Royal Affairs: Desert Princes & Defiant Virgins: The Sheikh's Virgin Princess / The Sheikh and the Virgin Secretary / Desert Prince, Defiant Virgin

‘If you have that degree of insight into the complications of royal life then you are clearly interested in more than shoes and clothes.’

‘I’ve lived in a palace all my life so I know what it’s like to be constantly under scrutiny. Everything you do is magnified a hundred times and then reviewed by everyone. I don’t suppose it’s any different for the Sultan. It’s all about manoeuvring and politics. Persuading other people to adopt ideas in a subtle way.’

‘The word subtle definitely doesn’t apply to the Sultan. He gives an order and it is done. That’s how things work in Zangrar.’

‘No one argues with him?’

‘No one would dare. It is not his style to rule by consensus.’

‘But you like him?’

Karim frowned. ‘I have never before been asked that question.’

‘It’s a yes-or-no answer.’

He inhaled sharply. ‘In that case, it’s probably no. I don’t think I like him, particularly. In fact, there are occasions when I probably dislike him more than anyone I know. He is infuriatingly autocratic, far too controlling and disturbingly possessive.’

Alexa stared at him, surprised. ‘You’re very frank.’

‘I thought you were looking for the truth.’

‘I was, but all the same—aren’t you worried that I might tell him what you really think of him?’

Karim laughed. ‘No, for two reasons. Firstly, when you are with the Sultan he will not be either wanting or expecting conversation from you. And secondly, the Sultan has absolutely no need or particular desire to be liked. Respect—now, that’s a different matter entirely.’

Alexa chose to ignore his oblique reference to sex. ‘So you respect him?’

‘He and I share a similar vision for Zangrar.’

‘And you think he’s the man to bring that vision to life?’

‘Without a doubt. The Sultan is not a man to entertain the possibility of failure.’

‘Well, that’s good, then. He wants something badly and he’s prepared to go for it.’

‘He takes that approach to everything in his life. He decides what is important, and then he pursues that goal relentlessly until it is achieved. He never fails. You might want to remember that.’

‘I hope I’ll be of use to him.’

‘You’ll definitely be of use.’

Alexa felt a flicker of disquiet, but chose to ignore the implication behind his words. ‘I can give him an impartial opinion.’ She knew more about palace politics than most people.

Karim laughed with genuine amusement. ‘You think the Sultan will be interested in your opinion? This is Zangrar, Alexa. The Sultan’s expectations of your role will not extend beyond the bedroom.’

Suddenly the car seemed like a furnace. ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

‘I’m being honest. Clearly you haven’t thought beyond your wedding.’

Alexa tensed in her seat, knowing that it was true. ‘As his wife I can be extremely useful in many ways.’

‘There will be only one way that interests the Sultan.’ Karim glanced at her briefly, his expression thoughtful. ‘But you shouldn’t worry about it. As I discovered last night, you are clearly an extremely sexual young woman. I’m sure you’ll be able to keep him satisfied, as long as you take plenty of rest in the hours that he is working.’

‘Now you really are being ridiculous.’

‘On the contrary, the Sultan is a man who sets himself a punishing work-agenda. He has little time for relaxation and even less time for physical exercise so these days he tends to combine the two. He has an extremely high sex-drive, but you shouldn’t find that a problem. You’re clearly a woman with energy and drive of your own. The more I see of you, the more convinced I am that this marriage is to be celebrated by all concerned.’

‘The Sultan and I will share a great deal more than sex,’ Alexa said stiffly, ignoring the sudden churning of her insides. ‘My background is not so dissimilar to his. I’m sure that once I understand him, I’ll be able to help in all sorts of ways.’

‘The Sultan will not require you to understand him. And he seeks the help of no one. As I said, your role will simply be one of—’ he paused as he hunted for the word ‘—recreation.’

‘You can’t possibly know that.’ Alexa sat back in her seat. ‘For a start, he has never even met me. He may not find me attractive.’

‘The Sultan does take a great interest in the international press,’ Karim said gently. ‘Like most people, he is already intimately acquainted with your charms.’

The memory of just how those photographs had been taken made her insides churn with misery. ‘Those photographs were taken without my knowledge. I was set up.’

‘You weren’t really with the man?’

‘Yes, I was, but—’

‘You don’t owe me an explanation. And as for the Sultan …’ Karim gave an expressive shrug. ‘I have no idea how he feels about it, of course, but it probably isn’t a good idea to raise the subject. Obviously he isn’t expecting a virgin bride, but that needn’t necessarily work to your disadvantage. On the contrary, having an experienced woman in his bed means that he won’t feel obliged to curb his appetites. Am I driving fast enough for you?’

His question made her wonder whether he had guessed that she was suddenly wishing they were driving in the opposite direction, and Alexa looked away from him. She didn’t want to think about the photographs, she didn’t want to think about discussing her past with the Sultan, and she especially didn’t want to think about being in the Sultan’s bed! It just wasn’t a thought that had even crossed her mind before now. And then she realized why she was feeling so uncomfortable—during all the references to sex with the Sultan, her mind had conjured up disturbingly explicit pictures, and all of them had involved Karim.

The chemistry had been alive from the moment they had met, but it seemed to be growing in intensity with each moment they spent in the desert. Perhaps it was because he seemed so comfortable in these surroundings. Comfortable and confident.

And breathtakingly sexy.

The thought shocked her.

This was not the time to be noticing a man.

Alexa kept her eyes forward, reminding herself that marriage to the Sultan could only be a step up from the life she’d had up until now. ‘Perhaps the Sultan and I will get on extremely well. Have you known him long?’ Glancing towards him, she wondered why the question should make him smile.

‘All my life.’

‘You were playmates?’ She guessed that they were about the same age, so it was the only explanation.

‘Of a sort.’

By that he presumably meant that the Sultan was of royal blood whereas he wasn’t. ‘So you know him well?’

‘Too well. I am closely acquainted with all his most irritating personality traits.’

‘Such as?’

‘The list is endless. He is far too intolerant of the deficiencies of others. Impatient and quick to anger. He’s arrogant, and rarely, if ever, believes that anyone else can understand and grasp the subtleties of a situation as well as he can.’