The Sheikh's Proposal

by Barbara McMahon

  “Oh, Kharun,” she whispered.

  He hadn’t called, hadn’t made any effort to even find her, much less ask her to return home. Now that the leases were approved, there was no reason to see him again.

  But she wanted to. Wished she could be with him forever. Explain, make sure he knew she had not betrayed him, that she’d lived up to her commitment.

  A knock sounded on the door to the hallway. She pushed away from the door connecting to the sitting room of the suite and crossed the spacious bedroom. Was it the maid to turn down the bed?

  She opened the door, shocked to see two uniformed men standing there.

  “Sara Kinsale?” one asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Please come with us.”

  “Who are you? Where do you want me to go?”

  “Please come with us.”

  The second man reached out to take her arm in a firm grasp, pulling her from the room.

  “Wait!” She had to tell her parents. She couldn’t just disappear. Not again.

  The door was pulled shut behind them and they headed down the hall. For a moment, she experienced déjà vu—of a guard holding her arm at the jail in the desert. Was she being returned to jail? Had Kharun reneged on his promise to her because he thought she’d betrayed him with Pete?

  “I can’t go with you,” she said, trying to pull free.

  His grip was too solid.

  When they bypassed the regular elevators and took the freight elevator, she began to get scared. Her parents didn’t know she wasn’t in her room. It would be morning before they discovered it. Where would she be?

  Before she knew it she was seated between the two men in a fast-moving car. It headed away from the city. Into the desert.

  Sara’s thoughts swirled. She had to get away, get to a phone.

  Call the American embassy? she thought hysterically. Where were they going? And why?

  The night was dark once the city lights were left behind. Only the slash of the headlights of the car cut through the impenetrable darkness. Sara gave up demanding to know what was happening. She suspected only the one man knew any English and that sounded very basic.

  Despite her worry, she was growing tired. It had been a long day. Emotionally she was exhausted. The monotony of riding through the darkness began to wear her down. Slowly her eyes closed.

  Before she could fall asleep, however, the car began to slow.

  Snapping open her eyes, she stared around her. Nothing to be seen in the dark. The star-studded sky ended in the far horizon into inky blackness. No lights shone, no buildings were silhouetted against the night sky.

  The car stopped and the driver said something in Arabic. The man to her right opened his door and stepped out, motioning for Sara.

  She slowly scooted across the seat and stood. The air was warm, a light breeze blowing. But the scent of the sea was missing. This was dry, clear air.

  “Why did we stop?”

  “We wait,” he said.

  “For what?”

  He shrugged, reached for a cigarette and lit it.

  Sara leaned against the car, wondering if she dare try to make a run. She had no idea where she was, or how far from Staboul they were. But the faint glow back from where they came showed her where the city was. On foot it might not take her longer than four or five days’ walking.

  Her shoes weren’t up to it, though the long pants would keep sunburn at bay. She was getting goofy, she thought. She would have no chance to walk back to Staboul—she had no water.

  She heard a drumming sound and looked around, trying to figure out what it was, and from where it was coming.

  A horse. What was a horse doing out here in the middle of nowhere?

  It was coming closer. The man put out his cigarette and said something to the man in the car. The engine started again.

  Sara turned to get back into the vehicle, but he stopped her. “No, you wait.” He climbed inside and closed the door. The driver turned on his headlights.

  Turning to face the direction of the sound, Sara waited, wondering what was next. In only a moment she saw the horse and rider outlined against the stars. The horse looked huge, and the rider was dressed in traditional Arab garb, complete with a folded scarf across his face. Only his eyes were visible in the glow of the headlights.

  She reached for the door handle. She didn’t want to be left out here at the mercy of some desert raider. Was she to be spirited away, never to be heard from again?

  But the car was locked. Once the men saw the rider, the car began to pull away.

  Sara felt as if her last hope was disappearing.

  The horse took a step forward, another. The rider had said nothing. Sara’s heart began to beat rapidly. Glancing on either side, she could see no shelter, no place to hide.

  “Come.” The man reached out a hand.

  Sara took a step back. “I don’t think so.”

  “No adventure?”

  She stopped, stared. “Kharun?”

  “Come.”

  She couldn’t believe her ears. Was it him? But what would he be doing out in the middle of nowhere? She tried to see if the horse was Satin Magic, but it was too dark.

  “Come.” The hint of impatience convinced her. She’d recognize that tone anywhere.

  She reached up and in seconds sat sideways in front of him. She was barely in place before he drew her close and turned the horse around. Then they were flying across the desert.

  She hoped he knew where they were going. Not that it mattered. It was exhilarating, riding along the vast empty space, the wind in her face, the stars like distant diamonds overhead, Kharun’s arms tightly around her. She closed her eyes, savoring every moment, committing everything to memory. This was an experience she never wanted to forget.

  Sara wasn’t certain how long they rode, but when he began to slow, she looked around. No sounds met her ears, except the jingle of the horse’s bridle. No building rose.

  “Where are we?” she asked.

  Kharun pulled the horse to a stop and eased her to the ground, coming to stand beside her a moment later.

  “A place where no one else will find us.”

  She looked at him. “No one?” She almost squeaked it out.

  “You said you wanted to see the desert, I’ve brought you.” Swiftly he unsaddled the horse, and tethered him.

  He took her arm gently in one hand and led her around a low mound.

  “Wait here a minute.” He lifted the flap to the large tent and entered. In only seconds, a warm glow emanated.

  Sara lifted the flap and followed without waiting for Kharun.

  The inside stunned her. Rich Persian carpets covered the ground. Tapestries hung from the back wall, their vibrant colors reflecting the lamplight. A large bed was erected on one side, draped in gauzy netting. The center brass table gleamed in the light, fruits and nuts heaped in bowls.

  “Wow.” She lifted her gaze to Kharun. He stood like a bold desert raider in the midst of the splendor. His robes swirled around him as he turned and stared at her, his hands on his hips. The covering from his face was gone, but the rest was pure Arabian fantasy. Her heart skipped into high gear. Her blood raced through her veins faster than ever. She was almost light-headed.

  He’d been angry when last she’d seen him.

  He didn’t look angry now.

  Involuntarily her gaze moved to the bed.

  “All the comforts of home,” she said. She’d meant to be sarcastic. Instead the throaty sound of her voice was sultry, enticing, sexy. Slowly she smiled, hoping he didn’t guess how nervous she was.

  “Why are we here?” she asked.

  “Time alone, just the two of us. The negotiations are concluded.”

  “I heard. So our marriage is over?”

  He tilted his head slightly, then drew the headpiece off and carelessly tossed it to a cushion. His dark hair was mussed. Sara’s fingers almost ached with desire to tousle his hair even more, to touch him, feel h
is heat and strength.

  “So, do you mind telling me what we’re doing here?” she asked.

  “You haven’t seen the desert. I wouldn’t want you to go home without experiencing all of my country’s delights.”

  The primary delight she’d experienced in this country was being with Kharun, but Sara couldn’t say that out loud.

  “Aren’t you worried I’ll take photos and send them to the newspaper? Or report some nefarious deeds?”

  He laughed, his teeth startling white when compared to his tanned skin. “You said you didn’t write that article.”

  “Nor dictate nor collaborate. You seem to be taking this better now than this morning.”

  “Perhaps,” he said, motioning to one of the cushions near the brass table. “Care to sit?”

  She watched him warily for a moment, then nodded, moving to sink on the soft pillow. It felt a bit awkward, but was comfortable. She looked at the food on the table, at the lamp, anywhere but at Kharun.

  He sat beside her, crowding her. He could have sat opposite. Did it mean something that he hadn’t?

  “How did you do all this?” she asked, sweeping her arm to indicate the tent and the accoutrements.

  “I keep the tent for a retreat. It’s kept clean and stocked for me. Food is kept for Satin Magic, as well. When I want to use it, I let the caretaker know, and he disappears until I leave.”

  “So we really are alone in the middle of the desert?”

  “We really are all alone. Does that concern you?” He leaned closer. Sara could feel the heat from his body envelop her. His breath caressed her cheeks as she looked up into his dark eyes. Her own breath caught.

  “No.” It came out almost a whisper.

  “Good.” He closed the distance between them and kissed her.

  Reality faded and fantasy took hold. His touch was all she’d ever dreamed of, inflaming her senses, building desire and passion to blend with the love she already felt growing and encompassing her entire being.

  She returned his kiss, meeting him halfway, reveling in the sensations that threatened to catapult her into a realm of hedonistic pleasure never known before.

  His hand brushed back her hair as he held her face for the kisses that rained down on her. Then he forged a trail of fire and ice as he kissed and nibbled down her neck, to focus on the rapid pulse point at the base of her throat that seemed to fascinate him.

  Just maybe she wasn’t the only one in this fantasy.

  She should be doing something practical about returning to the capital city. About arranging her trip home.

  But Sara didn’t feel the least bit practical. She craved his touch like she would crave water in the desert. Maybe because he was as important to her life.

  “Tonight is ours,” he said.

  “Yes.” She would agree to anything he said, as long as he kept kissing her.

  But when he rose and lifted her in his arms, a moment of panic struck. It abated instantly when he pushed through the netting and laid her on the bed.

  It was incredibly soft—and large. More room than the two of them needed, she thought hazily as he joined her. When he kissed her again, Sara stopped thinking. She had one last night, and she was going to enjoy every second of being with Kharun.

  Dawn was breaking in the east when Kharun woke Sara with a gentle kiss.

  “Um?” She burrowed closer. She didn’t want to wake up. Didn’t want to face the day.

  “Come and see the dawn. There’s nothing like it as it spreads over the desert, the light faint at first, then growing bolder. The temperature is cool—nothing like the searing heat of midday. And the shadows allow your imagination to fly.”

  Her imagination was flying right now, and it centered on the two of them in bed, not getting up, going into the cold dawn air.

  She didn’t want her last night with Kharun to end. She wanted time to stand still.

  “Go away,” she said grumpily. If he didn’t want to stretch it out, so be it. But she could.

  “Come on, you’ll love it.”

  “I love you,” she mumbled. Then froze, suddenly coming completely awake, though she kept her eyes shut. Tightly shut. Oh, she hadn’t really said that out loud, had she?

  She held her breath. Please, please, please, she thought, don’t let me have said that out loud.

  His finger tilted her face up. She kept her eyes shut.

  “Sara?”

  With a sigh, she slowly opened her eyes. His dark eyes stared down into hers, his expression unreadable.

  “Well now that I’m awake, I might as well get up and see that sunrise. Then we can go back to Staboul and I can make arrangements to head for home,” she grumbled, starting to get out of bed.

  Their legs were tangled, and Kharun clamped a hand on her arm. She couldn’t move.

  “Maybe we need to talk,” he suggested.

  “Maybe we need to get on with our lives,” she replied. “Let me up, or the sun will beat us.”

  “We have a few minutes. You know the oil leases were agreed to yesterday. Only the formality of signing remains.”

  She nodded, longing to escape, longing to leave before she made an even bigger fool of herself. He had to have heard, yet he said nothing. His way of letting her down easy? “Yes. So I can go home today.”

  “I brought Alia with Satin Magic. I thought we could stay here for a few days. We have food, water, and the desert to ourselves.”

  She blinked. “Stay here? Are you nuts? There’s no reason to stay here. I should be making airline reservations. My parents will be going home soon and I’ll go with them. I have a job to get back to—” Not after she’d burned her bridges.

  “I thought you were working with Tamil on the tourist project here. That’s your job.”

  She pushed up on one elbow and stared at him. “What’s going on?”

  “I’d thought you’d stay.”

  “Why?”

  “You love me.”

  She flopped back on the pillow and closed her eyes again. He had heard!

  “And you have a job to do.”

  “I didn’t tell Pete about us. He tweaked some of the stuff I told him and blew it out of proportion.”

  “Once I cooled down, and Jasmine yelled at me, I suspected that.” There was definitely the sound of amusement in his tone.

  She opened her eyes and glared at him.

  “Are you laughing at me?”

  He shook his head, but the laughter lurked in his eyes.

  “Kharun, what’s going on? Is this marriage over or not?”

  “Ah, that’s what I wanted to talk about. Don’t you think people would find it odd to end it the day after the negotiations were concluded?”

  “As compared to when?”

  “I don’t know, sometime later, so people won’t think it was a false marriage.”

  “Sometime later?” she asked suspiciously.

  “Yes.”

  “How much later?”

  “I don’t know.” He looked at her sharply. “Fifty or sixty years.”

  She stared at him, her heart beginning to race. Had she heard him correctly? She cleared her throat.

  “That’s sort of a long time.”

  “I’m game if you are.” He brushed his fingers through her hair, smiling that sexy smile that turned her bones to mush. “I love you, too, Sara. I fought it at first. One day I’ll tell you about a woman I thought I loved before. But she doesn’t belong with us today. I want you to stay with me forever, but I’ll settle for fifty years with an option to renegotiate.”

  “And you are so good at negotiating,” she murmured, moving to meet him halfway with a kiss that sealed their future. “I love you, Kharun.”

  “I was hoping you did.” His kiss made her blood sing and her heart explode with happiness and love.

  Then he ended the kiss. “Time’s up. Come and see the sunrise,” he said seconds later, throwing back the covers.

  It was cold. She frowned and tried to pull the c
overs back, but he lifted her out of bed and placed her on her feet.

  “Hurry.”

  “I’d rather stay in bed.”

  “We’ll come back.” He tossed her his shirt, the loose one from the night before. Sara slipped it on, tied it closed at the neck and pushed the sleeves up so her hands showed.

  “Nothing’s been decided. We have to discuss this.”

  “We’ll have the rest of our lives to discuss anything you wish. But right now, come and see the sunrise. Later this morning—before it gets too hot, we’ll go riding.”

  He pulled on his pants and waited impatiently by the door. Staring at his chest, she remembered the feel of him last night. Happiness and love blossomed inside, spilling out in her delightful grin. Kharun loved her! Miracles still happened.

  “I thought you were furious with me.”

  “I was. But love is stronger than anger. And once I looked at things rationally, and remembered everything you’d ever said to me, I knew you would never have betrayed me.”

  He’d had faith in her even when the evidence pointed the other way. She’d never had that before. It was amazing how wonderful it felt. For the first time in a long while, Sara didn’t feel like a flake.

  “Thank you.”

  “For?”

  “Believing in me.”

  “And loving you?”

  She laughed in joy. “That, too. That most of all.” She ran across the distance separating them and flung herself into his arms. “I love you so much. I didn’t want to leave, but thought it best if I left before you kicked me out.”

  “Revisionist history? I believe you stormed out, I certainly didn’t kick you out.”

  “Well, I thought you would have, after seeing that damaging report.”

  “It would never have happened. I knew long ago you were the one I wanted. I told you, one cannot fight destiny. I wasn’t sure you felt the same way—especially after our arranged marriage.”

  “What are you talking about? You thought I was a spy!”

  He laughed softly. “Never that. You didn’t have the skills to be a spy.”

  “I resent that!”

  “With that honey hair and your flair, you could never fade into the background like a good spy needs to.”

  “Well, you didn’t trust me.”

  “At first, maybe, but neither did you trust me.”