Midnight Under The Stars: Woman in a Sheikh's World

Grabbing her bag, she cleansed her face with one of the wipes she always carried, applied suncream and minimal make-up and scooped her hair into a ponytail. Then she tugged a fresh shirt out of her bag and changed quickly.

That was the easy part. The hard part was leaving the tent.

Facing him, after what had happened the night before.

‘Coffee—’ Mal handed her a small cup of strong coffee and she took it with a murmur of thanks, avoiding eye contact as she sipped.

‘So you’re ready to move out?’

‘Whenever you are. How are you feeling?’

‘Fine! Never better.’ And never more embarrassed. She couldn’t decide whether to pretend it hadn’t happened or talk it down.

‘Let me see.’ He took her hand in his and somehow she resisted the impulse to snatch it away.

‘It’s settled down.’ Which was more than could be said for her pulse rate. Could he feel it? Could he feel what he was doing to her? ‘How’s the scorpion feeling this morning? Perky?’

His mouth flickered at the corners. ‘Deprived, I should think. He only got to take a single bite. I’m sure it was nowhere near enough.’

Her eyes skidded to his and then away again. ‘Well, that’s all he’s getting.’ She tugged her hand away from his and finished her coffee. ‘I’ll take the tent down.’

‘No. I want you to rest your hand. I’ll do it.’ He strode away from her and Avery breathed out slowly. She felt weird and she didn’t know if it was the after-effects of the scorpion bite or the after-effects of a night spent close to Mal.

He had the tent down in record time and the site cleared while Avery stood, eyeing the ground for more scorpions and wondering whether or not to say something. ‘Listen—’ she watched as he threw the tent into the trunk, distracted as the powerful muscles in his shoulders rippled and flexed ‘—about last night—’

‘Which part of last night?’

‘The part when I—’ She cleared her throat. ‘The part when I wasn’t quite myself.’

‘Was that the moment when you clung to me, or the moment you begged me not to leave you?’

‘I didn’t beg. And I didn’t cling.’ She emptied the dregs of her coffee onto the ground. ‘Not exactly.’

‘You needed me. But I can understand that it’s hard for you to admit to needing anyone.’ There was an edge to his voice that she didn’t understand because surely they were way past this in their relationship.

‘I didn’t need you, but if it suits you to believe that then fine. I wish I’d never mentioned it. How long until we find your bride?’ The sooner the better as far as she was concerned. Suddenly she wished she hadn’t allowed her conscience to push her into this trip. No matter what she’d said to Kalila, if the girl had chosen to leg it into the desert that was ultimately her responsibility, wasn’t it? Nothing was worth this additional stress.

‘It is about a two-hour drive from here.’ He slung the rest of their gear into the vehicle and sprang into the driver’s seat.

Two hours and that would be it, she thought numbly. He’d find his bride. They’d sort things out. Mal would marry her. And all she’d ever be to him was a past he wanted to forget.

They’d see each other at the occasional high profile party. They’d be polite and friendly and formal. And in time the pain would fade.

She rubbed her hand over her chest.

He caught the movement and frowned slightly but Avery ignored his quizzical look and walked round to the passenger side.

This time, instead of arguing, they made the journey in silence but it didn’t seem to make a difference. She was painfully conscious of him, her eyes drawn to every tiny movement. The flex of his thigh as he drove, the strength of his hands on the wheel. The atmosphere was so tense and loaded that when they finally pulled in to the camp Avery was the first out of the car. She wanted to get this done. She had to get this done.

‘Stay there. I’ll ask a few questions and try to find out where she is. You’ll draw too much attention to yourself.’ Without waiting for his response, she walked towards the tent that doubled as ‘reception’ but, before she reached it, she noticed the slim figure of a girl hurrying, head down, into a tent at the far side of the camp.

Kalila?

Sure it was her, Avery walked straight towards the tent where she’d seen the girl disappear.

‘Have you seen her?’ Mal was right behind her and she scowled at him.

‘I don’t know. I think so, but presumably she doesn’t want to see you or she would have gone to you in the first place. I think you should wait in the car.’

‘Am I so fearsome?’ Those ebony eyes glittered down at her and just for a moment she felt the connection, powerful and unsettling. Yes, he was fearsome. Because of him she’d almost lost everything she’d worked to build.

‘I have no idea what she thinks about you. And I’m not going to find out if you’re standing there scowling. Go and take a stroll in the desert for a few minutes.’ Pulling aside the flap of the tent, she stepped inside. And stared in dismay because there, in the centre of the tent was Kalila. And wrapped around her was a man. A man who was most certainly not her bridegroom to be.

Avery absorbed the undeniable evidence that yet another relationship had crashed and burned. Despite her own unshakeable cynicism, this time she was shocked. Of all the scenarios that had played around in her head, this had not been among them. Or maybe she hadn’t allowed herself to think that the marriage might not go ahead. It had to go ahead. It had to.

Panic rippled through her and this time she didn’t know if it was for herself or Kalila.

Maybe if Mal didn’t see—if she could just talk to Kalila—do something—

She tried to back out of the tent before the couple noticed her and almost tripped over Mal, who was right behind her. Her retreat blocked by his powerful body, she tried to thrust him back. ‘It’s not her. My mistake.’

He stood firm, refusing to budge, his handsome face blank of expression as he contemplated the scene in front of him. There was no visible sign of emotion, but it wasn’t hard to guess his feelings and her heart squeezed.

Damn. It wasn’t even as if she believed in happy endings. But to have the ending before the beginning was particularly harsh. Whatever his reasons, he’d wanted this marriage to work.

She wanted to cover his eyes, to push him away, to catch his illusions in her bare hands before they hit the ground and shattered. But it was already too late for that.

In the circumstances, his control surprised her. There was no cursing or explosion of possessive temper. Instead he just stood, legs braced apart as he watched in silence. Everything about him screamed power and Avery felt her breath catch because most of the time she thought of him as a man first and Prince second but right now he was very much the Prince.

Clearly Kalila thought so too because as she caught sight of him she dragged herself out of the arms of her lover so quickly she almost fell. ‘Oh no!’

Mal walked past Avery into the tent, his dark gaze fixed intently on the man who had been kissing Kalila. ‘And you are—?’

‘No! I won’t let you touch him!’ Her tone infused with drama and desperation, Kalila plastered herself in front of her lover—was he a lover?—and Avery braced herself. No doubt there would be a battle for masculine supremacy. Holding her breath, she waited for him to face Mal, man to man, but instead he stayed firmly behind the Princess and then prostrated himself.

‘Your Highness—’

Avery’s brows rose because she’d expected fists, not fawning. Astonished, her gaze flickered to Mal and their gazes briefly connected. She subdued a ridiculous urge to laugh and then realised that there was nothing funny about this situation. Mal was desperate for this marriage to go ahead. He would fight for Kalila, she was sure of it.

‘Get up.’ Mal issued the command through clenched teeth and the man stumbled upright, but stayed behind Kalila with his head bowed.

Avery watched in disbelief. What woman in her right mind would choose that cowering wimp over Mal? Not that she wanted to see them fight, but surely he should at least look his adversary in the eye and take control. Where was the strength? Where was courage?

Nowhere, apparently, because the man, scarlet-faced, continued to stare at the floor while Kalila sent him an adoring glance. In the end it was Kalila who braced her shoulders and faced the man she was supposed to be marrying.

‘I won’t let you lay a finger on him.’

‘I have no intention of touching him,’ Mal drawled, ‘but an introduction would be appropriate at this point, don’t you think?’

‘This is Karim.’ Kalila’s voice was a terrified squeak. ‘He’s my bodyguard.’

‘You have to be kidding.’ Avery stared at the cowering man. ‘Your bodyguard? But—’ She caught Mal’s single warning glance and broke off in mid sentence. ‘Sorry. I’m not saying anything. Nothing at all. I’m totally silent on the subject. Mute. Lips are sealed.’

‘If only,’ Mal breathed, returning his attention to the couple in front of him. ‘So your “bodyguard” appears to be taking his responsibilities extremely seriously. Presumably he was wrapped that closely around you to protect you from flying bullets?’ His biting sarcasm drew an uncomfortable glance from the other man but he didn’t speak.

The talking was left to Kalila, who was every bit as red faced as the man next to her. ‘Wh-what are you doing here, Your Highness?’

‘I was searching for my bride-to-be,’ Mal said softly, ‘to find out why she’d run away. But apparently I have my answer.’

What?

Braced to defuse serious tension, Avery stared at him. Was that it? Was that all he was going to say?

Kalila seemed equally taken aback. ‘Your Highness, I can explain—’

‘You can call me Mal. I believe I’ve told you that on more than one occasion. And the situation doesn’t merit any further explanation.’

Why wasn’t he fighting?

Avery wondered if he had heatstroke. Something had affected his brain, that was for sure.

Kalila was still clasping the bodyguard’s hand tightly. Probably to stop him running away, Avery thought. ‘I can’t believe you came looking for me. Why would you do that?’

‘Because he’s a decent person and he was worried about you,’ Avery snapped and then caught Mal’s eye again. ‘All right. It’s just that you’re not saying anything and it’s really hard to stay silent—’

‘Try,’ Mal advised silkily and Avery clamped her jaws shut. Without even realising it, she’d moved closer to him so that now all she had to do was reach out her hand and she’d be touching him. And she wanted to touch him. She wanted to touch him so badly.

‘We came looking for you because naturally we were concerned that you might be in danger. But I can see that you’re fine.’ Mal was calm and composed and Avery resisted the temptation to poke him to check he was actually still alive. Surely he should be seething with anger? Burning up with raw jealousy?

Or perhaps he was just in shock. Yes, that had to be it. Shock.

But if he wasn’t careful the moment to act would have passed. And if he wasn’t capable of taking action, then she’d do it for him. ‘What Mal is trying to say is that—’

‘I can’t marry you, Your Highness.’ Kalila blurted the words out. ‘It’s too late.’

Avery closed her eyes. ‘Of course it’s not too late! Honestly, you shouldn’t make hasty decisions, Kalila. You need some time to think about this. And when you’ve talked it through I’m sure you’ll change your mind because Mal is a fantastic catch for any girl and you’re really lucky.’

‘This is nothing to do with His Royal Highness—’ Kalila avoided Mal’s gaze ‘—I don’t want to be the Sultan’s wife. I’d be hopeless. I’m shy and I’m not an interesting person.’

Avery gave Mal a look, expecting him to contradict her and when he didn’t, she took over. ‘That is not true at all. Just because you’re shy doesn’t mean you’re not interesting.’

‘You have no idea how hard I find it in crowds. And the Prince doesn’t want to marry a mute. He gets really impatient when I don’t speak.’

‘Of course he doesn’t!’ Avery drove her elbow into Mal’s ribs to prompt him to speak but he remained ominously silent. ‘Mal loves you just the way you are.’ Her less than subtle hint went unrewarded.

‘He doesn’t love me,’ Kalila stammered, her face scarlet, ‘he loves you.’

Silence filled the tent.

Avery felt as if someone was choking her. She lifted her hand to her throat, but there was nothing there, of course. Nothing she could loosen to help her breathing. ‘That isn’t true. He loves you. He asked you to marry him!’

‘He asked you first.’

Oh, for crying out loud. ‘No, he didn’t, actually.’ Avery spoke through her teeth. ‘I don’t know what you’ve heard, but that was all a big misunderstanding. You don’t know the details.’ And why wasn’t Mal telling her the truth? Putting her right?

‘I do know the details. I was there. I heard what he said. I heard him have a row with that horrible man who runs that oil production company and thinks he’s irresistible—’

Avery frowned, confused. ‘Richard?’

‘Yes, him. He told Mal that you were planning his party and he was going to have you as a bonus. Mal was so angry he punched him. And when he dragged him out of the dirt where he’d knocked him, he told him that he was going to marry you and that you wouldn’t be able to run any parties for him, now or in the future, personal or otherwise.’

Avery discovered that her mouth was open.

Slowly, she turned her head to look at Mal, waiting for him to deny it, but still he said nothing. Apart from a faint streak of colour across his cheekbones, he made no response.

Confusion washed over her. She knew he hadn’t loved her. He’d proposed to Kalila within weeks of them parting. ‘You misunderstood.’

‘I was there,’ Kalila said quietly. ‘There was no misunderstanding. It’s the only time anyone has seen Mal lose his cool.’

‘Well, Richard can be a very annoying person. I’ve almost lost my cool with him a million times.’ Dismissing the incident as a display of male jealousy, Avery forced herself back to the immediate situation. ‘He was obviously trying to wind Mal up and he succeeded, which is why he said all that about marriage … That doesn’t have any impact on what is going on here. Of course he wants to marry you. We’ve just spent two days chasing through the desert trying to find you.’

Kalila looked at her steadily. ‘Together.’

‘Not together as such—’ Avery felt her cheeks darken as she thought about their night in the tent ‘—just because that’s the way it worked out.’

‘He went straight to you with the problem because he loves you and trusts you.’

‘He came straight to me because he thought I might know where you were! That doesn’t mean he loves me. He doesn’t! I’d be a terrible Sultan’s wife. Actually I’d be a terrible wife, full stop. I don’t have any of the qualities necessary, in particular the fundamental one of actually wanting to get married.’ She was stammering, falling over her words like a child practising public speaking for the first time, exasperated by Kalila’s insistence that Mal loved her. ‘We’re just friends. And not even that, most of the time.’

Mal remained silent.

Why on earth didn’t he speak? And why couldn’t Kalila stop talking?

‘You’re the only woman he’s ever loved,’ she said. ‘He was just marrying me for political reasons. Because it was agreed between our families.’

‘Well, political reasons are as good a justification for marriage as any. I’ve known many fine, successful marriages that started from a lot less than that—’

‘Avery—’ Mal’s voice was soft and he didn’t turn his head in her direction ‘—you’ve said enough.’

‘Enough? I’ve barely started. And you’re not saying anything at all! Honestly, the pair of you just need to—’ Her voice tailed off as he lifted his hand and she wondered how it was that he could silence her with a single subtle gesture that was barely visible to others.

Kalila bit her lip. ‘You don’t need to worry about it. It doesn’t bother me that you don’t love me, Your Highness. I don’t love you either. It says something that we’ve known each other for years and we’ve barely spoken. To be honest—’

‘Don’t be honest,’ Avery said quickly, interrupting before Kalila said something that couldn’t be unsaid. ‘Honesty is an overrated quality in certain circumstances and this is definitely one of them.’

‘I need to say how I feel.’ Kalila stuck her chin out and Avery sighed.

‘Oh go on then, if you must, but you’re not displaying any of the cardinal signs of shyness, I can tell you that. From where I’m standing you’d be fine at a public gathering.

The challenge would be allowing someone else to get a word in edgeways.’

Kalila ignored her. ‘Mal is gorgeous, of course. But he’s also intimidating.’

‘That’s just his Prince act and he has to do that, otherwise he’d be mobbed by well-wishers, but underneath that frown he’s a really gentle, cuddly guy—’ Avery caught the lift of his dark eyebrows and cleared her throat ‘Well, perhaps not gentle, exactly, but very decent. Principled. Good. And—’

‘All right, that’s enough. We’re going to discuss this now and then the subject will never be raised again.’ Finally Mal took charge and Avery relaxed slightly.

About time too.

Mal’s eyes were fixed on his bride. ‘You don’t want to be married to a man who will become the Sultan?’

Avery gave a growl of exasperation. What was he doing? That was hardly going to persuade Kalila, was it? And, as if to prove her right, Kalila shook her head vigorously.

‘No. I’ll be hopeless, especially at all those meet and greet things you do. Parties.’ She shuddered. ‘The very worst of me would be on display.’

Giving up on Mal, Avery intervened again. ‘Did your father tell you that? Because honestly, it’s nonsense. You have a lovely personality. Stop putting yourself down! You have plenty to talk about. And anyway, all you have to do at these meet and greet gatherings is get people to talk about themselves. That’s what I do all the time at my parties. I barely have to say a word. It’s stopping people talking about themselves that’s usually the problem, not starting them.’

‘I’m nothing like you.’

‘I know! And that’s what makes you perfect for Mal. And you are perfect for him.’ Avery beamed at her, hoping that her body language would reinforce the positive message.

‘The moment I saw the two of you together, I knew you were a match made in heaven.’

Kalila’s startled glance made her realise she might have been a bit too enthusiastic. Afraid that her response might have a counter-effect, she moderated her tone. ‘There is no “right” personality for being a Sultan’s bride. You’ll be friendly and approachable and a real hit.’

‘But I’ll hate it. I will dread every moment.’

‘It will get easier with time, I’m sure. I have some girls working for me who were pretty shy when they started and now I can’t shut them up. Honestly, Kalila, you’re going to be a huge success and very popular. I wish you’d just talked to someone about this instead of running away.’

‘I did. I talked to you! You were my inspiration.’

Avery gulped. Heat rushed into her cheeks as she remembered Mal saying something similar. ‘Me?’

‘Yes. You told me to face my fears and that’s what I did. I can’t thank you enough.’

Avery made a vow never to give another person advice again as long as she lived. ‘I was speaking metaphorically. I didn’t actually mean for you to run off into the desert just because you’re afraid of it.’

‘That wasn’t the fear I was facing.’ Kalila lifted her chin, surprisingly stubborn. ‘The fear I was facing—am still facing—is my father. All my life he’s used fear to control me. I’ve never been allowed to do what I wanted to do. I’m not even allowed to express an opinion.’

Sympathy was eclipsed by her own feelings of panic as Avery watched the situation unravel. ‘Your father doesn’t even know you’re gone yet. Everyone has been covering for you. You haven’t actually faced him. You’ve avoided him.’

‘I’ve faced the fear of him. For the first time in my life, I’ve done something I know will incur his disapproval. I know there will be consequences and I’m willing to take them. I knew that if I ran off he would never forgive me. He will not have me back in his house, under his roof. I will no longer be his daughter.’ Kalila clasped her hands together nervously. ‘And that’s what I want.’

‘Well then, that’s perfect, because soon you can be Mal’s wife. This doesn’t mean you can’t marry the Prince. I’m sure there’s a way round this that is going to be fine for everyone—’ Her voice tailed off because Kalila was staring at her in disbelief and Avery realised how crazy she must sound. Apart from admitting that the last thing in the world she wanted was to be the Sultan’s wife, the woman was clearly obsessed with her bodyguard. There was no way on this planet Mal would marry her now. How could he? And truly, she wouldn’t want that for him, would she? She, who knew how badly so many marriages ended, would never want one to start in such inauspicious circumstances.

Avery’s shoulders slumped. She stole a glance at Mal but he seemed maddeningly calm about the whole thing.

‘So this is what you want, Kalila?’ His blunt question brought colour pouring into Kalila’s cheeks.

‘Yes. I’m in love with Karim. I just want to live with him quietly.’ She gave her shrinking beau a trembling smile. ‘For ever. Happily ever after. I feel so happy.’

‘I feel so sick,’ Avery muttered but Mal ignored her.

‘Fine. If you’re sure that’s what you want, then I’ll make that happen. If your father won’t approve the match then you can live in Zubran under my protection. You can have your happy ever after, Kalila, with my compliments.’

‘“You can have your happy ever after”! What sort of romantic claptrap is that? Have you gone totally mad?’ Exasperated and upset for him, Avery followed Mal as he strode from the tent towards the desert. Her head was in a spin. ‘You didn’t even bother trying to talk her out of it. If anything you made it easy for her by offering her sanctuary. Why didn’t you just offer to conduct the ceremony while you were at it?’

Not only did she not understand it, but Mal seemed in no hurry to explain himself.

‘Drop it, Avery.’

‘Drop it?’ She virtually had to run to keep pace with him. ‘Sorry, but did we or did we not just spend two days roughing it in the desert in order to find Kalila and persuade her not to run away?’

‘Certainly the intention was to find her. And we did that. Thank you for your assistance.’

Avery gave a murmur of frustration. She opened her mouth to ask him if the sun had gone to his head but he was already several strides ahead of her and she could see that he was angry.

Well, of course he was angry.

He’d found Kalila with another man.

Perhaps that explained his reaction, or lack of it. He was too gutted to respond. And too hurt to discuss it with her now.

She tried to imagine how he must feel, but as someone who had never seen marriage as an attractive option she honestly didn’t have a clue. In his position she would have been rejoicing at the narrow escape, but of course he wasn’t going to feel that way. He’d wanted this marriage. And as for the business with Richard—

And everything Kalila had said about Mal being in love with her—

Avery stared after him, Kalila’s words in her head.

He hadn’t been in love with her. She’d presented him with a challenge, that was all. They’d had fun together.

How could he have been in love? The moment they’d broken up he’d become engaged to another woman. He’d started planning his wedding. Those weren’t the actions of a man in love.