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

‘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.’