CHAPTER THREE
Eliana flopped down onto the wooden seat inside the open-sided gazebo. Like everything in the palace, the gazebo was grand and very large, elaborately decorated on the outside in a particularly Qazhar style.
She watched as Kadeem took his place next to her. He'd been strangely silent throughout most of the walk across the lawn. Apart from that brief exchange which had ended up being just another one of their typical disagreements.
She gazed out at the garden. The sun was bright in an azure blue sky. The carefully tended garden was a riot of colored flowers. Trees and hedgerows stretched all the way to the palace's high external wall. Beyond that was the desert.
Eliana felt the cool air brush against the warm, bare skin of her arms. She was grateful to be in the shade.
Kadeem glanced at her expectantly. "You wanted to say something?" he asked, too casually for her liking. There was that taunting tone in his voice, she told herself. The one he used when he wanted to annoy her.
She turned to face him. Eliana saw Kadeem's gaze shift briefly downward as she moved, twisting her hips and placing a hand across her middle. His gaze was casual, but also penetrating in a strange way. She hesitated before speaking, realizing that his piercing look had stopped her in her tracks. Just like he'd done so many times before, she told herself. But she'd never tell him that. Never.
Eliana cleared her throat and then spoke. "Why did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Tell my mother what you know perfectly well is a lie," she snapped.
Kadeem narrowed his eyes. "What exactly did I lie about?"
She felt herself bristle. "Seriously?" Eliana gasped, squinting at him. "You just told both our mothers that there would be an announcement. And you clearly implied that it might be good news. For them, at least," she said. "But, we both know what you really meant."
"And what is that?" he asked.
She glared at him. "We have an agreement, Kadeem," she reminded him.
"Of course we do," he replied. "I haven't forgotten that."
She widened her eyes. "So. Isn't that what we agreed we wanted to avoid doing?" she exclaimed.
"Give both of our families good news?"
Eliana gritted her teeth and said nothing. He'd done this before, and she was determined not to take the bait.
He leaned back against the seat and stretched his legs out. She tried to ignore that gesture, and to ignore the reaction the sight of his lithe body had triggered in her.
"But, it's what we promised each other, isn't it?" she said.
He nodded and sighed. "The agreement," he observed with a wry tone of voice. "Our famous agreement."
She frowned. "Don't tell me you've changed your mind."
"Haven't I kept my side of the bargain?"
She shrugged. "I suppose so," she admitted slowly.
He lifted a hand and counted on his fingers as he continued. "I agreed to do all of this, whenever we were in the company of other people. Treat you coldly and with some degree of arrogance. Check. Pay you almost no compliments. Check. Completely ignore you from time to time. Check." He lifted his eyes up to the roof of the gazebo. "And finally, make sure I never try to kiss you in public. Check."
He looked at her and lifted a brow. "Looks like I kept my side of the bargain. Don't you think?"
Infuriatingly, he always had a way of playing the winning hand in any argument, she told herself. But, she wasn't going to give in so easily. Not this time.
"So, what did you mean by suggesting that we might be about to make an announcement?" she asked. "Like the opposite of what we agreed."
He nodded. "Are we talking about a formal engagement?"
In spite of herself, she gasped. His words shocked her. Eliana turned away from him and sighed heavily. She felt her heart quicken. Her throat tightened.
She glanced at him and saw him edging closer to her. When he spoke, his voice was low and quiet. "You can trust me, Eliana," he said quietly. "I wouldn't have done anything without asking you first."
He obviously intended for the words to be reassuring. But, right now, she didn't think he could say anything to calm her nerves.
"Really?" she asked. "Am I supposed to be reassured by that?"
He slid an arm across the back of the seat, but refrained from touching her. He hardly ever touched her, anyway, she reflected. Apart from polite exchanges, like their greeting today, the truth was she and Kadeem had succeeded in avoiding even the most casual physical contact. Although, if she was being honest, there had been times when she'd been tempted to allow him to touch her.
Just a little.
To see if her suspicions were confirmed.
That it would feel good to be in Kadeem's arms. For a short while, at least. But, until now, she'd resisted that temptation. Forcefully.
It hadn't been easy. Eliana glanced at Kadeem's dark, perfectly formed features. He was just about the sexiest guy she'd ever known.
Devastatingly, heart-meltingly sexy, actually, she told herself. Of course, she'd never reveal her secret thoughts. Not in a million years.
Holding her emotions in check felt so familiar, she reflected.
Too familiar.
Palace life back in her own country had been a long tale of Eliana being protected from the attentions of any suitors. Especially the gold diggers. The ones who only wanted her for her wealth and privilege. And there had been plenty of those types, she recalled with more than a tinge of regret. It had made for some pretty frustrating encounters and really awkward dates.
All of which meant she had been virtually chaperoned on every arranged date.
That had meant limited opportunities for intimacy. She tried not to dwell on that. She knew she was inexperienced. She wasn't sure whether Kadeem could tell that from the way she acted while she was around him.
Back in Zahram, Eliana could hardly go anywhere without being followed by some security guard or palace staff member. It came with the territory with her being a princess.
It seemed the princess was just too great a prize to be squandered on unwanted male gold diggers, of which, according to her father, there were far too many around in the region.
So, as a result of that protection, intimate experience with incredibly sexy men like the sheikh who was sitting right next to her hadn't been a major part of her life. Princess Eliana had led a sheltered existence with virtually no privacy. That meant she was innocent in more ways than one. That was her secret truth.
She wondered if Kadeem could tell. She knew that Kadeem was experienced in ways that she could only imagine. He was the kind of sheikh who would have had many women. Experience oozed out of every one of his pores.
Kadeem's eyes narrowed, and she could see what she thought be genuine concern in them. Did he understand how difficult this was for her?
"I'd hoped that, after the last few weeks, we could at least bring ourselves to have some trust in one another," he murmured.
She shook her head. "That's not what this was supposed to be about, Kadeem. You know that. We agreed this would be a temporary situation. We'd lead everyone to think we're incompatible. Then we'd move on. You'd go back to being a royal sheikh, and I'd go back to my country, and resume my life as a princess." She shrugged. "Have I missed something?"
He looked suddenly thoughtful. "Maybe you have, Eliana," he said.
"What do you mean?"
He moved slightly closer. She caught his scent on the breeze. As usual the intoxicating mixture triggered something primal in her. She felt butterflies tumbling in her middle.
"There's been a change," he said slowly. "A real one. Not fake."
His eyes were suddenly filled with dark promise. She'd seen that look before. Knew what it meant.
"Change?"
He nodded. "Something I didn't expect." He tilted his head and curled the corner of his mouth. There was something almost feral about that look. She instantly felt as if she'd been cornered by him. That he was the predator she knew him to be. And that she was his prey.
Normally, there was someone else on hand to put a stop to this. But not today. Right now, she felt isolated here in the gazebo. Of course, she could go back into the palace on her own. Leave him behind. But then there would be awkward questions.
"What are you talking about?" She knew the answer to that. But, somehow, she wanted to delay his inevitable words.
"I didn't expect that something would develop between us," he said.
She frowned. "Nothing has developed between us, Kadeem," she said urgently. She glared at him. "Nothing," she added emphatically.
He shook his head slowly and emphatically. "That's where you're wrong, Eliana," he murmured.
He moved to within inches of her. She saw his nostrils flare. His lips opened and he ran his tongue slowly, teasingly along the length of his moist lower lip.
Instinctively, her heart began to race. Her body flared with inexplicable pleasure. She fought it, but knew she wouldn't win.
Her mind was filled with thoughts about how she could stop this. But her body just didn't want to move. Every nerve strained with anticipation. She was transfixed by the sight of Kadeem.
"I know you're attracted to me, Eliana," he stated boldly.
Her mouth opened and she prepared herself to object. Then he leaned forward, dipped his head and, before she knew what was happening, his lips crashed down upon hers.
Eliana gasped. Sensation flamed into life throughout her body. Every nerve flickered with vibrant feeling. He moved his body against her, his hands taking hold of her shoulders, grasping her tightly.
She felt his tongue probe her mouth, and once again, her body was overwhelmed with exquisite sensation. She groaned, submitting to the intense pleasure. The sound triggered a stronger reaction in him. He drew her body against him.
Eliana's hands moved to his torso, as if trying to force him back. As if she could contain the ferocity of his sudden desire.
She felt his tight abdomen. And, with her other hand, she sensed the hardness of the muscles of his upper chest. Touching him like this was a forbidden pleasure she'd never thought she'd have. His body felt hot and tight with need. She could feel the tension in every one of his taut muscles.
Still, he continued to kiss her. Now, the kiss was becoming even more fervent, even more passionate. Somewhere in her mind, she asked herself where all this could lead. She knew the answer to that, and the realization triggered a flickering of anxiety.
This wasn't supposed to happen, she told herself. This madness had never been a part of their agreement. What did he think he doing? Was he willing to throw away everything they'd planned? Just so that he could have her like this?
Something shifted, deep inside her, in a distant part of her awareness. She stiffened and lifted her head back. Their lips parted and Kadeem stared wide-eyed at her. His features were flushed with desire and there was a wild look in his eyes. She'd never seen him like this before.
"Please, Kadeem," she breathed. She leaned away from him and tried to compose herself. But, the truth was, her heart was pounding at a ferocious rate and she was out of breath.
Kadeem seemed to snap back to the present. He straightened and twisted away from her. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "You must forgive me, Princess," he said stiffly and very formally. "I don't know what came over me."
Eliana stood and straightened her ruffled dress. There was a very long pause, during which she considered what she could say to him.
This expression of total desire had come out of nowhere. It had been like an insane impulse, an uncontrollable urge which had taken possession of him. Right now, there was only one thing she could say to him. Her own mind was a jumble of chaotic thoughts. She knew she had to reestablish some kind of normality between them.
"There's nothing to forgive, Sheikh Kadeem," she said evenly. She looked down at him and saw him staring at her. "But, I would prefer if we would go back to the palace." She peered at him and added sharply. "Now, please."
Kadeem stood. Every trace of his need had faded now. He drew in a deep breath and bowed slightly. "Of course," he said stiffly.
She was surprised at his sudden transformation. That had been too easy, she told herself.
"In fact, I'd like to go back to Qazhar city," she said. "If you don't mind."
His mouth opened and, for a moment, he seemed genuinely surprised at her demand. Then he nodded. "I understand," he said sharply.
"In any case, if you're planning on making an announcement, I'll have to get myself ready, won't I?" she snapped.
"About that," he said. "I realize I might have been a little premature."
"A little?" she scoffed.
"It can wait until tomorrow," he said. "When everyone will be present."
Eliana knew that Kadeem's parents had arranged a formal lunch and reception for the afternoon on the next day. Originally, she and Kadeem had intended to tell everyone that they had both decided to just remain friends for the time being.
Just friends. Nothing more.
But now that whole plan seemed to have been thrown up in the air.
She folded her arms and glared at him. "How generous. And what exactly are you planning to say? Somehow, I don't think we got to that part."
He gazed at her steadily. "Right now, I don't think I can."
She frowned. "Why won't you?"
He moved closer. She glared at him. That halted him in his tracks. "I'll tell you what I do know," he said. "And, it's what I've known for quite some time." He lowered his head and gazed into her eyes. Even though he wasn't touching her, she felt her body tingle as he looked at her.
As he undressed her with his gaze.
When he spoke, his voice was a low growl. "I want you, Eliana," he murmured. "You know that, don't you?"
She peered at him and thought about the way he'd kissed her. There had been so much need in that kiss. So much pent up desire. And not just on his part. She'd felt a wave of sensation sweep through her body. But, right now, she didn't even want to think about that. What it might mean.
Her heart pounding, she pulled her gaze away from him. Then she sensed his movement, and his fingertips were below her chin turning her face to him. His eyes were dark pools into which, inexplicably, she wanted to sink and lose herself. But, she knew that could never happen. Not now that he had shown how dangerous he could be. How much he could tempt her. The feelings he'd stirred inside her had scared her. All she wanted to do was get away from this place.
Before things had a chance to get even worse, Eliana moved away from Kadeem and stepped out onto the grass lawn. She turned back and saw that he was following her. And then, walking alongside him, she started to make her way, hurriedly, back to the palace.