The Sheikh's Bartered Bride

"It would take a man very secure in his masculinity to share his wife's bath when the water has been scented with the oil of fragrant flowers."

Her beautiful head turned, the cupid bow of her mouth tilted in a beguiling smile. "It's lucky for me I'm married to a very macho guy then isn't it?"

His fingers were already at work on the buttons of his shirt. "It is I who am blessed, my jewel." She glittered like the most precious stone with beauty and fire. "To have such a wife is all any man could ask."

Soft pink colored her cheeks and she averted her eyes. "I never know how to respond when you say stuff like that."

He finished undressing and slipped into the hot water with her. His legs brushed the silken smooth skin of hers. "It is my hope you will accept my words with the flowering of joy in your heart."

She peeked at him through her eyelashes, her expression coquettish, the feel of her foot insinuating itself between his thighs not. "I am very happy with you, Hakim."

And it was true. She radiated with the same glowing joy she had on their wedding day. What had wrought this change? Was it her pregnancy?

Her small, feminine toes caressed his male flesh and he felt an immediate and overwhelming response.

She reached out and brushed the tip of his shaft. "Mmm... Very masculine."

He laughed and launched himself at her.

Later, she snuggled in front of him, her breathing still a little ragged. "I think you drowned me."

"You offered an invitation too appealing to pass up."

"Are you sure it was an invitation? Maybe I was just trying to unwind in a nice, relaxing bath."

He laughed. She often gave him the gift of laughter. "It was a shameless invitation and you know it." He tweaked a still rigid nipple.

She squealed and batted his hand away. "All right. I admit it. Sexy invitation all the way."

"You are that."

"What?" she asked, cuddling more snuggly against him.

"You are incredibly sexy."

"You make me feel like it. You make me feel beautiful." She said it with such surprise.

"Your beauty surpasses that of any other woman."

She sighed and laced her fingers with his across her stomach.

Would she accept his avowal of love now'? He had wanted to tell her of his feelings, but although she had admitted she still loved him, she held something back. Her trust. When he told her of his love, he wanted her to believe him, to trust him. If she believed his words of love were insincere, it would hurt her and he could not bear for her to be hurt anymore.

Her kiss surprised him and her lips were gone before he could take advantage of it.

"Your uncle called today."

Tension filled him. "What did he have to say?"

"One of your cousins just got engaged."

This he knew. His uncle had told him that along with the news about the dissidents being captured. "She is not technically my cousin. She is my uncle's niece through his wife."

"He still wants us to come to Jawhar for the betrothal celebration."

His heart ached as it always did when he thought of his home. "Do you wish to go?" They had just gotten back. It was a long journey to take again so soon.

"Oh, yes."

"Then we shall go."

Her smile was all woman and somehow mysterious.

He gave up wondering what it meant when her lips once again covered his own. This time he was ready to take the advantage.

A week later they boarded the same jet that had taken them to Jawhar the first time. Hakim was very attentive on the journey, asking Catherine repeatedly how she felt and if she needed anything. Thankfully, she had experienced only the slightest form of morning sickness with her pregnancy and the flight was no problem at all. Which was a relief considering the plans she had for when they reached the airport.

Hakim led her to the helo pad, believing they were taking a short helicopter ride to his cousin's home province. Catherine kept him occupied with a totally inappropriate display of affection he did not seem to mind in the least and it was an hour before Hakim realized they were headed in the wrong direction.

He tapped the guard seated next to the pilot and yelled something in Arabic. The guard answered and Hakim turned to her, his expression furious.

"What the hell is going on?"

The smug smile she'd meant to greet him with withered in the face of his wrath, but she kept her cool. He couldn't go totally ballistic. After all, being pregnant did have its uses.

"I'm kidnapping you," she shouted above the sound of the helicopter's blades.

His eyes snapped black retribution, but he didn't say another word until they had landed near the Kadar Palace. The same SUV was there to transport them, even the same guards. Catherine smiled at them, trying to ignore the glowering man by her side.