Page 34 of Sheikh's Pregnant Fiancée

“No. You see, that’s the beauty of being an American woman, the beauty of being from somewhere like Rihamel. I know how to defend myself, and I am not afraid to do it. Sure, you’re stronger than me, and you might get what you want, but no one will buy that I betrayed my husband and my kingdom. How will the other kingdoms’ leaders react knowing even the rumor of what you might have done?”

His eyes darkened with rage as he stalked toward her, and she pressed her back against the door. Yosef stopped just short of touching her. “You will make a fool of your husband and of your country,” he hissed before he pulled a remote from his pocket. When he touched the switch, the door unlocked. Aubrey didn’t bother saying anything in return as she wrenched the door open and fell through.

Having no idea where she was, she hurried down the hall until she found the staircase. It only went down, and she descended so quickly that she tripped over her robe and stumbled down the last few, landing on her knees in the lower hallway with a crack of pain.

“Aubrey!” At the sound of Jarah’s panicked voice, she started to push herself up. “What are you doing? Are you all right? The baby?”

“I hit my knees, not on my stomach,” she murmured as she looked up at him.

“I was just coming up to check on you, and our room was empty. Why are you out here wandering in your nightgown? It’s not safe.” He wanted an answer, and the truth was on the tip of her tongue.

Then, in her mind, she foresaw the fallout. No matter how he felt about her, she was still Jarah’s wife, and he would fly into a rage knowing that another man even threatened to touch her. For all she knew, he’d cut off all ties with Hal Rabat.

What would that mean for Rihamel? She didn’t know, and until she did, she couldn’t say anything.

“I got hungry. I thought I would try to find the kitchens using the servants’ corridors. Obviously, I used the wrong door,” she said. “I got lost and…clumsy.”

“Come on,” he sighed. “Back to the suite. I’ll have a tray sent up.”

As he put his arms around her, she leaned into him, feeling a little safer. “I think I should fly back to Rihamel tomorrow morning. I’m not feeling well. Perhaps I should see the doctor.”

“I’ll ask Yosef about his doctor…”

“No. Jarah, I want to go home. It’s not so early that anyone will notice. Please.”

He looked down at her, confusion knitting his brows, but he nodded. “All right. I’ll make the arrangements immediately.”

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