Beauty and the Sheikh(27)

Now, he very much doubted it was anything but her genuine interest in being involved. It was all too easy to imagine Holly with her own children. Holding a baby to her breast.

His heart squeezed at the image.

“I wanted to teach special-needs children.” Her tone turned wistful. “It was what I was going to college for, before the money…” She shook her head and shrugged. “Who knows, perhaps I’ll go back to school when I return to the States.”

Her words jolted him. Rafiq’s chest tightened and he struggled to breathe evenly. Of course she would be thinking about her return to the States and how she would leave him someday. That was, and always had been, the agreement.

And yet back in Monaco, for a moment, hadn’t he worried about Holly growing more attached to him? Perhaps she’d simply been caught up in the moment.

The idea of Holly leaving reminded him of another uneasy thought. “We did not use protection.”

She tensed and turned to look at him once more. Some of the color leeched from her face. “No. We didn’t.”

“It seems unlikely anything should come of it, but you will, of course, let me know.”

“Of course.” She looked away quickly, but not before he’d seen the flicker of distress in her eyes.

It seemed a pregnancy was not an exciting prospect for Holly, at least not now when she was so young and eager to return to school. Perhaps when she was older and settled with some robust, overprotective American husband.

The image, just as the one of her leaving, ate bitterly at his gut, and Rafiq’s fingers closed into a fist.

But what if there was a child? What then? No matter how much he might fear it, everything would have to change.



Rafiq had Holly and her things moved into his room immediately when they returned. Since they’d officially become lovers, there really was no reason for the separate rooms. Plus it would keep his staff from gossiping.

Not that they’d ever do so. Though they might be quietly curious about Holly in the palace, they were loyal to the bone.

Most days he would leave to go into the city, working tirelessly to set the logistics for a second casino in Raljahar to be built. His country was small, but already in the past two years the luxury mall had expanded three blocks, renting retail space to the top designer names.

Though business was going well during the day, Rafiq could not wait for the evening when his limo would return him to the palace and to Holly. In the two weeks since they’d returned, he looked forward to walking through his doors to find Holly somewhere inside, always a happy smile on her face.

Within the privacy of their room she welcomed him into her arms and then melted beneath his touch. Hearing her cry his name had become the most sinfully decadent dessert he craved at the end of each day.

Holly being in his bed, beside him, felt natural. It was a relief to wake from the nightmares that occasionally plagued him and find her reaching for him. Comforting him.

Closing his file, Rafiq glanced up as the limo pulled onto the palace grounds. He could scarcely wait for the vehicle to slow; his fingers already caressed the handle on the door as he anticipated seeing Holly again.

He shook his head, wondering how she could cloud his mind so easily. How one woman could encompass his every free thought.

The limo came to a stop and Rafiq pushed open the door.

“F-forgive me, Your Majesty.” The chauffer’s cheeks reddened as he stumbled out a moment later.

Rafiq gave his driver a wide smile. “No apologies needed. I’m perfectly capable of getting myself out of the car.”

The chauffer looked hesitant and then smiled in response. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Rafiq nodded and then turned away, moving briskly toward the palace doors. Every step he took, every breath he drew in brought him closer to her. His fingers itched to touch her and to have her soft lips parted beneath his in greeting.

If he’d taken time to analyze it more, he might’ve been puzzled by the change in Holly. It was as if she’d made it her mission to be everything he would want in a mistress. Or perhaps even a wife.

The last thought almost made him stumble over his feet. He slowed his stride, his brows drawing together.

His staff greeted him as he entered the palace, their smiles eager and their greetings warm. In the time that had passed since their return from Monaco, he’d been very diligent in his efforts to be more patient and kind to his staff. To anyone he came into contact with.

To his surprise, it wasn’t all that difficult. And their responses, initially tentative and surprised, continued to please him. It was possible he hadn’t noticed it before, but there was more smiling and laughter within the palace now.

As he walked farther into his home, he looked around the hallway and each room, but there was no sign of Holly.

Foreboding gathered slowly in his stomach, and he hurried to stop the female assistant he’d assigned to Holly. “Have you seen Miss Winchester?” He forced any severity from his expression and kept his tone casual.

The woman’s eyes flickered with unease before she gave a quick nod. “She is in your room, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you.” Relief slid through him that she was safely in the palace, but the unease in his gut didn’t lessen.

Rafiq opened the door to his bedroom and then closed it silently behind him. His gaze traced every inch of the large room, seeking out Holly’s form. It took a moment before he spotted it. His heart tripped as he noticed her curled up, so still, lying on top of the bed.

Was she asleep?

Rafiq crossed the room, his footsteps nearly silent on the marbled floors. When he reached the bed, he sat down on the edge of the mattress.

Holly’s eyes were closed and her chest rose steadily. With a gentle hand, he reached out to brush his fingers over her forehead.

Her lashes fluttered open and she stared at him with disorientation in her gaze. And then it shifted—for a moment there was a flash of pain in the blue depths.

He reached for her hand. “Holly?”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I didn’t realize it was so late. I must’ve fallen asleep.”

“There’s no need to apologize for sleeping, habiba. Are you feeling well?” The moment the words left his mouth, a thought blindsided him.

His fingers curled around hers and his gaze slid to her other hand he hadn’t noticed pressed against her belly.

Was it possible? Could Holly have discovered she was pregnant? A rushing sounded in his head as his blood quickened. “Holly? Tell me, what is it?”

She didn’t answer immediately, and her lashes fluttered down to hide her eyes. “I’m sorry. You’re right, I’m not feeling well.” She bit her lip and a strange expression flitted across her face. “I started my cycle this morning.”

It took a moment for her words to sink in, but even when they did Rafiq couldn’t believe he’d heard them right. He’d been prepared to hear something else entirely.

But Holly wasn’t pregnant. Their first time together, without protection, had resulted in nothing.

“But at least you don’t have to worry about me being pregnant anymore.” Her tone nearly managed to sound upbeat.

Rafiq could do little more than blink as crushing disappointment robbed him of his breath. His grip on Holly’s hand loosened and her fingers slid from his. Why was he so disappointed? This was exactly what he’d hoped for. A pregnancy would have only complicated everything between them.

So where was the relief that should’ve been instantaneous? The news should be cause for celebration, not bitter regret that ate at his gut.

He looked over at Holly and noted she seemed unperturbed, perhaps just a little tired if anything.

“Yes,” he forced the words out. “That certainly is one less thing to worry about.”

Holly gave a slight nod as her eyes closed again, but her mouth tightened.

“You should rest, habiba. Can I get you anything to ease your discomfort?”

There was a pause before she whispered, “No. I’ll be fine. Thank you.”

Rafiq hesitated. He wanted to stay and comfort her, pull her into his arms and hold her. But it was clear she was through talking and preferred to be left alone.

Biting back a weary sigh, he stood and once more left his room.





Chapter 15



Holly waited for the sound of the large door once again closing, before she let out a small sob. She gripped the pillowcase beneath her head as another wave of pain swept through her heart.

She was an absolute fool. Had she actually hoped Rafiq might be disappointed she wasn’t pregnant?

If that didn’t make her foolish, then the fact she’d wanted to discover she carried his child certainly did.

Of course Rafiq didn’t want her pregnant—that would’ve been a huge burden on him and their agreement. Three months. That was all.

You knew he would send you away at the end of the set time, she reminded herself. If not earlier.