The Defiant Princess Page 9

  Perhaps the thought was unworthy of him, but at the very least by marrying Sabihah the sizzling sexual awareness arcing between them could be explored and satisfied. It mightn’t be the comfortable marriage he’d envisaged and if the princess harboured any romantic notions, it wouldn’t be her ideal either. But having her in his bed promised some compensation for being bound by the shackles of marriage.

  Feeling an unwanted hardness stir in his groin, he made his way out of the jet’s office, scornful of his own thoughts. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on his desire for the princess and there was no point in any further introspection because the die was cast. Thanks to his father’s orchestrations, he needed to wake Sabihah and prepare her for what lay ahead.

  His steps faltered and his throat tightened as he saw her. Despite just having lectured himself to keep control, instant desire blazed whenever he was near her. A high-octane fire burned in his blood.

  The physical distance he’d placed between them on the jet, the time that had passed since their kisses at the airport, the amount of paperwork he’d immersed himself in during the flight—none of it had been enough to stop this strong pull of attraction.

  Even now as he watched Sabihah sleep in the jet’s luxurious sky bed, Khalid fought the urge to draw her into his arms and kiss her awake.

  She shifted slightly. A strand of angel-blonde hair caressed her cheek the way Khalid’s hands were itching to touch the smooth perfection of her skin.

  Damn it all. She was just a woman.

  A woman who was now to be his wife.

  Reaching out, Khalid touched her shoulder. The zap of electrical current had him swallowing hard before he spoke. “Sabihah, it’s time to wake up.”

  Her eyelids fluttered slightly then opened. Her intense blue gaze collided with his.

  “Khalid?” she asked in a sleep-husky voice.

  “We land in an hour and a half.”

  “Oh.” She scrambled upright. An awkward silence descended as Khalid steered his thoughts away from the gentle rise and fall of her generous breasts and how they would feel cupped in his palms.

  He cleared his throat and took a step backward as he felt his blood rushing south. He must focus on preparing her for their arrival. “My father has announced you’re alive.”

  Panic flared in her eyes. “That wasn’t supposed to happen yet!”

  “King Hassan believes you’ll be safer when the Council acknowledges you as rightful ruler. That’s why he’s informed the Arab Council of your imminent arrival.”

  She threw the blanket off her and got up from the bed. Her stance was confrontational as she faced him. “I trusted you. Clearly I shouldn’t have. You know full well I wanted to do this in my own time yet you’ve disregarded all I’ve said.”

  His fists clenched by his sides. Nobody had ever intimated he was less than trustworthy. Again, he cursed his father’s sheer bloody-mindedness in the handling of this situation. “I understood but my father chose to ignore the message I conveyed to him. “ He stood firm as her eyes threw daggers at him. “There’ll be a representative from each country from the Council waiting to meet you.”

  Her lips parted. “When’s that going to happen?”

  “They’ll be on the tarmac when we touch down.”

  “No! I’m not ready for that!” Her upper teeth began to worry at her lower lip. “Why didn’t you tell me? I thought I’d have some time to adjust.”

  “That was my plan. I’ve only just learned of this. Believe me, if I could have overturned my father’s orders and sheltered you a little longer from the intense scrutiny you’ll face I would have.” He hadn’t had any time to prepare her for royal protocol. Rightful successor to the throne or not, all she said and did would be out there for criticism. If she didn’t handle this arrival and meeting well, it could make her transition to the throne and her subsequent ruling of Rhajia much more difficult.

  “Really?” She glared at him. “Or was this part of the plan all along?” She wrung her hands together as she faced him. “You told me we’d take this slowly, yet you’ve rushed me out of Australia at light-speed. You said you’d prepare me for all that I’d encounter but I feel like a total fraud.”

  “I meant everything I said,” he acknowledged. “Unfortunately that’s not the way things have turned out. The best we can do now is handle the cards as they’ve been dealt. Say little. Act as if you’ve been born to the throne—which you have—and leave no room for doubt in their minds.”

  “Their minds must be full of doubt. They wouldn’t just buy the whole story of my reappearance.”

  “Of course not. They’ll be highly suspicious. I believe that’s why they’ll be there to meet you and question you.”

  “What about Mustaf?” She shuddered as she uttered her uncle’s name. Every one of her features was taut.

  “He’s denying your existence.” Khalid shrugged as if it were inconsequential. He hoped that if he projected an image of calm it would soothe her nervousness.

  “So, what’s he going to do? Is he …?” Her voice quavered and she paled. He watched the slender column of her neck move up and down as she swallowed. “Is there likely to be an attempt on my life the minute I arrive?”

  “The airport is secure.”

  “What about the trip to the palace?” There was a note of panic in her voice, and he noticed the way she began to pleat the hem of her shirt with her fingertips. “My parents were assassinated in their car.”

  Khalid exhaled a deep breath. “I understand your fears. I share them. Until Mustaf is deposed and locked up for the crimes he’s perpetrated—and all his supporters are under control—your life is in danger,” he said. “But you’re safer here than you would have been had you stayed in Australia.”

  She closed her eyes briefly. “Apart from denying I exist, has he reacted in any other way? Made any threats?”

  Khalid’s lips twisted. He noted she’d moved slightly and now gripped the back of a chair with such ferocity her knuckles were white. Of course she was worried, and she was entitled to the truth. “His troops are being mobilised and he’ll declare war on Turastan unless my father refutes the claim that you’re the rightful ruler of Rhajia.”

  “Oh my God!” Both of her hands shot up to her temples. Her expression reflected her horror at the entire situation. “My reappearance was supposed to help Rhajia, not create a war. This is all my fault!”

  Slowly, Khalid reached out and placed his hands on hers. He drew them down and held them firmly against his chest. He felt her tremble and his first instinct was to lend her physical comfort. He resisted, unsure he could ignore the physical pull of attraction. Instead, he regarded her steadily. “It’s not your fault.” Shifting one of his hands so the tips of his fingers trailed down her soft cheek he told her, “You are the solution, not the problem.”

  “I don’t see how.”

  Tears pooled in her eyes, making them the deep blue of the ocean. The vulnerability she felt was evident in the way her perfect upper teeth bit down onto the fullness of her lower lip. For all her strength and confidence, she wanted reassurance. Despite her intelligence, she needed guidance. Something moved in his chest—an indefinable emotion assailed him. He wanted to provide her with that reassurance and guidance. He was pleased she looked to him for it.

  It felt … right.

  “How can I provide a solution? If it wasn’t for me he wouldn’t be preparing for war.” Her voice hitched on the final word.

  “You’re wrong. Only days ago Mustaf threatened to cut off the main source of water to Turastan if my sister, Lalita, does not marry his son,” he told her quietly. “War was likely to ensue.”

  She frowned up at him. “I remember you mentioned something about that. That’s why your father was so happy to locate me?”

  “Yes.”

  “I see.” She pulled away from him abruptly.

  When she met his eyes again, the blue depths of hers glittered with pain and anger. “Why am I surprised?” Her
expression taut, her voice hard, she said, “This has never been about any right I have to assume the throne.”

  “You’re wrong.”

  “No, I’m not. Rhajia’s been in crisis for years yet your father did nothing to renew his search for me. The betrothal arrangement made between our fathers was easily forgotten as Hazim married Barika. Now, I’m just a convenience for Turastan. Bring me out of the woodwork and you get rid of Mustaf. You’re just trying to prevent your water supply drying up. You’re trying to avert a war and saving your sister from an unwanted marriage.” Her arms crossed over her chest in what appeared to be a self-comforting action. “You’re both prepared to make me the human sacrifice instead of your sister. Did you or your father ever care about the people of Rhajia? You certainly don’t give a hoot about me.”

  “Sabihah—”

  “You’re as inhuman as Mustaf.”

  Khalid drew in a sharp breath and clenched his hands. Her accusation was both offensive and inaccurate. He forced himself to breathe deeper and regain control. One of them had to stay logical. Fists unclenched slowly. “Luckily for you, that isn’t true,” he said savagely. “So don’t ever compare me to that bastard.”

  “You don’t give a damn about how this will affect my life. You wouldn’t have even come looking for me except that you were backed into a corner,” she flung back.

  “I told you my father looked for you years ago,” Khalid argued, but even to his own ears it sounded lame.

  She totally ignored him. “You’re just strategists treating this like a game of chess. You’re ignoring the fact that Rhajians have just as many rights as the Turastani people, and you’ve grossly underestimated me if you think I’ll be treated like a pawn in your game!”

  “That’s not the case!”

  “Save it.” Her chest rose and fell rapidly, the result of too many short, choppy breaths. “I may’ve been a bit slow, but I’ve got it figured out now. Neither you nor Mustaf really care about the people of Rhajia. It’s going to come down to someone who’s essentially a foreigner, with no idea how to start ruling a country, to try to set things right.”

  Her accusation shamed him. As unjust as her fundamental accusations had been, they did contain a shred of truth. She was the only weapon King Hassan had to use against Mustaf. First and foremost, both Khalid and his father were trying to save Lalita and the people of Turastan.

  At his father’s bidding, Khalid had ridden roughshod over Sabihah’s objections, placed her in danger and forced her to come to Turastan. He’d forced her to accept her royal birthright when she had no desire to do so. And, given how much Khalid resented his royal duty at times, what was he doing forcing someone else to wear the leg-irons that were part and parcel of being royal?

  While Sabihah continued to glare at him, Khalid sat down and tried to think clearly through the emotion-charged atmosphere.

  “You’re right to some degree,” he finally admitted.

  She made a scoffing sound.

  “Sabihah—”

  “Sabrina,” she corrected mutinously, everything in her stance telling him she wasn’t prepared to trust him an inch.

  He raised an eyebrow. It made no difference how he addressed her. She was the Rhajian princess. “Sabrina,” he conceded.

  She continued to glare at him.

  “I’m sorry your parents were murdered.”

  At the mention of her parents’ murder her posture lost some of its starch and her anger seemed to drain away a fraction. “That was hardly your fault.”

  “No, but it left you alone and I regret my father didn’t keep up his search for you. In his defence, I repeat his claims that he was concerned his investigations would get back to Mustaf and place you in danger.”

  “And now that’s happened anyway,” she retorted. “First your father allowed me to be cut off from my past, and now your actions have cut me off from the plans I had for my future.”

  “Yes,” he agreed with quiet sincerity. She spoke the truth.

  “So where the hell does that leave me?”

  “You’re right in saying you’re a convenient way to resolve the conflicts between Turastan and Rhajia, although from my father’s perspective, he’s fulfilling the promise he made to your father.” He shook his head when she opened her mouth and seemed to be about to object. “If I could guarantee your safety and the safety of those closest to you—if I could see another way out of this mess—I’d turn this jet around now and take you back to Australia. Back to the plans you had.”

  “But you can’t.”

  He heard the bleakness in her voice and felt crushed by it. “No,” he said.

  “So, here we are, on our way to claim the Rhajian throne,” she declared flatly.

  He let out a heavy breath. “What I can do is buy you more time. The officials must be sent away from the airport and wait until you’re ready to meet with them.”

  Her head tilted slightly. “You would do that for me?”

  He nodded.

  “Why?” Her tone was suspicious.

  “I truly regret the way all this has been handled. While I’m ashamed to admit that some of your accusations are true, I can tell you my father has always been deeply concerned about the plight of the Rhajian people. He loved your father like a brother, and you must know our two countries were once closely united in a multitude of ways.”

  “Which is why our parents wanted to unite the two countries through marriage,” she said almost to herself as she frowned at a spot on the carpeted floor.

  “Yes,” he agreed. “That was their plan. It’s burdened my father all these years that he hasn’t been able to intercede and assist when Mustaf has slowly torn down everything your father worked so hard to accomplish.”

  “And now it’s my responsibility to try to undo all Mustaf’s wrongs,” she said and turned completely away from him.

  “You’re strong,” he told her confidently. “I believe you’ll succeed, and I pledge my assistance to you in this.”

  “Of course,” she agreed a little waspishly. “In helping Rhajia, Turastan will also benefit.”

  He watched as her foot began to tap in agitation. “I regret you’re being forced to do something against your will.”

  “That cuts both ways doesn’t it, Khalid? I’m forcing you into a temporary marriage so you can take over my rule of Rhajia and I can return to my own life.”

  Now was his opportunity to tell her. To confess that once the marriage went ahead there would be no way out. “Sabihah—”

  She spun around toward him. “Khalid, I’m sorry if I’ve misjudged you. Thank you for being prepared to give me more time to come to terms with all of this. The fact is that I have to go ahead with this before I can return to my own life in Australia. I probably need to achieve closure on my past in Rhajia and do my duty as my parents would’ve expected me to before I can sever ties with the country of my birth with a clear conscience.” She shrugged and her lips twisted ruefully. “I’m sorry I bit your head off and kind of shot the messenger. I realise I need you to help me through this, and I don’t have any other option but to trust you.”

  “You can trust me.” And in order for that trust to be well placed, he needed to tell her the truth about their future. “I—”

  “There’s no point delaying the inevitable. The introductions at the airport may as well go ahead. But I’m nervous as hell because I don’t know what they’ll expect from me.”

  Unable to stop himself, he stood and walked to her. He reached out and stroked one hand down her silky hair in a gesture meant to comfort and reassure. Immediately her lips parted and he had to take a firm rein to his desires. “The meeting will be very brief. We’ll walk off the plane, introductions will be made, and we’ll drive straight to the palace.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Council members want to interview you this afternoon but I’ll delay that until you’re ready to answer their questions about your disappearance and your life to date. You must convince
them you’re here to claim the Rhajian throne.”

  “But I’m not.” Conflict and guilt chased each other across her features. “Not really. Not in the long-term. That responsibility will be yours.”

  “That’s—”

  “I want to help but I feel like a hypocrite. Yesterday it all seemed possible.” She stepped away from him and her hands moved in agitation in front of her. “Now I realise it’s all a lie. These people will be pinning their hopes on me, and there’s no way I can deliver.”

  “You must take this one step at a time.”

  “But I’m a hopeless liar. They’ll see through me.”

  “I will be with you through everything.” He must tell her that her plans for him to assume the throne of Rhajia were invalid. It wasn’t a simple matter of marrying him and signing over her sovereignty. “Regarding our marriage …”

  She turned away from him slightly and let out a deep, worried breath. “How are we going to stop a war?”

  He bit back his confession to answer her question. “My father and his advisors are working on that through diplomatic channels, but the Arab Council must be convinced of your identity. That’s why this is all happening so quickly.”

  She looked uncomfortable. “Will Inaya understand why this is so important?”

  He clenched his jaw and made a decision that went against the grain. He couldn’t take the risk that Sabihah would back out of the plan to accept the throne. At this stage she must think she still had a chance to return to her life in Australia.

  “Inaya will understand.”

  He was lying by omission, but surely he had no other choice?

  Anyway, he rationalised, Sabihah had just admitted ties still bound her to Rhajia. If she walked away now her conscience would probably trouble her for the rest of her life. If she abandoned Rhajia and left Mustaf on the throne, her life would be in jeopardy.

  She fiddled with the hem of her blouse then gestured toward her casual clothing. “I’m hardly dressed for the part.”

  “That’s already been considered. You’ll find a selection of clothing in the cabin off to the left—both traditional and Western outfits.”