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Eliana sighed. "No-one has ever had the courage to do that."
Kadeem smiled, looking suddenly very pleased with himself. "Until now."
Eliana shook her head. "I don't think it's a laughing matter, Kadeem. You don't know what he's capable of."
She felt Kadeem's arm tighten around her shoulders. "I doesn't matter what he does. Nothing will stop me from claiming you as my wife. It's written in the scrolls."
She squinted at him. "That's just an old document. It doesn't really hold any power, does it?"
Kadeem lifted his gaze to the ceiling and recited from memory. "Every four generations, the daughter of Zahram, if she exists and is unwed, shall be promised in marriage to the most eligible royal in Qazhar. Haven't you seen it?"
Eliana shook her head. "Those things are kept in the royal archive."
"And in Qazhar, too," Kadeem said. "I took some time to look at it when all of this was first suggested."
She frowned, hardly believing that it could ever be that simple. "I don't know, Kadeem. My father is a very resourceful man. And, if he doesn't want something to happen, there's very little that can stand in his way."
Kadeem shook his head emphatically. "That sounds like me. Don't you think?" Kadeem said snuggling closer to Eliana.
She could see he was ready for her again. But, her sudden nervousness wouldn't budge. It was like a gnawing sensation in the pit of her stomach.
As tempted as she was to stay with him longer, she knew it wasn't possible. "I need to go," she declared.
She slid away from him and started to get dressed. She knew he was watching her, knew he was probably savoring every second of the sight of her slipping on her panties and bra and then the gown.
When she turned, she saw that her suspicions had been correct. He was stretched nonchalantly across the bed, comfortable in his nakedness, and he was gazing appreciatively at her.
She smiled and shook her head. Then he leaped of the bed.He obviously had no intention of putting his robe back on.
Eliana made her way to the other room. She glanced at the place on the wall where everything had happened, and felt a shift of emotion in her. She knew what she was leaving behind, but also understood how impossible it would be to remain in his room.
Kadeem swept her into his arms, one last time. "You're sure you won't stay," he said.
Eliana shook her head. "Servants get around," she explained. "And they talk. Even if you don't want them to."
"Loyalty," he muttered sarcastically.
"They're all good people," she replied. "They like to know what's going on behind closed doors, if they can."
Kadeem sighed, clearly frustrated by the fact that she had to leave. He leaned down and kissed her. Every kiss should be like this, she told herself. There was tenderness in it, but also a pressing, dominant need that was so typical of Kadeem.
Finally, they parted and she opened the door. Shegazed out into the corridor. It was deserted and quiet.
Eliana gave Kadeem one last look. He gazed at her longingly for one extended moment that seemed to last forever. And then she headed out into the corridor and moved quickly in the direction of her rooms.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The following morning, Kadeem was up bright and early. He got dressed and made his way downstairs, expecting to get some time to himself before Eliana came down for breakfast. It would be their first breakfast in the palace and he wanted to be focused.
As he reached the foot of the staircase, Eliana's father emerged from the sitting room. "Sheikh Al Kharif," Azem said in a steady polite tone of voice. "Good morning."
Kadeem eyed Azem carefully. There was a surprising brightness about Azem's expression. "Good morning," Kadeem replied.
"I expect you're waiting on my daughter," Azem said.
Kadeem nodded. "I thought we'd have breakfast together."
Azem gestured toward the sitting room's open door. "May I have a word with you?" he asked.
