“Hush, my child,” Elena told him. “Tarek has not finished speaking his mind.”
Kira saw a hint of self-consciousness in his expression before he resumed his steel persona. “I do not expect any of you to readily accept this rather shocking turn of events, but I do hope I have your blessing on what I am about to tell you now.”
He turned toward Kira and held out his hand. “If you would please join me.”
She strode toward him in a fog, her head whirling with possibilities, and took his offered hand. As they stood there before the king’s court, she feared her knees might not hold her.
“As you know,” Tarek began, “Kira and I have grown very close—”
“I’m sure that is an understatement,” Zain muttered, earning a quelling look from Elena. “I am only saying that you are a Mehdi, and with that comes a certain amount of virility and lack of control.” That earned Adan’s chuckle.
Surprisingly, Tarek smiled. “Regardless, I recognize you are all very protective of Kira, and I want to be clear on my commitment to her. She is everything a man could desire in a woman.”
Kira practically gasped. “You want a commitment?”
“I definitely do. I did not realize this until you had left me.”
“I want that, too, Tarek, but—”
“Enough with the moon-eyed declarations,” Rafiq muttered. “Get on with it.”
Tarek turned his focus back to the brothers. “In the absence of her father, I am asking you for permission to propose marriage to her.”
While Kira stood frozen on the spot, the brothers nodded at each other before Rafiq rose from the chair. “If you will treat her with the respect she deserves, you have our blessing.”
Tarek turned to Kira, a satisfied look on his face. “Kira Darzin, will you honor me by being my wife?”
How badly she wanted to say yes, but she couldn’t in good conscience. Not yet. “No.”
Ten
Tarek was somewhat stunned she was rebuffing him again, only this time in front of an audience. “You do not wish to be my wife?”
“I’m not saying I won’t marry you. I’m saying my answer depends on your reasons for wanting to marry me.”
His answer would require putting away his manly pride, he realized, when he glanced at the brothers who sat patiently awaiting his response, seemingly enjoying his predicament. “I vow to you that I will love you now and forevermore.”
“You love me?” she asked, sheer wonder in her voice.
“I do.”
Still, she did not seem quite satisfied. “And our baby?”
He sensed the sudden tension in the room. “I will love our child as I love you, and I will endeavor to be the best father possible.”
Finally, she smiled. “Then my answer is a yes, I will marry you, Tarek Azzmar.”
“You are with child, Kira?” Rafiq asked before Tarek could finally take Kira into his arms.
His future wife turned her attention to the king and frowned. “Yes, but we didn’t plan that, either. Regardless, we’re both very happy about it now.”
“Cripes, we’re going to have to expand the nursery,” Adan groused.
Zain came to his feet. “Worse, we are going to have to replace Kira.”
Elena stepped forward. “No need to worry about that. I will be in charge until we find a replacement....”
As the chaotic discourse continued, Tarek saw the opportunity to escape. He took Kira by the hand and said, “Come with me,” As he led her to the door.
Before they could make a hasty exit, Zain called out, “Tarek, you will now be required to sit on the governing council.”
Tarek raised his hand in acknowledgement and left out the door, closing it behind him. He led Kira down the corridor, and when they turned the corner, he seized the opportunity to kiss her thoroughly.
Once they parted, she looked at him with concern. “Are you absolutely sure about taking this step?”
More sure than he had ever been about any decision he had made at this juncture in his life. “I have not experienced such certainty for many years. Now, if you will join me upstairs, I have something I would like to show you.”
She feigned a stunned look. “Oh my, Tarek. I realize the brothers seem to be fine with us, but do you think that’s appropriate in the palace?”
He could not resist kissing her again. “That was not my intent, at least not presently. When we leave here later, I will give you an appropriate ravishing.”
“I’m all for that.”
They traveled to the second floor and paused at the door to the nursery, where the sounds of childish voices filtered into the hallway. “Let me guess,” Kira said. “You’ve already set up a crib for our baby.”