SHEIKH'S SURPRISE BABY: A Sheikh Romance (9 page)

“I am not going to abandon you, Sasha.” He blurted the comment out forcefully, making sure that his point was taken.

“Thanks, I appreciate that,” Sasha said, reaching over to squeeze his hand. “More than you know. So, what next?”

“We should get you ready for bed. You need a good night’s rest,” Ravi said. “After I tuck you in, I’ll go check into my hotel.”

“I’m not fragile. Do pregnant women get coddled this way in your family?”

“No.” His voice was defiant. “I shall not treat you or my child the way people are treated in my family. Not that it’s bad, but it’s stifling.”

“You can’t deny who you are, Ravi. You’re a great man, one that…” She didn’t finish her sentence. It wasn’t the time. He didn’t seem to notice, though.

“Perhaps not, but I shall not deny who you are, either, regardless if I’m having a son or a daughter.”

“You’re going to have it? Awe, thanks. I’ve heard it’s painful.”

Ravi looked at her strangely and he saw the smile on her face and realized that she was teasing him playfully once again and enjoying it quite a bit.

“I missed you so much. Can I kiss you?” he asked.

She nodded her head that he could. Despite what her logical mind said, she could not resist him and having him in her presence was a wonderful gift.

The kiss was sweet and tender, gentle enough that you could feel small movement in the air between their lips as they softly brushed against each others.

“We’ll figure this out together,” Ravi said. “I’m in love with you, you know.”

Did she hear him right? Her mouth opened slightly and she blinked.

“It’s true. I suspected it earlier, but knew it from the moment I saw you at the convention. It just didn’t make sense. I should have told you.”

“I suspected the same.” Her voice was soft and Ravi put his finger on her lips.

“I don’t expect you to say that just because I have. I have a lot to prove to you, and I know I’ve hurt you.”

Sasha nodded her head and then a rush of reality hit her and she yawned. No sleep, hadn’t come easy the past nights, and she decided to take Ravi up on that offer to tuck her into bed. He poured her a warm bath for her to rest in, brushed her hair gently, and tucked her in with four kisses—one on her forehead, one on her nose, and one on her lips. And the fourth one—it was on her belly, just below her belly button. “Goodbye little baby,” he whispered.

The sweetness of his actions had Sasha giggling, but she was tired and she did feel better, like the stress had taken a reprieve and she really wouldn’t be in this alone. It was one day out of an eternity of days that were yet to come, but it offered hope.

***

Sasha was on top of the world at work the next day, not ready to tell everyone about the pregnancy—not until after she went to the doctor, which was still a week away. When she walked in she got into her usual routine, organizing for the day’s events and chatting with Bev a bit, and then taking a few secret moments to delve into the thoughts of her little growing baby. It was a good day, made great by the arrival of a dozen roses—pink, blue, and yellow. How was she going to explain that, she thought as she smelled them in.

“Strange choice of colors,” Bev said, taking a sniff of the fragrant roses too. “Who are they from?”

“Ravi. Must be a good choice of colors for flowers in Saudi Arabia.” Sasha shrugged an turned her head to stop her smile.

“Sure, whatever you say, but maybe if you want to explain them less you should hide them.” Bev knew that would catch Sasha’s attention and when she turned around, she winked and then walked away.

And Sasha listened to the advice.

Then she got back to work, wondering what Ravi was doing. They were going to go out to dinner that evening and she was looking forward to it. From what she’d been reading, she might be feeling a bit off within the next few weeks so she had to take advantage of all the moment she had where she could have some energy without being too tired or worse, sick.

Sasha walked into the Ritz Carlton to meet Ravi in his room and when she got there she smiled. He’d had room service catered in. It smelled wonderful and he looked so handsome, a grand smile on his face and a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. She thought that if they had a boy who had eyes like that she’d always know if he was up to something.

“Wow, this is nice.”

Ravi came up to her and kissed her cheek and then guided her to the small table in the corner of the suite. “Please, sit down.”

“Okay, but I’m not fragile, you know.”

“To me, you are. When you’re on my watch, I’ll be taking great care of you. I know you’re capable, of course, but I hope you’ll indulge me, just a bit.”

“Who am I to argue with such an influential man?”

“You can pretty much get away with anything, I fear.”

“Highly doubtful. So, how was your day? I couldn’t stop thinking about you, about us, about this.” She pointed to her stomach.

“Me either. It motivated my every action.”

“Sounds intriguing.”

“I went looking for penthouses to buy here in Manhattan.”

“What? Really?” She was happy, but definitely surprised.

“Yes, we have to have a place to live.”

“Ravi, remember, I said that I wasn’t ready to get married.”

“I know, but we can certainly live together.”

“Not just because you’re going to be a father. We have to be a solid couple, too. We don’t have to live together to be united parents. Let’s just see what happens.”

“Perhaps.”

“Ah, the ‘perhaps’ is back, I see. Very tricky, sheikh man.”

“My title is clearly useless, because I am not getting my way. He faked a pout that made Sasha burst out into fits of laughter. “At least I can make you laugh, that’s good.”

She laced her fingers through his and squeezed, loving the feel of his skin on her palm. It was so relaxing and appealing. “So, did you find any places that you liked?”

“Yes, two in Carnegie Hill and one in Central Park.”

Those locations were an instant reminder of how much money Ravi did have. “Well, you can’t go wrong with either of those locations.”

“I can’t, but what about you? Which one would you choose first?”

“They’re both great. If you want a lot of room, Central Park might be better. Carnegie Hill has a bit smaller place, from what I’ve read. Can’t say I know for certain.”

“Well then, it seems like Central Park would be better. We need room for three and lots of room to roam and play outside.”

Sasha didn’t know how to respond to that. It was sweet and considerate, but also scary because of how real this entire thing was becoming. “We’re going to be parents in nine months. Wow.”

“Yes, and you’ll also see that you and I are a couple meant to be together,” Ravi said. “My love is real—and committed.”

“Maybe you should be committed,” Sasha teased, but then she grew serious right away. “I like your confidence, and I hope you’re right, for the record, but we’re starting out on different ground. It’s about more than just us.”

“Yesterday you said “us” as parents was different than “us” as a couple. You’re already changing your mind, this should be interesting.” He laughed.

“Laugh while you can, because soon enough that type of statement may make me cry, or worst yet, mad.”

“Both are horrible options, indeed.”

The two talked away through dinner and always gravitated toward each other. Their hands touching, feeling the other one’s leg, their arms brushing up against each other’s, causing a temporary startle from the voltage of their connection.

After dinner was taken away by room service, Ravi asked, “Can you stay with me tonight? I want to wake up with the woman I love in my arms.”

“I, uh, didn’t pack anything, Ravi. I can’t. I have to be to work by 6 AM.”

“I took the liberty of buying you some things, if you’re okay with that.”

“You did?”

He nodded. “Follow me.”

He went into the bathroom and showed a tray that had on the type of face products and cosmetics she used and other items that she needed to get ready in the morning.

“How did you know what I used?”

“I took note when I gave you your bath last night.”

“Wow, that’s so thoughtful.”

“Now, to the closet.”

Sasha followed him and when he opened up the wardrobe in the corner of the suite, she saw four different outfits there on hangers, each one beautiful and something that she’d pick out for herself. “Ravi, wow, these are amazing. How did you know what I’d like?” She noticed that the tags were even from her favorite boutique.

“I cannot reveal my secrets,” he said.

“Bev.”

“Yes, Bev.”

“Well, that wasn’t hard.”

“Probably because I don’t want to keep secrets from you. I want you to be a part of my world and for you to allow me to be a part of yours.”

“You sound so poetic when you talk that way; it’s hard to resist.”

“It comes from my heart.” He put his hand on his heart and tapped it three times, gently.

The look they gave each other stated that their minds had traveled on to what they both hoped for next. To make love again, and express their physical attraction to each other.

Sasha marveled, wondering if those amazing and electrifying feelings she’d felt with Ravi in the Catskills happened because she’d become pregnant, or if they were just because those two were meant to be together. She felt like they were supposed to be a couple, but with the pregnancy, the child had to come first. If it was still just her she would have thrown caution into the wind and pursued it the best she could.

“You look beautiful, so beautiful.”

“I feel that way. You have quite the impact on me, Ravi.”

He picked her up and carried her to the bed, knowing exactly what he wanted to do and having this desire to show her that what they had was about them; he’d prove to her that he’d been a coward when he’d avoided her because of his father’s disappointment. Even if it took him a lifetime, he’d figure out a way to make it up.

After making sweet, tender love, she nestled into his shoulder and murmured, “I do love you. Baby does too.” Then she fell asleep. For Ravi, sweeter words could not have been heard.

***

“Ravi, what is this downpayment on a home in Central Park?” his father asked.

The speaker phone was on and Ravi was pacing around his hotel room, feeling stir crazy and eager. It was nearly lunch time and he was going to meet Sasha, which he was looking forward to.

“Yes, I was going to talk about that with you today, Father, but you beat me to it. I’ll be needing a place here in New York, as this is where much of my time will have to be spent. I’m in the process of finding the proper individuals to oversee my other international projects and converting my US interests’ advisors into consultants until I’m completely up to speed.”

“You make it sound like you’re moving there.”

“Basically, yes, but of course I’ll be there in Saudi Arabia, too. I was planning on flying back next week to tell you all about it.”

“Well, tell me know. You have my attention.”

Ravi could imagine the terse jaw and the look his father was sporting, but it didn’t intimidate him, because he had to be strong, he was about to become a father, too, and with any luck, eventually a husband.

“Sasha is pregnant. I’m the father.”

“She tricked you!” His father pounded his fist on whatever was in front of him and it was loud enough to hear that noise, along with the crash of something that must have been nearby.

“Father, no, relax, please. She did not. There’s nothing that I have that she needs, other than me, hopefully.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that I am excited to be a father and grow our relationship, too. While the order of things happening is not ideal, I am committed to all aspects of this.”

“You’ll have an illegitimate child.”

“I prefer to think of it as you becoming a grandfather.”

“I will never be a grandfather to that child.”

“That’s too bad to hear, but it is your call. I shall respect your wishes, Father.”

“And if I cut you off?”

“It won’t matter. You haven’t given me a world class education for nothing, have you?”

“Hmph.”

“Father, I don’t wish to fight. I’m happy and I’m looking forward to every adventure I have ahead of me. Sasha and I get along wonderfully and we’re seeing where this all goes. We’re committed and we love each other. I know what I want and she’s figuring out what she may want. Either way, we’re linked forever more by a child.”

“Hmph.”

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must be going. I have much work to do and some meetings today.” Ravi hung up and walked out the door to meet Sasha.

His nerves were tingling from the unplanned conversation with his father, but it had been necessary. It was good to have it out of the way.

The lunch was short, as she had meetings and he did, too, but it was filled with laughter and a lively retelling of how his father had taken the news.

“Are you going to go visit him?” Sasha asked. The idea made her nervous, thinking of last time he’d left for a visit—he almost hadn’t returned, but it was the right thing to do, she supposed. She wanted her baby to have a grandfather, as her parents were no longer alive.

“I should.”

“Go next week.”

“Why?”

“I’ll be in San Francisco for work, that way it’ll be easier to focus on my conference there and the meetings.”

“If you wish it, I shall go.”

“Go for you, and our child, not for me.”

***

A week and a half later, Sasha was in San Francisco at her conference and Ravi was already back in New York City. His father hadn’t wanted to see him. He was disappointed, but he’d known he tried. But he was also excited, because he closed on the penthouse and was getting set to move in, picking out some decorators to present ideas to Sasha about the baby’s room. He had a theme in mind, and perhaps she’d like it, too. It was, after all, the theme that had brought them together.

Days turned to weeks and slowly Sasha had begun to spend more time at Ravi’s penthouse and less time at her home. The doormen knew her, as well as the neighbors, and she liked it there, feeling a bit spoiled about the glorious view of Central Park. But the view of the man who she loved was even better. She was feeling really great about everything. And ready.