“I will kill him.” Piper deserved better than Kade’s scorn. She might not be the most beautiful woman in the world, but she was sweet and smart and he was actually looking forward to having her as a companion. Over the last few months, he’d grown closer to the woman than any he had in years. He appreciated her quick wit and her soft heart. The woman with Kade was beautiful, but she likely didn’t have half of Piper Glen’s smarts. She might make his dick hard, but Piper would be his wife. Their wife. He would never allow his youngest brother to dishonor her this way again.
“Oh, wow. Uhm, boss, you told us she was kind of homely. We have two different versions of that word, man.” Dane shook his head as Rafiq joined Kadir.
Rafe, his ultimately reasonable brother, the one he counted on, walked right up to Kade’s little bit of honey-on-the-side and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her, his lips molding to hers before he broke it off and smiled. Rafe pointed up as he talked to her.
Tal knew exactly what his brother was saying. He was pointing out the architecture on the palace. He gave every visitor the same speech about the marble and arches, and the center of the palace that dated from the fifteenth century. But now he gave the speech with an intimate smile on his face as his hands tangled with the brunette’s.
Rafe wouldn’t dishonor their promised bride. Rafiq believed in his country’s traditions. He was circumspect.
So…that gorgeous, curvy thing was his Piper?
Dane huffed behind him. “Holy shit, Tal. If she’s your little smarty-pants bride, she doesn’t look like an egghead.”
Tal strode forward, his heart racing. No way. He’d seen her pictures. She was plain. She would engage his brain but not his heart. Careful. He’d been so fucking careful.
“Rafe?” He called out to his infinitely more reasonable brother. “The trip went well?”
Introduce me to my plain but brilliant bride. Tell me she’s shy and still in the limo.
Kade’s arm tightened around the brunette’s waist. “Talib! It’s good to see you.”
He stopped, halting a few feet before her. “And you, brother.” His youngest brother was the wild one. He loved Kadir. He did, but he worried about him, too. Still, he couldn’t help but notice the way his youngest brother’s hand slipped into the brunette’s and her fingers curled around his.
“Talib, it is my greatest pleasure to introduce you to…” Don’t say Piper. Don’t say Piper. “…Piper Glen. I believe you two have been speaking. Piper, habibti, this is our brother, his Serene and Royal Highness the Sheikh of Bezakistan, otherwise known as Talib al Mussad.”
She freed her hand and pulled her sunglasses off. Her blue eyes went wide and that truly magnificent chest swelled. “Tal?”
Fuck. Fuck. Fucking fuck fuck and a goddamn fucking duck. He’d only heard her voice a few times, but it was imprinted on his brain. That soft Texas twang with the hint of smarts and vulnerability. Piper. His Piper. His goddamn fucking virginal bride who would be his companion and who would rarely tempt his cock but never once move his soul.
Both were completely poleaxed because she was so beautiful.
“Hello, Piper. Yes, I am Sheikh Talib al Mussad. Or Tal, if you please.” There was nothing else to do. He had to introduce himself. Funny. He’d thought this would be a prideful moment when he revealed himself to be so much more than she’d expected, and he found himself almost shy. He didn’t show it, of course.
Her blue eyes took him in. “Talib. Of course. How stupid of me, but then I have been for months, it seems.” She stopped, her shoulders slumping a little. “Or am I wrong? Are you my Tal?”
This was supposed to be a special moment, when she looked up to him. Instead, she looked betrayed. “Yes. I am Tal, Piper. How is your sister?”
He knew everything about her. He knew about her family and her love for Mindy. He’d already taken care of the girl’s education, though Piper wouldn’t realize that for a few days. He knew about his bride’s upbringing. He knew what she liked and what she didn’t.
Until now, he hadn’t known how her eyes would pierce through him and see straight to his soul. He hadn’t known how his cock would pound at the very sight of her.
Her whole face contorted as if in pain. “You’re the third brother?”
Why did guilt roil in his gut? “Yes. It is good to meet you in person. I have enjoyed our talks over the internet. I am very eager to continue our discussions now that you are here.”
Her eyes dropped away, studying the ground in front of her. She didn’t pull away from his brothers, but he could feel her confusion.