Page 65 of Desert King's Forbidden Temptation

Fear twisted her heart. ‘Oh, my God. You told her.’

‘Yes,’ he agreed.

She closed her eyes, stomach twisting. ‘You had no right...’

‘I had every right. Not only that, it was essential.’

She trembled for a different reason now, the betrayal eating away at her. ‘Why?’

‘Because she deserved to know.’

Eloise gasped. ‘That’s not your decision to make.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘She deserved to know that we’d fallen in love,’ he said quietly, and she sucked in an uneven breath, the admission that his heart was hers like a bolt of lightning. She basked in its light and warmth a moment before reality returned and she faced the original predicament head on.

‘To what end?’ she muttered. ‘You’re marrying her. Now you’ve just destroyed my friendship—’

‘I amnotmarrying her, little one. How could I?’

She blinked up at him, her heart twisting. ‘Youmust.’

‘Why?’

‘Because of your brother and your parents and because Ras Saratneedsyou.’

‘Ras Sarat needs an ally, and I will be that for them. But I can offer financial and trade support, and strategic regional assistance, without forcing Elana into a marriage she’d clearly prefer to avoid.’

Eloise’s heart exploded. ‘You’d do that?’

‘Our countries have a history that goes back a long way. Of course I’d do that.’

‘But what about you?’ she asked, dropping a hand to his chest. ‘Youneeda royal heir.’

‘I need an heir,’ he agreed. ‘But the idea of making any other woman pregnant is anathema to me, so I think we should turn to a new plan. One in which you come back to Savisia as my fiancée. We’ll arrange a quick wedding—after these past five days, I’d prefer not to wait at all, if I’m honest.’

Her head was spinning. It was all too much. She could barely keep up.

‘But how could that possibly work? You’re Spanish and I’m English. It’s impossible to believe that I would ever be accepted by your people.’

‘I am not Spanish,’ he said with a shake of his head. ‘I was born there, but my memories are of Savisia. I was reborn when my parents brought me home. Over time, I will work out how to marry the two distinct parts of me—the boy I was, and the man I’ve become. But either path leads me to the inescapable conclusion: I was raised to rule, just like you said. I enjoy the support of the people. If there is a civil uprising in response to my parentage, then we’ll deal with that then, together.’

Her eyes swept shut. ‘But marriage to Elana—’

‘Cannot happen.’ His nostrils flared, his eyes fired with determination. ‘There are many things I would give up for my country,habibi,but a life with you is not one of them. Not you.’ He dropped a hand, caught hers and lifted it to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss across each knuckle. ‘I love you,’ he said simply. ‘And I need you in my life. Will you come home with me?’

She blinked up at him, her heart soaring, every part of her exploding. She tilted her head to the side, looking up at him for several beats, and she felt his worry, his doubt, and knew she had to put him out of his misery.

‘I suppose I can risk one more flight, Tariq. For you, and the life we’ll share together.’

‘Actually,’ he said, dropping his head and brushing their lips. ‘I thought we could take the scenic route.’ He kissed her slowly. ‘What’s the rush?’

They travelled across the channel by train, and then, once in Europe, Tariq drove them, through the vine-covered fields of France and the mountainous Alps, through ancient Croatian villages and into Greece, then they travelled in the Sheikh’s magnificent yacht, across the Mediterranean until they landed at a port near the capital of Savisia. From there, things changed. She was no longer an advisor to the Crown Princess of Ras Sarat, but the fiancée of the Sheikh, and their relationship had to observe some more formalities. The yacht was met by a fleet of servants, fifteen of which were assigned to her, and several of which arrived with suitcases of clothes and jewels, so that when she stepped out into Savisia, she looked every inch the future Sheikha.

Her heart raced but then, she looked at Tariq and she knew there was no need to be nervous. Everything in her life felt as though it had been leading her to this point. Fate had always had this plan for her, she was sure of it.

Much to Eloise’s delight, Elana was waiting at the palace, and Eloise cried when she saw her.

‘You should have told me,’ Elana chided gently, but hugged her best friend tight.

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