The Sheikh and the Bought Bride. Susan Mallery
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“I made a promise.”
The words seemed forced out of her. He knew he had won something important but couldn’t say what.
A promise. What did a woman like her know about promises?
He stared into her eyes and saw a lifetime of weariness there. Her soul was old beyond her years. Or was he simply looking for a reason because that appealed to him more than the reality of a mercenary woman taking advantage of the situation?
If only Cantara were here, with him. She would know the truth. But if she were still here, he would not be in this situation. He would not need a night of cards to fill his hours. He would not have to face the darkness that surrounded him. The emptiness.
“Your father attempted to steal from me,” Kateb said coldly. “Had I not caught him cheating, he would have left this place with several hundred thousand dollars.”
Victoria’s breath caught.
“He cheated in the royal palace, with guards in the room. Now that there are consequences, he is content to let you take his place in prison.”
“I know.”
What kind of father did that? Why wasn’t the man willing to be responsible? Why was she enabling his cowardice?
He wanted to teach them both a lesson. The obvious solution was to put Dean McCallan in jail.
“Return to your room,” he told her. “You will be notified when he is sentenced. You will be able to visit with him before he begins serving his time, but not after. There are—”
“No!” She grabbed his arm with both hands. “No. You can’t. Please. I’ll do anything.” Tears filled her eyes. “My mother made me promise I would take care of him. That I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him. She died loving him. Please, I beg you. Don’t lock him away. Take me instead. He offered me in the game. Did you tell him no or did you accept? Was I in play? Did you win me?”
Kateb narrowed his gaze. “I knew he didn’t mean it.”
“You’ve spoken with him. You know he did. You took the bet. You played the hand. You won me. So take me instead.”
“As what?”
Victoria drew herself up to her full height. “As whatever you want.”
Chapter Two
Victoria sensed Kateb’s impatience with both her and the situation. She knew she was running out of options. Desperate times and all that, she thought grimly, then shrugged out of her robe.
The silk fell to the stone floor and puddled at her feet. Kateb’s gaze never left her face.
“Perhaps you’re not as tempting as you think,” he said coolly.
“Perhaps not, but I have to try.”
“You are offering yourself? For a night? Do you really think that could repay your father’s transgressions?”
“I only have myself to offer.” She felt cold and thought she might throw up. “You won’t take my money and I have no other skills you’d appreciate. I doubt my computer skills are of much use to you in the desert.” Her throat tightened and she fought fear. “It doesn’t have to be for a night.”
One eyebrow raised. “Longer? To what end? You are not worthy of marriage.”
A well-placed slap, she thought, refusing to let him know he’d hurt her. “I will be your mistress for however long you wish. I’ll go with you into the desert and do whatever you say. Anything. In return my father goes free. You can banish him from the country. Make sure he never returns to El Deharia. Just don’t put him in jail.”
Kateb’s dark gaze continued to study her. She trembled but was determined not to let him see. At last he reached for the skinny straps on her nightie. He slid first one then the other off her shoulders. The short gown joined the robe on the stone floor.
Except for a pair of tiny bikini panties, she was naked before him. She desperately wanted to cover herself, to turn away. Embarrassment burned her cheeks, but she continued to stand there. It was the last card in her hand. If this didn’t work, she would have to fold.
Dean McCallan wasn’t worth it—she was clear on that. But this wasn’t about him. This was about the promise she’d made her mother.
He looked her up and down. She had no idea what he was thinking—if he wanted her or not. Then he turned away.
“Cover yourself.”
She had lost.
There was nothing left, she thought, refusing to cry in front of him.
Kateb stepped into the hall. Not knowing what else to do, she followed him. He stopped in front of Dean.
“Your daughter has agreed to be my mistress for six months. I will take her into the desert with me until the time is up. Then she may return. You will leave El Deharia on the first flight out in the morning. You are never to step foot in this country again. If you do, you will be shot on sight. Do I make myself clear?”
For the second time that night Victoria had trouble maintaining her balance. He was accepting? Her father wouldn’t go to jail?
Momentary relief was followed by the realization that she’d, in essence, sold herself to a man she didn’t know and who obviously thought very little of her.
The guard released her father. Dean grabbed Kateb’s hand and shook it. “Of course. Of course. Good of you to see it was all a misunderstanding.” He turned to Victoria and actually smiled at her. “I guess I need to be going. That’s all right. I have business back home. Places to go. People to see.”
Victoria wasn’t even surprised. It was as if he hadn’t heard anything except he was free to go. Nothing else mattered.
Kateb glared at him. “Did you not hear me? I’m keeping your daughter.”
Dean struggled. “She’s a pretty girl.”
Victoria felt Kateb’s fury. As a man of the desert, he would hold the protection of his family above all. That a father could give up his daughter to save himself was beyond anything he could imagine.
She quickly stepped between them. She turned her back on her father and stared into Kateb’s angry, dark eyes.
“He’s not worth it,” she whispered. “Have the guards take him away.”
“No tender goodbyes?” he asked cynically.
“What would you have to say to him if you were me?”
Kateb nodded. “Very well. Escort Mr. McCallan to his room. Guard him while he packs his things, then take him to the airport.”
Victoria turned and watched her father being led away. When he reached the corner, he glanced back and waved. “I’m sure you’ll be fine, Vi. Call me when you’re back home.”
She ignored him.
Then she and the prince of the desert were alone.
“We will also leave in the morning,” he told her. “Be ready by ten.”
There was an odd taste in her mouth. She supposed it was a combination of fear and apprehension.
“What should I bring?” she asked.
“Whatever you like. You will be with me for six months.”
She wanted him to tell her that it would be all right. That he wasn’t horrible and the time would go quickly. But she was nothing to him. Why would he offer comfort?
“You may return to your room,” he told her.
She nodded and went in the opposite direction of the guards and her father. The walk to the elevator would be longer, but she wouldn’t