The Sheikh's Rebellious Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs series Book 3)

by Albany, Cara

  When they came together, he took her in his arms, crushing her body hard against himself. She saw him glance across at the tribesmen, and then he kissed her lightly on the cheek. She narrowed her eyes at him.

  "Good morning," he murmured.

  Zoe felt his heat burning against her middle. "Good morning, my sheikh," she said with a grin.

  Tariq's cheeks colored and his eyes narrowed. Was he trying to gauge whether she was being serious?

  "I like the sound of that," he replied.

  "So you should," she said. "After all, that's what you are, isn't it?"

  Zoe twisted around, looking toward the tribesmen. "Are we being watched?" she asked.

  She felt his body tighten. "I hope not," he said.

  Zoe grinned up at him. She reached up and shifted a loose lock of dark hair from his forehead. "I think we've put any doubts they might have had about us well and truly to rest," she said. "Don't you agree?"

  She saw his lips tighten into a thin line. There was a sudden unease in his eyes. She felt concern tug at her.

  Tariq released her quickly. Too quickly for her liking. He turned and looked toward the horses. "We can leave soon," he said abruptly.

  Zoe frowned and nodded. "Okay. That sounds good," she said hesitantly. Why was he being so cold? His aloof manner was starting to trouble her.

  "We'll eat before we leave," he said flatly.

  Once again Zoe could only agree with the matter-of-fact statements. She gazed at him, wondering why he was being so terse with her. "How long is the ride home?" she asked.

  Tariq looked inquisitively at her. Had she said something wrong?

  "Home?" he replied.

  "Yes. The palace? You remember? The place where we live together?" Zoe retorted.

  Tariq seemed surprised by her comeback. He sighed and nodded. "Of course. The palace," he answered. He seemed preoccupied, distant.

  "What's wrong, Tariq?" she asked hastily.

  His eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

  "Why are you acting like this?" Zoe demanded.

  He squinted at her. "Like what?"

  Zoe grunted. "As if you don't want to be seen with me?"

  Tariq's features creased with disbelief. "I don't know what you're talking about, Zoe," he said.

  He took her arm and started to lead her back toward the tent. She shook her arm, loosening his grasp. "Is it about last night?" she asked.

  Tariq halted. She saw him glance across at the tribesmen.

  "We can talk once we've had breakfast and we're on our own," he said.

  Zoe frowned. "What's there to talk about?"

  Tariq's jaw tightened revealing a growing impatience. He peered at her, and she could see he was restraining the urge to say something.

  Zoe sighed heavily. "Fine. I'm not hungry. Let's get started," she said starting toward the tent. "I'll get my things and be ready in a few minutes."

  Zoe didn't turn around to see Tariq's reaction, but she could imagine the fury that would be written on his face. Never mind. What else had she expected? He'd gotten what he wanted, and now he was obviously intent on restoring the familiar distance between them.

  The sooner they got back to the palace the better.

  She thrust the tent flap open and ducked inside, drawing it closed behind her with an angry rustle.

  ****

  Tariq stood watching Zoe tug the tent flap closed behind her and tried to comprehend what had just happened. What had gotten into her? All he had been doing was trying to say good morning while being watched by the tribesmen. He hadn't wanted to stage a spectacle. Tariq had been attempting to maintain some semblance of decorum and dignity in front of the onlookers. He was a sheikh and had a duty to preserve the traditions. That meant public displays of affection were normally kept to a minimum.

  Hadn't Zoe understood that? He'd told her so the previous day. He thought she had accepted that he had to restrain himself at times like this. He thought she would have found that amusing. But, instead, they had started the day on the worst possible footing.

  Tariq glanced across at the men preparing to begin their day. He could see that the mild disagreement between himself and Zoe hadn't gone unnoticed. Eyes were being averted. No-one wanted to upset the sheikh.

  Tariq sighed. Better to let Zoe get herself ready for the trip across the desert. They had a ride of a few hours back to the palace. They could sort things out there. He'd get a chance to explain.

  Tariq strode back toward the horses and continued to prepare them for the ride home.

  Home!

  She had said that word, and her use of it had taken him by surprise. Did she really mean that? Had their passionate union of the night before changed everything?

  It had for Tariq. He knew that there was only one woman for him, and she was in that tent right now, throwing stuff into her bag, and no doubt cursing Tariq for being a total idiot.

  He smiled at that thought.

  He loved it when she was mad at him. He'd never known anyone who could be more attractive when they were really angry. But, Zoe lit up with a fierce energy every time she confronted Tariq. It was like a delightful battle, a delicious challenge that he relished. In fact, Tariq was beginning to believe that he was deliberately provoking Zoe, just because he loved jousting with her.

  Tariq tightened the saddle on Zoe's horse.

  He thought about the previous night and felt his heart race. The memory of touching Zoe, caressing her, bringing her to climax, made his body tighten. The memories of her gasps of pleasure were still ringing in his ears.

  It had been the greatest night of his life.

  Finally, he was back with her, truly together again. He'd lain with her, wrapping his arms around the only woman he'd ever loved. And now he possessed her, treasured her like no-one else.

  Tariq drew in a deep breath and gazed across the desert. She was his desert princess, the person he had always been destined to be with. He gazed up at the azure sky, feeling his soul alive with the joy of having her by his side.

  Forever.

  Their temporary marriage was about to become very permanent. Tariq felt the resolve harden inside himself. Yes. Zoe belonged to him now. He'd lost her once, and he wasn't about to lose her a second time.

  The tent flap opened, and Zoe stepped out, a small bag hanging from her shoulder. She still looked angry, still had that cute scowl on her face. Tariq grinned.

  Things were going to be very interesting when they finally got back to the palace.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Zoe was relieved when they arrived at the palace a few hours later. The ride through the hot desert had seemed interminable. And, things hadn't been helped by the silence between her and Tariq. She thought he might have tried to explain his actions back at the camp, but he hadn't even given it a shot.

  They had ridden at a steady pace, and Zoe had allowed Tariq to take charge. After all, this was his domain; he knew his way around this wilderness.

  They'd followed a westerly course throughout the morning until, eventually, she had seen the beautiful, welcome sight of the palace on the horizon. A curious sensation had risen within Zoe. It had been the same feeling she'd had when she had been younger and had been away from her parents' home for a long time.

  Homecoming.

  That was it; the sensation of returning to the place where you belonged. But, that was crazy, Zoe had said to herself. Her time at Tariq's palace was strictly limited by the agreement they'd made. As she had gazed at the distant palace, Zoe had reminded herself that she was merely a guest in Tariq's home. That wasn't her home. Hadn't his reaction to their union that very morning reaffirmed her conviction that all of this was temporary?

  They left the horses in the stables and made their way into the palace. As Tariq closed the door behind them, Zoe drew in a deep breath, savoring the coolness of the cavernous entrance hall. It was good to be away from the desert. Although she could understand it's attractions, still it was good to be back amongst
familiar comforts. It felt good to have solid ground beneath her feet, she told herself, standing at the foot of the steps that led up to their rooms.

  The servants busied themselves now that Tariq and Zoe had returned.

  Tariq gave some instructions and then turned to Zoe. "I think we both need to clean up."

  Zoe glanced down at her sand-covered robe. He was right. Sand had the nasty habit of getting into the most awkward places.

  She nodded. "A shower sounds like a great idea."

  Zoe saw Tariq's eyes light up at the mention of her standing under a torrent of cleansing warm water. She could tell what he was thinking. She felt suddenly awkward, hoping he hadn't misunderstood what she had said.

  "I better be going," she said quickly. She started up the stairs, keenly aware that he was watching her.

  Zoe made her way up the stairs. At the top she turned and looked down, expecting to see Tariq at the foot of the stairs, but he wasn't there. She felt a momentary stab of disappointment. Where had he gone?

  Zoe shrugged and made her way to her room. She paused on entering and gazed around the chamber. It felt good to be back. She eyed the bed and homely furnishings. Once again a memory tugged at her mind; it was just like returning to the home of her parents and going back to the room she had grown up in as a child. Those feelings of comforting familiarity pulled at Zoe. Had the desert done that to her? Had the harshness of that place made her yearn for the consolations of peaceful surroundings?

  Zoe got undressed. She was amazed at the sheer amount of sand which had accumulated in every corner of her body. She went to the bathroom and turned on the shower, feeling the sharpness of the cold water against her skin. It made her gasp, and she laughed out loud at the sound of her voice in the tiled bathroom.

  Setting the water to a hotter temperature, she stepped into the shower and began to clean the sand from her body. She basked in the warmth of the sharp jet of water as it purged her of the remnants of the last twenty-four hours. Her mind drifted to everything had happened. Details invaded her mind.

  The recollection of Tariq's touch made her nipples harden, caused her skin to flush even more than she would have expected from the warm water. She closed her eyes and thrust her head beneath the hot torrent, letting the rivulets of water run down her tingling skin.

  A sudden noise caught her attention. She assumed it must be the maidservant coming to assist her.

  Her eyes closed, wiping soap from her face, Zoe called out. "I'm fine for the moment. I'll be out in a while."

  There was no immediate reply. Zoe rubbed her eyes clear and peered through the haze of steam that filled the bathroom.

  Then she saw him.

  Tariq.

  Zoe gasped and instinctively covered herself, clutching her hands across her middle and her breasts. What was he doing here?

  Tariq stood a few feet away. He was naked except for a towel around his waist. His torso shone with a covering of dampness. His gaze was fixed on Zoe, an evident hunger making the dark pools of his eyes look merciless.

  Tariq took a few steps and shifted the shower's glass partition aside. He slowly undid the towel and dropped it from his waist, revealing himself. He stepped inside the shower cubicle. Zoe's gaze ran down the length of his body. She quivered, and her knees seemed to weaken. Tariq was more than ready, his firmness visible and prepared.

  Zoe's breathing quickened, and she tried to lean away from him, but her back crashed against the hardness of the marble tiles.

  Zoe reached out a hand and placed it on Tariq's chest. She trembled at the touch, feeling the heat of his body on her outstretched fingers. Tariq's eyes widened, and he glanced down at her hand. He wrapped his fingers around her hand and lifted it to his lips. He kissed her fingers, running his lips across the back of her hand and on up to her wrist and forearm.

  Every nerve in Zoe's body vibrated, and she gasped. Tariq's gaze lifted and there was an appreciative look in them, as if he knew he had just won the first battle.

  He was inches away from her now, and she looked down, seeing the strength of his desire. He exuded power in the confines of the small enclosed space. Zoe's mind was blank, her treacherous body overcoming all objections. The torrent of water engulfed both of their bodies now. She saw the streams spilling down his body, making his flesh so moist, so very tempting. Every muscle in his body seemed to stand out in bold relief.

  Then Tariq leaned in, closing the last few inches between them, his presence enclosing Zoe, enveloping her. The ravenous hunger in his gaze ignited the heat in her middle, and she knew she wasn't going to resist, had no desire to refuse the promise of pleasure. His maleness pressed against her middle, and she gasped, reaching around his body and clutching him to herself.

  Zoe heard his breath, hard and ragged, and she could tell that he was barely able to control himself. Tariq propped his arms on either side of Zoe against the hard shower walls. He peered down at her, his eyes consumed with craving. There was a roaring in Zoe's ears. The thunderous din of her pounding heart drowned out the insistent hiss of the water.

  Tariq leaned his head closer, and she felt the heat of his breath against her face. He had her trapped. She felt like an animal, transfixed and spellbound, awaiting the eager pounce of her lover, the predator.

  Tariq looked as if he wanted to devour Zoe. All the awkwardness of their journey home had vanished, replaced by the same hunger to possess her that Zoe had seen the previous night. She felt hypnotized by him, entranced by his sheer, primal presence. He pressed himself against her and dipped his head. She saw his gaze shift to her open mouth. His eyes seemed fascinated by the sight of her lips. Zoe saw Tariq's nostrils flare and heard him draw in one harsh, sharp breath, as if preparing himself for the inevitable.

  But, was it inevitable? A hard, abrupt thought intruded into her mind. She was amazed that it could even find space amongst the raging deluge of sensations that were causing every nerve in her body vibrate. But, it was insistent, forcefully demanding her attention.

  Zoe drew in a sharp breath and peered into Tariq's eyes. His head shifted as if he was about to crush his lips upon her own, but he hesitated, sensing the change in her. His eyes narrowed inquiringly. They still hadn't said a word to each other, their bodies communicating better than any words.

  She moved her hand from around his back and placed it softly against his wet chest. When she at last spoke, her voice was almost drowned out by the steady hiss of the water.

  Zoe shook her head. Tariq's brows furrowed suddenly.

  "Please, Tariq," she said quietly, her eyes filled with pleading.

  She felt him stiffen, and his body shifted imperceptibly away from her. The instinct for respect had overtaken him, had driven down the primal impulses that had brought him to her in the first place. Years of instruction, a lifetime of learning how a sheikh should treat his wife had taken hold again, forcing sense back into his mind.

  Zoe saw Tariq gasp, his shoulders sinking as if something had snapped within him.

  Zoe rested her hand against Tariq's chest. The marble tiles at her back suddenly felt hard. Tariq lifted his hands away from the wall and took a step back. A softness had overcome him now. He nodded, gazing into Zoe's eyes, understanding replacing the dark urgency of moments before.

  They stood naked before one another, acceptance of the truth looming large. Then, Tariq leaned close to Zoe and kissed her slowly and softly on the forehead, resting his lips on her skin for the briefest of moments. She was tempted to lift her head, make him understand that she was his, that her body belonged to him. But, the impulse died as quickly as it had appeared when she saw Tariq turn, step out of the shower and reach down for the towel. He stood with his back to her, and for a moment she savored the sight of what she had sacrificed, what her fatal thought had driven her to reject.

  Then he was gone, the bathroom door closing softly behind him, leaving Zoe alone to bury her head beneath the suddenly cold water.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

 
A short while later, Tariq had just finished showering and getting dressed, when Zoe burst into his room. Tariq was standing in the middle of his chamber, buttoning his white shirt. He stared at Zoe. She was wearing the same dress and flat shoes she had been wearing when they'd met at the stables. Zoe's jaw was set in a firm, determined line.

  Zoe planted her feet on the rug and folded her arms across her chest.

  "I need to get back to the city, Tariq," she announced sharply.

  Tariq stared at Zoe, confusion and surprise suddenly warring within him. "What do you mean?" Tariq replied aghast.

  "Just what I say. Can you arrange for me to be taken back to the city?" she reiterated.

  Tariq felt his mouth open, shock juddering through his body. "What are you planning to do there?" he asked.

  Zoe frowned. He could see the difficulty she was having. These words weren't coming too easily.

  Zoe hesitated and peered into Tariq's eyes. She sighed. "I need some time alone," she said. "I may stay a while."

  "What!" Tariq exclaimed.

  Zoe rolled her eyes and shifted awkwardly from side to side on the edges of her feet.

  "I can't explain it right now, Tariq. I just need some time to sort things out."

  Tariq took a step toward Zoe, but the sudden harsh look in her eyes made him pause. "Why?" Tariq pleaded. "What's brought this on?"

  Zoe sighed. "Nothing, Tariq. I just have to figure this whole crazy thing out. Maybe it was a bad idea," she said.

  Tariq wanted to go to her, seize her in his arms, demand a proper explanation, but he knew he dare not advance toward her. Zoe's entire body was rigid with tension.

  "You mean the marriage?" Tariq asked.

  Zoe nodded. "Everything. The marriage. You. Me."