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

Reminded of the reality of her life, Alexa stood still. ‘What time will we set off in the morning?’

‘Early.’ Karim gestured towards the rug that had been placed next to the fire. ‘Sit. You must be hungry’

‘Not really. I just want to finish the journey.’

‘I guarantee your safety, Alexa. I just hope that marriage to the Sultan is all that you are hoping for.’

In desperate need of distraction, she concentrated instead on the robed man who was placing various dishes on the rug between them. ‘Let’s forget about the Sultan for five minutes. Tell me about yourself. You grew up in the Citadel? Has your family always worked for the Sultan?’

‘We have always been close to the Sultan, yes.’ He listened while the man spoke to him in a low voice, and then shook his head and dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

Alexa watched as the man melted away. ‘Is there a problem?’

‘He wanted to know whether he should fetch you a knife and fork. I told him that you want the full desert-experience. That’s right, isn’t it, Your Highness? That is what you’ve signed up for, after all.’

‘Obviously I’m eager to learn as much as possible,’ she said honestly. ‘Would the Sultan stay in a desert camp like this one?’

‘Occasionally. Sometimes the accommodation would be much more basic, usually it would be more luxurious. It really depends on the purpose of the trip.’

‘And you go with him?’

‘Always.’

‘He must be missing you.’ Alexa took the cup that was handed to her and drank thirstily. ‘It’s good. What is it?’

Karim lay sprawled on the rug, his dark eyes lazily amused. ‘Camel’s milk.’

‘Really? It’s delicious.’ She drank again and saw his surprise. ‘What? It’s rude to stare, Karim.’

‘You are used to drinking fine wines from cut glass. Camel’s milk from an earthenware cup must be an entirely new experience.’

‘But not all new experiences are bad ones.’ She finished her drink and selected some food from the dishes in front of her, following Karim’s lead and eating with her fingers. ‘Did you spend much time in the desert when you were young?’

‘Yes. My family’s roots are in the desert, and many of our people still lead nomadic lives. It’s essential to understand the particular hardships and problems that they face.’

‘So that you can understand the Sultan’s work, you mean? Or so that you can protect him more effectively?’

‘Both.’

‘And now you live in the Citadel itself? In the palace?’

‘Of course. I go where the Sultan goes.’

‘Then I’ll be seeing a lot of you once I’m married.’

Karim stared into the fire, and when he finally lifted his gaze to hers there was a mockery in his eyes that she didn’t understand. ‘If you marry the Sultan, then you will certainly see a great deal of me.’

Alexa felt her heart stumble. The thought of seeing Karim every day was unsettling to say the least. ‘Why do you say if?’

The reflection of the fire flickered in his liquid dark eyes. ‘The Citadel is a fortress, Alexa, not a shopping mall. If the Sultan so

wishes, he can keep you inside his palace and not allow you to see the light of day. Is that truly a life that can make you happy?’

Alexa smiled at the thought. Life in a fortress. With her uncle on the outside. ‘It’s what I want.’

‘You want to be closeted behind high stone-walls with a man you have never even met? It seems a strange choice.’

‘That’s because you know nothing about my life.’

‘Then tell me.’ He leaned towards her, his gaze compelling and his voice surprisingly gentle. ‘Tell me about your life, Alexa. What is it that makes this match so appealing? We are alone, now, just the two of us. Talk to me.’

Alexa stared at him. She’d lived her entire life alone, devoid of love and friendship, and the sudden flicker of warmth in his eyes was enough to draw her out in much the same way as a starving animal would tiptoe towards the promise of a morsel of food.

‘I’ve never told anyone.’

‘Then it is time to confide in someone,’ he urged. ‘Because such introverted behaviour is not natural for a woman.’

Most women hadn’t lived her life.

The past oozed into her brain like a deadly cloud, souring the atmosphere, and she scrambled to her feet quickly. She was doing it again! The urge to confide in him was becoming stronger and stronger despite the fact that she knew the dangers of speaking to the wrong person. ‘The meal was lovely. Please thank them for me. If we have an early start, then I think it’s best if I go to bed now.’

CHAPTER SIX

SHE’D been on the verge of telling him something. The question was, what?

And why was he so interested?

Simmering with frustration at her abrupt departure, Karim stood outside the tent, giving her time to prepare herself for bed before joining her. What confession had been clinging to her lips?

Regret for the life she’d led?

Second thoughts about marrying a man just for status and money?

Wondering if her conscience was keeping her awake, he pushed aside the flap of the tent and strode inside.

One glance told him that she was already asleep, apparently oblivious to the hard, simple bed, the spartan surroundings or the nagging of her conscience.

Her luxurious red-gold hair was spread haphazardly over the pillow like sand blown by the wind, and her mouth was the colour of ripe strawberries. Strawberries just waiting to be devoured.

Even in the depth of sleep she looked like every man’s hottest fantasy, and Karim experienced a monumental surge of desire as he stood watching her. The ache in his loins grew to agonizing levels, and he uttered a soft curse and strode to the far side of the room, vowing to stay as far away from her as possible.

Why had he imposed this ridiculous rule that she was to stay by his side for the entire journey? Just who was suffering most?

He lay down and waited for sleep to claim him, but it was asking the impossible, and he was still staring grimly upwards when the princess gave a frightened moan.

Karim was on his feet with the speed and grace of a panther, the hilt of the knife in his hand as he prepared to defend her.

‘Alexa?’ The fading light of the hurricane lamp was enough to show him that no one had entered the tent without his knowledge, which meant that her distress was caused by something different.