His Reluctant Bride (12 page)

“You are my wife, Catherine. You will sleep where I sleep and you will do as I damn well say!” he instructed and at this her angry eyes did fly open to collide with his fiery ones.

“I am your wife, not your whore. And I will do as I please,” she corrected and was suddenly aware from the darkening of his gaze that she had pushed him too far.

“I think it is time you learned your place, Catherine. And it is not flirting with strange men but firmly beside your husband where you belong,” he informed her an instant before his strong arms closed around her and lifted her high against his firm chest.

“Put me down!” she demanded but her struggles were met with his cool gaze and a tightening of his grip as he carried her back to their bed and stripped her of her towel before sliding her beneath the covers and following close behind.

“Be still,” he said as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her firmly against his warm body ignoring her continued struggles.

“You are an unfeeling brute!” she flung at him furious that she did not even have the thin barrier of clothing between them.

“I have told you before, habibti. I will wear only so many insults,” he warned once again and she froze as his hand moved from her waist to trail across her flat stomach and moved slowly higher.

“It is not an insult if it is the truth,” she told him as she tried once again to escape his bed but he simply reached over and dragged her back ensuring that this time the steel band of his arm stayed around her slender waist anchoring her to him as an angry breath expelled from his lips.

“Go to sleep, Catherine. Before I do something we both regret,” he said and he could feel her bristling anger as she accepted that he was not going to let her go even as she resented his heavy handedness.

Katie must have slept for she awoke to the sun streaming in and the sound of voices close by. Sitting up she pushed her dark hair back and blinked at the sight of the empty bed beside her, grateful that she did not have to deal with her husband yet.

“She said it is an emergency, highness,” said a voice and Katie frowned as she wrapped a sheet around her before slipping from the bed and padding quietly to the door.

“Can nobody else deal with it?” snapped her husband and Katie peeked through the partly open door to find her husband fully dressed in his traditional robes and speaking with what looked like one of his guards.

“She says not,” the man said and she watched as her husband expelled an angry breath and raked a hand through his hair.

“I only arrived here yesterday. Can Amber not wait a few days?” he asked irritably and the guard shrugged while Katie stifled a gasp of surprise.

“She says not,” the man repeated and Tariq sighed.

“Very well. You may prepare the helicopter,” he said and then as the man left Katie retreated back to the bed.

“Good morning,” she offered as he entered the room and Tariq hesitated at the doorway as guilt flashed across his face before he successfully masked it.

“Good morning. You are in better spirits this morning, I trust?” he asked and Katie glared at him. How dared he ask her that? The insensitive beast.

“Doubtful, given the bastard I am married to,” she told him and before she could even blink he was there before her with his hand clutching her jaw. Lifting his hand he forced her to look at him and she was unprepared for his hard mouth to come crashing down on hers in a passionate onslaught that drove the breath from her body.

“I warned you about those insults,” he said as he pulled away and stroked his thumb pad gently over her lower lip.

“And I warned you that you would regret marrying me,” she flung at him as she bit down hard on his thumb and had the pleasure of seeing him let out a string of curses. Then before she had a chance to react he pulled her back to him and proceeded to give her a bruising kiss that was more about punishment than pleasure.

“I just hope you have learned your lesson by the time I return,” Tariq informed her grimly as he pulled away and Katie glared at him.

“When you return from where?” she demanded struggling against his strong arm that held her close.

“I have an important meeting. But I will return,” he said and Katie's eyes narrowed at the blatant lie.

“When?” she asked trying to sound like she did not care one way or another.

“As soon as my meeting has concluded,” he replied and Katie's fury rose at the realisation that what he really meant was that he would return when he had tired of Amber.

“Well take your time,” she said unprepared for his soft chuckle.

“If I had more time I would take you to task but I will have to settle for this,” he said kissing her once more and then he was gone. Leaving her standing there wishing that she had never met him and determined that he would not return to find her waiting patiently for his return.

Three days later Tariq had still not returned and though she hated to admit it Katie was missing his disturbing presence. She wasn't sure whether it was because she actually missed him or because she resented him leaving to spend his days with Amber.

It wasn't as though she had nothing to do with her time though. All the women had been brilliant and had welcomed her in to their group with open arms. She had been more than willing to join them in their daily chores and had made several good friends there. Even the men and children had warmed to her and she had gone from being respected from afar to being one of them. It made things less lonely and yet even the village was starting to feel too small for her making Katie long to just be allowed her freedom. It was something that she was finally allowed on her fourth morning alone.

It came about at breakfast when she helped the women prepare the meal and then seated herself next to Jai, as she had every morning since Tariq had left. His eldest niece was arguing with him when she seated herself and Katie couldn't help but be curious for she had never seen them argue since she had been there.

“Please, Uncle Jai,” his niece begged and Katie frowned at the ten year olds pleas.

“I said no Sabine. It is too dangerous,” he snapped and Katie's frown deepened.

“It's so unfair. Everyone else is allowed to go,” Sabine said sulkily and her uncle sighed.

“I'm sorry Sabine. I just think you are too young,” he tried to explain but his niece was beyond explanations and she stormed away from the table without another word leaving Jai to drop his head in his hands with a sigh.

“Everything alright?” Katie asked lightly as she poured herself a coffee only to grimace as she took a sip and realised she no longer wanted it.

“I just don't know what to do,” he revealed with a sigh lifting his head to look at her.

“Can I help?” she asked and he gave a weary smile.

“I doubt it. Sabine is just angry that she can't come to Darlaya with us,” Jai revealed and Katie perked up at that bit of information.

“You're going to Darlaya?” she asked hoping she sounded innocently curious.

“Yeah. A few of us are going for supplies. The older children are allowed to accompany us but I'm just not sure that Sabine is ready for that yet,” he said and Katie nibbled on her lower lip as she glanced in the direction Sabine had gone.

“Well, you know I could come with you and keep an eye on her,” Katie suggested holding her breath as she waited for an answer.

“You?” he asked in surprise and she saw from his wide eyes that he wasn't going to go for it.

“Well, I just thought that it would be nice for me to get out for a bit. And with all you big, strong men around nothing would happen to me. And then I could look after Sabine,” she said quickly and Jai frowned.

“I don't know. Tariq may not like it,” he said slowly and Katie gave him a dazzling smile.

“If Tariq didn't want me to go with you he would have said so. He didn't say I couldn't go did he?” Katie asked innocently and Jai hesitated.

“Well no, but...”

“And he knew you were going for supplies, right?” she asked hope beginning to swell and Jai's frown deepened.

“Well, yes but...”

“So, what's the problem?” she asked and Jai sighed.

“I don't want to get on the wrong side of Tariq,” he said making Katie straighten her spine as anger flowed through her.

“Shouldn't it be my choice?” Katie demanded and a few of the women seated nearby turned to glare at Jai.

“This village is about equality,” one of them said and Jai reddened.

“If Katie wants to go to Darlaya, why shouldn't she?” another asked and Jai sighed.

“Fine, I will ask,” Jai said though Katie didn't have much hope that anyone would agree to her request.

“I'll come with you,” said one of the women and was immediately joined by several others.

Which was how Katie found herself dressed in jeans and a shirt and sitting in the helicopter in between Jai and Sabine as they flew closer to Darlaya.

“Thank you,” she breathed as she leaned closer to Jai and he gave her a small smile even though he still appeared to have doubts about the wisdom of bringing her along.

“I'm so excited. I can't wait to see Darlaya,” Sabine said beside her and Katie turned stunned eyes on her.

“You've never seen Darlaya?” she asked with a frown and Sabine smiled up at her.

“I've lived in the village since I was four and Uncle Jai hasn't let me come with him before,” she revealed making Katie ache for the young girl who had been forced to give up her home because of an abusive father.

“You'll love it,” Katie said with a grin and Sabine smiled back.

Once the helicopter had landed each of the women that had joined them were given traditional robes that covered their entire bodies including their heads and left only their eyes and mouth free. It was a security precaution and one that Katie was secretly glad of. She wanted to get out and enjoy herself not put herself in harm’s way.

“Are we alright to browse the market?” Katie asked once they were ready and Sabine turned bright golden eyes on her uncle.

“Can we Uncle Jai?” she asked in excitement and he sighed.

“I suppose that would be alright,” he said while Katie and Sabine grinned at each other.

“You must guard them both,” one of the guards ordered and with a sigh Jai agreed.

It was a fun afternoon and Katie thoroughly enjoyed perusing the market with Sabine who gasped in delight at all the wonderful colours and products available. She was even more excited when Katie bought her a beautiful silk scarf and an exotic bracelet.

It was getting late when they returned to the meeting point and as the guards were finishing loading the helicopter Jai suggested that they stop in at a local bar for a drink which Katie readily agreed to. It was some relief when the refreshing home-made iced tea arrived and she took a generous swig unprepared for the warmth that spread through her at the first taste.

“Is it good?” Sabine asked as she drank her water and Katie was about to offer her some when she announced that she needed to use the rest room. Jai escorted her there and while he was gone Katie finished the rest of her drink and ordered another. She was halfway through by the time he returned and she frowned at the realisation that Sabine was not with him.

“Where's Sabine?” she asked frowning at the realisation she was slurring her words.

“The landlord's children are having a few drinks and he offered to watch her,” Jai said and Katie relaxed back unaware of how close they were.

“I've had a nice day,” she said with a sigh and Jai smiled down at her.

“It was fun,” he concurred and they shared a grin.

It felt so nice to just relax and enjoy herself. She didn't feel tense around Jai. He was just a really sensitive guy and she could talk to him without worrying about embarrassing herself or saying something she shouldn't.

“The helicopter will be ready soon,” Jai finally said and Katie sighed.

“its  shame we ha go back,” she answered as she finished another one of the delicious ice teas. She'd lost count of how many she'd had but for some reason she was starting to feel a bit ill. She assumed she had just drunk them too quickly but she wished she could lay down somewhere.

“I would love to stay here, but I have my nieces,” Jai said and Katie gave him a sympathetic smile as she realised how much he had sacrificed for the girls.

“Well, isn't this cosy,” said a deep voice and they both spun round to find Tariq standing over them looking as though he were ready to explode with anger.

“Highness,” Jai said immediately as he bowed his head and Katie glared at the man who had left her for days on end without a care.

“T'riq,” Katie said trying to sound angry but it came out more like a hiccup and then she felt a giggle build up in her throat.

“You will go back to the village and you will stay away from my wife!” Tariq informed a stunned Jai who gave a brief nod before he got to his feet and went to collect Sabine without a single glance in Katie's direction.

“No wite,” Katie said frowning when she realised it didn't come out as she had meant it to. He was supposed to have learned that he had no right to speak to her friends in that way but she had a feeling that he hadn't understood what she'd said any more than she had.