An Inconvenient Marriage (Married to a Prince) (7 page)

“Give her a few days to get settled.”

“She’s been here three days. She must be sick of you already.” She turned toward Delilah. “I came to invite you to girls’ night in, if you’re not too tired.”

Since she had just landed a fist in Sami’s rock hard abs, she figured that getting out for a while might be a wise course of action. “Sounds like fun. Should I change?”

“Into jeans if you have them. We’re very informal. We are making something called
S’mores today in the fire pit. I’m told it can be messy."

S’mores
! They brought back memories of summer barbeques. The names and places changed yearly but the hot dogs and S’mores were a constant. About the only constant from her childhood.

“I guess I will see you tomorrow then.”

Sami arched his brow in question. “Do you plan to stay out all night?”

“Well…no…but…” Although she agreed to give the appearance of a real marriage, she didn’t think he meant now.

“Then I will see you later tonight, dear.” He grinned. “By the way, I prefer the left side of the bed. Keep it warm for me.”

She bit her tongue and twisted her fingers together until the knuckles cracked. Either that or she would surely strike him again.
Right in front of his sister.

As he left, Mona touched her arm. “He isn’t as obnoxious as he seems.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You don’t need to. He knows how to push your buttons. Go change.”

* * * *

Girls’ Night turned out to be just what she needed. The women, all of whom worked for the Emir and his sons, used the gathering to let off steam in an atmosphere that guaranteed they would not wind up on the front page. Hunting royals for sport was prevalent worldwide. So prevalent in
Nadiar that secretaries, assistants and even personal maids were held to scrutiny.

The only rule of Girls’ Night—no mention of the men.
  For a few sweet hours once a month, they did not exist. On this evening, a manicurist and a henna artist joined them. As the party wound down, Delilah had candy-apple red nails, a temporary butterfly tattooed on her shoulder and had learned the art of belly dancing. Sami’s sister-in-law, Honor said it had to be genetic, because after a year, the woman still hadn’t mastered it yet Delilah found it easy and exhilarating. And a great way to burn off those chocolaty, gooey S’mores. 

She walked back to the residential quarters with Honor, the other “American Princess” in the family. Honor provided a wealth of information on how to navigate palace life.

“Do you ever get used to it, though?”

“Not really, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Delilah would have happily traded today’s headline for anything. “The press likes you.”

“Are you worried about today? That wasn’t directed at you.”

Perhaps not, but those camera lenses were definitely directed at her. She still couldn’t laugh it off the way Sami had done.

“Your husband does not endear himself to the press,” Honor said. She shrugged. “Often he will go out of his way to antagonize them. But he doesn’t care what they write about him, so they went after you.”

“How can he not care?”

“Ask him.”

Delilah stopped walking, “Oh, we’re not supposed to talk about them.”

“Only when the club meets.
We don’t want the others to feel uncomfortable talking about their bosses. Business stays at the office.”

She pointed to one of the carved benches that lined the halls and sat down.  She wasn’t ready to return to the room. Her companion followed suit. “Sami doesn’t volunteer a lot. I don’t think this is how he pictured his life turning out.”

“It’s not how any of them pictured it when they were growing up. Even the Emir.”

“What do you mean?” The wise and gentle man ruled a Kingdom.
One of the richest and most peaceful countries in the Middle East.

“He was never meant to rule
Nadiar. He is only king because his brother was murdered, leaving no sons. And he only survived that assassination attempt himself because of your father.”

Delilah pressed her hand against the hollow ache over her chest. “I knew, but I didn’t really know that much of the past."

“Mona and Yousef were too young to remember. But Sami was nine and he was standing next to his father at the time.”  

“How awful!”
She could only imagine what that experience would do to a young boy.

“Yes it was. And men don’t handle emotions well. So they get angry with anyone who makes them deal with guilt. When Sami looks at you, he has to think that his father lives because yours died.”

“I don’t blame him for that.” She had no memory of her time here, either good or bad.

“I think he wants you to.”

“Why?”

“I have no idea.”

“I think I do. He wants me to divorce him. And that is probably the only reason my father’s family…my family would accept.”

Honor laid a hand on her shoulder. “Is it what you want?”

“Would you think me crazy if I said I didn’t know? Before I met my grandmother, I would have said yes. But now, she is so happy that my father’s wishes were honored that I can’t imagine hurting her after all she has been through.” Delilah didn’t have to be a parent to know that a mother never recovered from the loss of a child. But to lose one to an assassin’s bullet and then lose track of her granddaughter for two decades…

“It’s not crazy. Family is everything.  Don’t worry about Sami right now.”

Since leaving for college, Delilah had always lived alone. When she stepped through that door tonight she had a roommate. A sexy, brooding roommate determined to drive her stark raving mad. Already he had her cursing like a sailor, striking him in anger and crying at the drop of a hat. How could she not worry about him?

Her safe, quiet life ceased to exist. Could she ever get in back? Did she want it back? Despite all the drama, she had a real chance to learn about her father from her
Nadiarian family. And maybe even her husband too.

* * * *

Sami stepped from the shower and wrapped a towel at his waist. An hour on the elliptical had gotten his cardio rate up earlier and hopefully exhausted him enough to sleep through the night. Despite the fact that he lived in the residential quarters with forty other members of the family he had never shared a suite with anyone. And he’d never shared a room with a woman when sex was not involved. What the hell was he thinking when he proposed the foolish plan? She was upset and batted those beautiful green eyes. And then she called him a jackass. How screwed up were his hormones?

He searched the walk-in closet for a pair of pajamas. Did he even own one? He imagined her look of shock if he sat around reading the New York Times International edition in his briefs. Sweat pants would have to suffice.

When he entered the bedroom, Lilah was curled up in a chair, book in hand and sound asleep. Her over-sized Minnie Mouse T-shirt bunched up along her hips. A light blanket across her lap slipped to the floor, revealing her long smooth legs. What happened to the air conditioning?

He couldn’t leave her there all night. Gently removing her glasses, he left them on the side table.  With an ease he hadn’t expected, he lifted her into his arms.  She opened her eyes slowly and she focused a questioning gaze on him. Before she got a word out, he placed her on the mattress.

She glanced at the bed and back to him. After a few confused seconds, she sucked in a deep breath and scrambled to the far side.

He grunted. “I am not going to attack you.”

“You said you wanted the left side,” she whispered softly.

He hadn’t thought she took him seriously. He’d planned to camp out of sofa for the duration, but hell, he’d take the bed since she offered no objection.

He pushed the bedspread to the side and slid under the sheet next to her. Surprisingly, her body appeared relaxed and she studied him with curious eyes.

“Are you going to stare at me all night?” he asked.

“At least until I fall asleep.”

He turned on his side to face her. “Why”

She smiled uncertainly. “You are nice to look at.”

“Nice?” Not a word normally associated with him.

“Did I insult you? Should I have said handsome? Beautiful?”

“Arrogant.
Nasty. Cold,” he offered instead.

A huff of exasperation blew across his cheek. “You want me to think that. But I heard a rumor tonight that you are not as obnoxious as you want me to believe.”

“You’ve been listening to Pollyanna?”

“Who?”

“My sister? Or was it my sister-in-law spreading these lies about me?”

“They both love you. There must be something good in you.”

He cocked his eyebrow. “Then why did you hit me?”

“You told me to.”

“Will you do everything I tell you?”

She shrugged.
“When I agree with you.”

“I’m slowing down. I will have to work on more inventive ways to annoy you tomorrow.”

“In front of my Nana?”

She planned to spend time with her family. He grinned. 
A perfect excuse for getting out of the duty of taking her shopping again. After this morning’s fiasco, he did not relish the idea of discussing the issue of her crown.  His brother warned him that she might not be receptive. If he sent her with her grandmother, then she might feel more comfortable. And he would be less uncomfortable.

“Now your smile is just plain evil,” she said.

“You need to sleep.”

“You think I can sleep wondering what is going on in your devious
mind?”

He drew her into his arms. A gasp caught in her throat and her body tensed.  “Would you prefer I didn’t touch you?”

Her head turned from side to side. “You surprised me. That’s all.”

“I surprised myself too. “ He folded his arms around her shoulders. After a few seconds she relaxed against him and her breathing leveled. “This way I can cover your mouth if you don’t shut up and go to sleep."

A soft giggle escaped her lips. “Don’t worry, Your Highness, I wasn’t going to credit you with sensitivity.”

Chapter Six

The blackout curtains kept the room shrouded in darkness despite 8:00 AM blinking on the digital clock on the bedside table. Delilah snuggled deeper into the warmth that surrounded her. The last vestiges of sleep clung to her like a fleece blanket. Her eyes fluttered open.

“Good morning.” Sami greeted her with a wicked grin. What had him in such a devilishly good mood?

She squeezed her lids shut. “Don’t talk before coffee.”

He laughed. “But you can do anything you want?”

It was too early to begin sparring. This had to be a dream. She did not wake up wrapped in a man’s arms. And she certainly did not make a habit of holding a hard, pulsing… Her eyes flew open again. Reflexively her fingers clenched tighter.

He groaned.
”Easy. I am not the man of steel.”

“Oh, God.
Oh God.” She pulled back as if she had burned her hand.  “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not.  Another two minutes and I would have been crying, oh God, too.”

She tried to scramble from the bed.  He held her tighter.

“Please let go.” She turned her face into his chest. Her cheeks flamed.

“I don’t know why you are upset. I am the one being used as your personal joy-stick.”

She let out a painful sigh. “You are not a Prince Charming.”

“And you are not acting like Snow White.” He turned on to his back, pulling her on top of him. Her shirt rode up to her hips as he parted her legs until she straddled him.  She landed on the same hard shaft she had held just moments before.

“Look at me?” he ordered.

“No.”

His hands roamed over her bare thighs, slowing kneading her skin, and moving higher with each fluid stroke. All she could think was thank goodness she shaved her legs. And then she couldn’t think at all. Something wonderful was happening in places no man had gone before.

How did he do that to her? The barrier of clothes might as well not exist. He moved beneath her and she found her traitorous body moving in counter point. It felt so damn good that she emitted a long series of sighs and moans.

Holding her waist, he ground against her over and over, until she was hot, wet and climaxing. Words could not describe the sensations coming from her most private part and radiating to every nerve ending.  She had never felt anything like that.
Even alone in the darkness when she experimented with personal satisfaction. And when she finally met his gaze, she realized she was not the only one to come apart.

Her heart raced and she struggled for a breath.  She slid from the bed.  Her legs barely held her. A long, hot shower beckoned her.