CHAPTER THIRTEEN
"There's the palace," Eliana said as she gazed out of the plane's window. Kadeem shifted closer to her. He was sitting alongside her, just as he'd been doing so for the entire duration of the flight from Qazhar. Now the private jet was preparing to land on the narrow runway which adjoined her family's palace.
"What do you think?" she asked Kadeem.
His brows lifted. "Impressive," he muttered. He peered into her eyes. "And bigger than I'd imagined."
She smiled at him. It was true. She gazed down at the vast, sprawling palace complex which covered a huge expanse on a plain at the foot of a high mountain range. There were extensive gardens ringing the massive central palace buildings. The core of the palace consisted of a two level accumulation of buildings, some of which dated back centuries. The palace had grown gradually over the aeons. Lengthy wings stretched out on all sides of the central palace. It was an enormous complex, far larger than Kadeem's family palace. It was large enough to accommodate well over a hundred people. In addition, there were dozens of servants to cater to the needs of the Zahram royal family and their guests.
She gazed down at the place which had been her home for her entire life. At the place where, if everything went well, she would spend the rest of her life with Kadeem.
Even as she entertained that thought, she felt a hard, gnawing dread settle in her middle. Although Kadeem had declared his intentions to become formally engaged to her, Eliana couldn't help worrying.
There were so many thing which could go wrong, she told herself. Not only the continuing disapproval of her father, which had not changed in the last few days while they'd prepared for the trip back to Zahram.
But there was also the question of whether she could really believe that Kadeem could find a way to adapt to the very different life he was about to be thrown into in the Zahram royal palace.
She knew he was resourceful; knew he could probably take most things in his stride. But, she still felt a nagging doubt about whether or not he would be able to accept his new life.
Because it wasn't only Eliana who was embarking on a new life. It was also Kadeem.
During the remaining days in Qazhar he had been attentive to Eliana's every need. She had visited his family's palace on a few occasions. And he had come to the embassy to visit her. Every time she'd been with him, she'd seen a fresh side to Kadeem. It was as if the formal engagement had changed everything for him. No longer did he look upon her as something which had been forced upon him.
He seemed to really want her in a way which went way beyond all the pretense they had adopted in the early days of their relationship.
Right now, there was something surprisingly real about their relationship.
Still, there was a long way to go. And there were undoubtedly plenty of obstacles still in the way. But, gradually, tentatively, hope had been building in her mind.
The plane banked and started its approach to the small, royal airfield. She was looking out the window when she felt Kadeem's hand take hers. She glanced at her hand and saw his fingers snaking slowly into hers. She felt a tingle of delight. Just like she did every time he touched her.
Eliana gazed at Kadeem and smiled. "What do you think about coming as a royal guest?"
"I'm honored," he said.
"My mother and father are sure to lay on some kind of special reception for you," she said.
He leaned closer to her. "That's not important to me. All I really want is to spend time with you. And that looks like a large palace with lots of empty rooms," he said grinning at her.
She felt her cheeks flush with heat. Why was it that it took only a simple look from him to make her feel like this? His eyes were so dark, she felt she could sink into the dark pools and lose herself. Was that what she about to do, now that she was home? Was she about to lose her old life and claim a new one with Kadeem?
She knew he wasn't joking with her. There had been times during the last few days in Qazhar when he'd taken advantage of their time alone together. On those occasions she'd discovered that his passion for her hadn't diminished one bit. She wondered what she'd done to make him feel this way about her. It was a mystery, she told herself.
Kadeem leaned closer to her. He kissed her, softly and tenderly. Eliana lifted her chin up and offered herself to Kadeem. She felt a familiar sensation sweep through her body as he kissed her. A sensation she was fast getting used to. His hand came up and cupped her chin. He held her face as if it was made of delicate porcelain.
Then the plane bucked sharply, and their lips were forced to separate. They smiled at one another. Still, he held onto her hand. It seemed that not even turbulence would force him to let go of her. She wondered what other kinds of turbulence awaited them both down in the palace below.
Her father and mother had left two days ago, explaining that there were many preparations to be made for Kadeem's royal visit. According to Eliana's father, Kadeem's family were not of the highest level of royal. It was a view that no amount of persuasion by Eliana or her mother could shake from Azem's mind. He was determined to hold to that opinion, even it meant fostering a troubled relationship with his possible future son-in-law.
The plane landed and, when they emerged onto the tarmac, there was a welcoming party of two servants and her mother awaiting them from the palace.
There was no sign of her father.
Why was her father being so difficult about all of this? Eliana ignored the sickly sensation in her stomach at the absence of her father.
She glanced at her mother seeking some kind of explanation, but her mother stared back impassively. It was an insult to Kadeem for her father not to have come to welcome them.
Eliana hugged her mother. "Where's father?" she asked.
Gretchen smiled. "He's waiting for you both in the palace. He had some things to attend to."
Eliana lifted a brow. "Really? More important than welcoming Kadeem to Zahram?"
Once again Gretchen smiled patiently, but Eliana knew her mother too well. She could tell her mother was trying to hide her annoyance at Azem's conduct.
Gretchen hugged Kadeem warmly. "How was your flight?"
"Perfect," Kadeem said. He took Eliana's hand. "I had an excellent and very attentive companion," he added with a grin.
It was a simple comment, but the way he'd said it made Eliana smile.
They made their way to the limo which was waiting near the plane. The journey to the palace would only be a short one. They all settled inside the limo.
"We've planned a little celebration, this evening," Gretchen explained.
"Celebration?" Eliana asked.
Gretchen nodded. "It's your father's idea," she said. "He wants to make sure Kadeem feels at home."
"He does?" Eliana asked, trying to contain her surprise.
Eliana looked at Kadeem, searching for a response, but his features were an unreadable blank.
The limo drove for a short few minutes and then they were pulling up at the foot of a set of wide, grand marble steps. Eliana saw Kadeem gaze up through the tinted windows, craning his neck, trying to take in the sheer scale of the central building of the palace. She wondered what he thought of it.
They all stepped out of the limo. Eliana waited while her bags were taken up into the palace. She offered her hand to Kadeem. At first he looked at her, slightly puzzled. Then he realized what she was asking him to do. He took her hand and they walked up the stairs, side by side.
Kadeem leaned his head back, taking in the awesome sight of the ornately carved palace exterior, the decorative reliefs, the high windows, the undulating shapes of the roof. Eliana felt as if she was seeing the palace for the first time. Of course, she knew every part of the palace. Knew all its secrets. This was where she had become a princess. She wondered if this was the place where she would become Kadeem's wife.
The inside of the palace's main hallway was high and cavernous. Their steps echoed in the marble expanse. Eliana looked for her father, expecting that he would at least come to the entrance to greet them. But again, there was no sign of him.
"You'll want to see your rooms, Kadeem," Eliana's mother said.
Gretchen gave some instructions to the servants.
"I can show him, mother," Eliana said enthusiastically.
Gretchen smiled. "We've put Kadeem in the blue suite on the East wing," she explained.
"I know that one," Eliana said. She grinned at Kadeem. "It's got some beautiful views of the mountains."
He smiled. "Sounds nice."
The servants went ahead of Eliana and Kadeem. She led him up the stairs and down a long corridor. Finally they reached some open doors. Inside there were staff members busy fussing and putting the final touches to the Kadeem's rooms.
There was nothing modest about these rooms. They were reserved for only the most special guests. At least that decision had been correctly made, Eliana reflected. Irritation still tugged at Eliana as she thought about her father's snub of Kadeem. Because that was what it had been, she told herself. She hoped it wasn't a sign of what was to come. Kadeem was to be here for at least a week. She hoped his visit wasn't going to be marred by anything unpleasant.
Eliana followed Kadeem into the room. He gazed around, obviously impressed. It was called the blue room for an obvious reason. The pale blue walls and marble floors shimmered in the sunlight which blazed in through the open doors which led out onto the balcony. All of the furniture was of various delicate shades of a light blue. The effect of all of this was to make the room feel like summer had taken up a permanent residence. That was fitting, Eliana thought. Because, she felt that a bright, new part of her life had just begun.
As the last servant closed the door behind them, Kadeem took Eliana's hand and walked with her out onto the terrace. She hadn't been lying when she'd told him that the views were magnificent. She halted at the balustrade and gazed up at the high mountains, with their snow-covered peaks. The air felt fresh. The palace was located on a plain which was high up and away from the distant coastal region. Up here, Eliana always felt as if she was removed from the ordinary life.
Kadeem wrapped his arm around Eliana's waist and drew her close to him. "Finally," he murmured,. "I get you to myself."
She sank into his embrace, feeling the heat of his body as she pressed against it. He looked stunning in his casual white shirt and dark pants. She curled her hands around his powerful shoulders, just as she'd done so many times in recent days. She was beginning to sense his every move, anticipate what he wanted from her. And, right now, she knew exactly what he needed.
When his lips sank onto hers, she felt a palpable relief. As if this was where she belonged. In his arms. She felt his hand snake slowly around the back of her head, cradling her gently, savoring the kiss. His tongue probed gently, but she could tell he was trying to contain his need. There would be plenty of time for them to be alone, she told herself. She knew every private corner. Now that he was here with her, no-one was going to stop her from making sure that Kadeem felt at home.
Their lips parted and he gazed into her eyes. "I can hardly believe I'm here," he said. "That we're here. Together."
"I know," she replied, trying to contain her excitement.
"I'm going to do my best to get to know everything about you here," he said. "You know that's why I came, don't you?"
"That and to spite my father," she reminded him.
He tilted his head and shrugged. "That as well, of course," he admitted and smiled.
She was glad he hadn't seemed to take offense at her father's failure to meet them.
Kadeem kissed her once again and then, after the kiss was over, they both turned and gazed across the wide expanse of the garden. Eliana could see some servants down there, busy tending to the garden which was, she was reliably informed, the largest garden of any country in the region. It had been tended over the centuries and was one of her favorite places to walk.
"I take it you're going to give me a tour," he said.
"Of course," she agreed. "That's if you've got the stamina."
He lifted a brow. "What do you mean?"
"The palace corridors cover a long distance." She quirked a teasing brow at him. "You sure you're up to it?"
He smiled. "Have you forgotten?"
"What?"
"I can keep going for a very long time," he said.
She blushed, knowing he wasn't just talking about how far he could walk.
"I just thought you'd be tired after the trip," she said trying ignore the fact that her cheeks were suddenly blazing hot.
He shook his head. "I can't wait to see where you grew up. You won't hide any dark secrets from me, will you?"
"What secrets?" she snapped. She knew he was teasing her, but she wasn't about to say anything to make him stop.
Kadeem furrowed his brows. "You're a princess in the biggest palace I've ever seen, and you're telling me you have no secrets?"
"Well, maybe one or two," she admitted.
She liked it when they sparred like this. It was such a change from their earlier times together. Then, there had been nothing playful about their exchanges. She thought about all the pretend unpleasantness they'd indulged in. All the fake disagreements.
Being with him here, like this, she could almost forget the dark days of the beginning they'd shared.
He drew her closer, his arm coiling around her waist. These days, his touch triggered instant sensation in her. She knew she could get used to this. Given a chance.
As she and Kadeem headed out of the blue suite and into the corridor, she wondered if she was really going to get a chance to find out what kind of life she could have with Kadeem. Or whether this was just another dream, destined to fade.