Page 33 of Desert King's Forbidden Temptation

‘You must have found a balance at some point in your childhood? After all, it sounds like you were given a fair amount of freedom.’

‘I suppose. My father, perhaps because he never thought he would become Sheikh, was determined for me to enjoy a relatively normal childhood. It had to be balanced with the responsibilities and duties of ruling, but I know I enjoyed more freedom than my uncle did, for example.’

‘And your children?’ she asked quietly, aware that the pain in the centre of her chest was motivated by the knowledge that his children would be of Elana’s body. That Eloise would watch her best friend grow round with his seed, would watch Tariq fall in love with a baby he shared with Elana. She tried to ignore the ice-cold tendrils spreading through her veins, and the sense of disloyalty that made Eloise despise herself. ‘How will you raise them?’

‘I haven’t considered it.’

‘The main reason for getting married is to beget an heir, yes?’

‘Yes.’ His hands tightened into fists in his lap before relaxing again.

‘So you must have put some thought into this.’

‘Why?’

She frowned. ‘Isn’t it obvious?’

‘I presume my wife will want some say in how our children are raised.’

‘And if she says they must be sent away to boarding school almost as soon as they can walk?’

‘Is that likely?’

Despite the ache in the centre of her chest, she smiled, a sweetly nostalgic smile. ‘No. Ellie will be a wonderful and hands-on mother.’

‘You’ve discussed this with her?’

Eloise nodded softly. ‘Many times. She’s always known she wanted to be a mother. Her own life—’ She stopped abruptly, aware that she was speaking about her best friend, perhaps revealing things she would prefer to be kept secret.

‘Go on,’ he urged.

She searched for how to explain what she meant without revealing more of her friend’s innermost thoughts. ‘We’re very similar,’ she said eventually. ‘Neither of us grew up with a brother or sister—I think it’s why we’re so close, that we both recognised that absence, and moved to fill it—and from almost as soon as I’ve known her, she’s spoken openly of her desire to have children. I suppose it was always going to be an expectation on her. To marry, have children, to secure the lineage of her kingdom. When she got engaged before, there was such a sense of relief—for everyone. And then, he died, and it took Elana a long time to...’ Her voice trailed off, and she took a breath, searching for the right words. ‘She took it very hard. She loved him, a lot, and just learning to put one foot in front of the other again took months. It was at least a year before I saw her laugh again. And all the while, her government has been pressuring her to move on, to marry quickly, to have children. The idea of which has been, until recently, anathema to her.’

‘But now?’

Eloise gnawed on her lower lip, then stopped when his eyes fell to the gesture, his own expression far too fascinated to be able to ignore. She straightened her spine and stared beyond him, to the palace they were approaching.

‘Time has passed. It’s helped. She’s ready.’

He hesitated a moment. ‘I’m glad. This marriage makes sense. For both of us.’ His voice was dark though, the words tinged with heaviness.

The car turned towards two dark black, wrought-iron gates. They were heavily guarded. She watched as a soldier approached the car and then bowed low towards the darkly tinted windows.

‘And what about you, little one?’

She startled at the use of the term, somehow so intimate and personal, here, on the footsteps of his grandiose royal home.

‘What about me?’ Her voice was thick, hoarse.

‘Do you intend to marry and have children? To live happily ever after?’

‘I think,’ she said on a rushed breath. ‘That “happily ever after” can take many shapes.’

‘Yours doesn’t include children of your own?’

She toyed with her fingers in her lap. ‘I don’t think so.’

‘Why not?’

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