’t see him anymore.

  From the shadows, two men came out, each grabbing her by the arm. She was little then, and one of them could easily carry her off. As the two men held on to her, she screamed. Except it was a quiet scream, one that no one else but Reese could hear.

  At least, she thought it was quiet. Quinn appeared around the corner, confronting the men. They wouldn’t let her go, though, and the circulation in her arms was slowly getting cut off.

  But with Quinn arriving, they were distracted enough to loosen their grip on her arms. She pushed against one and fell against the other, knocking him back into an empty drum.

  Quinn was guiding her now, over some beams, over debris, over an oil-slick puddle, and into a street with more people.

  “That’s why you should always keep up, understand?” Quinn said, his mouth twisting with anger.

  Reese nodded. Quinn was always right.

  “I’m hungry,” she said.

  “Who cares?” Quinn said.

  “Stop joking.”

  Quinn’s eyes were dead. “I’m not. We have no money. But tell you what…you can help me get some money. See that nice-looking couple over there? You run into them and fall. While they’re helping you, I’ll take their money.”

  “No,” Reese said. “No, Quinn.”

  Quinn’s expression darkened, and then she was looking into Samir’s eyes.

  She woke with a start, gasping for breath as she reached out to ward off Quinn/Samir.

  “No,” Reese said. “No!”

  “Hush, darling,” a man’s voice said close to her ear. “It’s me, Samir.”

  It was dark in th
e bedroom, but she could make out his anxious expression as she became aware of him holding her in his arms. She was all tangled up in the sheets, and Samir held her close, stroking her back. It felt good; it felt natural.

  Samir brushed her hair away from her face. Gently. Lovingly.

  Was she still dreaming?

  If she was, she didn’t want to wake up. She wanted him to continue holding her forever and never let her go.

  Just as that thought formed, his expression shuttered, and he let her go, scooting far enough away to be respectable.

  “You had a bad dream,” he said.

  “Yes, I did.” She rolled her face into her pillow.

  “They just called for dinner. Are you hungry?”

  Frankly, she just wanted to stay in that spot forever. Where he could hold her and she could make sense of her dream. The thought of Quinn getting out of jail also worried her. She wondered how he was doing. She wasn’t such a heartless sister she couldn’t spare him a thought.

  Samir rolled off the bed, sitting up, and Reese gazed at his back, at his straight posture, carrying the weight of this country on his shoulders. Her heart went out to him. Of course he would want a wife of impeccable pedigree. Not one who had lived all her life scamming from person to person, not someone who had seen hunger in all its forms and vowed—but failed—to live better than what she saw.

  Reese got up too and brushed her hair. And then she followed Samir out to the commons where the owner had been very busy. He’d set up a musical number and also a feast fit for a king.

  Shy around Samir, Reese sat across from him at the table.

  “You get dreams often?” he asked, his eyes full of curiosity.

  “Yes,” she said.

  He picked up a flatbread of khobz and ate it with a chicken stew. There were several tajine cookware too, cone-shaped covers on platters. Through the holes on the top, she could smell the food’s fragrance. The stew was delicious and complemented their vegetable couscous in the tagine well.

  “I used to hate to fall asleep,” she said, dipping her bread in the stew to mop it up. “I didn’t like my dreams. They scared me.”