9. Chapter 9 She’s All In #2
There is a stifled gasp behind me at my use of the endearment. Proof that Bala'al and Hakim have not been speaking out of turn. The rest of the haris, my Royal Protection Unit, are unaware of the level of intimacy that exists between myself and their future sheikha.
Her smile is the sun breaking over the horizon of the Azraq Sea as she dips in a perfectly executed curtsey modified for wearing pants rather than a skirt. "I'm very happy to be here, my sheikh."
There is no reaction to her calling me her sheikh, probably because it is not an uncommon address toward me. None of my entourage can know how meaningful her use of the word my is and how it stirs my libido with a desire to hear it cried out in passion again.
"Come." I do not release her hand as protocol would dictate as I lead her across the tarmac to our waiting cavalcade.
Proprieties would dictate that I do not touch her at all, but it is clear to me that I will be as much of a challenge to the Director of Protocol in relation to my treatment of my wife as my father is.
Once we are both ensconced in the back of the SUV and the doors are shut, Juliana lets out a little sigh and her body relaxes against the leather seat. "How long will it take to reach Nurayn?"
"It is an hour-long drive." It takes longer to travel the forty miles to the capital because navigating the mountain pass requires driving at lower speeds. "However, I am taking you to my home at Ayn al-Hayat and we should reach it within thirty minutes."
Ayn al-Hayat is only twenty-two miles from the airport and it is a direct shot on the desert highway that connects Nurayn, Ayn al-Hayat and Sahil al-Jadid on the northern coast.
My great-grandfather built the airport that gets as much use for cargo as passenger travel in the western desert.
There is access through the mountains from both the Nurayn Peninsula on the gulf side and the Azraq Sea with its docks designed to accommodate cargo ships.
The personal docks and marina on the Gulf of Sahar are reserved for yachts and pleasure crafts.
While accessible to our major population centers and shipping docks, the airport is far enough away that the sound pollution from jets landing and taking off does not impact the citizenry of Zahriya.
"That's an oasis, right? The palace there is called Dar al-Hayat."
"You have been studying my country."
She stifles a yawn and smiles. "I thought it made sense."
"This is a different look for you." I bring her hand up to my mouth and kiss her palm. "I particularly like the sheer abaya."
"I'm not sure if the inspiration for it was the abaya or kimono, but it's called a sheer duster."
"It is very fashionable."
Juliana laughs. "Don't sound so surprised to be using that word and my clothing in the same sentence."
"You look lovely, but I find you no less attractive in your rockhounding clothes," I tell her truthfully, sidestepping an answer that might insult her.
But surprise does not begin to describe my utter astonishment at the transformation of my little jewel's appearance.
"That's hard to believe, but I have to because you asked me out the first time after meeting me in my work gear which is no more flattering to my figure, according to both my sister and DeeDee."
"Just so. Are they responsible for this transformation?" I ask.
"You could say that. Tessa and DeeDee have been trying to get me to dress in more flattering clothes for a long time.
It was their idea to buy the pink dress.
Anyway, they thought I needed to bring a little of Juliana Caldwell, socialite's daughter, into my styling if I wanted to fit into your world without being ostracized. "
"I would never allow you to be ostracized." But if this is an example of how she dresses to attend her mother's charity events, I am glad she will never go to another one without me by her side.
She is far too tempting.
My little jewel dips her head. "I didn't want to embarrass you either."
"I could not be embarrassed by you." And I realize that despite my plans to have maman coach Juliana in her dress sense, I am not lying.
If she continued to dress the frump, I would not be ashamed to be seen with her. In fact, a primitive part of me would prefer no one else ever knew about the delectable body she hid beneath her oversized, boxy clothing.
Juliana impulsively clasps my hand. "Thank you for saying that, but it's important to me to be accepted in your world and I know that comes with dressing a certain way. I'm okay with that as long as I know that it's the woman you want, not the packaging."
"I want you very much and prefer no packaging at all." I lean down and inhale the scent that is all Juliana.
She laughs breathlessly. "Now, that would shock everyone, if I were to run around naked."
"Only for my eyes," I growl before sending protocol to the devil and kissing my woman.
Instantly parting, her lips soften against mine as she returns the kiss.
After much too short a time, I force myself to lift my head. "I hope you brought riding and rockhounding attire along with your socialite wardrobe. I plan to show you the beauty of my desert while you are here."
"I would like that. I even brought my rockhounding backpack. Since there were no luggage limits on your plane." She grins cheekily. "That's one tick in the positive column for living in your world."
"And this is another one, the best one I hope." With those words, I throw caution and proprieties to the winds and cup her face to once again claim the mouth I dreamt about every night since leaving Santa Fe.