Chapter 22
“Let me go,” I say, barely believing what I just heard as I push him away, harder this time. When he finally releases me, I step back from his solid, masculine body.
“What’s wrong?”
“Everything. You can’t possibly be serious.”
His face hardens. “I would never joke about marriage. Even if I’ve never married before, I still believe in it.”
“A contract?” I ask, still stunned. “I know marriages are technically contracts signed by both parties, but you made it sound like you want to hire me as your wife. Like . . . like a job. What else would there be? A salary? A bonus if I—” My courage falters, and my face burns when I realize what I was about to say.
“If you what? Pleased me in bed?” he cuts in, a hint of irony in his tone. “I don’t pay for sex.”
“I didn’t say you do.” The idea is so absurd that, if I weren’t so nervous, I’d probably laugh. Kaled is gorgeous—any woman would jump into his arms at the slightest invitation.
“I would respect you after the wedding, just as I do now,” he says.
“What I’m proposing isn’t a crime. I want us to share a life together.
What’s wrong with that? We’ve already proven we’re compatible physically, and I enjoy talking to you more than I’ve ever enjoyed another woman’s company.
That seems like a good enough start to me. ”
I have no comeback for that, but I still feel uncertain. It’s not as if I’m deciding something small. This is a decision that could last a lifetime. “And what about what I want?”
“I don’t follow.”
“You’ve made your offer, laid out your terms. Am I just supposed to agree and sign on the dotted line?”
He crosses his arms over his chest, as if trying to hold himself back. “Tell me what you want.”
From his posture, I can tell he’s not used to being challenged. But I’m afraid to give in too easily, especially because, if I’m being honest, I want to give in.
It scares me how much I want to say yes.
I have no idea what to negotiate for, but I’ll never admit that, so I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “No other wives.”
As soon as I say it, I realize that probably wouldn’t have been an issue anyway. Still, I’ve just discovered something new about myself: I’m jealous.
He smiles, and that only makes me more annoyed.
“Jealous?” he teases.
How can I deny it when just the thought of another woman touching him drives me insane? But instead of giving him the satisfaction, I turn the tables. “If I were allowed to have four husbands, would that make you happy?”
He doesn’t even blink. His expression is serious. “No.”
“Then that’s exactly why I don’t want to share you.”
He earns even more of my respect by not saying what most men from Rheadur would: that men’s needs are different.
“A man having four wives is a right in our culture, not an obligation,” he says. “I don’t need more than one woman in my life. But our marriage will be real. You’ll sleep in my bed every night.”
My face heats again. “I don’t see a problem with that,” I reply, simplifying the truth by a lot.
What I really want to say is: what woman in her right mind would say no to having a man like him in her bed?
But before I let my imagination wander too far, I need to make two final points clear. “Since it’s a contract, there’ll be a three-year trial period.”
“What for?”
“In case of infidelity on your part. You’ll grant me a divorce and allow me to leave Rheadur with my mother.”
“That won’t happen.”
“I’m not done talking,” I say, keeping my voice even. “If you cheat on me, not only will I have the right to divorce you, but my mother and I will be given a house in the United States.”
“And a generous allowance,” he finishes, making me blush. “Whatever amount you name, I’ll pay it.”
“Why are you agreeing so easily?” I ask, suspicious.
“Because it won’t happen. I’m a man who honors his vows. I’ll respect the woman I call mine.”
His blunt honesty shakes me more than I’d like to admit. That raw conviction of his is paving a direct path to my heart.
“No more demands?” he asks, stepping closer and wrapping an arm around my waist.
“No children,” I say, even though inside, I reject that clause completely. I’ve always wanted to be a mother.
His eyes search mine, as if trying to understand what lies beneath my words. I know most men would take back the proposal after hearing that.
But Kaled isn’t most men.
“I’ve never wanted a child of my own anyway,” he says, as though the absence of an heir means nothing. “But I’d like to understand why you’re denying yourself the blessing of motherhood.”
Because if you ever tire of me and want a divorce, like my father did to my mother, I might never see my children again.
Even though I believe he’s different from my father, I’m not ready to voice that fear aloud.
“I have my reasons,” I say softly, “but I’d rather not share them.”
“I’ll agree to your terms partially. Like your three-year trial period, the matter of children will remain open for discussion afterward. So, not a permanent clause.”
“But—”
“I’ll have a lawyer draft a prenuptial agreement, and we’ll both sign it. Now stop arguing, my fiancée.”
And then in the next second, his mouth finds mine, lips and tongues sealing the deal far better than our minds ever could.
The Next Day
“You’re telling me my brother took you to the top of the Arc de Triomphe last night and proposed to you?”
“Yes. I found it just as hard to believe as you do.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to sound rude, but that’s . . . a lot to process.”
“A lot how, exactly?”
“I just never thought Kaled would get married.”
“Oh . . .”
Now I understand why she looks so shocked. Magazines may call him a CEO or a playboy prince, but above all, they describe him as a heartbreaker. A lifelong bachelor.
“And you said yes,” she says, staring at the huge diamond on my left hand.
“We came to an agreement,” I say, as if that explains everything.
“Look, don’t get me wrong—there’s no one I’d rather have as a sister-in-law than you. But don’t you think you should wait for someone you actually love?”
“I like him,” I confess. “And I’m very attracted to him. Maybe that can turn into love. I don’t know much about life, but your brother is a good man, beautiful, and when he kisses me, I melt.”
“That sounds like a good start,” she says with a sigh. “I don’t think I’ll ever get married. I’ve never met anyone who made me feel the way you talk about Kaled.”
“How would you know? You’ve never kissed a man.”
“True,” she laughs. “But I’ve analyzed nearly every available option in Rheadur, and none of them appeal to me.” She shrugs. “Anyway, let’s focus on you. You said you two made an agreement. What kind?”
“As I explained, he found my mother and is taking care of her. But he went further than that. If we marry, he’ll bring her to Rheadur. She’ll live with us in the palace.”
“My brother blackmailed you?” she says, standing up. “Because if that’s what happened, I’m going to have a serious talk with him.”
“Sit down, Jazmina, please. I’m not as na?ve as I look, and I’m not a liar. I agreed because I wanted to. Your brother makes butterflies flutter in my stomach. He’s the closest I’ve ever come to falling in love.”
“But what about our plan to study in the U.K.?”
“You know I never really wanted to leave Rheadur. I only considered studying in England because it would have given me a chance to find my mother someday. But now that I can have her by my side, I see no reason to leave our country.”
She hugs me, pressing our cheeks together. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to ruin your happiness. It’s selfish, but I wanted you with me. I love you, Adeela. You’re like a part of me.”
“We’ll always be friends,” I say softly. “Even if our paths in life differ, nothing will ever change that.”