available.”
He didn’t have to do that. She wasn’t marrying him for the money. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Neither do I. Regardless, you are protected. Now that we are engaged, I have opened a bank account for you. As you spend money, more will be provided. I will give you credit cards, as well.” He touched her face. “I want you to be happy, Kayleen. Go shopping as you like.”
“I don’t need much.”
“Then you will be embarrassed by your excesses. Life is different now. You are different.”
He kissed her, his mouth moving lazily over hers. When she parted, he slipped his tongue inside, teasing hers until she couldn’t catch her breath.
She wanted him to touch her everywhere. She wanted them to make love. She wanted to know the wonder of a release, his body so close to hers, their hearts beating together.
He pulled back slightly. “Although I would prefer you didn’t change too much,” he whispered as he lowered the zipper on her dress.
She felt his hands on her bare skin. He pulled the dress down to her waist, then moved aside the cup of her bra. His fingers were warm on her breast. He brushed against her hard nipple, making her gasp, then lowered his head and sucked on her.
Aware they were in a dressing room with a very flimsy door, she did her best to keep quiet, but it was difficult as his tongue circled her. Heat blossomed between her legs. Heat and an ache that made her squirm for more.
“So impatient,” he whispered, then unfastened her bra.
She pushed the scrap of lace away and ran her hands across his head, then his shoulders. More. She needed more.
He chuckled before moving to her other breast and teasing it until her breath came in pants.
She felt one of his hands on her leg. The material of her dress was drawn up and up, then he moved between her legs.
She knew she should stop him. The girls were gone, but there were other people out there. Clerks and Glenda and maybe customers. They couldn’t do this.
Except she didn’t want him to stop. Not when he pushed down her panties and urged her to step out of them. Especially not when he slipped his hand between her thighs and began to rub.
He found her center immediately. Back and forth, back and forth, the steady pressure of his fingers on her slick flesh. She was so ready, she thought as she held in another groan. He eased her backward, then raised her leg until her foot rested on the bench.
“Lean on me,” he whispered.
She did as he asked because to do otherwise was to risk him stopping. He supported her with one arm around her waist and eased the other under her dress, back between her legs.
She clung to him as he carried her higher and higher. The pleasure was so intense, she could think of nothing else. He knew exactly how to touch her, how to push her closer and closer until her release was in sight.
She felt the tension in every part of her body. She began to shake, holding on to him to keep from falling. Her breath came in pants. Suddenly she was there…on the edge and aching for him to push her over.
He circled her once, twice, and then she was coming and coming and it was as intense and glorious as she remembered. He leaned in and kissed her, silencing her gasps. He continued to touch her, flying with her, down and down, as the ripples of release eased through her. She was still shuddering in aftershocks when he swore softly and let her go.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered.
“This was supposed to be for you,” he muttered as he bent down and grabbed her bra. “Here. Put this on.”
“I don’t understand.”
He looked at her, passion flaring in his eyes. “I must take you back to the palace at once. To my bed. We will finish the shopping later.”
She smiled. “That’s a good plan.”
It was nearly midnight when Kayleen dialed the familiar number and, when the call connected, ask to speak to the woman in charge.
“Kayleen? Is that you?”
Kayleen smiled. “Yes. It’s been too long since I last called. I’m sorry.”
“If you’ve been off having adventures, I forgive you at once. How are you? How is life at the palace? You must tell me everything.”
The familiar voice, rich with affection and a life energy that inspired those around her, made Kayleen wish to be back in the convent, sitting in the room with her Mother Superior, instead of half a world away.
“I’m well. Very busy. I…The girls are adjusting well.” She’d already called and talked about As’ad adopting the girls and her becoming their nanny.
“I worry about them. There have been so many upheavals. So much pain for those so young. You’re with them and that must help.”
“I hope so.” Kayleen cleared her throat. “I have something to tell you. I’m not sure what you’ll think.” She drew in a deep breath. “It’s about Prince As’ad. He arranged for us to have a Thanksgiving dinner a few weeks ago. It was lovely. But then…”
The Mother said nothing. Kayleen suspected she had long ago learned that silence was powerful motivation for the other person to keep talking.
“It was late and we were alone,” Kayleen said, then told her everything. When she’d finished explaining about the proposal, she paused, waiting for whatever judgment might follow.
“He is a good man?” the other woman asked at last.
It wasn’t the question Kayleen had expected. “Um, yes. A very good man. A little too used to getting his way, but that must come with being royal.”
“He takes care of you and the girls?”
“Yes. Very well.”
“Can you love him?”
An interesting question. “Yes, I can. I want to.”
“Then I am pleased. I always wanted a husband and a family for you, Kayleen. I know you longed to return here, to the familiar, but sometimes we find our happiness in unexpected places. To love and be loved is a great blessing. Enjoy what you have and know I am always thinking of you.”
“Thank you,” Kayleen whispered, feeling the words wash over her like a blessing.
“Follow your heart and you will never be led astray. Follow your heart, child.”
Kayleen nodded. She could already feel her heart drawing her toward As’ad. As he was the man she would marry, it was a journey she longed to make. To a place where she would finally belong.
Chapter Eleven
Kayleen looked at all the designs spread out on the large dining room table. “You’re kidding,” she said.
“This is only from today’s mail,” Lina told her with a sigh. “I never thought anything I did would make designers notice me. I certainly buy nice clothes, but I’m not that into fashion. Besides, I gave up being trendy years ago. But the second Hassan announced our engagement, I started getting calls.” She flipped through the sketches of wedding gowns. “He was supposed to wait, you know. He promised.” She sounded more exasperated than actually annoyed.
“He said he couldn’t stand to keep his happy news a secret,” Kayleen told her with a smile. “I saw the news conference. He was giddy.”
Lina grinned. “Don’t tell him that. He’ll explain that a king is never giddy.”
“He was this one time. I’m glad you’re so happy.”
