Chapter 36
“I want round-the-clock bodyguards for Daisy, even inside the palace,” I tell Amin.
He looks at me; I know he has questions, but it’s not in his nature to voice them without an invitation.
“What is it?”
“Do you think Counselor Arif might try to harm his ex-wife?”
“I don’t believe he’d go that far, knowing my mother-in-law is now under my protection, but I don’t leave loose ends. She matters to Adeela, so she matters to me as well,” I say, downplaying it.
The truth is, liking Daisy surprised me. I didn’t expect to dislike her, but I’m genuinely starting to grow fond of the woman who brought my future wife into the world.
“I’ll arrange everything, Your Highness.”
“And I don’t need to say the same precautions should be taken with my fiancée.”
“I assumed as much and took the liberty of asking your head of security to evaluate the current palace guard. We may need to restructure it, if I may.”
“Why?”
“May I speak freely?”
“Always, Amin.”
“Most of the men there grew up taking orders from Counselor Arif and, for the two years your brother held power, from him as well. I fear they still fear him and that they wouldn’t have the courage to stop your future father-in-law if he tried to approach his daughter or ex-wife.”
I don’t need long to see he’s right. “Tell my head of security he has full authority to hire as many guards as necessary, even if they weren’t born in Rheadur, but it’s essential they respect our country’s customs, especially regarding our women. Which means they keep their dicks in their pants.”
One corner of his mouth twitches, but he schools his face quickly. “Rest assured, Your Highness. They’ll be warned. I can also review their résumés personally before final selections.”
Later that day, en route to Rheadur
“Do you think she has everything she needs?”
“I’m sure she does. She even asked the nurse to leave her alone for a bit. It’s funny how I see some of my quirks in her,” Adeela says.
“How so?”
“Except for the fact that she’s more outgoing and I’m shy, like me, Mom needs her own space.”
I’m not sure I like where this is going, but I’ve never been one to dodge a confrontation, or wherever this path may lead. “I’d like you to elaborate.”
She lowers her gaze to her lap. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about.”
“Speak.”
“Per our agreement, you won’t take other wives, which means there won’t be other households to visit.”
“And?”
“I thought there might come a time when you’d want a little distance from me. I mean, our story isn’t a romance—it’s a contract. So I thought it might be a good thing for each of us to have our own bedroom.”
I’m so stunned by what she’s just said that for a moment I think I misheard. “What exactly are you talking about?”
She glances around, worried the nurse and Amin, seated at the back of my plane, might overhear, but there’s no way this conversation ends halfway.
I stand, unbuckle her seat belt, and offer my hand. She hesitates for a few seconds, then takes it.
We head to the jet’s second bedroom, but at the door she looks at me, confused. “People will talk.”
“We need to talk, and I don’t want to be interrupted. I won’t lay a finger on you, unless you want me to.”
She finally steps in ahead of me. As I close the door and lean against it, Adeela looks back. “I didn’t say . . . uh . . . that you couldn’t touch me now, if you want.”
This woman is going to kill me with her mixed signals.
It takes effort not to go to her, but tempting as it is, kisses don’t solve a couple’s problems.
And what do you know about that? Since when have you become a relationship specialist? a voice inside me mocks.
“Believe me when I say I’m too on edge right now to touch you safely.”
“What does that mean?”
“That I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want you.”
“Is that why you didn’t mind me sleeping with my mother last night? I thought maybe you’d already lost interest because I’m no longer a novelty. Jazmina told me your flings don’t last more than a week.”
I take a step forward. “You’re not a fling.
You’re my future wife. As for losing interest?
Not even close.” I shake my head, smiling.
She has no idea the power she holds over my body.
“I thought it wiser that we not sleep alone at my apartment. I’m not perfect, but I don’t want to ruin this.
We’ve waited this long; I can hold out until our wedding day. ”
“Hold out?”
I brush a lock from her shoulder, my fingers threading through her hair.
“That’s right, hold out, my fiancée. Because the moment our ceremony is complete, you’ll be mine.
I intend to claim your body and teach you to claim mine, too.
To bury myself in you so deep you won’t remember who you were before I possessed you.
To join with you until our flesh is one.
And that’s why there is no possibility of us sleeping in separate rooms once we’re married.
No matter how long I spend inside you, Adeela, I know it will never be enough. ”
She sighs, tilting her face to give my touch more access, and even knowing I shouldn’t, I kiss her.
The spark explodes at the simple brush of our mouths, but I force myself to retreat.
“Now that we’ve settled that, let’s go back to our seats. I can’t stay locked in a room with you without touching you.”
I thought she’d be embarrassed by my bluntness, but instead of stepping away, she comes closer.
“You said that when you take my body, I won’t remember what it was like before you. I already don’t remember, Kaled.”
Arrival in Rheadur
I don’t know who’s more nervous when the plane door opens: Adeela or her mother.
Their anxiety gets to me, but what bothers me is something else I see on their faces: fear.
“No one will harm you. You’ll have palace guard protection at all times.” In the chaos of the past few days, I forgot to tell them about the security measures I put in place.
“Will we both stay at the palace?” my fiancée asks.
“Yes, as we agreed. But later, if you don’t want to live there, all you need to do is tell me. I’ll build a house, or several, to your taste.”
“I’ll live wherever you are. Anywhere you are will be my home.”
“And you’ll be mine. Which is why I say I’d die a thousand deaths before I let anyone harm you or my mother-in-law.”
I stop in front of Adeela, wishing we weren’t on our country’s soil, where touching her in public isn’t acceptable. Even when my father ruled and we didn’t follow sharia[33] strictly, it still wouldn’t have been allowed. Unlike male friends, who can hold hands, husband and wife cannot.
“Come with me, my Adeela, and step off this plane with your head held high. In a few days you’ll be my wife, the only one I’ll ever have, and my people must respect and cherish you as they do me.”
I don’t miss that she and her mother are both without the hijab. I decreed its use optional, and seeing that she believes me and dares, for the first time in our country, to keep her hair uncovered, fills me with pride.
She told me that even before Naim made head coverings mandatory again, she never wore her hair out because her father forbade it.
The frightened girl who left Rheadur isn’t the same as the woman returning as my future wife. A little time away from Arif’s toxic presence was enough for her to bloom.
The aircraft door opens, and after the bodyguards step out to scan the crowd, we position ourselves to descend.
I look up at the cloudless sky and let the sun of my land warm my face.
When I face forward and see the people waiting, my heart swells in my chest.
There are shouts of welcome, hands raised, a few citizens on their knees.
And for the first time since I left to study in Switzerland as a teenager, after all my travel to the four corners of the globe, I realize this is my place.
My people. My world.
I’m paused on the second step, waiting for the women to follow me, and only when I sense Adeela at my back do I move again.
At the sight of her, the greetings swell, confirming what Amin has already told me: the people are pleased with my choice of wife. Not that it would have affected my decision. There are no laws, if it came to that, that would force me to marry someone I didn’t want.
Suddenly a hush falls, and I know why. Daisy must have stepped out of the aircraft.
Without turning to look at her, I focus on the crowd below. “People of Rheadur, peace be upon you.”
I wait while they return the greeting, and when I judge it enough, I continue: “I left as a prince and return as sheikh. From now on, my life will be devoted to the good and growth of our country. But before I assume power definitively, I want to present my future wife—Her Highness”—I make a point of emphasizing the title so they won’t doubt she deserves as much respect as I do—”Adeela Ghazal.
From today, my fiancée’s mother, Daisy Ellis, will live with us in Rheadur as part of my family.
She will be respected and protected as such.
Any offense against my mother-in-law will be considered an offense against me. ”