Page 25 of In the Hands of the Sheikh

His chuckle was so sexy, she felt her insides churn. “No. I want to get to you know, Phoebe. I know that our bodies will offer each other endless pleasure. I want to know what’s up here.”

“You do. I’m selfish and spoiled, remember?” She pointed out tartly.

“I’m not so sure,” he said with a slow shake of his head. “I have already said I believe you to be a talented actress. I now wonder if you are not intentionally trying to mislead me with that.”

Acid filled her mouth. “You did not get that impression from me, I assure you.”

“No.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “He would be pleased, you know.” He said quietly, referring to his Godfather.

Stricken, she pulled away from him. Hakim was right. Etienne would have been thrilled that she was marrying Hakim. Someone strong and forceful. Someone who trusted Etienne explicitly, who would have welcomed Etienne as a guest as frequently as he wished it. How different her life would be if Etienne were still in it. “That is not a point in favor of this marriage.”

With a heavy sigh, he asked her quietly, “Will you tell me why you hate him with such a vengeance? I had thought it was because he was not faithful to your mother, but you say this is not the case. So why? Why do you despise him in this way? I assure you, he loved you very much.”

“I don’t want to talk about.” Oddly, for their engagement was far from orthodox, that moment had been almost perfect until then.

“I think I need to know, Phoebe.”

She closed her eyes, and breathed in the sweet desert air. “Perhaps. One day. Not now.” She blinked and fixed him with a direct stare. “Please?”

“Of course. And so your friend Becca will be able to join you swiftly? I suspect some help with the details would be very useful to you.”

She smiled, grateful for his willingness to move away from anything to do with her step-father. “Yes. She’ll be surprised, but I’m sure she’ll drop everything to be here.”

And she was right. Becca arrived two days later, bringing with her a much needed touch of normality.

“Aren’t you just the sneaky silent type?” She chastised, throwing her arms around her long-time friend’s waist. “You never said a word.”

“Oh, it’s all happened rather quickly,” Phoebe said apologetically.

“But what’s he like?” Becca sat down on the plush sofa in Phoebe’s living room, beaming from ear to ear.

“He’s… nice.”

“Nice?” Becca pulled a face. “I did not take emergency leave just to see you marry Mr. Nice.”

Phoebe laughed, reluctantly. “Okay, he is gorgeous.” She felt her pulse quicken as she thought of Hakim. She poured their tea – the herbal blend she’d quickly become accustomed to since coming to Mehran – and handed a petite cup to her friend. Becca’s tan, always impressive, was so deep it was almost golden. A summer saving Orangutans, she’d informed Phoebe casually when she’d commented on it earlier. Her dark hair was cropped short, in an elfin style that perfectly flattered her heart shaped face and wide-set almond eyes. She was beautiful and petite, though the opposite to Phoebe in every way. Where Phoebe was tall and slim, Becca was short and voluptuous. So voluptuous she’d actually caused a car accident the year before, when two men had been so intent on watching her that they’d bumped their cars together.

“And??” Becca demanded, curling her legs beneath her and settling in for a good gossip.

“Well, I don’t know how to describe him, to be honest. He’s incredibly attractive. In that kind of breath taking, makes you weak at the knees kind of way.” He was amazing in bed, bossy, demanding, controlling, sexy, kind, intelligent… so much she couldn’t say.

She smiled instead. “You’ll get to meet him for yourself tonight. He’s throwing a dinner in your honor.”

“Oh, good Lord! A royal dinner in my honor. In a palace! I don’t know if I’ll have anything suitable to wear. We might have to go shopping!”

Phoebe laughed, casting an eye in the direction of Becca’s bulging suit case. “I am sure you’ll have something.”

“Come on, Phoebe. You wouldn’t deprive me of the chance to go shopp

ing in a new place, would you? I want to see the city!”

“Okay, okay.” Phoebe held her hands up in the universal gesture of surrender. “Just let me check with Hakim.” She frowned, hearing herself for the first time. “I mean in terms of scheduling,” she clarified. “I don’t have to check with him to leave the palace, but it’s a busy week. I can’t seem to turn around without having some dignitary to meet, or gift to pose with.”

“I understand. You’re a woman in demand.” Chastened, Becca sipped on her tea. “I totally get it if you don’t have time for me. Perhaps Mr. Nice has a cousin who can show me around.”

Phoebe felt even more discomfort. She really didn’t know. Did he have a cousin? Three? Ten?

She stood and gave Becca a vague smile. “I’ll leave you to freshen up,” she said, moving towards the door. “I’ll send Ramit to collect you shortly.” It was strange how she’d come to trust the man she’d initially disliked. He was a reassuringly constant presence in her life, his portly little figure hovering, making sure she was safe.

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