Page 36 of The Sheik's Embrace

Both women turned to discover not just Zayed standing in the doorway, but the other man. Sheik Abuzman’s tall,powerful body blocked the rest of the world from entering the closet and he was currently staring at Kaia with an oddly stunned expression.

Tara stepped protectively in front of her sister. “We were having a private conversation,” she said to Zayed, ignoring the other man.

Zayed stepped closer, his eyes bright and equally confusing. “You love me.” He stepped even closer, reaching out and taking her hands. “You never said the words, but you love me. Your sister could see it in your eyes.”

Zayed’s arm whipped out, wrapping around Tara’s waist and pulling her in closer. “Tell me!”

Tara balanced herself with a hand to his chest…or maybe she just enjoyed touching him. Still, she couldn’t admit anything.

“Zayed, you just broke off your engagement to Princess Ciara a couple of weeks ago.”

“I never loved her,” he countered. “We were engaged for ten years so that Ciara could avoid other men.” He lowered his head so that he could look directly into her eyes. “We were just friends. We were betrothed when we were too young to know any better and we remained betrothed because it was convenient.” He kissed her softly. The caress was just a brush of his lips, but she felt the sensation all the way down to her toes. “I loveyou, Tara. I’ve always loved you. Ever since you first ordered me into a meeting, admonishing me for being late and making people wait, I fell in love with you.”

Her mouth fell open at this admission. “You love me?” she whispered, shifting even closer to him. “But…how?”

Zayed chuckled. “Tara, you’re so brainwashed from your childhood trauma that you can’t see that not all men are like the warped bastards from your past.” He lowered his head and kissed her again. “I’m not like the man that tried to rape you as a child. I vow right here and right now to protect you, to cherish every moment with you. I will never put you into a role that you don’t want. If you want to work, then you will do whatever job you wish to do.” He pulled her closer, burying his face against her neck. “For two years, I’ve dreamed about making love to you and earlier today…you finally let me!” he whispered into her ear. “I promise to show you every decadent, naughty activity that you can imagine. You won’t be held to an impossible standard. And I won’t ever beat you if you do something that threatens me. I promise you this!”

That was all she needed to hear. Tara lifted up onto her toes and kissed him, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I promise to love you better than any woman ever could! I will make you so happy!”

“You already do, love!” he told her. And then he kissed her deeply. Tara inhaled as he pulled her more firmly against his tall, muscular body, reveling in the delight of his kiss.

However, after only a few moments, the clearing of someone’s throat interrupted their moment.

Tara looked around, but noticed that Zayed kept her close with his arm around her waist.

“Go away,” he growled, barely glancing over his shoulder.

The laughter brought Tara’s gaze towards the man still standing in the doorway. Why was Sheik Abuzman still here?

“If I might offer a solution?” the man offered.

Zayed sighed and turned, but kept his arm around Tara. “What?”

The man’s dark eyes zeroed in on Kaia. Tara glanced over her shoulder and noticed that her sister was glaring up at the man, but…was there a softness about her mouth? Or maybe…interest?

“Marry Tara immediately,” Sheik Abuzman suggested. “Marry her today and protect her from this maniac who thinks to steal her away.” He looked over at Kaia. “Your sister and I will act as witnesses. After the wedding, I will sneak Kaia out of the country, take her back to Bidar with me.” He looked back at Zayed. “I will protect Ms. Treon, then you and I will both send contingents to Kentucky to apprehend the men who might still want to capture either sister.”

Zayed looked down at Tara, an unspoken question in his eyes now. She only nodded slowly and his grin widened. “I think that’s a perfect plan. I’ve had my men out in the city looking for this Elijah person, but so far, he has eluded my officers.”

“He can’t hide for forever.” Tara peeked around Zayed’s shoulders. “They don’t have a lot of money.”

“He will stay hidden for as long as it takes to find you, Tara,” Kaia replied. She crossed her arms.

“He’ll eventually run out of money. He doesn’t have a lot to begin with.”

Kaia shook her head. “Ethan controls all of the money in the community, Tara. Everyone brings their crops and their products to him. He’s told everyone that he will sell the products at market price, but no one knows how much money he receives for the grain and corn crops, or the livestock that were sold at market. Everyone just trusts the bastard to be fair. But that man parses out money to each member of the community so that theyremain loyal only to him. Everyone is completely dependent on him and the money he allows them to have. And you can bet that he uses that money to strictly control everyone.”

“That’s…so awful!” Tara gasped suddenly realizing that Kaia was right. There wasn’t any real need for money in the village because…well, because Ethan controlled the grocery store and everything else. Wow!

“Is that true?” she whispered, stunned by the man’s audacity and control.

Kaia lifted an eyebrow at her sister’s outrage. “You are talking about a man who marries children off to old lecherous men. A man who enjoys beating women and children. And when he isn’t doing the actual beating, he enjoys watching other people beat anyone who steps out of line. He doesn’t think that people should be beaten in order to keep them loyal to his divine being, Tara,” she spat out. “He encourages the beatings because he likes watching. He enjoys seeing the blood.”

“He’s a monster!” Sheik Abuzman hissed.

Kaia glanced at him and Tara noticed her sister blush. She tried to feign indifference, but Tara knew her sister too well. She was intrigued. Tara doubted that Kaia would ever relent enough to appreciate the man’s positive qualities. And now, Tara understood why. Kaia had been physically and psychologically beaten by Ethan far more times than she’d realized.

“I think that’s a good plan,” Zayed replied, his voice firm and he looked down at Tara. “What do you think? You have the deciding vote. Will you marry me? Today?”

---