Date with a Surgeon Prince(18)

Somehow his mood had changed and Marni sensed hidden depths in this man, for all he joked about the ‘job’.

‘But you do know people, surely that’s more important than a business degree,’ she said softly, and his hand tightened on her fingers.

‘Ah!’ he said softly. ‘So someone understands.’

Uncertain what he meant, Marnie was about to ask, but he’d turned to look out at the desert again, and she sensed a remoteness in him, as if he was disconnected by his thoughts.

Disconnected from her as well.

Did someone not want him to be the ruler?

Someone in his family?

Or did he feel detached from his family?

Had it been a real problem for him, going against their wishes to follow his own path? He had certainly seized on her silly betrothal photo, grabbing it like a drowning man would grab a tiny stick, so his sisters’ representations must have been bothering him.

And now you’re back at the betrothal!

Had he guessed that her thoughts had returned to it that he turned back to her and lifted his hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear?

‘Maybe our betrothal could turn out to be more than a pretence, Marni,’ he suggested, his voice deep and husky.

With desire?

She was still wondering when he continued, ‘We may not know each other very well, but there’s time enough to remedy that, and you can’t deny the attraction between us.’

His eyes held hers.

No, she couldn’t deny the attraction, but…

She shook her head.

‘I’m sorry, but I simply cannot imagine what would lie ahead, so how could I possibly agree to anything?’

‘I would be there with you all the way. I would give you every support, give you anything you needed or wanted,’ he said, his voice so serious she found herself shivering, although the air was warm.

The tension in the shade of the tent was palpable now, so thick Marni imagined she could feel it pressing against her skin and taste it on her lips.

But how to break it?

‘Let’s just go with the betrothal for now,’ she said. ‘And maybe keep it quiet—just letting your sisters—your family—know. You can use the excuse of Pop’s operation—blame me for not wanting a fuss at this stage. Then if you need me to accompany you to official functions, I can start slowly, so it isn’t some big deal but something people gradually get used to. Would that be possible?’

He rested his palm against her cheek.

‘Anything is possible,’ he said, as he slid the hand behind her head to draw her close.

The kiss was so gentle she responded in spite of herself.

Responded and was lost.

Admittedly, with Pop and Nelson’s opinion of her always in her mind, she’d come late to the kissing scene, although she’d eventually made up for lost time, exchanging kisses with any number of young and not so young men over the years.

But had she ever experienced a kiss that made her toes tingle?

A kiss that sent shivers spiralling along her nerves, sensitising the skin at the back of her neck, along her arms, across her breasts, not to mention other places previously immune to spiralling shivers?

Not that she could recall.

And surely if she had, she wouldn’t have the other problem.

Dear heaven, she was melting, disintegrating, a helpless mass of quivering flesh.

His hand was moving on her arm, leaving lines of heat where it had touched yet still his lips held her in thrall, held her and seduced her, his searching tongue making promises she barely understood.

Eventually he lifted his head, looking down into what was undoubtedly a face flushed scarlet by her reactions.

‘I’ll need to find you somewhere to live,’ he said as calmly as if he hadn’t just destroyed any common sense and will-power she might once have had. ‘The harem would swamp you, drive you mad with all their so-called help. My sister, Tasnim, the pregnant one, would be best. Her husband is away so she’ll enjoy the company. She’s banished all the women in her family to the main harem because they were fussing over her too much, but she’ll love to have you visit.’

Still trying to collect herself post-kiss, Marni could only stare at him. Then, as the words took on a slightly suggestive air, she pulled herself together.

‘I have a perfectly good little flat at the hospital,’ she reminded him.

He smiled in such a way the shivers started all over again, but rather than pointing out that he couldn’t be seen visiting her at the nurses’ quarters, he merely said, ‘Security!’ and helped her up off the mat, leading her back to the car, seeing she was buckled in.


Was he really intending to go through with this absurd betrothal? Gaz asked himself as he eased the vehicle back down the dune.