Page 34 of The Sheikh's Fake Fiancée

He shook his head. “That would have been far too merciful. I want him to suffer for his sins. And he will, shortcake,” he said, gently trailing the back of his hand down her bloodied throat.

Her lashes fluttered as pleasure trickled through her nerve endings. That Tabari had gotten beaten up and would face his dues didn’t detract from Kain’s touch. Tabari had gotten exactly what he deserved. That Kain had ensured his punishment only intensified her feelings.

If Tabari hadn’t shown his true colors when he’d used her body to sate his own, then he’d well and truly shown it when he’d used her as his human shield to try to escape from Kain’s retribution. That Kain’s short term punishment would have been a whole lot less painful than what Tabari faced now had to be Providence.

Kain had already lost his father to a madman. That it must have seemed like he was going to lose someone all over again, made guilt pierce straight through to her soul. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice trembling. “I never meant for any of this to happen.”

Kain’s sigh was heavy. “You could have been killed.” He squeezed his eyes closed, his expression tortured. “You mean the world to me, shortcake. I thought maybe I meant the same to you, too.”

She stood on shaky legs, then turned to face him, careless of her blotchy eyes and skin. She’d look like a hot mess. But what she had to say needed to be said now, not tomorrow or the next day when it might be too late.

“You mean everything to me,” she said quietly, holding his stare. “Kain, I love you. I know that’s probably not what you want to hear now you know I’m pregnant—“

“Say that again,” he said, a catch to his voice.

“I-I love you.”

He clasped her shoulders, his eyes that held hers filled with such warmth and devotion a piece of her heart had to surely be melting in her chest? “That means everything to me,” he said hoarsely. “I love you, too, Zania. I think I have from the very first time we met.”

She pressed an outspread hand to her stomach, overcome with emotion but too scared to jump right in. “No matter how strong my feelings for you are, I-I can’t lose my baby. Not for anything or anyone.”

He frowned. “I don’t expect you to give up your baby.” His eyes glittered. “I love all of you, including your baby. And I-I want to be your baby’s father. I want all three of us to be a family.”

For a moment disbelief held her in its clutches, but at his open expression, his adoring face, her heart burst into joy, an incredible love for him filling her from the inside out. “You really mean that, don’t you?”

“With everything I have.”

Even with his devotion, a part of her still held back, still questioned. “But my reputation will be even worse once your people work out my pregnancy dates.”

He shook his head. “Let them think what they want. My people love you, anyway. And there is no reason for anyone to doubt you went into premature labor.”

She didn’t mean to start crying again, but when she threw herself into his arms and his big body surrounded hers, the tears weren’t from self-pity, they were from pure delight.

She didn’t need to compete with anybody for this man’s affection. He was all hers and she’d never felt more empowered, more whole and loved for just being her.

Epilogue

Seven months later…

Zania walked through the palace corridors at a sedate pace. Though she was now married to Kain, and as sheikha, she had many things she should be doing, Kain had ensured she was getting plenty of rest and had very few social functions or political events to attend.

Even while he was away for a week attending to various diplomatic interests, which mostly involved strengthening those ties he had with his allies, she’d stayed home to rest.

Between the two of them, she wasn’t sure who was more cautious with her pregnancy. That he’d become so doting even before he’d become a father spoke volumes about what kind of a dad he’d be. That he’d taken on the role even though he wouldn’t be the baby’s biological father made her love him deeper every single day.

She touched her rounded stomach, smiling at the sudden kick behind her hand. It’d been lucky Kain’s mother, Shamsa, had arranged the wedding all those months ago. Now all Zania had to worry about was eating healthy, staying calm and mentally positive, and doing everything possible to give the baby a great start to life.

She entered the same room Shamsa had brought Zania into on her first day at the palace. Now that she abstained from drinking alcohol, it had instead become their favorite little dining area with its views of the lovely courtyard outside.

Shamsa was already waiting, her smile infectious as her gaze dropped to take in Zania’s ever-increasing girth. “You’re positively glowing. Pregnancy suits you!”

“Thank you.” She took a seat opposite Shamsa, glad to take some weight off her aching feet and legs. “As much as I love being pregnant, I suspect I’m going to love being a mother a whole lot more.”

Shamsa nodded. “It’s the best job in the world. Kain’s birth brought so much joy to his father and me.” She dabbed at her misty eyes. “Honestly, I couldn’t be prouder to have Kain as my son.”

Zania nodded, her own vision going misty. “You’ve raised an amazing man.”

“And you love him very much, don’t you?” Shamsa asked gently.

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