CHAPTER TWO
"Ellie?" Kadeem prompted.
The sound of her familiar, shortened name made Eliana stare at Kadeem in astonishment. He'd never used that before. Not even when they'd been out together alone and getting to know each other. The only people she allowed to use that name were family and close friends.
Eliana peered at him. She was lost for words. What did he think he was doing? Hadn't this whole charade been about making sure that she and Kadeem would prove they were unsuitable for each other. That the idea of a Royal arranged marriage was ridiculous. Especially for two people who clearly didn't like each other.
And now he was changing all that. Without even asking her?
"That is exciting news, Kadeem," his mother said. Nalini glanced at Gretchen. "We can't wait. Isn't that right, Gretchen?"
Eliana's mother nodded. "It sure is." She squinted at Eliana. "You can't give us a clue?"
Before she had a chance to reply, Kadeem spoke. "We think it would be better if everyone is present. Then we can share the news."
"So it's a secret between us?" Nalini said. "I'm not sure I'm very good at keeping secrets from my husband," she said thoughtfully. "But, I'll try."
Eliana turned her face to Kadeem so that neither mother could see her true expression. "But, Kadeem, didn't we agree we weren't going to say anything?" she said trying to contain the acid in her voice. "At least, not right now. I mean, it's all been so sudden," Eliana said. She turned and smiled at her mother. "A whirlwind romance."
"The best kind," her mother replied. "Your father and I had much the same situation when I came to Zahram."
Eliana's mother had come to her father's country as a nanny, twenty-four years ago, and had ended up marrying the young ruler and heir to the country's throne.
Kadeem grinned sardonically at Eliana. "We just couldn't keep it to ourselves," he stated.
Both mothers looked very pleased with Kadeem's announcement. Eliana didn't grudge her mother the simple satisfaction she could so clearly see written on Gretchen's features.
But, Eliana wanted only one thing. To speak with Kadeem once they were alone. It wasn't too late to stop him, she told herself. He seemed possessed by some crazy idea that she and Kadeem could forge a real relationship.
Or, even worse.
That they could contemplate a marriage. She bristled at that thought. It was completely out of the question. She knew it, and he had admitted it to her on more than one occasion.
Tea had been requested when Kadeem had arrived in his helicopter, and was finally brought. The conversation continued for a while, until eventually Kadeem stood and looked down at Eliana. "Would you care to join me for a walk in the garden, Ellie?" he asked.
She wished he'd stop using that name. Eliana gazed up at him. "Sure." She glanced across at Gretchen and Nalini. "You don't mind, do you?"
Both women smiled broadly, seemingly satisfied with the proceedings. "You two dash off," Gretchen said. "I'm sure you've got lots to say to one another. Lots to plan."
Eliana felt a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach. But, on this occasion, Eliana had to agree completely with her mother.
There was plenty she wanted to say to Kadeem.
****
Outside in the garden, Kadeem walked slowly alongside Eliana. He could hear the pleasant sound of birds and feel the warm sun against his skin. He gazed out across the wide expanse of the garden. Away in the distance, he could see the high wall. Beyond that was the desert. Peace and solitude.
For a moment, he was seized with the idea of taking Eliana out there with him. They could be alone there. Truly alone. Away from all the trappings of palace life. Away from any interference.
Kadeem glanced back toward the palace. He was sure anything he and Eliana said to each other could still be heard from there. He knew he had to wait before speaking. There was too much to say. And he was sure Eliana had some pretty important things to say to him. She'd looked astonished at his intervention back there, he told himself. But he'd had to stop her.
He'd had no choice.
They walked past the helicopter, but Eliana didn't even give it a look. She never had been impressed by any of his toys, he reflected. That was so like her. She was indifferent to symbols of wealth. Of course, that made sense. Being a princess, she had never wanted for anything.
Eliana was silent as she walked by his side, as if she understood it was too soon to talk. Or maybe she was just so angry with him that she had been left speechless.
Kadeem thought about what he'd just done. It was simple. He'd just averted a catastrophe. Because he'd guessed what Eliana had been about to say.
She had been about to end the entire courtship. Declare it over. And he'd decided he couldn't allow that. Not right now. Not while there was so much left unresolved. At least as far as he was concerned.
Kadeem glanced at Eliana as they walked. As always when he was alone with her, he felt need shift inside him as he drank in the sight of her astonishing beauty. Like her American mother, Eliana had even, pretty features. A pert nose was set in a perfectly oval shaped face with high cheekbones and full lips. Blonde hair tumbled down to settle at her shoulders.
But, it was her eyes which always amazed Kadeem. They were icy blue, like Arctic shards, which only made her frequent flashes of fiery passion even more alluring.
She was a head less tall than him. Her body was full and tempting. Her legs were long and her hips deliciously wide. She wore a plain white dress and flat shoes. Her arms were bare, as were her legs below the knee-length hem of her dress.
She carried herself with a haughty demeanor. Eliana was every inch a princess. And she could be his princess. If he wanted. If he won the coming battle. Because he knew that if he was to get what he wanted, he would have to fight.
Her mouth suddenly set into a cute pout which she did whenever she was angry. With her brows furrowed, and her jaw set tight, she looked unbelievably attractive.
He recalled the first time he'd seen her like that, and the effect it had had on him. It had been on their first real date together, in an exclusive restaurant in Qazhar city.
He'd made a casual, and probably, careless remark about her country. She had reacted instantly, and very badly. The look she'd given him had taken him completely by surprise.
Fury mingled with indignation.
But then something curious had happened. The next time she'd done it, after another of his off the cuff remarks, she'd done it again. Her gaze had burned into him.
This time, he'd felt the instant stirrings of desire. Delicious need had been ignited in his body.
Just by one defiant look.
It was unusual for a woman to defy him. It wasn't something he was used to. But, somehow, with this particular woman, this Princess, defiance created a different reaction in Kadeem. It only made him want her more. Made him need her with an urgency that almost shocked him.
So, he'd spent most of the last few weeks trying to contain that desire. It hadn't been easy. Especially since they'd been acting out this charade that they hated each other.
Kadeem felt no hate for this feisty princess. Quite the contrary.
However, it was clear that the beautiful Princess from Zahram wasn't about to take any nonsense from the Royal Qazhar Sheikh into whose world she had been placed by her family with the prospect of an arranged royal marriage.
Because that was what was going on.
He and Eliana had been thrust together. Forced into each others' arms. Two strangers who were being pushed into a supposed love match.
Except that, from the start, just over a month ago, it had been clear there was no love between himself and Eliana. At least in the early days, Kadeem reflected.
But, all that had changed. As the weeks had gone by, and as they'd spent more time together, Kadeem had found himself deeply, intensely attracted to Eliana. In spite of her obvious faults, and they were many, something had taken hold of him. And now, all he could think of was her. All he wanted was to claim her.
Own her. Possess her.
But there was a serious drawback.
Princess Eliana apparently detested Kadeem. It was that simple. It seemed she was disgusted by the whole idea of an arranged marriage. Particularly one which had been dictated by some scribblings in an ancient scroll that hardly anyone paid attention to any more.
And, from the start of the courtship, because that was what it was, she had made her feelings known in no uncertain terms.
To begin with, neither of them had wanted anything to do with it. This had been an idea about which both of their two families had been enthusiastic right from the start. Zahram was a kingdom which bordered on Qazhar. The two countries had good relations. Other such marriages had taken place before, over the centuries. So there was a tradition of such arrangements.
Eliana and her entourage had visited Qazhar and introductions had been made. And, before he knew it, Kadeem had had a conversation with his parents during which it had been made very clear to Kadeem that a marriage to Princess Eliana would be beneficial for everyone concerned.
Except for himself, Kadeem had concluded after agreeing to further dates with the Princess.
And certainly not for the Princess.
He'd gone along with it to begin with, just to make everyone happy, he'd told himself. He'd believed nothing would come of it.
But he had been wrong. So very wrong.
Kadeem paused and Eliana halted alongside him. He glanced back toward the palace. He saw Gretchen and Nalini watching them from the terrace. He looked into Eliana's eyes, seeing the emotion shimmering there. "You look like you want to say something to me," he said.
She nodded sharply. "I do," she replied. Her eyes narrowed sternly.
"You do know we're still being watched," he observed.
Eliana glanced back toward the terrace. "Isn't there somewhere we can go?" she asked.
He thought for a moment, and then said. "Follow me."
She stood still and tilted her head. "Where are you taking me?"
"There's a gazebo on the other side of the palace. We can be alone there," he explained.
"I'm not sure I want to be alone with you," she snapped and folded her arms.
He smiled patiently. "Must we do this again?"
She narrowed her eyes. "I thought this is what we do, Kadeem. It's what we've done since this whole crazy business started."
"Argue all the time?" he said sharply. "I've been getting bored with all of that. Haven't you?"
She shook her head. "It's what we agreed, isn't it?"
He nodded and took a step closer to her. She didn't move, but just steadily watched him advance toward her.
"This time, it would be better if we speak without anyone overhearing us," he said.
"Why is this time any different?" she demanded.
He sighed. "I know what you were going to say in there," he stated.
"And you had to stop me."
He nodded. "I did. Because it was for the best.
She scoffed. "The best? For who?"
Kadeem drew in a deep breath. "This isn't the time, Ellie. You know that."
"Don't call me that," she said sharply.
He lowered his head slightly and looked at her from beneath furrowed brows. "Okay. I won't call you by that name." He gestured with his hand. "Now, can we go to the gazebo?"
She strode quickly past him, lifting her chin proudly and averting her eyes from him. How very royal, he told himself.
As he started to catch up with her, he recalled that this was how it had been with her for most of the time they'd spent together. Right from the very first dates.
From the moment of those early dates, the deliciously attractive, but feisty and very spoiled, Princess had defied him at every turn. And, she had gradually and inexorably burrowed her way into his heart.
But it had all been one way traffic. One night, Eliana had made her intentions clear to Kadeem. She had no intention of going through with the arrangement. She'd suggested that she and Kadeem ensure that it would all come to nothing. And the way she wanted to do that was make sure that every time they were in public together, every time they were with family and friends, it was to be made absolutely clear that she and Kadeem did not get along with each other.
At first he had been shocked by her proposal. Knowing it was going to be difficult to create the impression of animosity, he had objected. Especially since he found her so attractive. The last thing he wanted was to be unpleasant to her.
She had threatened to simply return to her country. Kadeem told himself that if that happened, there could be serious fallout. For everyone. Even a diplomatic incident.
Faced with that possibility, Kadeem knew the only way to keep Eliana close to him, for the time being, was to agree to the deception. If it succeeded, Eliana obviously believed it would free her from the threat of marriage to Kadeem. And in the meantime, Kadeem would get the chance he so desperately wanted. To keep Eliana close to him.
So, they had made an agreement. For the next few weeks, they'd be anything but the perfect couple. And, for the last couple of weeks, every time they'd been together, and with others around, they had tried to act coldly toward each other. They had faked disagreements. They had refused to kiss or show any intimacy. That last one had driven Kadeem almost to the point of insanity on more than one occasion.
And it would have all gone the way Eliana had wanted it to. But for one complication.
All of the fake disagreements; all of the coldness; all of the resistance had resulted in a very surprising and unexpected outcome. At least for Kadeem.
Kadeem wanted Eliana, and with a passion that threatened to set him on fire every time he was near her.
And, more importantly, he had made a decision.
He would have the Princess Eliana of Zahram. Even if it was the last thing he did.