Prince Nadir's Secret Heir

by Michelle Conder

  Zach didn’t waste any time on niceties. ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘Working. You look better.’

  ‘It’s amazing what a shower and a shave will do.’ Zach parked himself in the chair opposite the desk. ‘Why are you working? You’re getting married in less than two hours.’

  Nadir focused on the email he’d been trying to read. ‘Not any more. I’ve instructed Staph to send the guests home.’

  ‘I know. He came to me.’

  ‘Well, it’s good that you’re here. We need to discuss who will lead Bakaan and I’ve reconsidered my position. If you don’t want the position then I’ll be the next King.’

  ‘Big turnaround.’

  Nadir grimaced. ‘It’s amazing what can happen in a week.’

  He’d found his ex-lover and his daughter, he’d fallen in love with them both and he’d lost them both. And taking on the role of leading Bakaan into the twenty-first century would keep him busy enough so that he wouldn’t think of any of it.

  ‘Nadir, bro...?’ Zach used the kind of placatory tone he might if he was facing a band of militants with only a soup spoon to defend himself. ‘I’m not sure that’s the most important thing to discuss right now. What’s going on?’

  Nadir thought of the scene he had interrupted in Imogen’s room. Her ex-lover holding her tightly in his arms.

  At first he’d been furious, his instinct to grab hold of the smarmy buffoon and pull him off her and beat him to a pulp for daring to touch what was his. Then he’d registered that Imogen wasn’t resisting. That she was snuggled against him and that she was weeping. Sobbing, almost.

  Those tears had torn at his heart and he’d realised in a flash of unwelcome insight that he was behaving exactly as his father had done in stealing his mother from her tribal village in a fit of passion and then forcing her to bend to his will when he had taken another wife. Of course his circumstances were different from his parents, he knew that, but he also knew that the common denominator wasn’t. He was a tyrant who hadn’t given her a choice. He now had and she’d very definitely exercised it.

  He forcibly shut his emotions down. He knew it had been a mistake to let them out. They had confused things. Made him think that sex was love when the truth was that he and Imogen shared a phenomenal chemistry and a child and he cared enough about her that he couldn’t force her to do something she didn’t want to do. ‘Nothing is going on.’

  Zach looked at him. ‘Pull the other one—it has bells on it.’

  Nadir cut him a brooding glare. ‘Fine. I found Imogen in the arms of her ex-lover.’

  ‘Naked!’

  ‘No—’ he heaved a sigh ‘—she was crying.’

  Zach frowned. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because she wants to marry him, not me.’ Nadir surged to his feet in irritation and turned towards the windows. ‘How the hell should I know? Suffice it to say, she invited her ex-lover to our wedding and now they’re together.’

  Zach blew out a breath. ‘That’s rough. Why’d she do it?’

  ‘I assume because she loves him.’

  Zach nodded as if he fully agreed and then started shaking his head. ‘No, I meant why did she agree to marry you when she’s still in love with someone else?’

  ‘Does it matter?’ he asked briskly. ‘The fact is she was living with this guy in London and now she’s free to go back to him.’

  Zach nodded again. ‘Which she wants.’

  ‘Right. Now, there’s a lot to sort out. I’m hoping you want to stay on in Bakaan if you don’t take the leadership role because I’m going to need a right hand and I want that to be you.’

  ‘So, to be clear,’ Zach began, completely ignoring his attempt to change the subject, ‘she actually said that she preferred this other guy to your face.’

  Nadir swiped a hand across his jaw. ‘Can we just forget Imogen?’ A muscle knotted in his jaw. ‘She’s not relevant to this discussion.’

  ‘Sure.’ Zach eased back in his chair. ‘If you’re happy with her bonking another guy then who am I to argue?’

  Nadir slammed his portable mouse down on the desktop. ‘I told you to forget her.’

  ‘I will if you will.’

  ‘Already done.’

  ‘Nope.’ Zach glanced at his feet. ‘Must have left the bells in my rooms.’

  ‘Dammit, Zach, I gave her a choice and she chose him. You want to rub my nose in it, you can go to hell.’

  ‘Hang on a minute, buddy.’ Zach surged forward in his seat. ‘I’m not rubbing your nose in anything. I’m saying you might be wrong.’

  ‘I’m not.’

  ‘Then let me ask you this. Are you currently sleeping with her?’

  Nadir stared at him, hard. ‘You continue down this line of thinking and I can tell you it won’t end well.’

  ‘Just hear me out.’ Zach threw up his hands defensively. ‘I’m not trying to get a blow-by-blow description of your love life, I’m trying to say that I know women.’

  Nadir scoffed.

  ‘Scoff all you like, but I do, and I don’t know many that would sleep with one guy while they were in love with another.’

  Nadir eyed him coolly. ‘They’re out there.’

  ‘Okay, sure, so what you’re saying is that Imogen is one of those—’

  ‘No, she’s not. She would never play with people’s emotions like that.’

  ‘Right. So stop being a horse’s arse.’

  ‘Look, Zach, I know you’re trying to make me feel better but you don’t have to concern yourself. I’m good.’

  ‘Bro, I’m not trying to make you feel better; I’m trying to talk you down off a ledge.’

  ‘I’m not on a ledge.’ Nadir’s jaw hardened. ‘The fact is I had no choice but to let her go. I forced her to come here. I forced the idea of marriage onto her and I wouldn’t take no for an answer.’

  ‘Like the old man.’

  ‘Yeah.’ Nadir blew out a rough breath. ‘Just like the old man. Hell.’ He stared at Zach bleakly. ‘When did I turn into him?’

  ‘You didn’t.’ Zach frowned. ‘Admittedly, you’re stubborn and a little on the arrogant side but you don’t take advantage of people and you’d never step on someone else for your own gain.’

  ‘That’s where you’re wrong.’ Nadir stared at him bleakly. ‘I stepped all over Imogen.’

  Zach shook his head. ‘I doubt that’s true but if you did then go apologise and make nice. Tell her how you feel. See what happens.’

  The thought of that made Nadir’s gut pitch. He never told anyone how he felt. It was easier and no one got hurt that way. Least of all him. ‘Hell. I love her.’

  ‘You think?’

  Nadir shook his head. ‘I know you think you’re pretty clever but frankly I wouldn’t wish this sick feeling in my gut on anyone.’

  ‘I would love to care for a woman as much as you do yours. Instead, I have to figure out how to stop myself from being shackled to a living, breathing fire-eater who would as soon run me through with a kanjhar than look at me.’

  Nadir had forgotten all about Farah Hajjar. ‘I doubt her father will push it. He hates our family.’

  ‘It’s fine. I can deal with Farah and her insane old man. You just do us both a favour and go get your woman.’

  ‘Prince Zachim!’ Both men looked up as Staph knocked and shot through the door like a rocket, his breath heaving. ‘You need to come quick. The woman you put in the harem has disappeared.’

  ‘Disappeared?’ Zach frowned. ‘That’s impossible. I’ve put an experienced guard on the door.’

  ‘Yes, My Lord. He can’t find her.’

  Zachim rattled off a string of curse words Nadir hadn’t heard in a long while. He smiled and came around the desk. ‘I’d love to stay and help but...’
/>
  His words faded as Zach, his mind already on the disaster that awaited him, strode out of the room.

  Nadir headed for the door himself and stopped. ‘Staph?’

  ‘Yes, My Lord?’

  ‘What did you tell the wedding guests who have already arrived?’

  ‘Nothing, My Lord.’

  Nadir gave him a faint smile. ‘You’re a sly old dog, Staph. I hope your faith in me isn’t misplaced.’

  ‘I would say not, My Lord.’

  ‘And Imogen and my daughter?’ He cleared his throat. ‘Where are they?’

  ‘In your suite.’

  * * *

  Imogen sorted out what she would need for Nadeena for the plane trip back to London and searched around for some sort of bag to put it into. Nadir had luggage in his dressing room but no way was she going back into his bedroom ever again.

  What he had said to her before...she still couldn’t digest it because it felt as if he’d ripped a hole in her heart and inserted a stick of dynamite for good measure.

  The only thing she was thankful for was that her daughter would never know how it felt to have an absent father because she would be used to having him part-time in her life and Imogen only hoped he would be good to her when he had her. That he wouldn’t have a string of stick-thin models parading through his house who— Oh, God. Imogen felt her stomach heave and leant against a chest of drawers to steady herself.

  It was so ridiculous to feel like this because she had known all along that once the reality of marriage and parenthood set in then he would run a mile and she’d been proven right. And the prize? She shook her head at her reflection in the mirror. Her prize was a broken heart the size of Asia.

  ‘Imogen? Habibi? Are you all right?’

  Imogen swung around at the sound of his voice, fire pouring out of her eyes. ‘What are you doing here?’

  He stopped short and she was thankful that she had wiped all her make-up off after her initial crying fit and dressed in her T-shirt and jeans. She intended to go home exactly the way she had arrived. Well, almost.

  ‘I needed to see you.’

  To make sure she was all right? She couldn’t fault his manners. ‘Well, now you’ve seen me, please go.’

  ‘Habibi, I—’

  ‘Do not call me habibi.’

  ‘Okay—fine.’ He held up his hands as if she were a wild thing about to pounce on him and maul him to death. What a pity, she thought, that shape-shifting was pure fantasy. ‘I know I’m the reason you’re upset and I just want to talk.’

  ‘No.’ Imogen shook her head for emphasis. ‘No more talking. I’m done here, Nadir.’

  He looked around the room and frowned when he saw the minuscule amount of clothing on the bed. The empty cot. ‘Where’s Nadeena? Isn’t she due for a sleep?’

  ‘Yes, but since we’re leaving, Minh is trying to keep her awake so that she’ll sleep on the—oh, this is not important. Could you please just go?’ The last thing she wanted to do was break down and sob in front of him and the longer he stayed the more likely that was to happen. It was too painful to see him. Too painful to be near him.

  He cleared his throat and shoved his hands into his pockets. ‘It’s probably good that we talk about him and get it out of the way.’

  ‘Talk about whom?’

  ‘Your friend, Minh.’

  ‘What about him?’

  He looked at her and his throat worked as he swallowed. ‘Do you love him?’

  Did she love him? ‘Why are you asking me that?’

  ‘Because I need to make sure I’ve done the right thing in letting you go.’

  ‘Letting me go?’ She shot him a fulminating look. ‘You told me to go. You’ve reconsidered, remember—you don’t want to marry me.’

  ‘Of course I still want to marry you. I only reconsidered the reason for our marriage.’

  Imogen shook her head. ‘You’re not making any sense. You cancelled the ceremony.’

  ‘Yes, but I didn’t want to.’

  ‘Then why do it?’

  ‘Because you told me the reason you were marrying me was because we had Nadeena and I wanted more.’

  ‘More?’

  ‘Hell.’ He swiped a hand across his face. ‘I need to start again. What I’m trying to tell you is that I love you.’

  ‘You love me?’

  Her shock must have registered on her face because his expression turned grim. ‘Yes, but if you prefer Minh then I’ll walk away.’

  ‘Nadir, Minh is gay.’

  ‘Gay!’ The look on his face was priceless and Imogen would have laughed if she hadn’t felt so ill. Had he seriously thought that Minh was her lover? Looking back, she supposed he might have got that impression initially but... ‘How could you think that I could be in love with him and make love to you?’ she demanded hotly.

  ‘As I explained to our daughter this morning, I’m an ass. Particularly where you’re concerned. I can’t seem to keep my head on straight when you’re in the room and every male who looks at you sideways is a threat.’

  ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Yes. If you knew how many ways I wanted to hurt them—’

  ‘No.’ She gazed up at him, not really daring to believe this was happening. ‘The part about loving me.’

  Nadir cupped her chin in his hand and kissed her deeply. Imogen moaned and pulled back. ‘Stop that—it will only confuse things.’

  ‘On the contrary, our physical relationship is the only thing that’s not confused. Imogen, habibi, can you ever forgive me for being so stupid this afternoon? My only excuse is that when I saw you crying in the arms of your... friend I assumed it was because you didn’t want to marry me and I couldn’t bear the thought of hurting you.’

  ‘But why would you think I didn’t want to marry you?’

  ‘Because I realised today that I’m more like my father than I would like to think I am and that I was forcing you to bend to my will and I couldn’t do it. I wanted to set you free, to give you a choice.’

  Imogen dashed at the tears on her face. ‘I thought you had decided that you didn’t want me. That I wasn’t enough for you.’

  ‘Oh, habibi, you’re too much for me. You’re too wonderful, too beautiful, too giving. I’m pretty sure I fell in love with you the minute I saw you in Paris because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since, only I didn’t want to see it because I was so afraid of getting hurt.’

  Imogen sniffed back more tears. ‘I’m guilty of the same thing and oh, Nadir, I feel exactly the same way. I fell in love with you the minute I saw you and I’ve never stopped. I love you so much it hurts.’ Elation rushed through her until she thought she might burst. ‘Pinch me—I can’t quite believe this is happening.’

  ‘Believe it,’ he growled, pulling her in close against him. ‘And mark my words when I tell you that there will be no more misunderstandings between us. No more worrying about how the other person feels. You know that I love you. That I will always love you and whatever children we have. Tell me you believe me.’

  ‘I believe you.’ She grinned up at him. ‘And not just because you command it to be so.’ And then she turned serious because she knew she had to be just as open with him. ‘I think part of the blame for today lies with me, though, because in my own way I saw what I expected to see and I didn’t fight for you. I didn’t fight for us. I won’t do that again. I won’t doubt either one of us again.’

  ‘And I will never give you a reason to. Now, please, habibi, if you wouldn’t mind giving me this?’ He took her ring from her finger.

  Then he got down on bended knee and Imogen didn’t think she could love him more but, before he could ask her the question she knew he was about to, there was a noise in the doorway and she looked up to find Minh standin
g there with Nadeena, his eyes as big as saucers as he took in the scene.

  ‘Ah, I think we’ll come back.’

  ‘No.’ Nadir rose and swiftly crossed the room. ‘I know we haven’t formally met but I am Nadir Zaman Al-Darkhan and I would like my daughter, please.’

  ‘Oh, right.’ Minh blinked up at Nadir and Imogen thought he might swoon.

  Then Nadir was in front of her again and taking up all her attention. He handed her Nadeena and then got down on one knee again. ‘I’m glad our daughter is here because I want her to witness how a man should behave when he’s in love with a woman so she will be in no doubt as to what to expect from a man in the future.’

  ‘Oh, Nadir—’ Imogen’s nose tingled as tears formed in her eyes ‘—I love you so much.’

  Nadeena clapped her hands and tried to reach for the ring Nadir held up but he shook his head. ‘Sorry, habibti, this is for your mother.’ Then he lifted his blue-grey gaze to hers. ‘Imogen Reid Benson, will you please do me the honour of becoming my wife later this afternoon?’

  ‘This afternoon!’

  ‘Yes. Apparently there is a room full of guests waiting for us.’

  ‘But I’m not ready!’

  Nadir gave her a wry smile. ‘Can I take that as a yes?’

  ‘Yes, oh, yes. Most definitely yes!’ She pulled him to his feet and stepped into his arms, where Nadeena promptly laid her head against his broad chest. Seeing it, Imogen did the same and Nadir cupped the nape of her neck and lifted her mouth to his.

  ‘I think I need a tissue.’

  Having forgotten all about Minh in the doorway, Imogen beamed him a wide smile. ‘I’m getting married.’

  Nadir brought her mouth back to his for one last searing kiss. ‘Yes, you are. In an hour. And you should know that I’ve told Zach that I intend to become King if he doesn’t want the position.’

  Imogen smiled and finally felt that everything was as it should be in the world. ‘He won’t. You were born to be King, Nadir.’ She reached up and ran her hand across his stubbled jaw, her eyes full of the love she felt for him. The love she would always feel for him. ‘You were born to be my King.’

  Nadir’s smile was slow and sexy. ‘A king who will be at your service. Always.’