"They're more modest and traditional plus they leave more to the imagination."
Saja shook her head. She did not even want to get into this again. "Why aren't you married?" She asked, changing the topic to focus on him rather than herself. She had been wondering why he was still single, not that she was surprised.
"Marriage was not my priority," Basil replied. He wondered why she questioned him, but for now, he was going to reply to her politely and entertain her curiosity.
"And it is now?"
"It still is not but my family thinks I should wed."
Saja chewed and swallowed before she spoke again. "Why the arranged marriage? Have you not found a woman you love?"
Basil smirked at her before he replied. "Love you say," he said. Saja looked at him questioningly. "I do not believe in love," he answered her question before she asked it. Saja laughed softly. Amber and Mona were standing by the entrance, in case either Saja or Basil needed something. Amber nudged Mona when Saja laughed. The two of them were shocked to see her laughing in his presence. Amber could not tell if she was being sarcastic or genuine.
"Someone broke your heart?" she asked him.
"Like that is possible," Basil smirked. He was always the heart breaker. Women would almost die for him or to be with him. Except for Saja.
"Are you afraid that no woman would return your love?"
Basil broke out into laughter. This conversation is getting ridiculous, he thought.
"Why does that amuse you?" Saja asked him.
"I only fear God. Fearing one-sided love? No that is not me. It is the woman who should fear me not returning her love," Basil replied. Saja grunted. "I saw your father." Basil said finally putting a stop to the ridiculous topic.
"Not my father and I do not care," Saja carried on eating. Basil said nothing. He could understand her not wanting to discuss him. The man did not love his daughter and it was apparent. Basil nodded and carried on eating.
"You are twenty-four?" he asked.
"In a few months. You're thirty-three, why are we stating the obvious?" Saja asked.
"You are still young. Perhaps your punishment should be light."
Mona closed her eyes momentarily. The speculation was over. She knew Saja was about to erupt when Basil said the word punishment.
"Excuse me? Punishment for what?" Saja asked as she wiped her mouth with a napkin. Good thing she had finished eating because it was about to kick off.
"The way you speak to me is unacceptable."
"And keeping me here against my will is?"
Basil sipped the last of his drink. Amber quickly approached him to refill his glass but he put his hand up to stop her. "You are my betrothed, which means I can do as I please with you. However, I cannot marry a woman with no manners. You shall be tamed," he told her, as he stood up from the table. Saja also got up.
"You can't tame me," Saja said the word tame with such disgust.
"Watch me," Basil headed for the door.
Saja had tried to be civil but he pushed her once again. She walked over to the sofas and picked up the pillows. She started throwing them at him. Mona and Amber gasped.
"You will regret that," Basil said and left.
Excerpt from The Sheik’s Furious Prisoner (The Quabeca Sheik’s Book 1) Download Instantly – Click here
Excerpt from ‘The Russian’s Stubborn Lover’ (Download Instantly – Click Here)
Julia Thompson sat at the bar and watched the crowded dance floor, once again trying to find her best friend, Tonya, amidst the masses of writhing bodies. She pushed her glasses up on her nose, and her brown hair off her forehead, fanning herself to move the air around.
It was Friday night and they were supposed to be celebrating Julia having won the coveted exchange position in her company. Every year, three employe