A Marriage of Convenience (Married to a Prince) (4 page)

Sami shook his head. “You better think before you leap into the fire, little brother.”

“Don’t you think I have?”

“If you do this, you will be proving every worst fear she has about Nadiar, and she may never forgive you.”

Yousef pushed his clenched hands into his pockets and let out a groan. He was well aware of the drawbacks of his plan, but he also knew the consequences if he took no action. “And if I don’t, she leaves with my son. What kind of choice is that?”

“A damned
difficult one.”

Despite his anger, he was not looking to hurt Honor for spite.
Because of Joey, they would have to deal with each other for the rest of their lives. But if he couldn’t keep her here until they reached an agreement about his role in his son’s life, he wouldn’t get another chance.

* * * *

After placing Joey down for the night in the exquisite brass crib, Honor took a minute to admire the rest of the bright and airy nursery. Instead of the usual pastel decor that she never personally cared for, the room was decorated in geometric patterns of bold primary colors. So, she was wrong. The palace apparently was equipped to handle a baby. Considering the amount of extended family members that resided here, she shouldn’t be surprised.

Having grown up an only child, with no cousins that she knew of, Honor was overwhelmed by the sheer size of Joey’s paternal family.
According to her father, it would take the entire two weeks of her stay just to meet them all. Perhaps that was a good thing. The less time she had to spend alone with Yousef, the better off she would be. Despite the cordial attitude he had adopted since showing her to the suite, she felt the undercurrents of resentment.

He stood by the crib, rearranging the blanket around the baby for the third time since she had placed him down.
The loving way he gazed at Joey left her with a hollow ache for what she had lost. She blinked back the tears that blurred her vision. Perhaps she had done the wrong thing by keeping her son a secret, but she had been hurt and scared. And utterly alone.

She had to stop second guessing herself.
Too much was at stake. She couldn’t undo the past so she had to remain strong for whatever the future held. The network of support that Yousef had by virtue of his large family, gave him a distinct advantage if he tried to take her to court for the child.

“I think I’ll go to sleep myself, if you don’t mind.” Her voice sounded strained and she cursed the show of weakness.

He turned towards her. “I don’t mind. I’ll stay here with my son.”

“He will probably sleep most of the night.”

“It’s my time with him. I don’t want to lose any of it.”

She nodded rather than argue.
Yousef had no interest in seeing her side. He was too busy being right.

After a quick glance at Joey, she left the nursery through the connecting door to the bedroom.
The plane ride and the time difference left her physically exhausted. The trip through an emotional wringer left her drained. A king size bed covered with plush pillows seemed to be calling her name. She turned back, for one last look at father and son. A multitude of emotions played across Youssef’s face. A lump formed in her throat. She wasn’t sure what was going through his mind, but she did know with certainty, that whatever questions he wrestled with, would affect her life forever.

* * * *

Yousef decided to torture himself, so he sat in a chair in the corner of the bedroom and watched Honor sleep. How many mornings in the past had he spent like this? More than he could count. Apparently, she and Joey both had bad nights because they were still sleeping in at noon.

He ran his gaze over her petite form.
She was curled around a pillow the way she used to during a thunderstorm or when she was scared. He should be pleased. After what she had done, denying him his son, she deserved to be afraid. So why wasn’t he happy?

A soft whimper broke the silence.
He crossed the room and gazed at her while she restlessly thrashed about several times. An odd sensation tugged at the heartstrings he thought had been broken. Apparently, he was still susceptible to the blue eyed beauty.

He sat on the edge of the bed and placed one hand on her shoulder.
She jumped, but didn’t wake. Instead, she turned towards him, releasing her death grip on the pillow to take hold of his arm. He reminded himself that she wasn’t aware of what she was doing, but she was down-right adamant about pulling him onto the bed next to her.

A war of emotions wrestled with his conscience.
Was he taking advantage or fulfilling an unspoken request? Hell, it really didn’t matter when she snuggled against him and slipped her leg in between his. He wasn’t about to pass on this moment.

“Yousef.”
His name rolled off her lips like a prayer. She pressed a kiss to his mouth. She tasted sweet. She felt even better.

He gathered her into his arms and returned the kiss, drawing a response he couldn’t have imagined. Her soft, gentle, tantalizing fingers roamed freely across his back.
He cursed the barrier of his shirt. He cursed the depth of his hunger for her.

Her softer, more rounded curves pressed against him.
He had always thought her sexy, but the changes that motherhood had brought, added an entirely new dimension to her sensuality. How would he be able to keep a guarded distance from her? Especially when she responded so openly to his smallest touch.

“The beard tickles.”
A smile played across her face as she let out a longing sigh. Her eyes fluttered open and she stared at him for a long moment without reacting.

“That was a surprise,” he said.

As her breathing leveled, her gaze darted around the room. “What are you doing here?”

“You were having a bad dream.”

She shook her head. Her breath, soft and warm, caressed his neck. “I don’t remember it.”

She might be suffering memory loss, but holding her in his arms had revived a host of memories for him.
Damn, even in an unconscious state she could still get to him, leaving him with all the control of a simpering adolescent. The heat of her body fitted against his, the silky strands of her hair brushing against his cheek, left him aching for more than just a kiss. If he didn’t remind himself what happened the last time he allowed her to get close, he might end up letting his hormones do the thinking instead of his head.

Her face flushed pink with embarrassment.
“Can you let me go, please?”

“What if I’m not ready?”

“Let go.” Anger caused her voice to pitch. When he didn’t move, she wedged her arms between them and tried to push him away. Her strength was no match for his, but he turned her loose, anyway.

Honor scurried to the opposite edge of the bed and ran a trembling hand through her tousled hair.
“I have to get Joey.”

“He’s still sleeping.”

“I’d better check anyway...”

Rather than trying to analyze his own actions, he rose and went on the offensive. “You always run away when things get hot.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I’m talking about what just happened here.”

“I had a weak moment after an exhausting few days. Don’t read more into it than it was.” She could try to distance herself now, but she had responded to him with the same consuming passion that had brought them together in the first place. Her need to deny it only proved he was right.

She scooted off the bed and darted through the connecting door.
Yousef didn’t follow. She wasn’t the only one trying to regain her equilibrium. The sexual attraction between them was still potent.

When things had been good, she would have done anything for him.
If he played her right... and if he could keep his own emotions in check... he might be able to use that attraction to get her to stay without a legal battle. Now, he needed to convince himself that indigestion and not his conscience caused the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

* * * *

Honor sat in the gliding chair next to the crib and cursed her own stupidity. After a long night of Joey waking almost every hour, she was completely drained and the sleep deprivation had affected her brain cells. How else could she have been as foolish as let him kiss her? Why did she respond as if he was still her lover? She wished she could blame her unconscious state for her behavior, but she had been wide awake and fully aware of what she was doing. She just hadn’t been able to stop herself. Feelings she had believed dead, were still very much alive.

The past year had been a long and lonely one for her.
The comfort of his arms, the reminder of what once was, had been a temptation too enticing to resist. If she had only herself to worry about, she would have taken what she had so dearly wanted and dealt with the consequences when she returned home. After all, she had picked up the shattered pieces once before and built a life for herself and Joey.

Trying to finish her student teaching while pregnant and without an income, had taken a toll, but she had grown up and learned to stand on her own.
She could have demanded financial support from Yousef had she decided to go that route. And if she would have been willing to sacrifice her independence in the process.

Now, with so much at stake, she needed to tread carefully.
When she had seen Yousef yesterday, fussing over Joey, she knew he wasn’t going to walk away from his son without a fight. She would have to develop tougher skin and more self-control, or dealing with him in the future would be a succession of losing battles.

* * * *

In the late afternoon, Honor dressed Joey for dinner with his family. He was cranky from jet lag and a small summer cold made nursing him difficult. To make matters worse, Yousef stood over her, making her feel like
monster mother
because she dared to allow
his
son to cry.

“Can’t you do something for him?” Yousef asked.

“Do you think you could do better?”

“No.
He wants you,” Yousef muttered, but the admission seemed to be ripped from him. He leaned against the wall and glowered at her.

“He’s just out of sorts.”
She rested the infant against her shoulder and gently patted his back. “He’s not usually like this. Once we go back to the States he’ll be fine.”

His jaw clenched and his dark eyes narrowed. “I don’t think so.”

“He will,” she assured him. “It’s only a runny nose. It’s nothing to worry about.”

“I’m not worried.
We have excellent health care here.”

She walked to the window.
Her slow bouncing motion coupled with the bright floral display in the garden below seemed to divert Joey’s attention and quieted him. “He doesn’t need a doctor.”

“Did I say he did?”

Honor shook her head. She knew Yousef spoke English, but for some reason, they seemed to be miscommunicating. “I’m sorry. I thought you said he
wouldn’t
be fine.”

“No.
I said he wouldn’t be going back to the States.”

She turned towards him.
“Is that supposed to be funny?”

“Do you see me laughing?”
No, she didn’t detect even a hint of humor in his heated stare. His expression reflected a grim resolve.

Although Honor expected a series of arguments during her stay, she had hoped Yousef would give her
more than one day to get her bearings. “You know we leave at the end of next week.”

“You can.”

“You can’t take my son from me.” She raised her chin defiantly. “My father told me the law sides with the mother here.”

“I know
I can’t take Joey away from you.”

“Then what are you talking about?”

“The law will not allow you to take him away from me either.” He lowered himself onto the sofa and stretched out his legs.

She held her son closer.
“Are you telling me that we
can’t
leave?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders, maintaining a maddening calm, while literally threatening her.
“You are free to go whenever you want. Joey, on the other hand, stays.”

Her stomach knotted painfully.
“I can’t believe you would be so cruel.”

Yousef let out a bitter laugh.
“You want to talk about cruel? Not one word in five months about my son.”

She refrained from reminding him that she hadn’t heard one word in the past year that led her to believe he would be interested.
Guilt and anger played a tug-of-war for her heart. Yes, she should have told him! But he should have cared enough to call her before he left the States.

“There’s a difference, Yousef.
I didn’t set out to hurt you.”

“That’s not my intention, either.”