The Sheik's Secret Bride

by Mallery, Susan

  Bethany shrieked with laughter. “Uh-uh,” she managed between giggles. “I’m not that beautiful.”

  “Of course you are. And smart. And funny. In fact, I’m going to have to lock you in a tall tower when you turn sixteen, just so the boys don’t steal you away.”

  Her daughter smiled and held her arms open for a hug. “I won’t leave you, Mommy. Not for a silly boy. Besides, I’m going to college, remember? And I can’t do that in a tower.”

  “I guess not.”

  She pulled her daughter close, savoring the familiar feel of skinny arms holding her tight. These were the moments that she would remember when Bethany was grown and gone, she told herself. The bits of magic that made it all worthwhile. Whatever else she might do with her life, Bethany would always be the very best of her.

  This dinner was her worst nightmare, Liana thought nearly two hours later. The large table in the family’s private dining room had room enough for all, with Bethany sitting next to her and Malik directly across from them. The king sat at one end, and Fatima at the other, with Dora and Khalil next to Malik and Heidi and Jamal next to Bethany. The problem was everyone was being so darned nice, Liana thought frantically as she took another sip of her wine. Not that she wanted them to be rude or mean, but they were acting as if she were already a member of the family, or at the very least, a close personal friend. It was disconcerting.

  She wanted to complain about the situation, but what was she supposed to say? “Could you please ignore me?” would be misunderstood by everyone. So she forced herself to keep smiling and was thankful that Bethany’s manners had always been exceptionally good.

  “I heard a rumor,” the king said, glancing at Bethany, “that someone at this table beat Malik in a race back to the stables.”

  Bethany laughed. “That was me.” She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “But I think he let me win. Prince Malik is a really good rider and his horse is fast. But I’m getting better and I’m gonna beat him on my own one day.”

  King Givon nodded approvingly. “If you work hard, then you certainly will. Although I have to warn you, my son is a very good horseman.”

  “And not one to be beaten by a girl,” Malik teased.

  Bethany raised her chin. “Being a girl has nothing to do with it.”

  Malik glanced at Liana. “That attitude would be your fault, I believe.”

  “Thank you for the compliment,” she said blandly, trying not to notice how his dark eyes gleamed with a light that had little to do with humor and instead reminded her of the passion that had flared between them only three evenings before when he’d taken her in his arms and kissed her until she was breathless and shaken.

  “I’ve decided we shall have a girl next,” Khalil said, placing his arm around Dora’s shoulders. “We have two sons and it’s time for a change.”

  Dora turned to her husband. “What makes you think you get to choose?”

  He looked insulted by the question. “I am Prince Khalil Khan of El Bahar.”

  “As if that explains anything.” Dora leaned toward Liana. “The men in this house are insufferable. Khalil thinks he can get his way simply by announcing his title. As if the waters would indeed part simply to please him.”

  “They would,” Jamal said cheerfully. “Happens every time I want them to.”

  Heidi, Jamal’s wife, rolled her eyes. “This is all your fault, Your Majesty. You’ve turned reasonably intelligent men into impossibly arrogant princes.”

  The king smiled. “To quote our honored guest,” he said nodding at Liana, “thank you for the compliment. I am the king of this great country. How else would my sons be?”

  “How about warm and sensitive?” Dora asked.

  King Givon dismissed her with a wave, but Liana saw the affection twinkling in his dark eyes. He obviously adored both his daughters-in-law. In fact, from what she could tell, the entire family was close.

  All three brothers had similar dark hair and eyes. They were tall men, over six feet, with broad shoulders and trim yet muscular bodies shown off to perfection by tailored suits. King Givon had a bit of gray at his temples, but he, too, was a good-looking man well into his prime. Liana knew that he had been a widower for some years and wondered why he’d never remarried.

  It was quite a gene pool, she thought as she gazed around the table. And both the married princes had chosen American wives. Although she vaguely recalled that Prince Jamal had lost his first wife, who had been from a minor Middle Eastern noble family, in a tragic traffic accident.

  As much as they made her nervous, she was pleased to be part of the family, if only for the evening. Being with these warm, generous people made her think of her own parents, although their small, three-bedroom home in an older part of San Bernardino was a far cry from life in the palace. She could only imagine what her sister, the hairdresser, would say about her current living arrangements. Chrissie would squeal and laugh until she fell off her five-inch platform shoes.

  Malik leaned toward her. “How are you adjusting to teaching at the American School?” he asked.

  The room went quiet and everyone looked at her. Liana could feel herself blushing. “It’s only been a few days, but so far I’m enjoying it. My students are bright, which makes the school year more interesting, but also more of a challenge. In the advanced algebra class I’m hoping we’ll have time to start learning calculus.”

  “You teach mathematics?” the king asked, as a servant entered with a tray of coffee and dessert.

  “Yes. At the high-school level.”

  “Have you always wanted to be a teacher?” Queen Fatima asked.

  Liana felt like an observer at a tennis match. She had to turn to the other end of the table to answer the Queen Mother. “Yes. Since I was about Bethany’s age. Math was always my favorite subject. I never changed my mind.”

  “Mommy wants to go back to college,” Bethany added helpfully, half distracted by the individual chocolate soufflés being placed in front of everyone. She touched the thick, warm sauce with the tip of her finger and quickly licked the skin clean, then grinned. “It’s yummy.”

  “I’m so pleased you like it,” Queen Fatima said, then returned her attention to Liana. “More college?”

  Liana nodded. “I would like to get my master’s and maybe even my doctorate degree. In theoretical equations.”

  “What exactly are theoretical equations?” Malik asked, waving away his dessert and taking coffee in its place.

  “You don’t want to know.”

  He smiled. A slow smile that was a hundred percent masculine and equally seductive. Liana had the brief thought that she would be willing to give up her own dessert to see that smile again. Then she came to her senses and quickly dug her spoon into her treat.

  An hour later Liana and Malik strolled through the lush gardens of the palace. Heidi and Dora had taken Bethany off to see their young children and Malik had offered to walk Liana back to her suite. Liana hadn’t been sure if the events had occurred spontaneously or if they’d been planned. She also wasn’t sure if she cared. After all, how many times in her life had she spent time in the company of a handsome prince? As long as she kept her head firmly on her shoulders and out of the clouds she’d be fine. Besides, real princes did not fall in love with schoolteachers, however much she might like the truth to be otherwise.

  “What do you think of the gardens?” Malik asked as they passed a grove of orange trees. “Parts of them are centuries old.”

  “They’re lovely,” she admitted, inhaling the sweet scent of flowers she couldn’t identify.

  The evening air was warm and seemed to surround them in a gentle embrace. She smiled, knowing she was being fanciful. While she might tell herself to stay sensible, she couldn’t help hoping that Malik would kiss her again. She wanted to know if it had really been that wonderful or if she’d imagined the excitement and desire that had raced through her. Plus, except for that one kiss, it had been years since a man had held her in his arm
s. She’d forgotten how nice it was to be physically close to someone.

  Malik half turned toward her as they walked. “Bethany is doing very well with her riding,” he said.

  “So I’ve heard.” She smiled. “She likes to relive the lesson in exquisite detail.” Her smile faded. “You’re being very kind to her. Thank you. I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions before. About why you were doing it, I mean.”

  Despite the lamplight illuminating the paths through the garden, Malik was more in shadow and she couldn’t read his expression. He gave a slight nod of his head.

  “I like your daughter. I’m enjoying our time together.”

  Liana believed him, although she was a little surprised. She wouldn’t have thought that a Crown Prince would have a good time with a nine-year-old girl. But then, what did she actually know about the royal set and their entertainment requirements?

  “She talked a little about her father today,” Malik said.

  Liana wasn’t surprised. “What did she say?”

  “That she didn’t see him much when you were in California. That she’s sure he loves her, but he’s not practical enough to do things like send child support or visit regularly.”

  Liana stopped in the middle of the path and folded her arms over her chest. “It’s bad enough that I made a mistake with my life, but I really hate that Bethany has to pay for it, too.”

  “You mean your ex-husband?”

  “Yes. While I have a lot of regrets about the marriage, I can’t regret her at all. Bethany is my life. But it’s horrible that Chuck is such a jerk about seeing her. I’ve reached the point where I don’t even care about the money, but in addition to not sending child support, he would set up weekends with her, then not show up.”

  Liana sighed. “That was the worst,” she murmured. “Sitting with her by the window while we both waited. As it got later and later, she would try not to cry. Her effort to be brave nearly broke my heart. She didn’t make excuses for him, but I could see she wanted to. Finally I had to ask him to stop contacting her at all. The disappointments were horrible for her.”

  She stopped talking and pressed her lips together. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to dump all that on you.” She wasn’t sure where the confession had come from. She wanted to blame it on the wine with dinner, but she’d barely had half a glass. Maybe the rich chocolate dessert had loosened her lips.

  “Not at all. I’m glad I could listen,” he said. “Bethany is a special girl. It’s her father’s loss that he doesn’t want to spend time with her.”

  She looked at him and smiled. “Thank you for saying that.” She glanced away and said, “Chuck and I were too young. Plus we weren’t really compatible, although I didn’t know that at the time. Still, my marriage gave me Bethany, plus I learned a lot. I learned that I want my next marriage to be a partnership between equals. With Chuck I was always the grown-up and he was the kid. I hated that.”

  “I can see why. It would be difficult to be romantic while scolding your husband about some transgression.”

  “Exactly.” She tilted her head and thought about the mystery surrounding Malik’s wife’s death. “So what did you learn from your marriage?”

  Even in the shadows she saw his expression harden. “Not to marry an ugly, barren woman.”

  She blinked. “That wasn’t exactly what I meant.”

  “It remains the truth.” He motioned toward the path. “Shall we continue walking?”

  “Sure.” She fell into step beside him.

  “It doesn’t matter what I think about my first marriage,” Malik said. “The time is coming when I must take another wife.”

  He spoke so matter-of-factly that Liana didn’t know what to do with the information. Especially given the way he’d kissed her a few nights ago. “Are you…um…seeing anyone special?”

  “No. Nor does that matter. Like my first marriage, this match will most likely be arranged.”

  That stopped her in her tracks. “You’re kidding?”

  “I don’t see the situation as humorous,” he said, pausing beside her. “I am the Crown Prince of El Bahar. There are political ramifications to any marriage I make. When the time comes, I’ll do my duty.”

  “I can’t believe we’re talking about this,” she said honestly. “An arranged marriage? What if you don’t like her or you don’t get along?”

  “I have a duty to my country.”

  She saw that he was completely serious. He would marry a stranger for the sake of El Bahar. While she admired his dedication, she wanted no part of it. “Your life is so different from mine. I can’t imagine living that way.” She waved her hand in a dismissing gesture. “You can keep your title and crown and whatever else you have. I’d rather have my privacy.”

  “Don’t be so quick to judge, my prim friend. There are compensations for the lack of privacy.”

  “Don’t call me prim. I’m not some dried up old virgin schoolteacher.”

  “Agreed, but you are smug and convinced you know what is right.”

  She didn’t know how to respond to that. She was pretty sure he was wrong. She wasn’t smug. At least she didn’t think so. But instead of entering into a debate, she asked, “What compensations?”

  “Travel, wealth, power.”

  “None of those really work for me. Anything else?”

  “Just this.”

  Before she knew what he was going to do, he bent over and took her in his arms. Despite the fact that they’d only kissed once before, she found herself slipping into his embrace as if she’d done it a thousand times. Her body pressed against his eagerly, her head tilted back and she found herself wanting to surge forward and take the kiss he offered. She knew that if his mouth didn’t touch hers, she would die.

  Passion exploded with that first brush of his lips. He started with a gentle exploration, but she wasn’t in the mood to be seduced. Instead she wanted to be taken…and taken now.

  She raised one hand to his head and tunneled her fingers through his hair. As she did so, she pressed on his head, urging him closer. She parted her lips and when he entered, she sucked on his tongue, teasing him, arousing them both.

  Suddenly his hands were everywhere. On her back, her rear, her hips, then moving up toward her breasts. Their hips pressed together. She could feel the hardness of his arousal jutting against her belly. Between her legs heat and wetness made her ache with a need she’d nearly forgotten. It seemed a lifetime since she’d wanted a man and she knew she’d never wanted one as much as she wanted this one.

  If he’d pulled her up against him, she would have wrapped her legs around his hips and clung to him. If he’d started undressing her, she wouldn’t have thought to protest the act, nor the intimacy that would surely follow.

  Even as his tongued plunged into her mouth over and over again, she knew how it would be between them. Her breasts swelled and her nipples tightened. She gasped in anticipation as his hands moved higher and when he finally cupped the aching curves, she held in a scream of pure pleasure.

  She was hot and ready. She was willing to do whatever he might ask, and damn the consequences. What was going on? This wasn’t her at all. This was—

  He brushed his thumbs against her nipples. The jolt of electric pleasure was so intense her legs nearly gave way. Answering heat flared in her most secret place and she was afraid if he kept touching her like that, she might actually climax right there in his arms.

  The thought was so startling that she jerked herself out of his embrace and stepped back.

  “Stop,” she commanded, her breath coming in gasps. “I can’t do this with you.”

  Malik’s dark gaze met her own. Except for his equally heavy breathing and the ridge pressing against his fly, he looked completely calm.

  “Why are you upset?” he asked. “You enjoyed my attentions.”

  “Yes, but it’s not right.” She pressed a hand to her flushed face and closed her eyes. When had the world gotten so crazy? “You’re a prince. I’m
just some high school math teacher. This doesn’t make sense to me.”

  “It makes sense to me.”

  She opened her eyes and looked at him. “Is that what this is about? Did you bring me to the palace to sleep with me?” She felt a shudder of desire race through her and knew that she was right. She also knew that if she didn’t stop them both, she was going to give in without a second thought.

  “Don’t bother answering,” she said quickly. “I get it. This is some kind of game with you. Playing with the hired help. You’re on the board of directors for the school, so I can’t even protest to my boss about you, or I risk getting fired.” She took another step back. “Is that how you do things here? Trap women into situations that are impossible, then take advantage of them? Can’t you leave me alone?”

  Malik stared at her for several seconds, then nodded. “My apologies, Ms. Archer. It seems we have both misunderstood the situation. I won’t disturb you again.”

  He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving her alone in the shadowy darkness of the beautiful garden. Liana stared after him and knew that she’d over-reacted, speaking without thinking. Except everything she’d said was true. He was taking advantage of her and the situation. The fact that she’d liked his attentions only made it worse.

  If only he were a complete jerk, she thought, making her way toward the palace and the sanctuary of her room. But he wasn’t. He was charming to her, attentive to her daughter and she enjoyed his company…not to mention his kisses. More than enjoyed. And that was the danger. Because if Malik continued to press his suit, she would give in, and then where would she be?

  Chapter 6

  An insistent knocking woke Liana well before seven the next morning. She stumbled out of bed and into her robe, then made her way to the front door of the suite.

  After the events of the night before, Liana hadn’t been able to fall asleep. Now she found herself with gritty eyes and a sense of exhaustion as she opened the door and peered blearily at the three servants waiting patiently in the hallway.

  “Prince Malik sent us,” Rihana, a young woman in her mid twenties said. She gave a quick bob of a curtsy. “Sorry to wake you so early, ma’am, but he wanted to make sure we had you packed before you left for the school.”