The Sheikh and the Bought Bride

by Susan Mallery

  “Yusra has a sense of humor,” he murmured, knowing the old woman wasn’t the least bit subtle. She wanted him to consider Victoria as more than a temporary fixture in the palace.

  “You think?” Victoria turned so he could see the sheer fabric in back, making her rear completely visible. “I’m not comfortable with the whole world seeing my butt.”

  She was close enough to naked that his body reacted predictably. He tried telling himself it was because he hadn’t been with a woman in so long. Except he had…just last week. And the wanting wasn’t about biological need—it was about being with Victoria again. Touching her and tasting her. Pleasing her and being pleased.

  He moved behind his desk so his condition was not obvious.

  “How did you get here?” he asked. “Or is palace staff different than the entire village?”

  “I have a cloak. Desert fashion seems very cloak oriented. This one is beautiful. The beading matches. Shoes were a problem.” She held out a foot, showing him her high-heeled sandals.

  He glanced at them, then wished he hadn’t when his gaze traveled up her bent leg to her thigh. He quickly looked at the report on his desk.

  “You are not expected to wear that to the nominating ceremony,” he said, thinking no one would pay attention to the elders if she did. “Regular clothes are fine. In fact you don’t have to attend at all.”

  “I thought it might be interesting. I’ve never been to one. But if you don’t want me there, that’s fine. I heard the camel is in and I’m hoping he brought my new issue of People magazine.”

  There was something about the way she spoke, as if she were protecting herself from something. “Do you want to attend?” he asked.

  She shrugged.

  “Victoria?”

  She sighed. “Look, I’m lonely, okay? No one talks to me but you and Yusra. I know Rasha and she’s really nice, but she has a job. I’m working on the business plan, which is harder to do in real life than in a college class, and I’m making great progress, but that only fills eight or ten hours a day. I have nothing to do. Everything is done for me. It’s boring.”

  “I thought you wanted a life of leisure.”

  “Do not go there again,” she said, and put her hands on her hips.

  The action wasn’t the least bit intimidating. Not only because she was more kitten than tiger, but because it would be difficult to take anyone seriously in that costume.

  “I wanted security, not days of lying around eating bonbons. I’ve worked my whole life. I’m used to doing things. Seeing people. I need to be useful.”

  She raised her chin as she spoke, as if daring him to dismiss her words.

  “What would you like to do?” he asked instead.

  “Well, it depends. Assuming I’m not pregnant, I’ll be gone in a couple of weeks. Getting the proposal together for Rasha should be enough. But if I have to stay here longer, I was thinking about maybe trying to catalogue the art in the palace. There are plenty of books in the library to help and we could call in an expert if I got stuck.”

  She continued to surprise him. Perhaps a case could be made that was a good thing. “We will discuss it when the time comes,” he told her. “Now if you wish to attend the ceremony, you will need to change.”

  She glanced down at herself and smiled. “Only if you’re sure.”

  He would prefer her in nothing, but that wasn’t possible. He’d vowed he would not take her again. But right now, the reasons for that promise didn’t seem at all clear.

  “Go change,” he told her. “You have an hour. If you are late…”

  She’d already started for the door. “I know, I know. Insert royal threat here. I’ll be ready.”

  She waved and was gone, so she wasn’t in the room to see him smile.

  Victoria scanned her wardrobe, not sure what was appropriate for a formal ceremony. She went with a simple dress that was very classically elegant. Pale blue fabric, wide belt, boat neck, matching heels that had taken her weeks to find and a white leather clutch.

  She put her hair up, added nearly real pearl earrings and a thin gold chain bracelet. She walked into the foyer of the palace with five minutes to spare.

  Kateb stood talking to several old men. The elders, she would guess. He looked good—very princelike, despite his simple clothes. It didn’t seem to matter what he was doing—he always appeared royal. Was it in the blood or the result of years of training?

  She studied his profile. The side with the scar was to her, but the slight twisting of his face no longer bothered her. The scar was a part of him, a reminder of a difficult time. Nothing more.

  She waited off to the side, watching him. She hadn’t meant to admit she was lonely—the words had just slipped out. Yusra was friendly enough, but even she kept her distance. There was no one to just hang with and the person Victoria knew best—namely Kateb—had made it clear he didn’t think much of her. It did not make for a fun day.

  Nearly as bad was that she wanted to be with him again. Be with in a man-woman kind of way. She wanted to kiss him and touch him and make love until they were both breathless. Not that he was interested. Irrational blame seemed to be even more effective than a cold shower.

  He looked up and saw her, then gestured her over.

  “Very nice,” he murmured as she approached. “And no one can see your butt.”

  She smiled.

  He introduced her to the other men. Their names blurred. Then they were all walking out to the front of the palace where several Land Rovers were parked.

  “We’re driving somewhere?” she asked as Kateb held open the rear door for her. A man was already behind the wheel.

  “It isn’t far. The nominating ceremony takes place in the arena.”

  Who knew? “What kind of arena? Big sports facility where they hold trade shows or more stone and Rome Colosseum?”

  He sat next to her and closed the door. “The latter.”

  “I can’t wait to see it.”

  The Land Rover began to move through the village. There were very few people on the street. Those who were waved at the vehicle. A few tossed flowers toward the hood.

  “So you’re going to be nominated,” she said. “Does the king know?”

  “I spoke to my father this morning. He is not happy.”

  Not a surprise, she thought. Kateb was in line for the El Deharian throne. If he accepted the nomination, he would be abdicating his inheritance, in essence turning his back on his heritage. It wasn’t something to be done lightly.

  “Did you explain this is what you really wanted?” she asked.

  He glanced at her. “The king is not interested in what I want.”

  “He’s disappointed. I’m sure he sees your decision as a rejection of him and what he has to offer. Gee, the throne of El Deharia isn’t good enough. That kind of thing. But in his heart, he wants you to be happy. You’re his son.”

  “Your father isn’t interested in what makes you happy.”

  “I know.” Her presence here was proof of that. “But he’s not like other fathers. His heart belongs to the cards, not to any one person. The king loves you.” She touched his arm. “He’ll get over it.”

  “You sound very sure.”

  “I am. I’ve heard him speak of you. There is so much pride and love in his voice. This will get better.”

  He squared his shoulders and faced front. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  She noticed her hand was still on his arm and she pulled it back.

  Tension seemed to fill the space. Victoria decided a quick change in subject might help.

  “Once you’re in charge, are you going to make any big changes? Bring in a mall? A couple of chain restaurants?”

  One corner of his mouth twitched. “I had not planned to.”

  “What about the harem? Keeping that open? You could have your own bevy of beauties calling your name.”

  “One woman is plenty. Any man who seeks more is a fool.”r />
  “Right,” she whispered, suddenly deflated.

  One woman. A wife. Because Kateb would marry someone and have a family.

  It made sense. He would want children—probably sons, but maybe daughters, too. It was the circle of life. He probably had to marry to keep his people happy. Good for him. She would be long gone, back in the States, content in her world.

  They’d barely been in each other’s company two weeks. It wasn’t as if they were friends or anything. She wouldn’t miss him. It would be foolish to think she would. Or that he would remember her. Once she was gone, it would be over. Forever.

  They arrived at the arena. It was larger than Victoria had imagined, tall and open, with dozens of rows of seats circling a surprisingly large space. An awning shaded the front. As she climbed out of the Land Rover, she could hear the roar of an unseen crowd.

  “How many people will be here?” she asked.

  “Nearly the entire village,” Kateb told her.

  He put his hand on the small of her back and guided her through the people milling by the entrance.

  Someone jostled her and she nearly lost her footing in her high heels. Kateb reached for her hand and drew her close.

  She knew he was only being polite—making sure she didn’t get hurt. But she sort of liked her fingers laced with his. It felt right.

  They walked around the inside of the stadium, under the seating. Up ahead she saw large wooden double doors with guards.

  “Is that where they keep the lions who rip apart the unruly prisoners?” she asked.

  “Only on even days. You’re safe.”

  The humor was unexpected. She glanced at him and smiled. He smiled back. Warmth seemed to blossom inside of her, making her feel kind of melty and feminine. If only he would kiss her.

  Afraid he would know what she was thinking, she quickly looked away.

  “So, um, what happens now?” she asked as they approached the doors.

  “Yusra will stay with you through the ceremony. When it’s finished you’ll be escorted back to the palace. I have assigned two guards to you because there is a large crowd. Don’t make a fuss about it.”

  She paused in front of the double doors. “A fuss? Me? Have we met? Because I’m very easygoing.”

  “Of course you are.”

  The double doors opened. She and Kateb walked into a large room filled with thirty or forty people, mostly of them older and male.

  The elders, she thought, looking around and feeling a little nervous. Most everyone turned to look her way. Or maybe they were staring at Kateb, she told herself. He was going to be nominated today, not her.

  The room itself had food and drinks set up on tables pushed against the wall, and lots of comfortable sofas, not that anyone was sitting. As she watched, a couple of guys started unlocking big doors, then sliding them along the track. The room opened up to the floor of the arena.

  Victoria spotted Yusra, who came over.

  “Stay with her,” Kateb instructed.

  “Where are my guards?” Victoria asked.

  “Staying out of the way. When it’s time for you to go back to the palace, they’ll be going with you.”

  She stared into his dark eyes, not sure what to say. “Good luck” seemed weird and “Have a nice nomination” was stupid. Before she could settle on something else, he moved away.

  “Come,” Yusra said, taking her by the arm and leading her to a sofa on the side. “We will have an excellent view here and stay out of the way.”

  Victoria’s instinctive protest was that maybe she wanted to get in the way, but she held it in. The elders had lined up, with Kateb at the rear. Everyone looked solemn, as if this was a great occasion. Then she heard music and the arena went silent.

  “It is the procession of the elders,” Yusra whispered. “They will file out and present themselves. The oldest will call for a leader to be nominated.”

  “I didn’t know there’d be a band,” Victoria said.

  Yusra smiled. “We enjoy music.”

  “It’s nice.”

  The men filed out, leaving behind a few big guys she assumed were guards. Yusra had been correct—they could see everything from where they sat.

  The men approached a podium she hadn’t noticed before. One of them, walking slowly and leaning on a cane, approached. He raised one hand and the music was still.

  “Good people of the desert, we, your elders, come before you.”

  He spoke about the importance of wisdom and how the village had been prosperous. Then he mentioned Bahjat, the previous leader, and how fortunate they had been to know him.

  Yusra leaned close. “They will nominate Kateb now.”

  Victoria turned her head so she could speak into the other woman’s ear. “By the way, he said that outfit you left for me wasn’t exactly traditional.”

  “I am surprised.”

  “Like I believe that. Did you really expect me to wear that here? I don’t think the old guys want to be looking at my butt.”

  Yusra chuckled. “Or perhaps they would like it too much.”

  Victoria didn’t want to think about that. “What did you think you were doing, sending me in there dressed like that?”

  “I wanted Kateb to know what he was missing.”

  Victoria didn’t know what to say to that. Apparently Yusra had figured out Kateb wasn’t spending his nights in the harem. That he was only counting the days until he knew if Victoria was pregnant or not, so he could send her away.

  “Are you trying to trick him?” she asked.

  “I’m trying to show him that there are many possibilities,” Yusra said. “Do you object?”

  “Not exactly,” Victoria admitted. Although if she were really a self-actualized modern woman, she should care a whole lot.

  “Here it comes,” Yusra said, pointing out into the arena. “They will nominate him, then call for challengers.”

  “What are they?”

  “Someone who doesn’t agree with the elders’ decision. He can challenge Kateb to be the leader.”

  “What happens then?”

  “They fight.”

  Victoria stared at her. “As in…fight? There isn’t a vote?”

  “No. They fight with swords.”

  “Do they know it’s a new century? Swords? How do they figure out who wins?”

  Yusra looked at her. “Whoever doesn’t die.”

  “What?” Victoria stood. “They fight to the death?”

  “Yes.”

  “And Kateb knows this could happen?”

  “Of course. It is our way.”

  It is a stupid way, Victoria thought, taking her seat again.

  She stared out at Kateb. She could see the scar on his face, the regalness of his bearing. She might have made love with him but in truth, she didn’t know the man at all.

  A couple of days later, Victoria took a break from working on Rasha’s business plan. She’d been walking through the palace, trying to learn her way. Unfortunately there weren’t any you-are-here maps posted. Something they should really think about.

  She’d already explored the main floor, which was mainly public rooms, and had found that most of the second floor was used for business space. The third floor would be the private areas of the palace.

  She took the stairs rather than the elevator, mostly because she was worried about her hips and their pressing need to ever expand. Back in the city, she’d come up with a walking plan, designing circuitous routes that added plenty of extra steps to her day. Until she’d figured out where everything was, she couldn’t do that here. Of course there was always the tub in the harem bath. She could start doing laps.

  Once she reached the third floor, she paused to get her bearings. The vase across from the stairs was huge and particularly ugly. It would serve as a good reference point when she wanted to find her way down again.

  The main building of the palace was basically a square, so it didn’t matter which way she turned. As long as she staye
d on the main corridor, she would return to her starting place.

  She set off to her right, glancing in open doors. There were plenty of guest rooms, a game room complete with pool table, video games and one of those golf stations where you hit the ball into a fabric wall. At the end of the hallway, she saw double doors leading out onto the balcony.

  She opened the doors and stepped outside. It was warm, but not oppressive. There was shade from the awning above and an intricate wrought-iron balcony. The El Deharian palace had much the same feature on the living-quarters level. The balcony wrapped around the entire floor. She decided to see if this one did, too.

  She walked past many rooms, pausing when she saw one that appeared familiar. After a second, she realized it was Kateb’s room and pushed open the door.

  The space was as she remembered from that single night when she’d been brought to him. She recognized the furniture and the pile of pillows where they’d made love.

  There were signs of him everywhere. In a book left open on a table, the shirt tossed carelessly over a chair. She walked through the bedroom, both nervous about trespassing and yet interested in seeing where he slept.

  The room was large, as was the bed and the bath off to the side rivaled that in the harem…minus the swimming-pool tub. She stuck her head in the closet, only to stop and stare at the clothes he had hanging there.

  His things were neatly together. A few Western-style suits, shirts, the traditional white trousers. Shoes were lined up on a shelf. It wasn’t what he had that caught her attention, but rather what he didn’t. The closet was mostly empty, almost lonely. This was not something a man was supposed to have for himself, she thought. It was something he was supposed to share.

  Until then she hadn’t thought about Kateb’s place in all this. He had many responsibilities and now that he had been nominated as leader, there would only be more. He was trusted to help his people grow and prosper. He would be the last voice of judgment for crimes. It was a heavy burden and one he carried alone.