Bella and the Merciless Sheikh

‘Of course.’

‘What if you don’t love her?’

He frowned. ‘Love isn’t a requirement. I will make sure that I pick someone I can respect and admire. That will be enough.’

‘And she’ll marry you for the status. Not because she loves you but because of who you are.’ Her thoughts shifting to the discovery she’d made the night of the Balfour Ball, Bella couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her tone. ‘And what about your kids? How do you think your children will feel about that when they grow up? Do you think it’s good for a child to know that her father never loved her mother? And what about your wife? Aren’t you afraid she might fall in love and have an affair?’

‘My wife would never have any reason to stray.’ He spoke with utter conviction, his hand steady on the bridle as he watched her curiously. ‘Are you going to tell me why this subject upsets you so deeply?’

‘It doesn’t upset me,’ Bella snapped, and Amira gave a nervous whinny and side stepped into Zafiq’s stallion. With a show of superb horsemanship and controlled strength, Zafiq calmed both animals and Bella stroked a shaking hand down her horse’s mane, horrified by her loss of control. ‘Sorry,’ she muttered. ‘None of my business. Let’s ride, shall we?’

‘You seem to have strong views on marriage.’ His tone was a shade cooler. ‘Have you been married?’

‘No! That’s one mistake I haven’t made.’ Probably the only one, Bella thought bleakly, turning the mare and urging her back towards their desert camp. Why, oh, why hadn’t she kept her mouth shut? The last thing she wanted to do was think about the mess she’d left behind at home.

Ironic, she thought to herself, that four days ago she couldn’t wait to get back to civilisation. Now, she was dreading it.

Zafiq was by her side, holding the stallion firmly, refusing to allow him to surge ahead. ‘You’ve never been married, and yet you have had men.’

‘No, I was a virgin until I met you,’ she said flippantly, wondering why she should care that his face darkened with masculine disapproval.

Since when had she needed anyone’s approval?

She’d grown up disappointing everyone.

She should be used to it by now.

Horrified by the sudden weakness that had her tempted to confess her whole messy life history, Bella urged Amira forward.

What was the matter with her? Why would she want to spill her guts to this guy who wouldn’t understand anything about her life? And anyway, she didn’t want to think about being Bella Balfour. She didn’t want the name Balfour intruding on their few days of desert bliss.

Bella was so shocked by that thought, she pulled the mare to a halt again.

Bliss?

She looked around her as if she were seeing the desert for the first time. She studied the strange swirling patterns on the red-gold sand, the steep rise of the dunes and the sheer magnitude of the scenery around her. She thought of the sunsets she’d seen—of the blazing red ball of fire sinking down below the horizon and the incredible stars, shining in the night sky like diamonds against dark velvet in a jeweller’s window.

‘Now what’s wrong?’ Zafiq was by her side, his expression concerned. ‘Are you hurt? Is the sand bothering you?’

Yes, the sand was bothering her, but not in the way she’d expected.

‘I—it’s beautiful,’ Bella said huskily. ‘We could be the only two people on earth.’

‘A few days ago that would have horrified you, along with the absence of conditioner and a mirror.’

‘I know. Worrying, isn’t it?’ Bella gave a humourless laugh and swiped a strand of hair out of her eyes. ‘Now I know I need a therapist.’