by Leah Leonard
“How dare you come here tonight with your demands,” Khalil shouted as he slammed his study door behind him. “I am in charge of my affairs and they are none of your business!”
“You are in charge? Then where is your wife? Where is your new bride?”
Sighing, Khalil ran his hands through his hair. “Father, Safina is gone. She is in love with another man. ”
“What are you talking about, son?”
“We are not getting married.”
The Sheikh remained silent. He quietly stirred his tea and sipped before saying a word. “These women shall be the death of us all!”
“Indeed.”
“You have my apologies, son. This Safina is apparently a whore herself. She has disgraced her father and betrayed our lifelong commitment.”
“Agreed, father. And so, her friend has come from the United States to see her, however Safina left her alone and stranded in Ephesus while she ran away with another man. I was merely showing her around the city, offering her a meal.” He wanted to tell his father more, but now was not the time. He would say no more than necessary to satisfy the old man then get him out of his home as soon as possible.
The Sheikh poured himself another cup of tea. “I believe you are more than justified to enjoy the company of a beautiful woman. Have no fear, son. You will be avenged. I know of another family with a far younger girl who will be perfect for your marriage bed.”
“I do not want anyone else,” Khalil accidentally slipped.
The Sheikh appeared not to notice that Khalil was speaking about Kelley. “Understood. I am most admiring of the loyalty and respect you have shown to Oma, however we need an heir, son. At some point, since Oma cannot provide one and Safina is gone—”
“Oma is dying.”
The Sheikh stood still, said nothing.
“The doctors are attending her, however they have brought the gravest news. She is not expected to survive the week.”
“Why did you not call me? I should have returned from abroad straight away.”
“I was waiting for your arrival tomorrow. I have just learned of Oma’s condition. I am still unsure of how to proceed. I must tend to her, ensure her comfort and wait to see what happens.”
“We are fortunate your wedding only had a few guests.”
“Indeed. Because of Oma, I have not yet had time to inform anyone of the cancelation. I only found out about Safina this morning, and by noon the doctor warned me of Oma.”
“Do not worry, son. I shall contact the guests and tell them that for now, due to the grave illness of Oma that your wedding has been postponed.”
“Not postponed, cancelled. I shall never trust Safina again. There is no way I will ever agree to marry her now.”
“Nor should you. I believe I can find a replacement soon enough.”
Pounding his fists on the desk, Khalil shouted. “How many times must I explain? There will be no replacement!”
“In time you will think differently.”
“No I will not!”
The Sheikh threw up his hands in surrender and approached his son, and in a rare gesture of affection, placed his hand on Khalil’s shoulder. “Shall I stay?”
“No, father, please leave me in peace until Oma is gone.” Khalil wanted his father gone so he and Kelley could continue their journey together.
“Very well, I shall leave in the morning under one condition. You keep me abreast of her condition daily and when this is decided, I shall return and we will offer her a proper burial.”
“Agreed.” Khalil shook his father’s hand.
“Meanwhile I shall place some calls.”
“I don’t want that, father!”
“Of course not,” the Sheikh said. “I only meant to tell our friends of the wedding, and that perhaps they might ready themselves to attend a funeral instead.”
Khalil knew better than to think this was the last of the discussion of finding a replacement wife. His father always did what he wanted, when he wanted. For now, he wanted him to leave the palace. The sooner the better. Khalil had enough on his plate. “Thank you father. Yes, please ready our friends and family for that sad day, which I believe is coming sooner than we might wish.”
Twenty-Six
After pounding on her door until she practically made herself sick, Kelley had passed out from frustration. She was finally sleeping as peacefully as could be expected under the stressful circumstances of being imprisoned, when she heard the sound of the door to her room opening.
She shot straight up in bed.
Khalil entered, and before she could protest, he was by her side, kissing her.
Half awake, half asleep, she lost herself in his touch while the blurry memories of being kept against her will flooded back into her mind. She pounded her fists on his chest, pushed him away. “How dare you! Get away from me.”
“Shhh,” He cupped his hand over her mouth. “Please do not shout. People are sleeping.”
“Stop it! You can’t lock me up in here! This isn’t a harem!”
“I never locked you in,” Khalil said.
“Someone did, and you know it because you unlocked the door yourself.”
“I did not. Your door was open.”
“Don’t play games with me, Khalil. You wanted me here and you saw to it that I wouldn’t leave. You told your servant to lock me in against my will when I asked for a taxi to the airport. Now you think you can just come in here and get in bed with me? Are you crazy?”
“I did no such thing,” Khalil insisted.
“Your servant stopped me at the door, Khalil. He refused to call me a cab, and said you wanted me to stay. When I told him I would wait, he locked the door behind me and walked away.”
Khalil rose from the bed, walked to the door and opened it. “What kind of man do you believe me to be?” He wore a white shirt that was unbuttoned just enough for her to see his sexy chest. She wanted to run her fingers through the black tuft of hair and do more than that, but she had to get her desires under control for her own good. Khalil walked toward the bed, hands in the air. “I have no key. See? Come. Check for yourself.”
Kelley stood and ran her hands over his arms, down his rippled torso. Dear God! There was certainly no key there. She ran her hands down his sides to the slacks he wore, which fit him perfectly. She patted his back pockets, shivers shooting up her fingers. Nope. No keys at all. “You could be hiding it.”
“I could, but I am not. I will apologize, however, because I am sure I know what happened.”
“Oh really, and what’s that?”
“My manservant was merely doing his job.”
“How? By kidnapping people against their will?”
“And you are here because I force you?” Khalil grabbed her arms in his hands, kissed her. “And did I force you to do that?”
“No.”
“Or this,” he kissed her again, and then moved his mouth hungrily down her neck, to her bare arms. His lips continued the journey to the tender skin above her breasts, which were barely covered by a tiny tank top.
“I’m not going to do this. You locked me in here.”
“I give you my word I did not. My manservant likely did, because I gave him a direct order to watch over you and make sure you did not try to leave tonight because of my father. Perhaps he followed my direction to the letter, but I assure you I never asked him to lock you in your quarters. And never, ever against your will. You shall be with me because you want me just as I want you. I shall accept nothing else.” Once he made the speech of the century, Khalil’s lips continued their journey of brushing every bare strip of skin Kelley had on her body. Her arms, her neck, her back. He tossed her on the bed, laying on top of her and gripped her waist while his mouth explored her waist and legs.
Soon Kelley was shaking and slithering about in ecstasy. She had to get herself under control! This wasn’t happening! To try and resist Khalil, she forced him off of her and on to his back where she initially planned to
jump to her feet and get dressed.
Instead, Khalil’s hands ran up her body, cupping her breasts, he removed her top and began exploring every inch of her body with his mouth. Kelley became putty in his hands and she simply did not have the will power necessary to resist him. She unbuttoned his shirt, pushed her hands into him and propped herself up, straddling him, kissing his neck, shoulders and chest.
Khalil sat up and tossed his shirt in the floor, started unbuckling his belt.
“Wait!” Kelley said. “Not tonight.”
Nostrils flaring, Khalil whipped his belt off in one movement. He took her hand, guided it to his groin and motioned for her to assist him. Kelley got off of him and fell to her side, lying beside him. “No. Not yet.”
Khalil took the liberty of removing his pants anyway. He lay naked before her, his stunning body illuminated by the moonlight streaming in the window through those damned bars. His gorgeous body belonged in a magazine, yet here he was, with her. God give me strength!
Twenty-Seven
Khalil lay on his side panting, and placed an arm on her waist, allowing his fingers to explore her panties, teasing her, he wanted them off and attempted to tug at them, to free her from the last stitch of clothing that stood between their naked bodies. “I shall not do anything you do not want to do, but please, allow us to be one in the flesh and not have anything between us.”
Allowing this, soon the two lovers were laying skin to skin, both panting, eyes locked on each other.
“I am glad you stayed,” Khalil brushed his fingers through her hair, loosening it around her shoulders.
“Me too, even if I didn’t have a choice.”
“You do have a choice, and you have chosen.”
Kelley kissed him and arched her body toward his, stirring his desire all the more.
He pulled her close, pressing the small of her back against his stomach, pressing his full erection press against her legs, she obviously wanted to take him in more than anything in the world, but she stopped herself, pulling away just enough to keep a distance between them.
Khalil placed his hands in between her legs, his fingers inched up to her opening, hoping to change her mind.
She tightened her legs, rolled to her side, wrapping the sheet around her body to cool them both down a bit. “Please just hold me.”
He kissed her. “I will.”
****
Entwined in each other’s arms for the entire evening, the two lovers were woken before dawn by a loud pounding on the door of Kelley’s room.
“Sheikh Khalil!” a male servant called. “Please, Your Highness, come!”
Both he and Kelley woke, glanced at each other as the image of her lovely body filled his mind and stirred his desire.
The knocking came again. “Sheikh!”
He sighed, kissed her forehead, and stood, dressing quickly, he called through the door. “Please wait for me in the courtyard. I shall be with you in two minutes.”
“Yes, sir,” the servant said, and the sound of footfalls through the hall grew fainter.
Once he knew they were alone again, Khalil came and sat on Kelley’s bedside. He cupped her cheek in his hand. “You were lovely last night.”
Still groggy, she smiled, reached her hand out to him. “Don’t go.”
“I shall not be long.” He wanted to lie in bed with her all day, but something was terribly wrong or his most loyal would not have bothered him. He would be having a talk with him too, about locking Kelley’s room. That was completely unacceptable.
“You’re not going to lock me in, are you?”
“Never. But promise you will wait for me to return.”
“I will.”
He kissed her and left.
As promised, the servant waited in the courtyard between the two apartment complexes. “Sir, there is a dire circumstance which requires your attention.”
“Fine, but first you must promise to never lock the lady’s door again. Do you understand?”
The servant’s gaze fell to the ground. “I was only…”
“Enough! I asked you to watch over her, with your eyes, never to trap her against her will. Do it again and it shall be the last thing you do in my employ.”
“Yes, sir. I apologize.”
“I applaud your commitment to the spirit of the task, however your execution leaves much to be desired. The lady is free and may come and go as she pleases. While I am detained today, I expect you to tend to her every need.”
The servant bowed. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Good. So tell me, what is it that has you so concerned?”
“The Lady Oma, master. She is worse today than before. The physician has asked you to come at once to her bedside for her time is not long for this life.”
Despite the love he and Kelley shared together last night, the pain of shock struck him like an arrow in the heart. His Oma would soon be dead. His eyes filled with tears, he sucked in his breath, blinked his eyes rapidly until the tears disappeared. “Take me to her at once.”
Khalil followed his servant through the vast complex toward Oma’s apartment.
With each step, his heart felt heavier. The dreaded end which he knew would eventually come was here at last.
Oma had been a true joy to him as a wife and companion. She had been a most honorable friend, loyal and respectable and he hated the thought of this chapter of his life coming to an end.
Other than the death of his mother, Khalil realized he had never dealt with anything as difficult as this. His mother passed when he was still a child, which was easier in some respects.
When he approached the living area outside Oma’s bedchamber, the sickly smell of death filled the air. The attendants bustled around, delivering fresh water and towels, wiping Oma’s head from perspiration, trying to keep her comfortable as best they could.
Khalil stared at the commotion and his mind dizzied. He felt as though he was in a tunnel and time had slowed down.
The doctor met him just outside her door. “Sheikh Khalil.” He shook his hand. “I am glad you are here.”
Khalil should have thanked the man for tending his wife overnight, staying at her bedside, which on some level he knew he should have done himself. Heavy guilt crept over him at the thought. He should have held her hand, spoke comforting words to her, anything but what he did. Would she not have done the same for him? He behaved selfishly, and yet, he loved Kelley. He could not help what he had done. He had to do the right thing now and attend Oma until the very end.
“She wants to see you. She asked to speak to you.”
“And her condition?” He already knew the answer, but he had to hear it to allow the truth to settle in.
The doctor shook his head. “She does not have long. Please, sir, hurry.”
Once Khalil crossed the threshold of his wife’s room, all the servants disappeared, closing her door behind them. He could still hear them whispering in the door outside, but they left to give him privacy, one of the few private moments he would ever share with his wife again.
Oma’s eyes were closed. She had always been a rather robust woman of reasonable build, but he could see she had lost much weight since he saw her even yesterday. She had a special glow about her, the aura of the dead.
He approached the bed, knelt by her bedside, and took her hand.
She opened her eyes and whispered, “Khalil. You are here.”
“I am,” he choked on his words, placed his palm on her forehead. “I am.”
“Please, I must tell you,” her voice was so faint, he could hardly hear her. “Love.”
“Yes, love?” Khalil asked, leaning in to hear her better.
“No.” She appeared agitated, as though he had failed to understand.
“What is it, dearest?” Khalil brushed his fingers over her forehead, raking her loose strands of black and gray hair away from her perspiring face.
“Love. Her. You must love her.”
“Love? Who?”
“The girl.”
Ashamed he had been with someone else last night, Khalil remained still, as he did not wish to convey anything but the deepest loyalty for his wife at her final hour. Should he tell Oma about his troubles? Would this not bring her greater agony at an hour when nothing mattered anymore? Perhaps she would find comfort to know that at her end she remained his only loyal wife. “Safina has left me. We are no longer getting married. You are my only wife, Oma. You have been a great joy to me. You have honored my family, and me…” He fought back emotion.
“Not her,” Oma appeared to be amused by his confession about Safina. “The other….” She wheezed and coughed and could not continue for a moment. “Yesterday…American…”
Khalil felt about an inch tall. He should never have brought Kelley here. He thought she might provide Oma a comfort, but for all the things she could be telling him on her deathbed, to think she talked about a stranger who he brought into the situation appalled him. He only did what he thought would be best at the time, and now he knew that like so many situations as of late, he had misjudged. He was wrong. “Oma, you are my only wife. You are all that matters.”
“I am dying. I…will not be…any more. You know that.” Oma struggled.
Khalil thought about the fact that he would soon be a widow, and again, although it shamed him to think of it, all he could consider was the fact that he wanted Kelley and he would ask her to marry him once Oma passed. As soon as it was appropriate.
“Bring her to me,” Oma said.
“Who?”
“That girl. Who was here yesterday. Bring her…now…please…” she coughed and struggled.
“But I don’t want to do that. You are my wife, Oma, you!”
“Please, do it now.” Her eyes widened.
Khalil couldn’t imagine what she wanted to talk to Kelley about. For all he knew Oma didn’t even know her name. But she was his wife and she deserved his respect. Even though he did not approve, nor think this the best, he would honor her last wishes, even if they were bizarre. “Please wait for me to return. Do not go yet. I shall fetch her at once and we will return to see you.”
