And just like that, it was over. She was the wife of Kamal Al-Basir, future Sheikh. They locked eyes, and for a moment, she felt the rest of the world melt away. At least with him, there was an understanding of fear of the unknown. Tonight would be her first night with him, but that was only the beginning. They would have to forge a life together, and they barely knew each other.
Suddenly, she was pulled away. With a small cry of mourning, she allowed Kamal’s mother to whisk her away to enjoy the festivities with the rest of the women. Kamal would face the powerful men of the community as they congratulated him and offered him advice, and she was able to enjoy food and wine.
Food. Her stomach rumbled at the mere thought.
Ameena laughed. “Have you not eaten today? Your stomach is louder than the music!”
“I was nervous,” Jada admitted. She was about to make a beeline for the buffet table, but every time she took a step, someone was grabbing her arm.
“You looked so beautiful up there!”
“Thank you,” Jada murmured as she looked past her wistfully at the food. She broke free, but it was someone else in her way.
“You are so lucky to be marrying Kamal.”
“Hmmm, lucky, yes.” Another side step, and she was three steps closer.
“You must ask Ameena who helped her with all the details. My daughter is getting married soon!”
“I’ll pass that along,” Jada said impatiently as she took a few more steps.
“Are you nervous about tonight?”
Jada stopped short and stared at the young woman. At no point in time was she prepared to talk about tonight on an empty stomach. Or on a full stomach. Ever.
Of course she was nervous. She’d never been with another man before, and she knew that two things would happen. It would either be completely magical, or she would realize that she’ll never be fulfilled for the rest of her life. And she really didn’t want to contemplate option number two.
“So many other things on my mind,” she said apologetically as she tried to move even closer. A hand closed around her wrist, and she spun around angrily.
“What in the…Kay!” She sighed with relief and hugged her friend. “I was about to cause a scene at my own wedding.”
“Shh…” Kay winked and handed her a plate filled with food.
“I love you,” Jada said as she immediately stuffed something into her face. “Seriously. I may divorce Kamal and marry you instead. It’s legal in some places,” she said with her mouth full.
“Divorcing me already, wife?”
Jada practically choked as she whirled around. Kamal was staring at her with an amused look on his face. Eyes waters, she swallowed and coughed. “No of course not. I’m just very hungry.”
His eyes softened. “Kayla, perhaps you could take my wife into one of the private rooms where she can finish her meal without interruption. I would hate to have you faint before the end of the festivities.”
“Of course,” Kayla said. Jada felt her heart skip a beat as her friend led her away. “You are such a lucky woman.”
“Says the girl who married for love,” Jada murmured as she popped something else in her mouth. She moaned out loud when they were finally in a room with the door shut. “So tell the truth. How bad was the wedding?”
“What are you talking about? It was beautiful, and it went off without a hitch.”
Jada eyed her friend. “But…”
Kayla sighed. “You two looked like mannequins standing up there. I couldn’t tell if you two were about to rip each other’s clothes off or if you were going to run screaming from the wedding. What is going on? Surely you two are comfortable with each other by now.”
Jada swallowed another bit and brushed the crumbs off her dress. “I might have suggested that traditional courting rituals would be a waste of time in our position. He tried a few times to extend an invitation, but I’m sure it was at the behest of his parents. I declined, and I’m sure he was relieved.”
Her friend stared at her. “Jada, this is the twenty-first century. Sure, we have arranged marriages, but you don’t have to marry a stranger. What were you thinking? No wonder it was awkward. He tried to take you out, and you rejected him!”
Glowering at Kayla, Jada polished off her plate. “It wasn’t like that,” she muttered.
Kay snorted and crossed her arms. “Well, if you have any questions about tonight.”
Alarmed, Jada covered her ears. “No. No. We are not having this conversation. I can’t here you. La la la la la,” she said as she reached for the door. Kayla shrieked in laughter and bounded after her. Throwing the door open to escape her, she ran straight into a hard body.
Kamal.
“Whoa,” he muttered as he caught her. “In a hurry for a second plate?”
Would this day never end? “I’m so sorry,” she muttered. Kayla chuckled behind her, and she stiffened. She would kill her friend before the day was over.
“Our presence is requested so that my father can make a speech,” he said as he took her arms gently.
“You could have sent someone to fetch me,” she snapped. Immediately, she blushed. Why was she upset that her husband wanted to find her?
“That’s true, but it gave me an excuse to break away from the crowd,” he said softly. He leaned down and brushed his lips gently across hers. She stiffened under his kiss. “Just relax or people will think I forced you into this.”
Great. She was embarrassing her husband on their wedding day. With a deep breath, she looked up and tried to smile. “I’m sorry. I’m nervous. I’ll do better.” Short sentences. Very little eye-contact with men or older women. Gaze to the floor. Be more open to conversation about the wedding. She repeated these instructions over and over again as they made their way through the ever growing crowd.
Finally, they were at the main table. The Sheikh gave them both a smile as he rose. Immediately, a hush fell over the crowd.
“I want to thank you all for being here to witness the union between my son, Kamal Al-Basir, and the lovely Jada. It has always been my greatest hope that my son would choose a strong woman to be by his side. My wife has been the rock by my side, and Kamal would need the same by his when it was his time to become Sheikh. When the played together as kids, I wondered if this would be the match for him, but as most children do here, they’re lives parted them as they learned what it would mean to be adults in this world. I am happy that they have been reunited, and I know that with Jada by his side, Kamal will go on to do great things.”
Nahid even winked. “I am also pleased to announce that the board has reviewed Kamal’s expansion plans for the company. Within a few months, Kamal will be in America to oversee the new quarters there. When he returns, we will be stronger, more profitable, and more powerful than ever.”
A huge cry went up in the crowd, and even Kamal himself hissed. He left Jada to embrace his father, and Jada felt her breath escape her lungs as she looked around.
Everything slowed as she realized what this would mean. Kamal would never take her with him when he went to head the new section of America. He would leave her behind for months, even years.
Discarded.
As the crowd continued to celebrate and laugh and cheer, only one person looked at her. Ameena.
There was nothing but regret and sorrow on her face. She knew what was in store for Jada. And she was sorry.
It took all of Jada’s training not to lean over and hurl. What kind of Sheikh’s wife would she be then? Instead, she stood tall and plastered a fake smile on her face. She would support her husband. No matter what.
That was what she was bred to do.
Chapter Five
Jada peeled down her wedding dress and stepped carefully out of it. With trembling fingers, she slowly put it on the hanger. She reached in for her robe and wrapped it around herself. She was nervous. She was more than nervous.
Kalil was still down at the reception speaking to everyone, but she’d had enough. There
was a twisted knot in her stomach and it grew with each passing moment. Any minute now, he’d come to the room and open the door and demand that she perform her wifely duties. She wasn’t scared. Jada didn’t get scared.
But she was definitely nervous. And anxious.
Pacing, she stopped when she saw her reflection in the mirror. She was still in her wedding make-up, and her hair was still curled and styled. She looked like the woman she was bred to be, and all she wanted to do was scrub the make-up off, gather her hair into a band, and rip off all her lingerie.
“Get it together,” she muttered. “This is your life now.”
The door opened, and Kalil leaned against the doorframe. “I must be taking too long if you’re talking to yourself,” he said with a smile.
Her eyes widened, and she ducked her head. “I’m sorry.”
“It was a joke, Jada. Don’t be sorry.” He stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. “It’s been a long day, Jada. I won’t hold it against you if you want to just sleep.”
She took a deep breath. “I’m a virgin.”
Startled, he narrowed his eyes. “Excuse me?”
“I think you hear me,” she said dryly. “But if you want to force me to say it again, I’ll be more than happy to.”
“No.” Kalil shook his head. “I’m sorry. I’m just surprised. It’s rare these days. How?”
“Really? You need me to go over how I didn’t have sex?” Immediately, she blew out her breath. “I’m sorry. That was rude. It just happened. I’ve been focused on other things, and I just never got around to sex.”
“What else have you been focused on?”
She blinked at the sudden change in conversation. “Excuse me?”
Kalil walked forward and took her hand. “What were you focused on? We rarely talk about you, and now we’re married. Now I want you to talk about you.”
“School, mostly. I like studying and learning new things. The world is always changing.” She was so focused on the conversation that she didn’t even realize that he’d led her to the bed. Jada sat on the edge of it, and Kalil settled behind her. He began to massage her shoulders. “World policies have to be studied to discover a pattern. You can’t just guess what another country is going to do. You have to be prepared and look at the patterns.”
She leaned against him and enjoyed the warmth of his body. His fingers felt like magic as they moved deep into her muscles. “Is that what you studied? Your father just said you focused on general studies.”
“Hmm,” she moaned. “I did start with general studies, but I focused on international politics. When you’re being raised to be a Sheikh’s wife, you want to come prepared. But it wasn’t just about that. I enjoyed it. I loved it.”
“You loved international politics,” he said with a chuckle.
Realizing what she was saying, she immediately tensed. “It’s not that I’m considering getting involved in your affairs,” she muttered.
He ran his hands down her arm and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Jada, you don’t have to worry about me. You don’t have to be nervous. You can be yourself.”
“You keep saying that,” she said with a smile. “I’m on to you. I know you’re trying to get me relaxed for tonight.”
Her head rolled as he pressed his lips to the side of her neck. “Jada, I want you. Not because you’re my wife but because you are beautiful and fascinating. But I’m not going to pressure you to do anything. If you want to wait, I can wait. I want you to be comfortable, Jada. I want you to want this because you want me and not because you feel obligated.”
Taking a deep breath, she reached back and hooked her arm around his head. “I think the thing that makes me most nervous is that I do want you.”
A growl rumbled low in his chest, and he moved his hands from her arm to the tie of the robe. “Are you sure about this?”
The more he touched her, the more she was sure. She’d never felt desire like this. Her body ached for him in a way that it had never ached for anyone.
Turning her head, she took the initiative and pressed her lips to his. Twisting her body so that she was kneeling in front of him, she slowly untied the belt on her robe. Spreading it open, she felt the cool air rush to her naked breasts.
His eyes darkened with lust. “Jada. You are beautiful.” He trailed a finger down her arm and smiled. “Undress me.”
Her hands shook as she reached for his dress robes. Her hands felt swollen and awkward as she stripped him, but he didn’t say a word. Blowing out her breath, she finally traced her hands over his perfect muscles. Defined. Sculpted.
“Damn it,” he muttered suddenly. Before she could blink, he grabbed her and spun them around until he was under her. His weight pressed down on top of her, but she didn’t feel nervous or anxious anymore. She wanted him on top of her. She wanted his hands all over her. Desire coiled within her and threatened to strike at any minute.
His hands raced all over her body, and she gripped the sheets as he neared the part of her that ached the most. She was still wearing a strip of white fabric, and he slid his fingers over her. Moving his head down her body, he slid his lips over her skin until he moved his tongue over her nipples. She gasped and immediately tangled her fingers through his hair. Moaning, she raised her knees and bucked her hips. Pleasure and ecstasy fired through her body, and she shivered in his arms.
“Cold?” he murmured.
“Hardly,” she laughed. “I think I’m on fire.”
“I’m just getting started,” he murmured as he moved his tongue south over the swell of her stomach.
“Kalil,” she said urgently as the tension built inside her. “Kalil, what are you doing? Don’t. Please.” She pushed herself up on her elbows and watched as he pressed his mouth to her hot center. The fabric of her panties rubbed against her clit, and she dropped her head and lost all control. As the climax ripped through her, she shuddered and clamped her legs around his head.
“Are you sure you won’t me to stop? It looks to me like you enjoyed that very much,” he said as he lifted his head and softly massaged her legs.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered as she tried to catch her breath. “That was…unexpected.”
He lifted her hips and slid her panties down her legs. “I hope you enjoyed it because it’s going to happen again before we’re done tonight.”
As her husband pressed his lips to the sensitive spot behind her knee, her eyes drifted shut, and she surrendered herself to him. “Kalil. That feels good.”
Husband. The word didn’t even begin to describe him at the moment. He was her lover, and right now, he was loving her body. Husbands wanted a pretty woman on their arm. Lovers wanted chemistry in the bed, and right now, the chemistry was so hot she thought she was going to explode.
Again.
“I want to touch,” she whispered in the darkness. “Please.”
He moved up her body and kissed her urgently. “So touch.”
Slowly, she pressed her hands against him. His muscles felt strained, and she met his gaze. He was fighting for control. He was fighting for control while she touched him, and she felt a rush of power. She wanted to see him lose control.
Feeling more bold, she reached down to wrap her hands around him. His erection was warm and hard and pulsed at her touch. His body jerked, and he immediately pulled out of her touch. “What did I do?” she asked suddenly. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, baby. If you keep touching me, it’s going to be over before it even begins,” he said hoarsely.
“Kalil.” She reached up and stroked his cheeks. “I’m ready. You don’t have to keep waiting. I want this. I need you.”
Ducking his head, he pressed his lips to the hollow of her throat and reached down to pull her knee up. Slowly, he nudged at her opening. Her whole body was taught, and she couldn’t wait anymore. Pushing his hand aside, she wrapped her legs around him and guided him inside. Inch by inch, she felt him stretch and fill her.
&
nbsp; “Jada,” he cried. “Baby, you feel good. You feel good. You feel so good.” Drops of sweat appeared on his forehead, but she couldn’t say anything. She was so overwhelmed by everything between them. He was inside her, and it felt absolutely incredible.
“More,” she urged him. “Please, Kalil. I need more.”
He moved, changed angles, and slid even deeper inside her. All of her nerves screamed for release, and she lost it. Digging her nails into his back, she arched and buried her head in his shoulder.
“Look at me, Jada,” he whispered. “Look at me. I want to see your face when you orgasm.”
Trembling, she pulled back and stared at him as everything inside her broke wide open. The orgasm was stronger, more intense, and more intimate that her first one, and he rode the wave with her. As he anchored himself to her, she felt his own orgasm, and he never broke eye contact. He never let her go, and for the first time since they’d announced their engagement, she felt safe. In his arms, she felt safe.
Instead of collapsing on top of her, he rolled so that she rested on top of him. Feeling almost embarrassed, she pressed her faced to his chest and slowly moved her fingers over his pecs.
“Are you okay?” he murmured as he ran his hands over her bare back.
ROMANCE: THE SHEIKH'S GAMES: A Sheikh Romance Page 101
