Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 251(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 251(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
She couldn’t ask those questions. She just couldn’t. How could she when she was afraid he’d answer no to any of them? And so she stared back at him, even when it hurt to look at him, and it hurt even more when she realized that this could be the very last time she’d see him before he broke her heart—-
Tears began to prick her eyes, and she hated it. “If you’re not happy I’m here, then just say it.” The words came out in a proud, furious hiss, but everything was ruined when her voice caught in the end, and her fingers clenched against her sides.
And still, he stared at her.
And it hurt.
So, so much.
A tear escaped, its wet trail burning her skin, and mortification ate her alive.
“If you’ve changed your mind,” she snarled, “then just—-”
He cut her off, his voice quiet as he spoke her name. “Harper.” And as she broke off, trembling, staring at him in mute hurt and anger, the sheikh’s arms opened.
“I missed you,” he said so very simply.
And before she knew it, she was already crying, running to his arms –
His arms closed around her, and everything was alright again.
Khalil’s hand actually shook as he stroked her back. “I’m sorry.”
As she hid her face against his chest, she whispered, “Did you change your mind?”
“Yes.” She flinched, and his arms tightened around her. “You misunderstand. It’s not the way you think. I want to marry you. That’s never changed. But seeing you now, knowing what you’ve gone through and how it can only get worse – it made me realize just how much you will suffer if you marry me.”
Cupping her face, he made her look up at him, saying grimly, “Being my wife and queen won’t be a walk in the park, qalifa, especially for someone like you.”
She stiffened. “Because I’m a commoner?”
He shook his head. “Because no matter how you try to pretend it’s not so, you have the softest heart, Harper Griffiths. And people are bound to break it again and again when you marry me.” His chest heaved. “So knowing that - will you still marry me?”
Fear of the unknown squeezed her heart, but more than that she felt...joy, and with it came a certain kind of knowledge, of intuition – this was what she was meant to do, for better or for worse. And so she whispered, “It’s what I came here to do.”
Chapter Nine
The sheikh asked for her father’s blessing that same night, and after a private talk with Harper, a still slightly stunned Howard had given it. A logistical discussion then followed, with her father eventually agreeing to move into the palace with her and take up an official position in the sheikh’s government. After, the sheikh walked to her door, and when she looked up, he slowly shook his head at the mute question in her eyes.
“I don’t think I can control myself if I’m alone with you.” His voice was flat.
“I see.” She bit her lip.
“You are worried about something.”
“Does my being a virgin really matter so much?”
“It is one of the requirements of the law.”
“I see.” She knew she was being redundant, but it was the only thing she could think of saying, with the rest of her busy struggling against the wave of pain that came with her words.
“This disappoints you,” the sheikh observed.
“I’m not sure...how I feel about it.” Because what if she wasn’t a virgin? Didn’t that mean she wouldn’t have registered on his radar at all?
“You are wasting your time dwelling on hypothetical questions.” His words had her blinking in surprise, and the sheikh said simply, “You are easy to read.” After a moment’s hesitation, he slowly reached for her hands and brought them to his lips. “Just think of it this way, qalifa. Fate has decreed you to remain a virgin for me. Can you not be satisfied with that?”
No, Harper thought. What she really wished for was the impossible. She wanted him to say that he would still have chosen her, even if she weren’t a virgin. But that couldn’t be, could it? For only a man in love could say such things – and this man, for all his desire, for all his trust and respect of her, did not love her.
And so in the end, Harper only forced a smile. “I guess I can try.”
The sheikh pressed his lips to her hands. “It will be good between us, Harper. Believe this. Believe in me.”
“I...do.” More than I should.
Releasing her hands, he pulled her into his embrace, and she went to him willingly. He kissed her hair, murmuring, “Good night, my Harper.”
It was his first time to call her that, and her toes curled. Oh, this man was too good at exploiting her weakness. My Harper, he had said. It was too, too sweet, and yes, it was enough to dispel the hurt that came with his earlier words.