Page 2 of The Sheik's Vow

“She’s going to be fine,” a deep voice said, breaking into her thoughts.

Kaia looked up to discover that the man she’d been avoiding had taken her hand and tucked it onto his elbow. The giant led her away from the crowd of well-wishers busily congratulating Tara and Zayed, towards the dining room where the coronation feast would take place.

Sheik Riaz Abuzman plucked two champagne flutes from the tray of a passing waiter, handing one to her.

Kaia smiled her gratitude towards the waiter, still trying to avoidlooking at the man by her side. He was devilishly attractive. Those dark eyes and dark hair combined with the angular nose and thin, hard lips gave him an air of mysterious danger. However, his nearness didn’t set off her alarm bells. Just the opposite, in fact. Her mind was screaming, “Yes!” and silly thoughts such as “Yum!”

"A penny for your thoughts," he murmured, smoothly disregarding the well-intentioned septuagenarian, who was enthusiastically offering the first toast to the new Queen of Pitra.

"I’m worth more than a penny," Kaia shot back, feigning a smile in the direction of the toast. With a theatrical flourish, she raised her glass of champagne toward the blissfully oblivious couple, chuckling as Zayed planted a kiss on Tara’s cheek instead of taking a dignified sip of his drink.

"Yes, you definitely are," came the man's response without skipping a beat, accompanied by that dangerously sexy, deep, husky voice that seemed to have a direct line to Kaia's internal shiver button. She fought valiantly to maintain her composure, pretending that his vocal vibrations weren't creating a delightful seismic activity in her body.

A practiced liar, Kaia skillfully concealed the fact that she was, indeed, affected by the man's voice. Meanwhile, her internal monologue debated whether the going rate for thoughts had just skyrocketed in the presence of such a captivating vocal performance. If only her thoughts could be monetized, she mused, she'd be swimming in metaphorical riches by now.

As his hand gracefully found its place at the small of Kaia's back, she braced herself for the customary tremor of fear, yet it eluded her. Odd, she thought, considering that past encounters with men had typically triggered her fight-or-flight response. But with this man's hand resting on her back, an inexplicable urge to move closer seized her.

Kaia, well aware of the perils that lurked in vulnerability, chided herself sternly – never trust a man, she reiterated in the recesses of her mind. Despite her resolve, she found herself strangely rooted in place, unable to retreat. Not even thirty minutes ago, she’dvowed to ignore this man! Focus!

Uncertainty circled her as she grappled with the unfamiliar sensations. Why did his touch evoke such a strong desire to step closer, contrary to her instincts? Kaia's internal dialogue whispered for her to run, to disentangle herself, to find a more protected corner to observe the celebration. But the strange, inexplicable force held her in place, resisting the logical directives of her thoughts.

She scolded herself inwardly, questioning this bizarre internal conflict. Kaia had spent a lifetime evading danger, protecting herself and her sister from the very real threats posed by men who reveled in causing harm. Yet, against her better judgment, there lingered an almost imperceptible desire to inch closer.

No! This couldn't be right – Kaia knew better than to willingly approach danger.

And yet, the pulsating sensation in her chest, and lower still, left her grappling for words to articulate this perplexing experience. What was happening to her? Were her solemn vows to avoid the company of men merely lip service to her survival instincts? Why were the painful lessons of her past now unraveling in the face of this inexplicable and unexpected allure? The enigma of her own emotions cast a shadow over the rational, self-preserving principles she had created to protect herself.

Thankfully, Kaia didn’t move closer, but nor did she step away. She couldn’t consciously encourage this oddly attractive man, but her feet remained firmly planted even as her thoughts reminded her that Sheik Riaz wasn’tjustattractive, he was also powerful and wealthy. As sheik of Bidar, Riaz Abuzman had more money than she could even conceive.

And that made him so much more dangerous.

“By the way, you look lovely,” he whispered, his lips almost brushing her ear. “I thought you looked gorgeous in the lavender dress yesterday at the wedding.” He paused and Kaia held her breath. “But this shade of rose is even more lovely with your pale skin and green eyes.” There was a long moment of silence as Kaiareached unsuccessfully for an appropriate response. “Why did you take out your nose ring?”

Kaia's free hand instinctively shot up to her nose, grazing the spot where her faux nose ring had been earlier that morning. A momentary lapse saw her bowing her head in reflection, but she caught herself and straightened, shoulders squared in determination.

The air around them felt charged, intimately so, and Kaia found her senses heightened. His words and the heat emanating from him were an enchantment she must withstand, she reminded herself silently.

"I didn't think it was appropriate to wear during today’s ceremony," she offered as an explanation.

A soft sigh preceded his response, "I liked it."

Despite Kaia's efforts to downplay the compliment, a warmth crept into her stomach at his words of approval. The significance of that approval, he couldn't possibly comprehend. The reasons behind her daily choices of jewelry were deeply personal and intricately woven into her painful past. Kaia couldn't afford real jewels, but that was inconsequential. Every morning, she adorned herself with some form of ornamentation, a silent rebellion against the brutal lessons of her past. Each piece became a defiant statement, a middle finger raised to the cruelty she had overcome.

She turned to meet his gaze head-on. "Your Highness, I appreciate your attention, but I'm only here to witness my sister's coronation. After that, I'm returning to the United States. I know that you offered to bring me back to Bidar, but that’s not going to happen." She lifted her chin defiantly. “I can protect myself.”

Those deep, enigmatic eyes communicated a message that left Kaia unsettled and intrigued. "Someone hurt you," he declared, leaving the words hanging in the charged air. Stunned into silence, Kaia struggled to formulate a response. Eventually, he turned away, directing his attention back to the coronation celebration. "We will discuss this later tonight."

Fat chance of that, Kaia thought, a wry smile playing on her lips as she raised her glass, pretending to sip the wine to help mask her internal turmoil. The promise loomed like a storm on the horizon, and Kaia wondered what secrets those dark eyes held and what price she might have to pay for them.

The wedding feast was the most elaborate Kaia had ever seen, let alone experienced. She might have actually enjoyed the meal, if she’d been able to put a bit of space between herself and the man sitting next to her.

Finally, Tara and Zayed made their escape, hands clasped together, beaming smiles anticipating the undisclosed pleasures awaiting them. They had tied the knot just yesterday, postponing their honeymoon until after today’s coronation. The couple yearned to retreat from the scrutinizing eyes of the world, eager to solidify their union and embark on their new life together.

As the newlyweds disappeared from view, Kaia released a sigh tinged with an elusive emotion. The day had been a tumultuous roller coaster, oscillating between euphoria for her sister's happiness, fear of some malevolent figure from their past disrupting the celebration, and the perplexing tremors inspired by the enigmatic stranger beside her.

A deep voice disrupted her thoughts. "Here," Riaz commanded, and Kaia found herself looking down at a glass of amber liquid. Before she could comprehend the gesture, the beverage was in her hands. She took an instinctive sniff, confirming its contents.

"Don't you need to leave?" she asked.

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