The Sheikh's Surprise Mistress (Jatar Sheikh 5)

I hugged her back as she announced there was company coming for dinner, and I should really dress up. She offered me her personal servant, Yasmin, but I declined and headed back to my room to change and nurse my wounds. I didn’t know why I felt so alone all of a sudden, but I did and also near tears. Oh well, such is life. I continued to chant—No regrets, Julie. No regrets!

CHAPTER FOUR

Dinner was billed as friendly, but it felt so formal I was uneasy. My manners were not up to par, and I hesitated over which fork to use and which wine glass to lift. There were a good dozen other guests, all of them apparently high born and just as royal as Omar. There was one man—I think his name is Amir—who was one of the most handsome men I’ve laid my eyes on. He was more rugged and masculine than Omar. I thought Omar was also younger and perhaps hadn’t seen the courser side of life as much as this Amir dude has.

Up until I met Omar, and now Amir, who I couldn’t take my eyes off, I’d never have said I was even a smidge attracted to Arab men.

Anna leant to me, her wine glass hiding her mouth.

“You keep looking at Amir. You like him?”

“Duh, you idiot. He’s gorgeous. Where did these men come from? I had no idea Arab men were even remotely attractive.”

She giggled and kept the wine glass over her face, “The royals don’t leave. We never see them. I think he’s single. Should I ask?”

The blood rushed out of my face, “NO! God no! I have nothing to offer someone who has their own country. Besides, I’m way too coarse and wrong and just—just not right for this world. Please don’t.”

She gave me a curious expression, “Alright, but I think he finds you attractive, as well.”

I felt my cheeks heat, “Really? You think?” I dashed a glance towards the far end of the table, and he was staring at me with those eyes that look as if his skull is nothing but an inferno of flames. I stammered from the level gaze he just burned me with.

“No—definitely not! All I need is to fall for someone over here. Or worse yet, have another meaningless affair. I’ve sworn off anything, but the real thing now. I think it’s time I grew up. Someone like him won’t want me.”

Anna made a confused sound and whispered, “What’s wrong with you, Jules? You are normally the grab ‘em by the balls kind of girl—ask questions later.”

I grunted my defiance.

“To men like these guys, like Omar and—him…” I chanced another glance, and he was still staring at me intently, shameless in his perusal. “I’m defiled.” At her expression I explained, still whispering, “Contaminated. I’m anything but a virgin and untouched. Nothing like you when you first met Omar.”

Her expression was difficult to read. “I don’t get you sometimes, Jules. Did it ever occur to you that a man might appreciate a woman with experience? Someone as mature and worldly as you?”

“Not men like him.” My tone must have been way too dismissive because Anna didn’t say anything else.

After dinner, Anna took me and the other women, all of whom were quiet, submissive, and hardly talked, back to a parlor of sorts. The men went and did their thing—probably all talking about being rulers and stuff like that. Anna and I played chess. Back at home, we always had a game in play, and even if we were going in separate directions and hardly saw the other, we always stopped long enough to study the board and make a move. Some of our games lasted weeks. At least, they did once she and I got better at it.

We sat in silence as we studied the board and made our moves. I’d not had more than one glass of wine at dinner, and now I was starting to feel anxious, so I went to the bar and poured myself a double. Anna declined any alcohol, but continued to sip at her sparkling water. After she beat me, I said I was tired and excused myself. Anna didn’t argue and agreed we needed to rest up for what was to come tomorrow. Apparently we were flying—by helicopter—out to the man-made islands and resort facility where the wedding festivities were to take place.

I wandered towards my room and was distracted by the shimmering waters of a massive indoor Koi pond and waterfall. It was a unique room and unlike anything else I’d ever seen, at least in a private residence. It reminded me of an immense aquarium one might see as an attraction in a major harbor, big enough to house sharks, and the water was crystal clear. Initially I sat on the edge of the rock enclosure and looked at the fish from the top, but then I noticed a graceful curving stairwell along the side, so I followed it to find myself in a viewing area under the pond.

There must have been a good hundred feet of glassed wall that separated me from the multicolored fish. I settled into a plush recliner and tried to relax as I watched the myriad-patterned school. They were gorgeous Koi, and some of them were a solid two feet long, so they were old. I knew a little about Koi and knew they could live well into their hundreds—or perhaps even longer.

It was from this odd perch that I found a moment of peace and contentment. I relaxed and let the whisky do its thing in my body, finally closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep. I dreamt of being a princess and being swept along on a romantic roller coaster with a handsome, golden-skinned man.

When I woke up, I took my time and stretched and yawned and made all kinds of un-ladylike sounds. Including a burp or two. When a masculine chuckle erupted from behind me, I squealed and stood up way too fast. “What the…?” My words were cut short when I saw Amir seated against the cushioned back wall—alone.

“You amuse me,” he stated as if I were there just for him.

I lifted my eyebrows, still rattled at being alone with him in a place that I doubt anyone else in the house would find us—or interrupt us. The worst part was how hard my heart was pounding and the fact my stupid little woman parts were reacting to this guy. It kind of shocked me to feel anything down there, let alone the wetness I was now noticing. I cleared my throat to speak, but nothing came out.

He stood and offered me his hand, “I am Amir.”

Much to my chagrin my hand trembled when he enveloped it in both of his. “Julie—Sir.”

“Well, Julie Sir, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I find you captivating. You are a stunning female.”

I choked and found I could hardly breathe. I must have appeared totally idiotic at this point. I managed to close my mouth before I drooled or something mortifying like that. “It’s—um—not Sir—Sir—Um, it’s just Julie—Sir.”

He chuckled again, a deep sound that rumbled from his chest and kind of melted my insides. What the heck was wrong with me? “Yes—yes—of course, beautiful just Julie. Sit with me? I am sorry if I disturbed your nap. I realize you’ve been traveling and must be exhausted.”