“Yes. Many.”
Interesting. “Are any of them in a government position?”
“There are three that have inherited significant tribal power and wealth, but so far these half brothers prefer to avoid work and responsibility.”
“They are the sons of your father’s second wife?”
“She had three boys in quick succession. They are handsome, popular, and quite headstrong.”
“You like them?”
“I love them.” He hesitated, smiling wryly. “And I imagine I will like them even better once they begin to grow up.”
She grimaced. “It’s easy to be self-indulgent when you’re given everything. I grew up in a wealthy family, surrounded by peers from equally wealthy families. It’s not the real world. As difficult as it’s been this past year, I’m glad to be living in the real world. I know now who my true friends are. I know what matters.”
“I hope one day my brothers discover what’s true, and real.”
“Perhaps they need an incentive to mature. Perhaps it’s too easy for them...being young, handsome, and wealthy.”
“They do have it too easy. Nothing is worse than a spoiled, billionaire prince.”
“Were you ever like that? A spoiled, billionaire prince?”
“It was different for me. I’ve always known I would be king. And I’ve always been conscious that I was the son from the bad first wife, the American wife. I’ve tried hard to do the right thing, to avoid additional scrutiny and criticism.”
She studied him, still warm, still so fascinated by this man and how he made her feel things and want things. But she had to be careful. She needed to remain in control. “We don’t hear much about Saidia in the news in the US.”
“That’s because we try to stay out of the news, and we are a stable country. Historically, the Karims have gone to great lengths to ensure our people’s happiness.”
“So people are happy?”
“Yes. We have excellent schools and health care. Girls are actively encouraged to attend school, even pursue higher education. Marriage is forbidden under the age of eighteen, without parental consent.” His dark eyes glowed. “Does that answer all of your questions? Or is there something else you’d like to know?”
The gleam in his eye was dangerous. It made her pulse leap, and her stomach lurch. Just like that, she felt him...near her, around her, as if they were connected. One. Which was ludicrous. She barely knew him and they weren’t touching. He was reclining four or five feet away.
And yet her skin tingled and her insides felt strange, her nerve endings wound too tightly.
The desert wasn’t safe. Not with Mikael in it.
“And what are you thinking of now?” he asked, his deep voice pitched low, making her think of dark sensual things that she shouldn’t be thinking, not when alone with him.
“What is your seduction plan?” she asked. “What’s supposed to happen tonight?”
He didn’t smile, but she could have sworn he was laughing at her.
“What do you think is going to happen?”
She hated it when he answered her question with another question. “No idea. That’s why I asked.”
“I have an idea of how I think the evening will go,” he said, watching her with that lazy interest, which she knew now wasn’t lazy at all.
He was paying close attention to her, listening attentively to everything she said, observing everything she did.
He, too, was aware of the energy between them. Something was happening. She felt the heat and tension, the prickling awareness. It was sexual. And tangible. Her gown which had been so comfortable earlier now felt hot and tight, constricting.
“You are impossible,” she whispered, breathless. He made her breathless.
Did he know the effect he had on her? Did he know that he made her curious? Weak?
She felt weak now, and hot, so hot, as tiny tongues of desire made her nipples tighten inside the delicate fabric of her dress.
“Yesterday was touch,” he said. “I gave you a massage.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “It was an incredible massage, too.”
“Today...what have we done so far?”
“Kissed,” she whispered.
“Exactly. Today I can only kiss you.”
“Oh.” She tried to stifle the stab of disappointment.
“Fortunately, there are many different ways I can kiss you.”
He stood up and walked around the perimeter of the tent, dropping the heavy panels, making the soft sheer silk curtains flutter in as the outside covers fell. “Different places I can kiss you.”
Jemma held her breath as he continued to walk around the tent, closing them off from the night, and his staff, tying the cords on the inner panels, sealing them into a private world.