The Tarnished Jewel of Jazaar

by Susanna Carr

  Zoe wasn’t impressed. “Why are we here?”

  “You need a few things.” He had noticed in the morning light that the necklaces and earrings she’d worn for her wedding were paste. Her bangles were cheap metal and the rubies and diamonds were fake. It surprised him that her family would send her off with no real jewelry. Her jewelry collection was supposed to be her financial nest egg.

  She dismissed the store with a wave of her hand. “I’m fine with what I have.”

  She obviously didn’t know about her jewelry, and he wasn’t going to reveal the truth to her. “Zoe, it reflects poorly on me if you don’t wear jewelry. I am buying you a necklace, some earrings, and maybe a few bracelets.”

  She needed the basics for her new role. Normally a sheikha would wear the royal jewels, but this was a paper marriage. She would not be at his side or living with him. If he gave her a few important pieces of jewelry people would know that she was still under his protection and care.

  “No, you shouldn’t. You have already bought too much.” She flattened her hands on her cheeks and groaned. “All those clothes.”

  Most women loved to get new clothes, yet Zoe had tried on each designer outfit with reluctance. She’d tried to talk him out of his purchases, but he wouldn’t listen.

  “You need the clothes for your new role,” he reminded her.

  “But they are so expensive. I could have bought medical equipment to serve all the pregnant women in the village.”

  “The women don’t need that.”

  Zoe’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me? The women in the village don’t have access to basic medicine.”

  “Impossible. Jazaar is a wealthy kingdom. The Ministry of Health has allocated millions to the most remote villages.”

  “That goes to the men,” she muttered. “Because the elders decide where the money is spent.”

  “Enough. I’m not going to discuss this anymore,” he declared as guided her to the famous turquoise doors. Jewelry was the way to gain a woman’s deference. He knew from experience that even the most temperamental girlfriend could be soothed by an expensive bauble.

  Zoe held back. “I appreciate the new clothes …”

  “Apparently.”

  “… but if you need to demonstrate how wealthy Jazaar is I’d rather you use the money on building a women’s medical clinic for the village.”

  He looked intently at her earnest face. “Your village doesn’t need one.”

  “It does. I, however, don’t need a necklace.”

  His cell phone rang and he bit back an oath. He was in delicate negotiations with his stubborn wife and didn’t need the interruption. “Excuse me. I have to take this call.”

  He accepted the call and tried to listen to one of his executive assistants as he watched Zoe’s expression. She looked as if she wanted to chuck his phone into the traffic and continue to argue her point. Nadir knew he had caught a glimpse of the real Zoe. Finally.

  Something his assistant said caught his attention. “Would you repeat that?” he asked into the phone. He motioned his apology to Zoe as he turned away from the traffic and listened to the assistant. After giving a few orders, he ended the call.

  If only getting Zoe to accept his gifts could be so easy and straightforward. “As I was saying …”

  He turned around and discovered Zoe wasn’t standing next to him. He glanced around the sidewalk and didn’t see her anywhere.

  Zoe walked briskly as her heart thudded against her chest. She wanted to run as fast as she could, but that would create a scene. She needed to do more than escape. She needed to disappear.

  She glanced at the streets, recognizing the storefronts and landmarks. Having spent most of the day memorizing the layout of Omaira, she had a good idea where she was. Unfortunately the American embassy was on the opposite side of town.

  Nadir might have completed his call by now. He would start to look for her. As much as it went against her instincts, Zoe ducked into a store. She wanted to put as much distance between herself and her new husband as possible, but he would easily spot her on the street. It was best to hide for a while.

  She looked around and realized she had walked into a bookstore. Zoe froze, but it was too late. She had already inhaled the familiar scent of books.

  Zoe picked up a book from the metal rack. It had a blinding red cover, but she didn’t know the author or the title. She thumbed through the pages, enjoying the sound of the paper.

  “Zoe! There you are.”

  Damn. Zoe tensed at the sound of Nadir’s voice. He’d found her already. She had squandered her best chance of escaping.

  She sensed Nadir surging forward and he was suddenly at her side. As he towered over her head she felt his frustration and chafing temper.

  If she’d been facing her uncle she would have known to hunch her shoulders to protect her ears and wait for the stinging slap. Being in public and having witnesses meant nothing. Experience had also taught her that ducking out of reach only made Uncle Tareef angrier.

  But she couldn’t predict Nadir’s response. She was jumpy, desperate to get out range, but she forced herself to remain still as she waited for his next move.

  He didn’t touch her, but it felt as though he surrounded her. “I’ve been looking for you.” He was annoyed, but he didn’t raise his voice. “You need to tell me where you’re going.”

  Zoe felt impatience billowing off him, and she had to do her best to play innocent. She had to act as though she hadn’t intentionally run away from him, as though she had not tried to escape.

  She kept her focus on the book and continued to stroke the shiny red cover with her fingers. The book felt sleek in her hands and the weight was familiar. She remembered how good it used to feel, having a book in her hand.

  “Zoe.” His voice was low and rough. “I will not be ignored.”

  “I’m sorry.” She slowly turned to face Nadir. “It’s been a while since I’ve been in a bookstore.”

  He cast a glance at the small shop, shaking his head at the glossy magazines and colorful books. “You saw this bookstore from where we were standing?”

  “Yes,” she lied through clenched teeth.

  Nadir slowly exhaled, and she suspected he was drawing on the last of his patience. “You could have gotten lost. Again,” he said with calm control. “Stay with me and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  She pressed her lips together, not trusting herself to speak. The idea that a man would be there when you needed him the most was a fantasy. She’d learned long ago not to rely on anyone.

  “Is that what you want?” He nodded at the book in her hands.

  Her grip tightened on the book. Zoe sighed with regret and reluctantly replaced the book. “No.”

  “Pick a book. Pick a hundred of them,” Nadir suggested as he gestured at the bookshelves.

  From the corner of her eye Zoe saw the bookseller approaching. She dipped her head. “That’s very generous of you, but it’s not necessary.”

  He inhaled sharply and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. “Why are you refusing every gift I offer?”

  Was that what he thought? She had to tell him the truth, no matter how much it embarrassed her. “I can’t read these books,” Zoe whispered as her face burned red.

  Nadir stilled. “You can’t read?”

  She jerked her head up and tilted her chin. “I can read! I love to read. But I can only read English.”

  His gaze held hers for one charged moment. He dragged his attention away to greet the bookseller smoothly and assure him that they were only browsing. He waited until they were alone until he said quietly, “Didn’t your uncle send you to school?”

  “No.” She could recite all the made-up reasons she normally used when anyone asked her that question, but today she didn’t feel like playing that game. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “I’m sure he had a very good reason,” he said.

  “I’m sure.” She crossed her arm
s tightly. Uncle Tareef had thought he had a very good reason. He’d enjoyed using her thirst for knowledge as a bargaining chip. He also hadn’t liked how her intelligence challenged his.

  Nadir looked at the shelf full of books and then looked back at her. “How did you read our marriage contract?”

  Zoe winced. She might have just gotten tangled in a deeper problem. The only thing she could do was answer truthfully and hope for the best. “I didn’t.”

  “Do you know what was included?” he asked. “Did anyone explain it to you?”

  “No.” She stared at her feet, not sure what would happen next. Did that make the marriage invalid? Was he going to call the whole thing off? Toss her back to her relatives?

  “This will not do. You are a sheikha. You should be able to read and write in our language. I will remedy this immediately.”

  She watched him pull out his cell phone. “What are you planning?”

  “I’m going to have my executive assistant schedule a tutor for you,” he said as he tapped out a message. “By our first wedding anniversary you will read and write Arabic.”

  She didn’t know if she should believe him. She had heard too many broken promises. How many times had Musad made promises, until “tomorrow” became “next time” and “soon” became “someday”? How many times had her uncle promised that if she was a good girl he would enroll her in school? The problem was that she was never good enough and eventually had stopped trying.

  “That’s very kind of you,” Zoe said politely. She knew she should sound more grateful. More excited. But she wasn’t going to get her hopes up. It would be easier this way if Nadir failed to deliver on his promise.

  “It has nothing to do with kindness. You need these skills.”

  Not if her plans succeeded. With any luck she would be out of the country if and when the tutor showed up. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” Nadir said, and tapped another text in his cell phone. “Now it’s time for tea.”

  “Of course.” Zoe followed Nadir, but when she passed the threshold she couldn’t resist taking a final look at the bookstore.

  By this time next year she would be surrounded by books that she could read. By this time next month, she decided. The minute she returned home she would go into a public library and read her heart out.

  She was silent as Nadir took her across the street to an elegant restaurant. Upon entering, Zoe realized that her attire was cheap and faded next to that of the other patrons. She wanted to disappear, but they were seated at the best table in the center of the room.

  She knew she lacked the refinement and sophistication Nadir expected in a wife, but he didn’t complain or make any snide comment. He didn’t need to. She could tell from the faces of the other customers that her appearance reflected poorly on him.

  She gradually forgot about her outfit as Nadir asked her about favorite books. She wasn’t sure about his ulterior motive. Was he just making conversation, or was he figuring out how her mind ticked? She played along and discovered that having his attention was like a rollercoaster ride—enthralling and a little bit scary.

  Zoe silently enjoyed the taste of freedom. The moment she had left the village she had felt as if she could breathe a little easier and spread her wings. Everything seemed brighter. Bolder. Zoe appreciated the audacious spirit in Omaira. She saw it in the daring architecture and in the enterprising people around her. It made her believe anything was possible, and that her dreams weren’t out of reach.

  She was grateful that her new husband didn’t try to squash her growing enthusiasm. Usually when she was with her uncle she had to hide her interest. Protect it. Instead, Nadir nurtured her curiosity, pointing out what he knew she would like and encouraging her to ask questions. When she was with Nadir she felt as if her world expanded.

  When they stepped out of the restaurant and walked through the breathtakingly modern lobby Zoe saw Nadir turn on his phone. His frown seemed to deepen as he checked his messages.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “A business problem in Singapore.”

  Singapore. Her mind grabbed onto the word and wouldn’t shake free. Singapore wasn’t close to America, but it was far away from Jazaar. “I’ve never been there. I hear Singapore is quite beautiful.”

  “It is,” he muttered absently as he tapped a key on his cell phone.

  “I bet it’s a perfect place for a honeymoon.”

  Nadir cast a quizzical look in her direction just as their luxury sedan rolled up to the curb. He escorted her to the car, and when they were both inside she saw a gift-wrapped package by her seat.

  “That’s for you,” Nadir said as he continued scrolling through his messages.

  “Thank you.” She didn’t want to accept another gift from him. He was trying hard to win her over, but all she felt was guilt.

  She carefully tore off the ribbon. Once she had ripped off the paper she reluctantly opened the box. Zoe had been expecting jewelry. Something obscenely extravagant like a tiara. Instead she stared at a small gray electronic device with a screen. It was too big for a phone, but smaller than most computers she had seen. “What is it?”

  “It’s an e-book reader.”

  She picked up the light device as excitement bubbled in her chest. “E-book?”

  “My assistant has programmed the reader and you can download books instantly. Now you may read whatever you want, whenever you want.”

  Whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted … Her head spun at the thought. “You gave me a library?”

  He set his phone down and smiled at her. “That’s one way of looking at it.”

  It was almost too good to be true. There had to be a catch. But she didn’t want to think about it right now. After all these years of not having the opportunity to read, she now had all the books she wanted at her fingertips. She clasped the e-book reader to her chest. “Thank you, Nadir,” she whispered.

  His eyes flared bright when she said his name. “You’re welcome, Zoe.” He gently caressed her cheek with his fingertips. “Now we must go. The helicopter is waiting for us.”

  They were going back to the village? The idea suffocated Zoe. She had had a taste of freedom and she wanted more. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay in Omaira?” she asked wistfully. “Didn’t you say you had a place here?”

  “I would like to show you our home here,” he said, “but tradition requires us to return before sundown. The servants have already started preparations.”

  “Preparations for what?” As far as she knew they had no ceremonies to suffer through tonight.

  “Our first full night together alone.” Nadir’s mouth tilted into a sexy smile of anticipation. “Tonight it will be the two of us. No distractions and no interruptions.”

  Zoe’s breath hitched in her throat as her heart clanged against her ribs. She had wanted to hold him off for one more night, but Nadir was planning a full-out seduction.

  And she was no match for a man like him.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  ZOE stared at the mirror with growing alarm. She sat quietly in front of her dressing table, panic clawing her chest as the two maids added the finishing touches to her transformation. She no longer looked like an innocent girl or a shy bride. She looked like a seductress.

  This was terrible. How could she maintain the virgin act when she looked like this? Zoe took in a shallow, choppy breath and inhaled the spicy perfume she wore. The jasmine and incense were an invitation for exotic, forbidden sex. They were designed to tantalize, and the last thing Zoe needed to do was entice Nadir even closer.

  She bit the inside of her lip and tightly squeezed her hands together as the maids’ voices ebbed and flowed around her. The older women were experts in the traditional ritual of preparing the bride for her groom and they dismissed her concerns with a wave of their weathered hands. They didn’t need a prudish bride to tell them how to prepare her for a man.

  Zoe peeked from under her
thick lashes and gave another glance at her reflection. She froze, and swore she wouldn’t make any slanted looks in front of Nadir. It was too sexy, too suggestive.

  Everything about her said she was ready for an endless night of sensual pleasure. She had been bathed, oiled, perfumed and made up for Nadir’s desire. Zoe frowned at her reflection and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She might as well place a shiny red bow around her neck along with a gift tag that said “Take me.”

  A fine tremor swept through her as she imagined what his response would be to such a blatant offer. She was sure that Nadir could give her mind-blowing pleasure, but she couldn’t let that happen. Not tonight, when he might discover she wasn’t a virgin bride. Probably not ever. She couldn’t afford to lower her guard with any man, especially one as powerful and ruthless as the Sheikh.

  If only she could acquire some kind of armor for the upcoming battle. The buttoned-up yellow gown that hid her figure was gone. She had heard Amina, one the maids, muttering under her breath about burning it. In its place was a long sapphire-blue negligee with a high slit at the side, offering a glimpse of her bare legs. But who would be looking at her legs when the clinging silk emphasized the thrust of her breasts and the gentle swell of her hips?

  “The Sheikh is very pleased with you,” Amina said as she brushed Zoe’s long, thick brown hair.

  “Mmm.” Zoe didn’t know how to respond to that opinion. Pleased? She wasn’t so sure about that. He was patient because he wanted something from her.

  “You survived the wedding night,” said the other maid, Halima, as she tidied up the dressing table. “Not a drop of blood.”

  Zoe’s eyes widened and her heart stopped. Her stomach gave a sickening twist. What were they referring to? Had they been looking for a bloodstain on the bedsheets that proved she had been a virgin? She hadn’t considered that possibility.

  “The Sheikh’s last wedding night …” Halima clicked her tongue and shook her head. “There was so much blood on the bed his bride had to be taken to the hospital in Omaira.”

  Zoe stared at the older woman, her heart pounding erratically. They were talking about a different wedding night. A different bride.