The Sheikh & the Princess Bride (9 page)

She climaxed again on the first full stroke of penetration. Echoing shudders claimed her as he filled her fully, as he breathed her name and moved in and out. Time ceased to have meaning. She clung to him, wanting him to find pleasure in her and relaxing with contentment as he stiffened and was still.

“Obviously I need to get out more,” Billie said a few minutes later when they’d cleaned up and retreated under the covers. “I’m not sure that many orgasms in a single event is even legal.”

“You are a powerful and sensual woman,”
Jefri
told her as he brushed a kiss across her mouth. “There is much more for you to discover.”

She appreciated him not making her feel freaky about what had just happened.

Frankly, she could probably live another four hundred years and never feel this good.

“You’re pretty amazing yourself,” she said. “I think a lot of what happened was because of you.”

“I can prove you are wrong,” he said. “You are delightfully responsive. I simply unlocked what is already there.” He smiled. “Shall I show you?”

By ten the next morning Billie knew that she would probably walk funny for the next six weeks, but it had been worth it. Spending the night with
Jefri
had been beyond description. What made it even better was the slightly glazed look in his eyes whenever he turned in her direction.

“You have destroyed me for other women,” he said as he held her close on the flight back to
Bahania
.

There was a sentiment she could get behind, she thought happily. “Me, too.

Although not with women.”

“Of course not.”

She sighed with contentment and wondered if her smile was as happily foolish as it felt.

“Doyle’s going to kill me,” she said. “After he has his heart attack.”

“Because you did not go home last night?”

“I’m not sure he’ll care about that, but he’ll be seriously
unamused
that I missed our morning classes.”

“Shall I explain that it was with my express permission?”
Jefri
asked.

Billie giggled. “I’m not so sure that’s a really good idea. After all, he’s my brother and when he figures out what we’ve been doing, he may feel obligated to beat you up.”

“He will not be successful.”

“I suspect you’re right. But it could create an international incident and we don’t want that.”

Jefri
kissed the top of her head. “I have some meetings this afternoon, but I would like to see you tonight.”

“Me, too.”

“Dinner in your room?”

“Uh-huh.” Dinner and then…

The plane landed at the private airport where another limo waited to take them back to the palace. Billie tried to get her brother on the cell phone, but he didn’t answer.

“Strange,” she said as she checked her battery. “I can’t figure out why he’s not picking up. He’s not scheduled to fly. Maybe he’s somewhere without cell coverage.” Although she couldn’t imagine where that would be.

“Once we are back at the palace, we will find him,”
Jefri
told her.

She nodded and slipped into his embrace. He pressed his mouth to hers, deepening the kiss until she wanted to ask the driver to pull over and give them a minute.

Tonight, she promised herself. They would make love tonight.

Their limo pulled up behind another one.

“A visiting dignitary?” she asked as he reached for the door handle.

“I had not heard of one on the schedule.” He stepped out, then turned to assist her.

As Billie walked toward the entrance to the palace, she heard loud voices. Was that—

“Doyle?”

She hurried toward the sound and came to a dead stop when she saw her brother apparently arguing with the king.

“This can’t be good,” she murmured. Had her brother seriously freaked out when she hadn’t come home? “Doyle, what’s going on?”

He spun toward her. “There you are. Where the hell have you been?”

Billie was aware of the crowd of people standing around, including a young woman of about seventeen or eighteen.

“I’m fine. Thanks for asking. How are you?”

Her brother glared at her. “I didn’t ask you how you are.”

“I know but things would be a whole lot better if you did.”

Just then
Jefri
came up and put his arm around her. “What seems to be the problem?”

Doyle’s gaze narrowed. “Why don’t you ask your father there? Or her?” He pointed accusingly at the young woman.

“Who’s she?” Billie asked.

Doyle’s expression darkened as his eyes narrowed. “Prince
Jefri’s
fiancée.”

Jefri
stared at the small group of people all looking at him, but he only cared about the accusation in Billie’s gaze.

His fiancée?

“It is not true,” he said quickly. “I have never seen this young woman before.”

But even as he spoke the words, an awful truth formed. What had his father done?

“On the contrary,” Doyle said, sounding furious. “Everyone seems very sure about this.”

Jefri
wanted to take Billie away and explain. More than that he wanted to turn back time so he could prevent this moment or at least prepare for it. Neither seemed possible.

“Hello, my dear,” the king said to Billie as he took her hand in greeting.

“Welcome back. I hope you enjoyed your time in El
Bahar
.”

“What?” Billie looked stunned. “Ah, yes. Thank you. It was great.” Her expression said the emphasis was on the past tense. Things were great no longer.

She looked at him, then at the young woman.

“I have to go,” she said and bolted from the room.

Jefri
took a step to follow her, but Doyle stepped in the way.

“Don’t even think about it,” Billie’s brother said with a growl.

Jefri
was not the least bit concerned about Doyle. He had to get to Billie and explain. There was only one problem—he wasn’t sure what had occurred.

“Father?”

The king smiled. “My son, this is
Tahira
.” The king motioned to the young girl who hovered at the edge of the foyer.

Jefri
studied her. She was young, perhaps sixteen or seventeen, and very petite.

She barely came to the center of his chest and her body appeared small and childlike. Dark hair had been pulled back into a simple braid. She wore no makeup, no jewelry and only a plain dark dress that covered her to well below the knees.

Jefri
nodded at the girl, a pointless gesture as she did not look up from her careful study of the floor, then turned his attention to his father. “There has been a mistake.”

“I think not, but regardless, this is not the place to have that discussion.”

His father was right in that.

Jefri
walked over to Doyle. “I never asked for her,” he said. “I do not know why she is here.”

Billie’s brother drew his blond eyebrows together. “Is she or is she not your fiancée?”

There were technicalities involved in that question,
Jefri
realized. Without speaking to his father, he didn’t know the truth. “I am not sure.”

Doyle swore, then moved close. “Don’t think this is finished, Your Highness. I don’t give a damn about who or what you are. You’ve hurt my sister and you’re going to pay for that.”

Doyle stalked off in the direction Billie had fled.

“A most interesting young man,” the king said and smiled at the girl. “Come,
Tahira
. We will adjourn to one of the small sitting rooms.

Jefri
followed his father down the main corridor, then along a smaller hallway.

When they entered the aforementioned room, he carefully closed the door before turning on his father.

“What have you done?” he demanded.

“As you requested. I have found you a bride.”

Tahira
stood by the window, her narrow shoulders hunched. Aware that she listened to every word, he lowered his voice.

“We discussed this matter recently,”
Jefri
said. “I requested you unmake whatever the arrangements might be.”

“I recall. However, things had progressed too far. When
Tahira
turned eighteen, she was required to leave the school.”

Eighteen?
Jefri
glanced at the young woman. Was it possible she was that old?

The king smiled in her direction. “Come, child. It is time to properly meet your husband-to-be.”

Tahira
obediently walked to the king. When she raised her head,
Jefri
caught side of large brown eyes brilliant with terror. She swallowed and lowered her chin.

“Prince
Jefri
. I have no words to express my honor and joy at finally meeting you.”

If this was joy, he would hate to see her upset. “
Tahira
…” He hesitated. None of this was the girl’s fault. “The honor is mine,” he said, trying not to sound grim.

“She has been in the convent school on Lucia-
Serrat
,” the king said. “Her father was my finance minister until he was killed in a car accident when she was only seven. He was a dear friend and his wish was for me to provide for his only child.”

Jefri
knew enough to read between the lines.
Tahira
had no one. There might or might not be any money from her family, but that did not matter. The king had sent her to the convent school where she would be well educated in the social graces, cooking and child-rearing, if not in the ways of the world. He doubted she had ever seen a man his age before.

Whether his father had originally planned for her to marry one of his sons or he had thought to offer
Tahira
in marriage to some highly placed official, obviously, she had not been prepared to make her way in the world on her own.

“She speaks several languages,” the king continued. “The sisters also said you were gifted in sketching and painting. Is that not so, child?”

Tahira
barely nodded. “The sisters were kind to me and offered many compliments, Your Highness. I would not dare to say I have talent.”

“Of course not,”
Jefri
murmured, wondering if there was a way out of this hell.

“She meets all your requirements,” the king said. “She is very pretty.”

Hard to know, what with her still staring at the floor,
Jefri
thought. Although her appearance was the least of it.

He had to get to Billie and explain. He had to make this right with her.

“You have arranged rooms?” he asked his father.

“Of course. Something with a view of the gardens. I thought
Tahira
would find that familiar. You had beautiful gardens at the school, did you not?”

Tahira
nodded.

Jefri
swore silently. “I must excuse myself,” he told his father, then glanced at the girl. “Welcome to
Bahania
,” he said stiffly and hurried out of the room.

He made his way to the third floor and Billie’s suite. As he turned the corner, he saw Doyle lounging by the door. The large man stepped into the corridor and smiled coldly.

“I figured you’d come sniffing around here,” Doyle said angrily. “She’s not here and I’m not telling you where she is. What I will tell you is you’re the lowest form of life there is. This may cost my family the contract and me my freedom, but I plan to beat the crap out of you. Prince or not, you don’t have the right to act like this.”

Gone? Where could she be?
Jefri
thought of the possibilities and decided Billie would retreat to the airport and the Van Horn complex there.

“Are you listening to me?” Doyle demanded.

“No,”
Jefri
told him. “But I understand your fury. I have two sisters and I would do the same for them. The problem is you are not in a position to beat the crap out of me.”

Doyle narrowed his gaze. “You think I care that it’s against the law?”

Jefri
did not have time for this but he knew Doyle would not let him walk away until this was resolved.

Jefri
moved close to the other man. They were about the same height and size.

“Do not let the tailored suits fool you, Doyle. I have been trained by masters.

You will not get off the first punch.”

Doyle’s hands curled into fists.

Jefri
shook his head. “You must believe me. I would never hurt her.”

“Too late for that. Where the hell do you get the right to take her away for the night? She’s not your plaything.”

“I agree. She is an amazing woman who constantly surprises me. Now I must find her and explain.”

“There’s no way she’ll forgive you.”

“That information will not stop me from trying.”

Doyle flexed his fingers. “If she’s still mad when you’re done, then you and I are having it out. Just so we’re clear. And for what it’s worth, you’d better have a hell of a good story.”

Jefri
nodded, then left. He raced down to the garages where he collected his Jaguar and headed for the airport. He didn’t have a story at all. He only had the truth. But would it be enough?

Billie found that reaching a personal best on a video game where she saved the world from outer space-based villains didn’t make her feel any better. She was a little surprised she’d done so well, what with the tears blurring her vision.

There wasn’t a single part of her that didn’t hurt. Even her eyelashes ached.

Her body felt pummeled and her heart…She didn’t want to think about the damage done to that organ.

Funny how she’d tried to prepare herself for the reality of her situation with
Jefri
. She’d thought she’d known who and what he was. A prince. Not the kind of guy a woman like her had a chance with. She’d accepted theirs would be an affair and she’d been happy with that. But finding out he’d been engaged the entire time made her feel slimy and gross. As if she were the other woman. Which she very well was.

How could he have done that? She would never have guessed he was that kind of man. He’d struck her as honorable, which just went to show she was an idiot.

It hurt, she thought, as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. This hurt more than anything, even that night when those guys had gone for her. They’d tried to damage her body, but
Jefri
had messed with her head and her heart.

She brushed her hand against her face and concentrated on the screen. More spaceships flew into view. She began to systematically fire at them, racking up points like crazy. All the explosions and sound effects from the machine provided a comforting blanket of white noise, but they didn’t prevent her from hearing steady footsteps on the concrete floor.

Every muscle in her body tensed. She knew who approached even before he spoke.

The need to run overwhelmed her, but she had a feeling he wasn’t willing to let her grieve in peace. Instead he would want to have his say and make it right.

How like a man. Just once, she would like to see one of them take responsibility instead of weaseling out of everything.

“I know what you are thinking,”
Jefri
said when he came to a stop behind her.

“Somehow I doubt that.”

She hated that she didn’t have to turn to know it was him. Her heart sensed his presence.

“You are thinking that I am a lying, cheating bastard who used you to get what he wanted. You are thinking you were tricked.”

She released her hands from the controls and let the aliens claim her last ship.

With her eyes closed, she did her best to keep breathing.

“Pretty close,” she admitted.

“Billie, you have to believe me. I did not plan for any of this to happen. Not you and what we did last night and certainly not that scene today. I would never hurt you.”

She drew in a deep breath and wiped her face before turning to face him. Her stomach flinched when she realized he was still gorgeous. Turning into scum hadn’t affected his looks.

“Imagine what you could do if you tried,” she said, doing her best to hold the tears at bay and keep her voice steady. “With a little effort, you could do a serious number on my heart.”

He reached out to touch her, but she stepped back. “Don’t do that,” she said.

“You are right. I apologize.”

She nodded stiffly. “So what exactly is the purpose of this visit?”

“To explain.”

“Are you or are you not engaged?”

“The situation is more complex than that.”

“Funny, because from where I stand, it seems fairly simple. Just answer the question.”

He shoved his hands into his front pockets. “I am Prince
Jefri
of
Bahania
.”

“I already know that, but thanks for sharing.”

His steady gaze locked on her face. “My father expects me to produce heirs.

After my disastrous first marriage, I decided that I was not the best judge of who I should claim as my wife, so I agreed to let my father arrange a match.”

Billie heard the words but had a heck of a time believing them. “You’re willing to marry someone you’ve never met?”

He shrugged. “At the time it seemed a simple solution to a problem I did not want to deal with.”

“We’re talking about your entire life. This is the woman you’ll grow old with.

She’ll be the mother of your children.”

“Exactly.” His dark eyes narrowed. “I wanted the right woman to give me strong sons and daughters. My father would be able to learn about her family, her education. What she would be like as a mother.”

Billie thought about pointing out
Jefri
could do the same if he would simply invest a little time.

“Let me see if I get this straight. The king wanted you to marry and you told him that if it was so important, he could take care of finding you the bride himself.”

“Yes.”

“That’s insane. What if you hate her?”

“My father would ensure compatibility. The point is a few weeks ago my father mentioned he’d found me a bride. I told him I did not want any arrangements made. I assumed the matter was closed. But I was wrong.”

Billie stared at him. “If you’re lying…”

“I give you my word. I did not know about
Tahira
yesterday.”

She supposed that was something. At least he wasn’t a complete bastard. “And now?”

He hesitated long enough to make her furious.

“What?” she demanded. “Are you engaged or not?”

“As I said, the situation is complicated.”

“By what?”

“
Tahira
herself. She was raised in a particular way.”

“What? By wolves?”