Bought And Paid For: The Tycoon's Sheikha Bride

by Holly Rayner

  “Well, that is encouraging,” Lily quipped.

  “Did you think me a hermit?” he asked.

  His eyes searched hers, as though her answer truly mattered. She stared up at him, utterly confused. What did he want from her?

  “I don’t know what to think,” Lily whispered, the weight of all the fear and uncertainty crashing over her. She felt like throwing herself onto the plush-looking bed and crying herself to sleep if only to forget her current predicament for a little while.

  Atnan placed a sturdy hand on her arm, recapturing her gaze.

  “You are going to be just fine—uh…” He stammered and suddenly appeared quite embarrassed. “I feel I have completely lost my manners in our escapade and have forgotten to ask the name of my damsel.”

  Lily stepped back, crossing her arms again, though she couldn’t quite hide the gentle tug of a smile at her lips.

  “I’m no damsel,” she reminded him.

  He nodded.

  “Of course. What I mean to say is, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss…?”

  Lily stared at him, letting him sweat it out for a moment. She had wondered when he would bother to ask her name.

  “Hawthorne,” she said finally. “Lily Hawthorne.”

  He stuck out his hand for her to shake, and she stared at it for a moment, wondering how it would feel to touch him. As an awkward silence encroached, she reached her hand out and placed it in his, her stomach erupting in butterflies as their palms touched. His handshake was gentle, yet firm, and he kept his eyes on hers.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lily. I hope we will become good friends. Until then, please take some time to recover from the day’s events. I will return to check in on you in a couple of hours.”

  “Uh…” Lily managed, ever eloquent.

  He released her hand and nodded before walking out the door and closing it behind him without looking back. Silence echoed across the enormous space, and as Lily gazed around, she felt a wave of relief wash over her.

  She was safe! At least at present. The police would have found them by now if they had been chased.

  She walked over to the bed, which was draped in a fluffy comforter, and sat down, still gazing around her.

  The truth of it was that she had forgone one prison for another. While Atnan had apologized for his comments about turning her in, she didn’t fully believe he wouldn’t use that against her. She had gone from facing a dark prison cell to being in a gilded one with no way to get home. Her warden had changed from the chief of police to the Sheikh, leaving her with the same number of options she had started with.

  Zero.

  Chapter Four

  Lily took her time exploring her sprawling, apartment-like room. The bathroom was equally spacious, with a large whirlpool bathtub and a towering shower. After a brief search through the cabinets, she found soap wrapped in expensive cloth and shampoo and conditioner poured into delicate glass bottles. She pulled a stopper from one of the bottles and breathed in the scent, relishing the smell of a flower that reminded her of lilacs but a little sweeter.

  There was a small sitting room with a stout bookcase that was loaded with books. Lily pulled a few out, blowing dust off their jackets as she admired the tomes, which were written in a plethora of languages and scripts. There were books in Arabic, Chinese, and even Sanskrit—if she remembered her ancient text class correctly. She pulled out a weathered book that was written in English and found it to be an original copy of one of Darwin’s studies.

  She quickly replaced the volume, scared to cause any damage. The reading room had a plush cream sofa with a cozy blanket draped over it, as though the owner had left just the day before and not decades earlier.

  Based on the rest of the palace, Lily wondered if the place had been abandoned for centuries before the Sheikh had decided to make it his home. He had clearly chosen his hideaway well; no one had touched the place in years, and it seemed no desire to do so would arise in the near future.

  Moving on, Lily pushed aside a pair of curtains to reveal a private veranda. Opening the door, she stepped outside and took a deep breath of dry, desert air. As the afternoon had waned, the sun had escaped behind the palace, leaving the side her veranda was facing much cooler, especially with the shade provided by a curling overhang. A frayed cushion sat on a wicker seat, and Lily plopped onto it, gazing out at the shifting sands of the desert.

  She had begun the morning in the tropical city, surrounded by humidity and lush trees. How had a few hours’ drive taken her away from such a place to this? It was as though she had been whisked off into another world, sands of time swirling around as the wind playfully picked them up and carried them across the surrounding dunes.

  She spent the rest of the afternoon staring out at those dunes, contemplating her situation and what she would do. Frustrated, she slammed her hand against the wicker only to pull it back with a hiss. A large splinter protruded from her palm, and she winced as she tugged it out, cursing under her breath. Would nothing work in her favor today?

  There was a knock at her door, and Lily turned, staring at it for a moment.

  She knew who was there. Who else could it be but her savior and captor?

  She let him wait a moment before rising. She cast one last baleful glance at the darkening sky over the sand before turning back to the door and placing her hand on the knob. After taking a breath and then releasing it, she turned the knob and pulled the door open.

  Her breath escaped her entirely.

  Atnan had changed for the evening. Instead of his traditional garb of flowing robes, he now sported a gray tailored suit that molded perfectly to his body. His broad shoulders were well-defined underneath his suit jacket, his crisp white shirt contrasting with his olive skin in a way that made it look perfectly delectable.

  Lily swallowed.

  “Well, it’s nice to see you also have access to clean clothing,” she said, trying for casual.

  He grinned, and her heart fluttered, which made her instantly annoyed.

  This was not a man to get all schoolgirlish with! He was a Sheikh, yes, but until she could figure him out, there was no use in allowing her attraction to win out. A handsome man could be just as evil as anyone else, and she reminded herself of that fact even as she fought to keep her eyes from devouring his body…from focusing entirely on his perfectly kissable mouth.

  Lily cursed at herself for not getting out more. She had been without a man’s affection for so long, she felt like a starved woman before a feast. How long would she be able to resist?

  And besides, she was assuming he would be a willing participant. Not to mention the fact that he had threatened to have her jailed several times in the past few hours.

  Lily frowned. She had let her body get the best of her mind, a weakness that had lasted but a moment. Her head was back in control, and she stepped back even though Atnan made no move to touch her.

  “I do. In fact, there is a whole closetful of clothing in your room that should be serviceable. I encourage you to make use of it. I can show you where the washer and dryer are for when you’d like to use them.”

  “Much appreciated, Your Highness,” she said, her tone scathing.

  Atnan stared at her, his eyebrows creasing.

  “I understand that you are frustrated with your situation, Lily. I would point out that it is not entirely my fault that you are in it, but that would be bad form. Instead, allow me to prepare a dinner for you as a gesture of good will. Perhaps we can overcome the seriousness of our situation over a hot meal and some wine.”

  “You also have a store of wine here? This might be the most luxurious case of glamping I’ve ever come across.”

  “What is glamping?” he asked, confused.

  Lily almost laughed, but then she remembered she was mad at the Sheikh for keeping her there, and at herself for getting into the situation at all. He wasn’t wrong, after all. This was almost entirely her own fault. If she hadn’t been so reckles
s and stupid, if she had just thought before she’d acted…

  No. There was no use in those kinds of thoughts.

  Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten a thing since breakfast that morning. While she was upset and felt totally lost, she had to agree that food was something her body needed in that moment. Looking the Sheikh up and down again, she crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe.

  “Is there a dress code for this dinner party? You seem to have cleaned up a bit.”

  “Oh, you noticed?” he asked with a gentle smile.

  Lily continued to frown even as her lips fought her every step of the way. She wanted to smile back up at him. She wanted to wrap her arms around his shoulders and press her lips against his and fall into him, pressing his perfectly tailored suit against her body.

  He shook his head.

  “You should wear whatever is comfortable. I just so happen to like a suit that fits.”

  “So, not a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy?” Lily asked, testing to see how much about himself he was willing to reveal.

  Atnan shrugged.

  “I suppose there is a time and place for that kind of clothing, but I was raised to dress up for every meal, so now I feel uncomfortable not doing it. I was also raised to respect other cultures, so I have no issue if that is your clothing preference.”

  Lily glanced down at her rumpled interview attire, feeling terribly uncomfortable. Her eyes darted into her room and then back to the Sheikh.

  “Give me two minutes?” she asked.

  He nodded, stepping away from the door as she closed it with a promise to be right back.

  Turning, she caught sight of the closet he had mentioned and opened the door. Inside, the space was the size of her bedroom at home, the walls lined with clothing for every occasion. Lily was fully aware of Atnan waiting at the door as her fingers skimmed the line of dresses before landing on a light yellow sundress with a 1950s cut.

  “You look appropriate,” she said, tugging off her suit as she slid into the light cotton dress.

  A white ribbon was attached to the dress around the waist, and she pulled it behind her, tying it in a bow before glancing in the mirror. Her hair was slightly askew, and she tugged it out of her professional up-do, allowing her blond tresses to cascade over her shoulders. It wasn’t the best she could do, but it was a far cry from the rumpled mess she had been just moments before.

  Trying on a few pairs of shoes, she found all of them to be just a size too large, so she opted to go barefoot, counting on Atnan’s respect for her culture. When she opened the door, she found him staring wistfully at one of the paintings along the wall. When he turned, his expression froze as he tried to control his features.

  Lily smiled.

  “I hope this is okay,” she said. “None of the shoes fit, unfortunately.”

  Atnan visibly swallowed, and Lily felt a swell of triumph. Two could play at this game, and she didn’t want to be the only one affected by her palace-mate.

  She reminded herself that she shouldn’t want to impress Atnan at all. Chances were, in the end, she would either be deported or forced to go home and live with her parents until she paid this escapade off, all the while listening to them scold her for her reckless behavior.

  Suddenly, life with Atnan didn’t seem quite so bad.

  Chapter Five

  As they walked down the hallway together, Lily breathed in a new cologne he hadn’t been wearing before. She considered commenting on it but thought better of it. She didn’t want him to know that he affected her so deeply. Besides, who said that?

  Hey, you know you smell good, right?

  Once again, she thought about why she hadn’t dated enough. She had no idea how to conduct herself around the opposite sex; she had spent most of her time writing about them. She had been an English major, after all.

  They passed through the dusty open foyer and into another hallway that led to a large kitchen that looked like it belonged in a restaurant.

  “This place could serve an entire army!” Lily exclaimed, her eyes wide as she took in the sheer size of the place.

  “I suppose,” Atnan replied. “Though it hasn’t served anyone but myself in quite some time.”

  “I’m a little surprised that a sheikh knows how to cook. Then again, I don’t know why I should be when I imagine this palace isn’t exactly where a sheikh would choose to live in the first place.”

  He ignored the second half of her statement, instead answering only the first.

  “When I was young, I used to sneak into the kitchens for sweets. Eventually, the cook set up a stool for me and let me spend my days down there, first watching, then helping prepare and cook the food. I learned quite a bit from that man. He was a good friend.”

  “You are speaking of him in the past tense. Is he…”

  “Alive and well, I believe. At least, the last time I saw him.”

  “And how long ago was that?”

  Atnan’s eyes sparkled as he turned toward a large fridge and began pulling ingredients out.

  “Oh, no. You won’t be getting answers from me that easily. I have to know I can trust you before that information makes its way to the surface.”

  “And how am I to trust you?”

  He set a container of fresh beef on the counter and met her gaze, placing his palms flat on the large, wooden cutting board.

  “I saved your life, didn’t I?”

  Lily scoffed.

  “I’d hardly say that. You certainly helped me, but do you really think I was near death?”

  “You don’t know our police force,” he said, his tone ominous.

  Lily’s eyes widened as she sat on a tall kitchen stool. Atnan opened the meat container and began pulling out jars of spices from a cabinet. He then looked up, saw her spooked expression, and laughed.

  “Lily, I was kidding. They’re tough, yes, but they wouldn’t have harmed you. Here, try this and tell me what you think.”

  He cut a slice of white cheese from a block on the counter and held it out to her. She stared at it and then back up at him.

  “You are the strangest man I have ever met,” she told him.

  Atnan grinned.

  “You might not be surprised to know that I have heard that before. Now, try this. Go on.”

  He held the slice of cheese out to her again, and she took it, careful not to touch his fingertips. She had learned early on that her body would react to him in ways it had never done before, and the risk was too great. Lily had no ties to this country. In fact, the place was trying to force her exit at that very moment. She shook her head gently, taking a bite.

  The cheese was cool and salty, with a sharp, lingering aftertaste of almonds.

  “Woah! I’ve never tasted anything like this!”

  Atnan smiled, pleased by her reaction.

  “In Al Yibri, we have certain goats that thrive off and love almonds. Their milk and cheese maintain that flavor when produced. I was surprised that nowhere else in the world can you find a concoction quite like this.”

  He cut one more slice and handed it to her before he placed the rest of the cheese in a pan and turned on a gas burner.

  “What is that going to be?” Lily asked.

  Grabbing a whisk, he poked the cheese as it began to melt into a sauce.

  “Tonight I’m going to make you one of our specialties: spiced beef with an almond cheese sauce. I think you will find that the cheese offsets the spice nicely, making it a perfectly balanced dish.”

  “That sounds heavenly,” Lily said, sighing, and Atnan turned away from the stove for a moment to look at her.

  “Are you much of a chef?” he asked, and Lily laughed.

  “Do you count boiling water and letting cheap noodles go soft in it as cooking?”

  Atnan grinned.

  “I’m sure in some ways it is. In any case, it provides sustenance.”

  “Well, it does keep you alive, when there are no other options.”


  “That is all you could eat?” he asked, his voice peppered with concern.

  Lily blushed, embarrassed. She hadn’t meant to admit to her own poverty, but she had no reason to lie, either.

  “I wasn’t exactly in the best place when I decided to move out here and start a new life,” she said.

  Atnan turned fully then, facing her. He reached for a bottle of wine, popped the cork, and poured her a healthy glass before setting it before her on the counter.

  “It would seem there is much about you I have yet to learn.”

  Lily raised an eyebrow at him.

  “I thought we weren’t in the way of show and tell around here?”

  Atnan shrugged, turning back to the stove to sauté the beef in a large black pan. The smell coming from it was sensational.

  Lily sipped her wine, unapologetically watching the back of him as she did so. The Sheikh seemed concerned for her well-being, but how could he be when, at the drop of a hat, he’d apparently turn her in to the authorities?

  Atnan left the meat simmering as he opened the fridge and pulled out a series of vegetables, tossing them into a pan and sprinkling various spices over them. As Lily continued to watch, she realized it was the first time since meeting him that Atnan seemed truly relaxed. A sense of peace washed over the room, which was welcome after such a dramatic afternoon.

  Lily took the last sip of her wine, and, as though he could sense that she was ready for a refill, Atnan turned and picked up the bottle, refilling her glass.

  Lily laughed.

  “You would have made an exceptional restaurateur, had you not been born in a palace.”

  Atnan chuckled. It was a soothing sound, one Lily was hopeful to hear more of for however long they had in their gilded prison.

  She frowned, then.

  She didn’t like thinking of Atnan’s palace as a form of jail. Instead, she opted to do her best to enjoy the adventure of it. Anyway, if she thought about the scary truth, it would be too overwhelming, and right now, being cooked a gourmet meal by a sheikh, she didn’t feel at all like a prisoner.