The Sheikh’s Stubborn Bride by Leslie North

3

As the orchestra his father had hired for the reception played “The Way You Look Tonight,” Kadir danced with his bride to the adoration and flashing cameras of the guests. It should’ve been paradise, but all he could think about was getting Stella out of there so they could actually talk and get to know one another. Maybe kiss again, because pressing his lips to hers had felt shockingly acceptable. Better than he’d expected, truthfully.

And if he was being truly honest with himself he’d admit that the damn thing was hot.

Finally, once the music changed to a more upbeat song, he led his bride off the floor and headed toward one of the exits, only to be stopped by his youngest brother on the sound system.

“Not so fast,” Salah said, his playful voice echoing around the cavernous ballroom. “I know you wish to get your lovely new wife alone … ahem … but first we must have a toast to a long and happy marriage. Many toasts, in fact.”

Kadir turned, his smile tight, and stood beside Stella as his family and various guests wished them well. His gaze kept flicking down to his petite bride and her pretty smile. She really was beautiful. Just the type of woman he went for—small, but curvy, with lovely gray eyes and long, curly auburn hair. His fingertips itched to sink into those tresses and see if they felt as soft and luscious as they looked, but he quickly shook that off. It was inappropriate. They barely knew each other. And yes, they were man and wife, but that did not mean they needed to rush into anything.

No matter how he might be tempted at the moment.

It had been too long since he’d bedded a woman, that was all. He was having normal physical reactions to a beautiful woman.

Who just happened to be his wife.

Control yourself.

He cleared his throat and did his best to concentrate on the current speaker’s kind words, some obscure uncle he hadn’t seen since he was a boy. They were passing the microphone among the assembled guests, each one saying something nice to the newlyweds. Kadir nodded and smiled and bided his time until finally the last person spoke, his brother Yousef, who offered a heartfelt but typically staid encouragement for a successful marriage.

At last, he and Stella ducked out a side door and into the cool, clear night. Many people were surprised by the temperature difference in the evenings after such hot days, but it was one of the many delights of his country he looked forward to sharing with his new bride.

They fell in step beside one another and Kadir resisted the surprising urge to take his new wife’s hand.

“So, Stella,” he said, as they slowly walked one of the paths around the palace. They were well lit and wound through the royal gardens, showing off his home splendidly. “Tell me about yourself.”

She gave a self-deprecating little laugh then shrugged. “Not much to tell, really. What would you like to know that wasn’t in the dossier your sister prepared? Mine was incredibly detailed.”

“True.” Kadir chuckled. “My sister is hyper-organized and does nothing by half measures.”

He remembered the comprehensive file his sister had given him weeks earlier about his potential new bride. Kadir had always had an above-average memory. Not eidetic, but close to it. He stared out into the manicured gardens filled with flowers and fruit trees and sighed, thinking of an appropriate question to ask to start a deeper conversation between them.

“You grew up in California, an only child. Is that correct?”

“Yes,, I did. I’m a southern California gal through and through.”

He gestured toward the stairs that led down to a pathway through the gardens, and she nodded, picking up the hem of her gown so as not to get it dirty. Kadir’s gaze flicked down to her newly exposed feet, and he noticed her pink painted toenails peeking out of her strappy white shoes. It wasn’t an overtly erotic sight at all, but for some odd reason he found himself fixated on them. An inappropriate image of him kissing and nuzzling those toes then working his way up Stella’s body clouded his mind before he shoved it aside hard.

Control yourself.

Ridiculous. That’s what it was. Kadir was hardly some inexperienced, randy virgin. He didn’t lust after women, especially his own bride. He shook his head to clear it and focused on her words instead.

“My life was pretty boring growing up. Well, until the summer before I started high school. Then it all kind of went to hell.”

“What happened?” he asked, knowing the basic facts from the dossier, but wanting to hear them from her.

“That’s when my parents divorced.” She glanced over at him. “As I’m sure you know. But what probably wasn’t in there was how much my mom struggled to keep us above water financially. It was a big shock to our system, going from a two-income household to one. Things changed. Big time.”

“I’m sorry you went through that.”

“Me too.” She sighed. “It wasn’t even so much the larger stuff that we missed, like you’d think. It was small things that most people don’t even think about. Like school lunches. I’d always been on the meal plan like everyone else, but after my dad left, Mom started making my lunches to help save money. You wouldn’t think that would be a huge deal.” Her sad snort suggested the opposite, however, and Kadir’s heart pinched for what she’d gone through. “My friends noticed, though. Or my so-called friends anyway.” Stella used air quotes around those words, then blinked up at the clear, starry sky above. “Looking back now and considering how they acted, they weren’t really my friends at all.”

Kadir frowned. Even though they were still getting acquainted, the thought of someone mistreating his wife made him want to punch something. Namely the people who’d hurt her. “What did they do?”

“They pretty much dumped me, flat out. No warning, no goodbye. No nothing.” She shrugged and squared her shoulders. “It hurt at the time, but not so much anymore. I’ve been way too busy building my career. I didn’t really have time to devote to a social life anyway.” She glanced at him sideways and smiled. “Until now, of course.”

“Of course.” Kadir couldn’t resist smiling himself. His gaze flicked to her lips again, and he damned near leaned in for that second kiss before he stopped himself.

No touching. Not yet.

He wasn’t averse to sex. Far from it, actually. He just didn’t want to rush things. He’d seen firsthand how allowing your heart to rule your head caused all sorts of damage through his parents’ marriage. Kadir vowed never to let that happen in his own. He intended for them to get to know each other, build a bond, a friendship, then deepen their intimacy. He needed to know the kind of person she was inside, beyond the reports and paperwork, before he’d feel comfortable letting her into his heart.

“Besides the lunches, we couldn’t afford all the new clothes or the latest cool gadgets and whatever. So yeah. They left me behind, because I wasn’t cool enough anymore.” Her brittle smile broke his heart. “The worst part is, though, I never gave up on them. All through high school, I kept trying to get back in their group, to win their approval. How stupid is that? Then, senior year, my former best friend approached me about tutoring her in calculus. Of course I was thrilled. I thought that was my chance to get back in her good graces, right? She apologized and everything. I was over the moon.”

“And?” he asked, cringing, already knowing the answer but needing her to trust him enough to tell him in her own words.

“And the minute she passed calculus, she dropped me like a hot potato.”

“Ouch. Some people cannot be trusted.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” she said. “I learned that lesson the hard way.”

“As did I.”

They stopped near a secluded bench near some rose bushes and took a seat. It was a lovely night, a warm breeze blowing in off the desert, and the smell of jasmine drifted from somewhere nearby. For a long moment, neither said anything. Then, finally, when things began to get a bit awkward again, Kadir asked. “Tell me more about your job. You design video games?”

“I do.” This time Stella’s bright grin rivaled the moon above, and Kadir found himself thoroughly enchanted. “Do you play them?”

“No, not really.” He scrunched his nose. “It’s not really my thing. Fake worlds and fake wars. I prefer the reality of my technology to fairy tales. My youngest brother, Salah, plays sometimes, I think.”

“Hmm.” She looked up at the palace before them, glowing in the darkness. He could tell by the way her gaze wandered along the massive thing that she was still in awe of her new home. “I suppose growing up inside one of these probably makes the imaginary ones unnecessary.”

Kadir chuckled. “Growing up in what? A palace?”

“A fairy tale.”

“Oh, I can assure you my life is anything but.” He shook his head, relaxing back into the bench. “Believe me, wealth creates as many problems and responsibilities as it alleviates. You’ll see soon enough.”

“I suppose.” She sat back too, mirroring his posture. “But it will be nice to experience for myself for a change.”

He chuckled. She was smart and funny. A good combination. So far, so good, as far as his sister’s compatibility reports went. Kadir gazed back at his home again, tracing the familiar lines of the Moorish/Islamic architecture again. The parapets and vaulting, the domes and muqarnas. He knew each one by heart and loved them all.

“To me, this place is just home. Over the next few weeks, I shall take you on a grand tour of Jazid and show you all my favorite spots—the art gallery, the conservatory, the planetarium.”

“Oh, yes, please! I’ve been to the art gallery and the conservatory before but haven’t gotten to visit the new planetarium yet. And I’d love to see them through your eyes.”

“I’m happy to show you whatever you like, halu.” He turned his head to look at her, his gaze flickering over her upturned profile in the moonlight. “It was built on the site of the old botanical gardens. I worked with the architect on the design. The planetarium is state of the art, all modern design and equipment. It seemed appropriate, since Mesopotamia was the birthplace of astronomy a millennia ago.”

“True.” She smiled, but it faded fast. “It’s sad that you had to lose the botanical garden to get it, though. Was there nowhere else to put it?”

His hackles rose slightly at the edge of disappointment in her tone, but he brushed it off.

At his silence, Stella gave him a pained look. “I’m sorry. Did I say the wrong thing? I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“No. No worries. I-I just…It’s a touchy subject with me. Sorry. “Kadir took a deep breath then shook his head. “Let’s not get into that tonight. Plenty of time for it later. The new planetarium is beautiful and educational. I think you’ll enjoy it. We can plan a trip there soon.”

Stella looked like she wanted to say more but stopped herself and fiddled with the delicate beading on her wedding dress for a moment before speaking again.

“Tell me more about Al-Fatha,” she said after a beat. “The history and culture of this place is one of the reasons I came here to start with. I fell in love with the traditions and hope to incorporate some of them into my games.”

Charmed by her interest in his country and culture, he was glad for the change in topic. “Absolutely. We can tour the rural areas along the coast, then visit the new business district in Jazid, as well. I can show you around, tell you about the new initiatives I want to work on once I take the throne. I think you’ll be impressed by my plans.” He straightened a bit. “As a woman on the cutting edge of game design, you’ll appreciate the science and technology aspects I want to introduce.”

“Sounds great.” She nodded. “I want to explore everything Al-Fatha has to offer with you. Your new high-tech planetarium and the ancient ruins. Is it true that archeologists discovered ruins of a mysterious old palace in the desert outside the capital city a few years ago after the reservoir dried up in a drought? The article I saw said they weren’t sure who built it. I bet you have some ideas, don’t you? You probably know everything about the history and culture of your country. Maybe you could share some of the legends and fables with me. All of that should be preserved, of course. And I’d love to use it in my games, too.” Her pretty face lit up when she spoke, and Kadir found himself enchanted. “You can be my ultimate local guide!”

“I’d be honored.” He bowed slightly. “But not everything from the past should be savored or celebrated. What about diseases? Smallpox, for instance. Or public executions? You think we should still hack off people’s heads in the public square? The Al-Fatha I inhabit has its eyes on the future, not the past.”

“Oh, of course.” Stella leaned forward, looking back at him over her shoulder. “But equating lost art and old stories with beheadings isn’t really fair, is it?”

No, he supposed not. Her frank opinions were refreshing. Most of the time, the people around him—with the exception of his family—bowed to whatever Kadir said. It was rare to find someone with the backbone to challenge him, and he was more than happy to have found one in his new wife.

Add another check in his sister’s well-done column. Maybe there was something to her matchmaking business after all. Of course, the sparks of attraction zipping through his bloodstream didn’t hurt either. He did love a smart woman.

From the coy little grin she gave him, Stella wasn’t immune to their odd flirting either. She raised a brow at him. “What, no comeback for me? Giving up the fight so easily?”

“I never give up,” he growled, leaning forward until they were practically nose to nose, grinning. “Never.”

“Another thing we have in common then.” Stella’s gaze flicked from his eyes to his mouth then back again, and Kadir’s lips tingled like she’d physically touched him. Their kiss from earlier flashed in his mind. Soft mouth, sweet. He bit his lip and looked away from her. Time to stop that right now. He stood and held out his hand to her. “Come. We should head back to the party. People will be wondering what happened to us.”

She sighed and closed her eyes, tilting her head back toward the sky, giving him a view of her lovely neck and chest, the gentle swell of her breasts beneath the bodice of her gown and…

Control yourself.

Kadir turned away and stared at the glowing lights of the palace until finally she rose behind him and moved to his side. She took his hand this time, giving it a reassuring squeeze to go with her sweet smile.

“Thank you for bringing me out here.” She rose on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “It’s lovely.”

His chest squeezed, and his throat constricted.

All this, just from a friendly peck. The type I’d give an aunt!

He wanted to kiss her again so badly it hurt, but instead he brought her hands to his lips and kissed the back of each one. “You’re lovely, my bride. Let’s go back inside and finish this reception. Afterward, we’ll get a good night’s sleep, then I’ll take you out on that tour I promised.”

They got halfway back to the palace and Stella stopped. “Um, what about…” She made a vague gesture between them. “You know, the wedding night stuff?”

Right. While Kadir’s body might be onboard for the festivities, his mind and heart were not. And considering this would be a partnership not just of the physical but of the mental and professional variety as well, he wanted to make sure they took adequate time to get to know each other before jumping into additional complications.

He gave her a curt nod and patted her hand on his forearm. “I think we’ve had enough excitement for one day, yes? My suite has two bedrooms. Yours is already made up for you. When we’re ready to take the next step in our relationship, then we can change the arrangements. Sound good?” She nodded and he smiled. “Good. That way we can both be refreshed and ready for our day tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Stella’s mouth turned down in a slight frown, confusing Kadir. He’d expected her to be relieved by his statement, but instead she looked oddly defeated.

“This is not what you wish?” he asked, a weird buzz of awareness in his gut.

“No. Yes. I mean, it’s fine. You’re right. We barely know each other. We should wait. I just…” She shrugged then blinked up at the stars again. The shadows from the towering palm trees around them hid her expression, but from her pained hesitation, Kadir could tell this was important, whatever she was about to tell him. “I’m sure my dossier said that I’d had several short relationships recently.”

“It did.” He kept her hand covered with his to maintain that small connection and also because it felt good to touch her. “I too have had past relationships. They are not relevant now.”

“The thing is, mine might be.”

His pulse stumbled. Did she have some kind of medical condition, some horrible emotional scars from a love gone wrong? That impulse to punch something returned, and he fisted his free hand. The quiet night acted as a bit of a cocoon, surrounding them with a false sense of security.

He swallowed hard and whispered low, “Tell me.”

“I tend not to make the best choices when it comes to men,” she said, then quickly added, “present company excluded, of course.”

“Of course.” Kadir’s lips twitched into a smile.

She threw up her free hand in exasperation. “It’s stupid, really. I shouldn’t have brought it up, but…”

“Go on.”

Stella took a deep breath then blurted out, “The last couple of guys I dated ended up breaking up with me because they said I wasn’t what they wanted, one way or another. One of them said I wasn’t attractive enough for him and the other said I was too brainy and opinionated.” She huffed. “I’m not fishing for compliments. Please believe me. And I get that I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s fine. I like me. I do. It’s just that I want to make sure that we’re not not-sleeping together because you’re not attracted to me that way or you don’t like me as a person. Because if that is the case, then I’d rather know now, upfront, that way maybe Naziha can—”

The rest of her speech was cut off by Kadir’s mouth on hers.

He tried to not be ruled by his impulses, but damn if she didn’t bring them all out in him in the worst way. Or the best, depending on how you looked at it. But hearing her doubt her desirability when she was the most stunning woman Kadir had seen in a long while, maybe ever, was something he couldn’t abide. So he kissed her. Soft and sweet at first, as they’d done during the ceremony, then deeper and hotter as she sighed and relaxed against him, opening herself to him so he could sweep his tongue inside her mouth and taste her properly. Champagne and cake and pure, combustible, confounding, astonishing lust—burning as brightly as his own.

By the time he pulled back, they were both breathless. Kadir took a moment to collect himself, staring up at the constellations as he tamped the passion clawing inside him down to a dull ache. Finally, he looked at his bride again, noting with more satisfaction than he should her wide eyes and parted lips, still wet from his kisses.

He said, “I believe that should put to rest any doubts about my attraction toward you, yes? And I want a partner who understands all aspects of my life and the duties of running this country. The fact that you are smart and opinionated are bonuses in my book. Understand?”

Stella nodded, speechless.

His urge to pull her back into his arms and finish what they’d started with that kiss was nearly overwhelming, but Kadir’s years of training to become king of Al-Fatha had taught him that some things were worth the wait, and Stella definitely fell into that category. Summoning the tattered shreds of his self-control, he took her hand and headed back to the palace.

“Good. Then let’s get on with things.”