Royals Untamed!. Annie West

thing she’d expected. She’d been hoping to remain as low profile as possible, not wanting to give false hope to anyone that she would stay around. Least of all to herself.

      ‘Word has gone out swiftly and people are celebrating your return. It is a good sign.’ He reached out and took her hand in his, the heat of his skin scorching hers, making her breath catch. ‘You are very much wanted in Barazbin and not just by the people.’

      ‘I am?’ Why was he saying such things?

      He leant forward and took her hand in his, lifting it to his lips, pressing them lightly against the back of her hand, making her heart flutter wildly. ‘You are mine now,’ he said in a husky whisper, his eyes sparking with a challenge that mixed with desire, creating a lethal cocktail. ‘Truly mine.’

      This wasn’t about anything more than possession. He’d claimed her as his wife with such dedicated charm he’d been assured success. There would be no question of an annulment now and divorce wasn’t on his agenda. He’d made that perfectly clear. She was effectively trapped here with him. A man she loved and found ever harder to resist who only wanted her in the line of duty.

      ‘I will only stay until Annie and Claude return from America,’ she interjected fiercely, pulling her hand back, but his fingers held hers tightly, preventing it.

      He stood up, his regal command instantly back in place. ‘That was never part of our deal, Amber. You agreed to return to Barazbin and you will stay.’

      ‘No,’ she snapped, and she pulled her hand away.

      ‘No?’ he questioned, his desire-laden eyes hardening to glittering black. ‘You will stay and tonight you will go to the feast.’

      ‘I can’t. It would be wrong to give the people false hope.’ She couldn’t keep the pleading note from entering her voice.

      From the grim line of his lips she knew it was futile to beg and plead. Instead, she glared at him, seeing his expression turn as heavy as storm clouds. He stood, towering over her, reminding her of his power.

      ‘I shall escort you to the feast. Be ready by sunset.’

      * * *

      Kazim turned and marched from the room, away from the woman who’d practically driven him mad with desire. He had thought her allure would fade once he’d tasted the forbidden fruit, but the fact that she was now truly his and his alone only intensified his need for her. She made him want things he could never have, be the person he could never be.

      He thought of her insistence on leaving and irritation bubbled inside him. His people had welcomed her and were expecting her to stay. They wanted her to be their princess and one day their queen. He wanted her by his side on the path through life that fate had forged him—the same fate that had led her to him. He also wanted her in his bed at night. Each and every night. This was a new realisation, one he hadn’t totally come to terms with.

      As afternoon slipped into evening Kazim realised he was going to have to do more to convince Amber that he wanted her to stay. He had amends to make and tonight would give him the perfect opportunity. He would show off his wife to all present, including his father. He wanted to make sure that nobody would ever question the validity of their marriage. But, most of all, he would do it his way; he wouldn’t allow himself to be influenced any more by the way his father had treated his mother. The emotional bully who had eventually broken his mother’s spirit, forcing her to retreat from everyone until her death, was not something he wanted to be. He didn’t want to live beneath that shadow any longer.

      Kazim pushed open the doors to their suite a short time later and his breath was taken away by the sight that greeted him. In full traditional dress of stunning gold, Amber shimmered like an oasis in the parched desert. As his silence lengthened she raised her chin in the defiant little gesture he had come to admire. She was out of this world.

      ‘This time,’ he said as his heart hammered a little too fast and desire raced in his blood, making his head pound as if Arabian stallions were galloping right over him, ‘far more beautiful than exquisite.’

      He moved towards her, drawn by an unknown force, watching her delicate face as a flush swept over her exotically high cheekbones. Her brown eyes, enhanced by make-up, watched him boldly and he clenched his fists against the desire to drag her to bed right now and forget the formalities of the banquet. How was he going to be able to spend the entire evening at her side, when all he wanted was her naked and beneath his body in his bed as he claimed her again and again?

      ‘Not without the help of an army of maids.’ She smiled, her face suddenly lighting up, her eyes sparkling like the ocean on a sunny day. He had never seen her smile like that, but he liked it and vowed to make it happen more often.

      ‘You are a princess and such treatment goes with the job.’ He stood to one side, his hand held out towards the doors. ‘If you are ready, Princess Amber of Barazbin, we have to attend a banquet in your honour.’

      * * *

      Shyness rushed over Amber as she walked towards him, as his eyes seemed to devour every part of her body, which sizzled from just his gaze. It was madness, but she wanted him with such a force it almost knocked her breath from her body.

      Focus, she told herself as, a few minutes later, they entered the banqueting hall, which was adorned with flowers and where a scent of spices filled the air. Voices hummed to a hush as she entered with Kazim, curious eyes cast her way. What were they thinking? Were they really welcoming her with open arms?

      Such thoughts raced through her mind as the festivities erupted around her; dancers and beautiful music filled the magnificent room that formed the centre of the palace. Captivated, she stopped and looked around her, feeling Kazim stop at her side, his arm pulling her just that little bit closer.

      ‘This is for you, Princess Amber.’ His voice, velvety soft as he spoke close to her ear, sent shivers down her spine. ‘They are welcoming you home.’

      Her heart thumped in her chest and she turned to look into his handsome face, now so tantalisingly close. ‘I am honoured.’

      ‘Before we enjoy the evening, my father would like to welcome you back.’ Was it just her imagination or had his voice hardened, just from the mention of his father? Before she had time to say anything he guided her through the throng of people, all smiling her way and eager to catch her attention. She smiled back with graceful dignity and followed, but inside quaked at the thought of seeing her father-in-law again. Kazim’s revelations about his childhood only reinforced her first impression of the man: hard, mean and relentless.

      ‘I see my son has succeeded.’ Sheikh Amir Al Amed fixed her with a piercing glare and Amber met it head-on, taking in the implication of his words.

      ‘Did you doubt him?’ She couldn’t help herself. She wasn’t going to stand meekly before him and allow him to intimidate her. Kazim’s arm loosened on hers. She’d spoken out of turn.

      Kazim’s father looked first at his son with narrowed eyes then back to her and she felt the full force of his scrutiny.

      ‘I’m pleased to see you are feeling stronger today, Father,’ Kazim interjected into the conversation. ‘It does us both a great honour that you are present this evening.’

      Kazim’s gallant words salved his father’s prickly demeanour, but she knew he was doing what came naturally. He was stepping in, protecting her. Just as he’d done for his mother and because of that he’d got hurt. The scar on his chest bore testament to that. Her heart softened and instinctively she moved closer to Kazim.

      Sheikh Amir nodded in satisfaction, keeping his eyes firmly on Amber. ‘I made a wise choice with your marriage.’

      ‘You did,’ Amber boldly answered and felt Kazim turn to look at her, but she kept her eyes locked with his father.

      She blinked in shock when Sheikh Amir laughed a deep, throaty laugh and for a brief moment she saw the handsome man he must have once been. ‘A wise choice indeed. Now go. Do your duty.’

      Dismissed,