“Calm yourself. I did not say that you had to sit around the palace and do nothing. I will find you something to do. Something that not only challenges that brilliant mind of yours, but also helps my people.”
“Really?” Erin queried, letting her anger go.
“Really. After we are married.”
Erin smiled against his chest. Kamal was consistent and steadfast in his belief that they were going to be married within the month. She still had her doubts, but was beginning to think that fighting him was a futile venture.
“You are not going to argue with me again?” Kamal asked.
“No. What would be the point?” Erin tried to sound resigned. Feeling his laughter, she knew she had failed. “I guess you leave me no choice but to marry you. After all, you’ve promised me a position I cannot refuse.”
“I am glad to see that you are finally thinking correctly. I will always have your best interest in mind. Never doubt that.”
“I won’t.” Erin leaned up and over him, dipping her head to take his lips in a kiss filled with promise. Kamal let her explore for several minutes before the dominate male inside of him burst forth once again. Pushing her to her back, he proceeded to show her the pleasures to be found in his bed.
He worshipped her body, tasting her skin and seeking out all of the hidden spots that caused her to shiver and moan. With his hands and his tongue, he took her to new heights and banished any thoughts she might have had of not spending her life with him.
Erin couldn’t quite catch her breath, and as he trailed his lips down her torso, stopping here and there to nip and then soothe the small hurt with his lips and tongue, she forgot all of the reasons why staying in Jawhara, or demanding her independence, had been so important.
Being here with Kamal was where she wanted to be. It was where her heart had landed and where her future began.
Epilogue
The purser tapped twice on the cabin door, handing the folded communication to Tom Malone when he answered the door.
“What is it?” Patty Malone inquired.
“I don’t know,” Tom replied, curious as to who would be sending him a message. Both Erin and Shira were used to his and his wife’s excursions and had never once seen the need to contact them while they were still at sea.
Unfolding the piece of paper, he read the message twice before a huge smile split his face and he handed the note to his wife.
Watching the smile on her husband’s face, Patty took the note and read it out aloud –
Mr. Tom Malone and wife –
Please accept an invitation to stay at the palace of the Sheik of Jawhara. A private jet will be waiting to transport you to Jawhara when you dock in Brisbane. The Sheik requests your presence at the ceremony which will unite him and your daughter Erin in matrimony.
My personal bodyguard, Talib, will be waiting to escort you to the airport upon your arrival.
Sheikh Kamal Mehalel El-Jawhara
“Erin’s getting married? To a Sheik? How did this happen?” Patty asked her husband.
“I don’t know. We’ve been gone nine weeks so I guess anything could have happened. It seems that Erin’s finally going to settle down. Not sure I like the fact that she’s going to be so far away, but maybe we can negotiate with her husband and she can spend part of each year in the states.”
Patty nodded her head, “That would be nice. Oh, we stop in Brisbane tomorrow night. I need to start packing.”
Tom watched his wife bustle around their stateroom. His little girl was getting married. Now if he could just see Shira settled, all would be right in his world.
End of Book 1.
For Book 2, The Sheik’s Troublesome Bride, click here.
Or read a short excerpt from Book 2 below.
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