The Sheikh's Stolen Bride-To-Be(13)

"This room hasn't been used in quite some time," Mehdi said, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket and handing it to her.



"Do you have a whole supply of these?" Steph asked, and Mehdi grinned.



"I'm afraid you're the first woman I've ever used them on. I would thank  you for the excuse, but I would prefer you not use them for your  tears."



Steph thought back to that fountain, where she had felt so lost and  alone. Being with Mehdi, even as her parents' wrath sat in the back of  her mind, she felt freer than she had ever felt before. She wiped her  nose delicately and pocketed the handkerchief, determined to get it back  to him … someday.



Her feet were beginning to ache from so much walking. Judging by the  windows, night had fallen in the time it had taken to tour the palace.



Mehdi glanced out a window. "Ah, we should be good now. Come on. There's one last place I want to show you."



He led her toward an ancient tower, the doorway at the bottom revealing  only a narrow, winding stone staircase. Mehdi waved a hand at the door.



"Ladies first," he said.



Steph cast a wary glance up the tall, steep staircase before taking her first step, Mehdi close behind her.



"If I fall you're going to catch me, right?"



"I would always catch you," Mehdi answered, and Steph's heart fluttered.



After what seemed like an eternity of climbing, Steph saw an opening at  the top, and she picked up her pace. When she got there, she looked up  and held a hand to her mouth in astonishment.



The tower's ceiling was made entirely of glass, so, much like she had in  the aquarium, Steph felt like she was a part of her surroundings, this  time enveloped in the sky. With no light pollution, she could see  millions of stars streaking in glorious patterns all around her, stopped  only by the dark mass of desert below. She felt Mehdi stand next to  her.



"This is … unreal," she breathed.



"Yes. I think that is a good word for it. It's the one part of the  palace I actually like. My ancestors were very interested in astronomy  and the study of the skies, so they built this tower as a way to observe  them while staying safe from the elements. They were able to learn much  from this room."



"I can imagine so," she said, gazing around until her eyes landed on the most beautiful thing in the room.         

     



 



Mehdi was staring up as well, but he seemed to feel her gaze on him,  because he glanced down and met her regard, staring deeply into her  eyes.



"Why did you do this, really?" she asked.



Mehdi's expression clouded, and he frowned before answering.



"I too was placed in an arranged marriage. It only lasted a few weeks,  as the woman was not at all a match for me, and we ended up getting a  divorce. The whole affair was broadcast all over the papers. She threw  as much mud at my name as she possibly could. After that, I developed a  true dislike of the idea, and I thought I might have a chance to rescue  you from the same fate."



Steph tried to imagine Mehdi marrying another woman, and it left a sour  taste in her mouth. It was good to piece together the part of his past  he had been hiding, though, and she placed a supportive hand on his arm,  unable to resist touching him under the starlight.



"I'm sorry you had to go through that," she said.



Mehdi shrugged, though he didn't seem to mind her hand on him, and Steph  let it linger a moment longer before forcing herself to drop it.



"It's all right. All of life's experiences teach us who we are and who  we want to be-and who we want to be with," he said, gazing down at her  once more.



A heavy pause passed between them, and Steph thought about just going  that extra distance and pressing her lips to his perfect mouth. But the  moment of opportunity passed, and Mehdi broke the trance by looking back  up one more time.



"This is a far better place to make wishes than by the edge of a fountain with tears. Wouldn't you agree?"



Steph looked up again, trying to take in every detail of the moment.  Since meeting Mehdi, her whole world had opened up, and she had only  known him a day. If she could wish for anything, it would be for just  another day with him to live the way she had always wanted.



"Yes, a much better place," she whispered.



They enjoyed the stars for a few minutes more before Steph found herself unable to hold back an enormous yawn.



"I've exhausted you. I'm sorry," Mehdi said. "Are you hungry at all since our meal?"



Steph laughed. "Absolutely not. I am stuffed and happy," she said.



Mehdi smiled. "Good. Since you've agreed to stay with us here a while  longer, why don't I escort you to your room so you can get some  well-earned rest? It's been quite a stressful few days for you, and I  imagine jet lag is still a factor as well. Did you get any sleep last  night?"



Steph thought about how she had woken up with Mehdi on her mind and nodded.



"Some," she said.



Mehdi nodded. "But not much, I imagine. Come. I'll lead the way down, so if you fall you can land safely on me."



"That's very gallant of you," she said with a grin, and Mehdi's smile broadened, revealing a dimple even in the dark.



Dear lord, he was attractive.



"I should hope so. I am a sheikh after all. I do have a Prince Charming reputation to uphold, do I not?"



"I think you can be whoever you want to be. There's no need to put on an act with me."



Mehdi turned and looked up at her from the stone steps. His eyes were  filled with an emotion Steph didn't recognize, and she knew she had  struck a chord with him somewhere.



"Thank you, Steph," he said, his voice husky.



He turned quickly and led the way back down the tower, seeming to  collect himself on the way. By the time they reached the ground level he  was back to his normal, jovial self. He asked her more about Vermont,  and Steph regaled him with stories of the countryside, where she'd spent  her childhood going to the state fair and helping raise baby chicks and  goats.



"That sounds very rustic," Mehdi said, and Steph nodded.



"It was. There aren't a lot of people in my town, so we all generally  know one another. Country life has its pros and cons. For one thing, we  all have each other's back if we get into trouble. On the other hand,  everyone is a gossip and there isn't a soul in town who doesn't know  your business."



Mehdi nodded. "This city can be a little like that, though maybe that's  just my perspective because everyone seems to think that my life is  their business. I suppose when they're funding my existence, they are  entitled to print about my behavior and love life."         

     



 



"Has there been much to report?" Steph asked.



She couldn't help herself. Since Mehdi had told her he had been married,  a whole slew of questions had flooded her mind, but she didn't want to  pry too much. It was clear that opening up was fairly difficult for him,  and the last thing she wanted to do was break that trust.



Mehdi's grin was wry as he glanced down at her. "Besides being placed in  a terrible marriage that ended in a sticky divorce? No. I'm afraid that  experience has made me a little skittish when it comes to love."



"I understand," Steph said, and she did. Even if her heart did sink at his statement.



Perhaps Mehdi really was just being kind, rescuing her because he would  do it for anyone. She had begun to think that there might be something  more between them, but perhaps she was wrong.



Before she could think more on the subject, Steph found herself staring at the guest-room door.



"Here we are," Mehdi said, taking a step back.



Steph opened the door, turning back to face him. "Thank you again, for everything. This has been the experience of a lifetime."



Mehdi gave her a gentle, respectful bow, and when he looked up at her  his eyes were filled with impish humor. "It's my pleasure. After all,  how often does a king with no real power get to rescue anyone anyway?  Hardly ever."



Steph laughed. "I don't think you're giving yourself much credit. It  sounds like you have the needs of your people in the back of your mind,  always. You even welcomed me as one of your own, even though I'd never  set foot in El Farah before yesterday."



"You will always be welcome here, Steph, no matter what. Please know that," he said earnestly.



They shared another heavy pause-so much unspoken that neither was  willing to be the first to say-before Steph reached for the door and  held it ready to close.



"Have a good night, Mehdi."



"And you. I'll have breakfast ready for us in the morning, and then perhaps we can go on another adventure?"



"That sounds wonderful," she said, feeling a tingle of excitement for whatever Mehdi had planned.



"Good. Sleep sweet, Steph."



"Good night," she said, finally closing the door before he had a chance to walk away.