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He’d made her stronger. His approval had done so much more to build confidence in her ability to be a good queen, a strong role model and an equal partner to him.
Don’t throw all that away over a stupid misunderstanding.
‘He damn well better have,’ her father said, his US accent more pronounced.
‘Listen, Dad, I need to go, there’s so much to organise still,’ she said, ending the call as swiftly as she could—much to her father’s consternation.
But this wasn’t his problem to solve, it was hers.
She needed to have a serious talk with her groom, the man who had essentially been avoiding her for two whole days.
She stuffed the phone into her jeans pocket.
A little of her old bravado returned to quell the panic churning in her gut as she headed across the courtyard towards the suite of rooms she had been forbidden to enter until the marriage was officially consummated.
Sod tradition. I need to see him now.
‘But there is no need to relinquish your claim to the Narabian throne, Your Highness. As the husband of Princess Kaliah, you have the right to become their king and unite our two kingdoms...’
‘Stop talking, Uttram.’ Kamal scowled at the lead council elder. He’d expected this intervention but he wasn’t going to budge. It was about time the guy learned he was in charge of his own destiny. ‘We are not having this conversation. My decision is final. I will not take her heritage from her.’
Because I have already taken enough.
Uttram stared back at him, clearly trying to think of a new approach, when a commotion outside the room had them all turning.
Kamal’s heart rammed his chest as his bride-to-be strode into the room in jeans and a loose-fitting shirt which draped over her lithe physique.
Awareness and exhilaration surged as he crossed the room, stupidly pleased to see her. The last two nights had been torture without her in his arms. But worse had been how much he’d missed her counsel, her input, as he’d been forced to make decisions about their marriage alone.
He’d also had far too much time to consider the years ahead.
How has she come to mean so much, in such a short space of time?
‘Kaliah, what is it?’ he asked, concerned by the emotion in her eyes.
‘Kamal, we need to talk.’ Her gaze flashed to the elders behind him, who Kamal could already hear whispering about the break with tradition her appearance had caused. ‘In private,’ she added pointedly.
‘Leave us.’ He threw the command over his shoulder, unable to take his eyes off Kaliah—the strange expression in her eyes, wary but also full of hope, starting to concern him.
The majority of the elders filed out while continuing to whisper in hushed tones, except Uttram. ‘Your Highness, it is not appropriate that you speak to—’
‘Leave us!’ he shouted, his patience with the man at an end. Bowing obsequiously, the man finally left them alone.
The silence was oppressive. He could hear her ragged breathing and the thunder of his own heartbeat as he dragged in a greedy lungful of her scent. Desire pooled in his groin. But worse was the desperation, the yearning, which he had spent the last forty-eight hours trying to deny.
Why could he not control his need for this woman, not just in bed, but out of it too? The sight of her excited him in so many ways—but not all of them were sexual.
She tugged her arms free of his grip and stepped back. He plunged his empty hands into his pockets.
Folding her arms over her waist, her gaze sharpened.
‘Why didn’t you tell me you needed this marriage to happen now to secure your throne?’
He stiffened. He could hear only confusion in her tone, not accusation or distress, but even so the guilt lodged in his chest.
‘Because it was not relevant,’ he said.
Her brow furrowed. ‘That’s nonsense, Kamal. Of course it’s relevant, that’s why the ceremony is happening this weekend and not six months from now, isn’t it? Admit it.’
