by The Sheikh
“Your time will come. Once I am engaged, Father will turn his sights to you.”
“I suspect he already has,” Murat said grimly.
“And after all this time, no one has caught your eye?”
His older brother grinned. “Many have caught my eye. None has held my attention.”
“What of—”
Murat cut him off with a glare. “Do not say her name.”
“It’s been nearly ten years.”
“I do not care if it has been twelve centuries. Her name is not to be spoken.”
Jefri sipped his drink, but didn’t speak. So even after all this time, his brother still did not want to hear Daphne’s name. Interesting.
But his amusement faded as the ramifications of his brother’s reaction sank in.
Ten years after the fact Murat had not recovered from the woman who left him at the altar. Sadik and Reyhan loved their wives with a devotion that was almost embarrassing. Was it a family trait? Was he destined to love only one woman for the rest of his life? And if that was true, how could he survive while married to someone else?
Funny how destroying the Bahanian air force didn’t make Billie feel any better.
Still, it had been a good day. Jefri had held out nearly six minutes and his improved performance made her proud.
As she walked along the concrete bunker-style corridor on her way from the training center at the airport, she calculated how much longer was left on the training contract. While company personnel stayed to work the transition, Billie was assigned to flight training and that work would be finished in about three weeks. Nineteen days, to be exact. Not that she could decide if leaving would be a good thing or a bad thing.
On the plus side was the chance to reclaim her life. She could stop thinking about Jefri every waking moment and instead figure out what she wanted to do with herself. Was she happy? Were there other things she wanted to accomplish? Since that one fateful night, he had been her sole focus and she needed that to stop. The other plus would be an eventual decrease in pain. How nice not to have a constant ache in her chest. How nice to wake up looking forward to the day instead of dreading it.
On the negative side of things was the fact that once she left Bahania, she would never see Jefri again. At least not in person. No doubt she would see pictures in various magazines and maybe even on the news. Some cable channel would probably do a special on his wedding. Billie shook her head. She would not be watching that. Tahira was a sweet enough girl, but Billie couldn’t stand the thought of her married to Jefri.
At least Doyle was off her back. In the past few weeks he’d barely bugged her about her feelings for Jefri. In fact he’d been pretty great. Which made her wonder what was up.
“Doyle would say this was a situation he couldn’t win,” she said aloud, then grinned, when she realized he would be right. But as her brother, he didn’t have to win.
Still smiling, she turned the corner and nearly stumbled when she saw the man walking toward her.
Even in the harsh fluorescent light, he looked gorgeous. Still dressed in his flight suit and boots, striding purposefully toward her, Prince Jefri of Bahania was the epitome of male grace and power.
She came to a stop in the center of the empty corridor. There was nothing to say to him, nothing that could be resolved, yet she couldn’t seem to move. Her senses went on alert, her body trembled, her brain got fuzzy. All because he was near. If they’d been outdoors, she would have expected a couple of little birds to break into song.
He slowed as he approached, finally stopping in front of her. They stared at each other, gazes locked, bodies stiff. The air seemed to crackle with electricity. She tried to figure out something to say—something significant. In the end, she went for something easy.
“You did well today.”
He nodded. “I have learned much from you.”
“Now you’ll be able to beat the bad guys at their own game.”
“Should they attack the oil fields from the sky, we are prepared.”
He looked gaunt, she thought. As if he hadn’t been eating or sleeping. She could relate to both. Falling in love and then getting her heart broken was even better than getting the flu for losing a couple of pounds.
They were alone in the stone corridor. The tunnel-like space was so quiet, she would swear she could hear both their heartbeats.
“Are you—”
“I thought—”
They spoke at the same time. She ducked her head.
“You go,” she said.
“No. You first. Please.”
She looked at him, then wondered what she could possibly say. That she was sorry? She wasn’t. Not for anything, except the obvious of his engagement. But even knowing what she knew now, she wouldn’t not want to care. He’d touched her in a way that no man had, and that touching was about a lot more than just making love.
“I’m glad I met you,” she whispered.
His expression tightened. “As am I. You are an extraordinary woman.”
Neither of them stated the obvious. That if things had been different…But they weren’t.
“Jefri, I—”
She couldn’t say who moved first. Maybe she’d reached for him. Maybe he had taken a single step. One second they were a good arm’s length away from each other and the next they were in each other’s arms, holding, pressing, kissing.
His mouth found hers, even as his arms wrapped around her body and drew her close. She went willingly, wishing she could climb inside and be a part of him forever. She wanted to feel his heat, his strength. She wanted to know all of him. Even as his mouth pressed against hers and she rediscovered the glory of kissing him, she was aware of his hard body, so different from her own.
Everything felt right, she thought as she tilted her head and parted her lips.
He claimed her instantly, sweeping inside her mouth and touching her tongue with his.
He tasted as tempting as she remembered. They moved together in a dance designed to arouse and incite. She clutched his shoulders, hanging on to keep from falling. He pressed his fingers against her back, as if afraid she would bolt.
Had she been able to speak, she would have told him she never wanted to leave.
That his arms would always be home. But to say the words meant breaking the kiss and that she couldn’t do.
She wasn’t sure how long they stood there, kissing, holding, wanting. Need built inside, but the sensation was bittersweet. Unfulfilled desire added a sharpness to her broken heart. She raised her hands to his head and tunneled her fingers through his hair.
And still they kissed—pressing, rubbing, wanting. He pulled back enough to nibble along her jaw. She sighed her pleasure as he kissed the sensitive skin on her neck. Their breathing increased until they were both nearly panting. Finally he drew back and cupped her face.
“Why do you leave me?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion.
She didn’t ask how he knew she would go. She supposed there were those who would say, “Stay. See each other on the side. No one has to know.” But that wasn’t them.
“You have a life here and I belong somewhere else.”
“The skies?” he asked.
“Pretty much.”
He brushed his thumbs against her cheeks, wiping away tears she hadn’t felt fall. Emotions filled his dark eyes.
“I love you, Billie,” he said quietly. “With my heart and my soul. You have my heart in your possession. Treat it kindly.”
She’d hoped he would admit he cared, but she’d never expected this. Tears flowed faster.
“I love you, too. More than anything.” She sniffed, then stepped back and wiped her face. “This is so stupid.”
“Our feelings?”
She laughed. “No. Me crying. For the first time in my life, a man is telling me he loves me and all I can do is cry.”
“I am touched by your tears. You are not a woman who cries often.”
That was true. “I try
to save them for special occasions.”
“Like this.”
“I’ve never had an occasion like this.”
She’d always thought that when she fell in love and that man loved her back, things would be happier than they were right now.
He moved close and kissed her.
“You are magic,” he said. “I never expected to find someone like you. Not now.”
Not while he was engaged.
His mouth twisted. He stepped back and clenched his hands into fists. “This is madness. I will go to her and tell her it is impossible. You are the one I want to be with. Not that child.”
The words were exquisite torture, she thought, as the weight of the pain nearly drove her to her knees. That he would offer to do that for her.
She looked at him. More than offer, she thought. He meant it.
“You can’t,” she said, forcing herself to speak the truth while she still had the strength. “She loves you.”
“She doesn’t know what love is.”
“Perhaps, but she cares as much as she can.”
He dismissed her with a wave. Billie grabbed his arm.
“I’ve been spending time with her,” she said. “You are all she speaks about.
Every thought she has, everything she does is for you. She speaks about having your children, growing old with you. She talks about her duty to your country.”
She released him and ducked her head.
“I’ve tried to convince her otherwise,” she admitted. “Just little hints that she could have a different life if she wanted. A career. Freedom to travel. Meet other men.” She squared her shoulders and forced herself to look at him. “I’m not proud of that, but I did it.”
He pulled her close and kissed her. “I’m sure you were kindness itself.”
“I was selfish. But the point is, Tahira was never interested. You’re her world.
You gave your word and we both have to respect that.”
“So the three of us are destined to unhappy lives?”
She didn’t want to think of that. “In time,” she began.
He released her. “In time what? I’ll grow to love her? Knowing how I feel about you, do you believe I could love Tahira? Are there two women more different?”
“You have to try.”
“I see. And what about you? Will you go look for another man?”
Eventually, she thought. “I’ll have to. I want a husband and a family.”
Jefri turned away. She felt his pain because it was her own.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
He shook his head. “No. You are wise. I am the fool. I wish for what I cannot have and refuse to accept anything less.”
He turned back to her and reached into his pocket. “I have something for you. I have been carrying it around for a long time, not sure if I should give it to you. If you would accept.”
He pulled out a wide, intricately carved gold bracelet. Different precious gems added to the pattern.
“They are very old and very rare. This one dates back to the early nine hundreds.”
She took the stunning bracelet and turned it over in her hands. “There’s no way to get it open.”
He smiled. “That is part of the appeal. This is a version of a slave bracelet.
The unlocking mechanism is hidden in the design. Some were made for the women in the harem. That way if they escaped, the bracelet marked them as a possession of the king. Others, like these, were made for the woman who possessed the king’s heart. They offered protection, a free right of passage anywhere in the country.
Those who aided her were rewarded.”
He reached into his pocket again and held out a tiny key dangling from a delicate gold chain. “You see where the diamonds surround the sapphire?”
She found the spot on the bracelet and nodded.
“The key fits there. If you choose to wear the bracelet, know that you will always have a place to call home here. When you are ready, remove it.”
She knew what he meant. When she loved another, she could take off the bracelet as a symbol of letting go.
Billie traced the wide gold band. The diamonds, sapphires and rubies glinted in the harsh lighting. There was so much history in this single piece of jewelry.
So much beauty.
“This should be on display in a museum,” she said.
“I would prefer you to wear it.”
She held out the band and he unlocked it. She slipped her wrist inside and snapped it closed. The cool metal fit perfectly.
Jefri slipped the chain over her head and she tucked the key under her blouse.
“Know you are protected,” he said. “That if you become lost, all you have to do is ask and you will be directed to me. Whatever happens, wherever you go, there will always be a safe place for you here. When I am gone, my heirs will honor the promise of the bracelet until the day you draw your last.”
He spoke the words as if they were a prayer…or a vow. They filled her heart with love and made her ache.
She took his hand in hers and leaned against him. “Maybe I’m not strong enough to do this. Maybe I want us to run away together and say the hell with the rest of the world.”
He touched her lips with his fingertips. “You need only speak the words.”
She glanced at the bracelet, then into his face. He meant it, she thought with amazement. If she asked him to go away with her, he would. He would turn his back on everything for her. The realization humbled her.
It was all there, she thought. Just out of reach. She only had to grab for what she wanted and it would be hers. But at what price? How many people would be hurt or disappointed? Not just Tahira. What about Jefri’s family? How long would he be content to be estranged from them? He was a prince and a sheik. He could trace his lineage back over a thousand years.
“Speak the words,” he repeated.
She drew in a breath for courage. “No.”
Sadness darkened his eyes. “Are you sure?”
She wasn’t, but she nodded because it was the right thing to do.
“Please take me back to the palace,” she whispered. “I’m going to need a long bath and a lot of chocolate to get through the rest of the day.”
He kissed her. “I will love you forever.”
“I’ll love you just as long.”
They drove back to the palace in the back of a limo. Billie snuggled close, resting her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes against the sights of the city she had come to love, knowing that her days there were dwindling. She could feel the weight of the bracelet on her wrist and wondered how long it would be before she was willing to take it off.
She had a vision of herself as a very old lady, showing up at the palace and demanding refuge. Somehow she knew that a handsome young prince would appear. He would speak gently, telling her of his father’s death and how Jefri had loved her to the end. Then she would be taken to a pretty room where she would live out her last.
It all sounded romantic, she thought. But in reality, it sucked. Besides, she wanted to spend her last days surrounded by a large, loud family, not alone in a foreign country where no one knew her.
So in time, she would have to find the courage to put her love aside and go out and make a place for herself. There were good men out there. Men who could make her happy.
Or maybe she didn’t need a man. Maybe she could start adopting kids and make a family that way. She had a lot to offer—a big heart and plenty of love. She could buy a house somewhere and settle down. As long as she was near an airport.
The limo slowed. She opened her eyes and saw they’d entered the palace grounds.
Several guards approached the limo and motioned for the driver to stop. The rear door jerked open.
“Oh. Prince Jefri,” the guard said. “My apologies. I’m under orders to search every vehicle.”
Jefri stepped out. “What is going on?”
Billie followed him. There were dozens of
guards everywhere. Up at the entrance to the palace, she saw the king talking with someone. It didn’t look like a happy conversation.
“This can’t be good,” she said.
“I agree.”
Jefri took her hand and led her toward his father. As they approached, the king dismissed the other man and turned to them.
“You are here at last,” the old man said, looking both angry and worried.
“What has happened?” Jefri asked.
“Tahira is missing, and so is Doyle Van Horn.”
Chapter 15
Jefri followed his father into a private room off the entrance. It wasn’t until he saw the king glance down that he realized he and Billie were still holding hands.
“When was Tahira last seen?” he asked, not concerned with what anyone might think, including the king.
Billie touched his arm. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I know Doyle won’t hurt her.”
“Do not be concerned. I trust your brother as well.” He turned his attention back to his father. “Are you sure they are together? Did they leave a note?”
“Tahira did.” The king handed over a scrap of paper. “I cannot believe she has done this. Run away. Of all the ungrateful, disloyal actions…”
The king continued to rant, but Jefri ignored him. Instead he read the few lines Tahira had scrawled.
“I can’t do this,” she had written. “Prince Jefri, I apologize for dishonoring you in this way, but I must escape. Please try not to hate me.”
Hate her? He shook his head. Hatred would require a depth of emotion he did not possess.
“She doesn’t say anything about Doyle,” Billie murmured. “Maybe he’s not with her.”
“They are together,” the king said. “She has shown a particular attachment to him. I did not mention anything because I thought it was a friendship, nothing more.” He glowered. “Young women cannot be trusted.”
Billie released Jefri’s fingers and tucked her arm—the one with the bracelet—behind her.
“Are you saying they had a romance?” Billie asked, sounding surprised.
“I am not sure how far things have gone. If he has defiled her…”
Billie paled. Jefri touched her arm.
