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‘What do you think of Ra’id?’ Razi murmured as they walked on.
She was still shaken by the meeting, but she opted for the truth. ‘He looks lonely.’
‘Lonely?’ Razi demanded incredulously. ‘The man known as The Sword of Vengeance, lonely?’ He shook his head as if she had a lot to learn. ‘My brother, Ra’id, is the most powerful man in the Middle East.’
‘And even powerful men need someone to love and need to be loved in return,’ she insisted.
Razi smiled at her. ‘Then I can only hope my brother is as lucky in love as I have been.’
‘As we have been…’
Razi squeezed her hand. ‘As we have been,’ he repeated softly.
Her family was struck dumb again and it was a shock to see her mother crying. ‘I love you,’ Lucy said, touching her mother’s arm.
They shared a glance, and then to her surprise her mother grasped her hand and brought it to her lips. ‘I love you too,’ she said, almost with desperation in her voice.
‘We’ll see them later,’ Razi told Lucy to reassure her as the bridal procession moved on. ‘The wedding celebrat
ions continue for a week.’
‘A week?’
The concern in her voice made him smile. ‘Sadly, we have a prior engagement that will keep us away for the first half day.’
‘Oh, no.’ Then seeing the stallion waiting for them, caparisoned in gold and traditionally woven fabrics, she understood. Springing up, Razi lifted her in front of him and in a flurry of hooves they galloped away.
‘Another tradition,’ he assured her, holding her close as he acknowledged the cheers of the tribesmen as they rode the length of the seashore. But instead of turning back to return to the wedding party, he rode on towards a beach over the dunes and out of sight.
‘Razi, we can’t do this,’ Lucy exclaimed, glancing over her shoulder.
‘If you think I’m going to waste a single moment when I know you’ve been prepared for the Sheikh…’ Reining in the stallion, he sprang to the ground and, reaching up, brought her down beside him.
They fell into each other’s arms, kissing tenderly, deeply, passionately, rejoicing in this, their first kiss as husband and wife. Then, ever the pragmatist, Razi eased Lucy’s wedding robe from her shoulders and let it drop to the ground.
‘Wow, that was easy,’ Lucy remarked. ‘Let’s hope this form of traditional dress never goes out of fashion.’
Razi’s face creased in a smile as he viewed the scattered silk. ‘No buttons—no zips?’ He shrugged. ‘Who’s going to better that design?’
‘I agree.’ Raising her arms, Lucy laced her fingers through Razi’s thick, strong hair. ‘So? What do you think, Your Majesty?’
‘What do I think?’ He shrugged off his robe and tossed his headdress aside, before kneeling at her feet. ‘I think there are quite a few old customs worth preserving.’
She moaned with pleasure as he tasted her and his stubble scraped her newly naked skin. ‘Another tradition?’ she managed breathlessly.
‘It will be,’ he assured her.
Some considerable time later, when they had emerged from the bath-warm ocean, Razi found something in the pocket of his robe. ‘What is it?’ Lucy said as he first teased her and then
slowly unfurled his hand. She gasped when she saw the dainty replica of her wedding ring studded in diamonds.
‘I had it made so you can add it to the tiny slipper you wear to remind you that your prince has come.’
‘Again?’
Razi laughed as he added the ring to the fine chain around her neck, and when they’d stopped laughing Lucy turned serious. ‘Razi, what can I possibly give you to compare with all your fabulous wedding gifts to me?’
‘Two babies?’ Razi suggested dryly. ‘Quite a bonus, I’d say—when all I’ve ever wanted is your love.’ He grinned.
