‘He’s the only family you have, but I would never have pressed him to attend if I had known he was likely to tell you that he thought you would never amount to anything,’ Jasim admitted, his annoyance on her behalf heartening. ‘I wanted our wedding to be special in every way this time.’
Impressed by that statement and the kind of temperament that prompted healing rather than divisive moves, Elinor would have liked to discuss it further with him. It was at that inopportune moment that Laila, sheathed in an azure-blue evening gown that showed off her fabulous curves, glided up. Tossing a brazen smile in Elinor’s direction, the beautiful brunette engaged Jasim in a low-pitched conversation. He laughed a couple of times. The friendly familiarity of their relationship was obvious and it set Elinor’s teeth on edge.
‘You get on very well with your cousin,’ Elinor commented when Laila had finally moved on after a lengthy show of reluctance and many heartfelt sighs.
‘We grew up together,’ Jasim parried lazily. ‘She hopes you’ll forgive her for the joke she had at your expense yesterday.’
‘The sharing-you-with-a-second-wife joke in extremely bad taste!’ Elinor remarked acidly, indignant at the manner in which the other woman had smoothly contrived to excuse her behaviour.
‘Laila has always loved to tease and let’s face it—you seem to have been a very easy mark,’ Jasim informed her with rueful amusement. ‘Do you always believe everything people tell you? No matter how ridiculous it might be?’
Hot-cheeked, Elinor had to bite her tongue to rein back a tart and resentful response. She knew she had been credulous and the mortification of it still stung painfully. ‘You took it equally seriously last night,’ she reminded him drily.
Jasim inclined his proud head in acknowledgement of that reminder and they sat down side by side in throne-like seats while a meal was served.
‘Is it true that your father wanted you to marry Laila?’ Elinor could not resist asking in a feverish undertone. ‘Did you think about it?’
‘Of course I did. In many ways she would have been perfect, but I was only twenty-six at the time and although she is very attractive I didn’t want to marry anyone,’ Jasim fielded.
Perfect and very attractive were the words that lingered on Elinor’s mind. No, she definitely could not kid herself that Jasim was blind to his cousin’s charms. It was an unwelcome reminder that Jasim had only chosen her as his wife because she had conceived his child. While she agonised over that fact the celebration trundled on. Speeches were made, songs were sung and poems of inordinate length about great battles and tragic love were recited. Arabic music was played and several traditional dances, which included a lot of waving of swords and cracking of whips, were performed. As evening fell they went out onto a balcony to watch an amazing firework display.
In the middle of it, Jasim closed a hand over hers and tugged her through a door into another reception room, which was empty. ‘We will leave now…’ he breathed, one hand lifting to nudge a stray auburn strand of hair back from her soft cheek, his fingers lingering to stroke the delicate ear lobe stretched by the weight of a diamond earring. ‘You’re the perfect height for me,’ he murmured lazily.
She looked up into smouldering dark golden eyes and her breath convulsed in her throat while her anticipation climbed ever higher. He reached for her with purposeful hands and crushed her slender, yielding length to his lean, hard body. The fiery passion with which he drove his sensual mouth down hard on hers thrilled her to death, while the erotic dance of his tongue inside her sensitive mouth made her quiver. Even through their clothing she could feel the insistent swell of his arousal. He shuddered against her, hot and eager with desire, and at the very core of her body she melted with liquid heat.
‘You’re treating me so differently today—why?’ she prompted breathlessly.
‘I offered you a new beginning and failed to deliver. That wasn’t fair to you or Sami,’ Jasim conceded tautly. ‘I don’t want to sabotage our marriage before it even gets off the ground. Sometimes I can be my own worst enemy.’
‘And mine,’ she completed unevenly.
‘Not any more.’ He escorted her out to the lift, assuring her that her luggage was already on board the helicopter awaiting them.
‘What about Sami?’ she asked anxiously.
‘He will join us first thing tomorrow—’
> ‘Why can’t he come with us now?’
‘My father has asked that Sami and I do not use the same mode of transport in case there is an accident,’ Jasim explained wryly. ‘It will be inconvenient for us but I can see the wisdom in his request.’
Her skin went clammy at the mere mention of an accident although she knew they happened every day. She thought it was understandable that Murad’s unexpected death should have made the King more nervous.
‘Did you enjoy the day?’ Jasim pressed.
‘Very much,’ she said truthfully, her mouth still tingling from the exhilarating pressure of his. ‘I was surprised by how westernised it all was though.’
‘Western-style weddings are currently the height of fashion in Quaram. I pushed the boundaries further by requesting a mixed-sex party afterwards,’ Jasim admitted as he urged her outdoors into the balmy heat of evening. ‘My father witnessed the ceremony but the party would have been a step too far for him and he conserves his strength as best he can.’
In the powerful lights that lit up the waiting helicopter, Jasim scooped her up into his arms. The full skirts of her gown foamed up round her slim body as he put her on board. ‘You haven’t even told me where you’re taking me!’ she exclaimed in the midst of her laughter.
‘A villa on the Persian Gulf that used to belong to Murad. Yaminah asked me to take all her Quarami property off her hands because she has moved back to France to be near her family.’
‘How are she and Zahrah managing?’ Elinor enquired.
‘Rather better than anyone expected. I understand that Yaminah has already acquired an admirer, a former friend from her youth, and Zahrah has always been very attached to her maternal grandparents.’
‘Life goes on,’ Elinor quipped, cheered by the idea that the older woman might find happiness again.