Page 19 of The Sheikh's Matchmaker Bride

Chapter Six

They were coming up to the junction and he knew they would have to make a decision. Shahid felt the tension building inside himself. She was making him wait, playing with him, just like she'd always done. He had to admit he found it kind of enjoyable, in a childish way. But he wouldn't tell her that. There was no point in encouraging her.

She'd been quiet for the last few minutes, perhaps sensing that they were coming to a crossroads in more ways than one. He wondered what she was going to say. She could be so unpredictable at times and, once again, he realized that was another thing her liked about her. But, with Aliyah, that unpredictability wasn't the same as it was with the other women he'd known. With her, the surprises she caused always made him feel better about life, better about himself.

He glanced across at Aliyah. She was so stunningly beautiful, he could hardly believe she was here, in his car. It was the first time he'd ever driven her anywhere.

Alone.

That simple fact amazed him. Every other time they'd travelled anywhere in Qazhar, they'd always been accompanied by some family member or friend. Being alone with her felt so very different.

For some reason, despite their family connections, they had always lived in separate worlds. Maybe that had been for the best, he thought. Perhaps it was just as well she didn't know the kind of life he'd been living. But he was turning his back on that life now. Wasn't he?

Looking at her there, her gorgeous, petite body nestled into the leather car seat, she looked so calm, so self-contained. And that was one of the things which was special about Aliyah. She had a natural calmness, an ability to focus which Shahid knew he himself lacked.

Aliyah was so unlike any other woman he'd drawn into his life. And perhaps that was the reason why she had invaded his thoughts so completely in recent times. She was utterly fresh and new in every possible way.

Back in Azim's palace, he'd had to contain his delight on hearing Nadyah's suggestion that he drive Aliyah back to town. He could have thanked his sister right then and there for doing that. In spite of his best efforts, he was sure everyone had noticed his delight.

Right now, he didn't care about that. All that mattered was that Aliyah was right by his side. That was where she belonged. Where she would always belong, as far as he was concerned. But only if he succeeded in winning her, claiming her.

One moment, weeks ago, at the wedding had forced him to see the truth. And today, all it had taken was a kiss in the garden to remind him just how much she meant to him. He could hardly believe it. Especially when he thought about his other life, the one he was determined to turn his back on, now that there was a chance he could be with Aliyah.

In that other life, simple moments like he'd savored with Aliyah would never have happened. The people in that world needed so much more than simple, honest emotions and genuine feelings. They needed constant novelty, fresh new stimulation of their jaded senses. Holding someone close and feeling a true connection had no place in that world. He'd learned that lesson the hard way.

Shahid gazed ahead. The crossroad was almost upon them. He took his foot off the gas and the car began to slow. There was no other vehicle in sight. They were alone in the midst of the vast, golden wilderness.

The car slowed to a stop, the engine turning over with a low rumble. To the right the road stretched north leading in a short while to his own palace. Straight ahead would take them to Qazhar city and Aliyah's family palace on the outskirts. To the left the road stretched away toward the distant coast, where the sea would shimmer blue and bright, and where there would be the thin line of the beach that ran as far as the eye could see.

The engine growled, idling like a waiting beast and Shahid looked at Aliyah. The sound of the machine matched the feeling that simmered inside him.

"Well?" he asked simply.

He saw Aliyah look from one stretch of road to the other, evaluating, deciding.

Then, to his utter amazement she pointed to his left. "That way," she said grinning at him.

"What?" he replied turning to look along the southern road. "You want to go to the beach?"

Aliyah's brows lifted and she nodded. "Yup. What's the matter? You don't want to go?"

Shahid hesitated, not quite sure how to respond. He sighed and shook his head. "If that's what you want. Who am I to disagree?"

"I love the beach," she announced. "Don't you remember?"

Shahid narrowed his brows. "No."

Aliyah frowned in good humor. "Surely you haven't forgotten."

Shahid laughed and cleared his throat. "Don't tell me. I did something stupid ten years ago, and you still haven't forgotten," he stated.

"Right," Aliyah said, a triumphant look on her face. "How did you guess?" she added with a quirk of her mouth.

Shahid tried not to laugh, but he couldn't contain himself. He was going to have to get used to this. Aliyah was obviously determined to remind him of every humiliating episode from his childhood.

He sighed again. If that was what it was going to take to get closer to Aliyah, then he was going to have to put up with her teasing. The problem was, Aliyah was awfully good at teasing him. Still. If he was honest, he was starting to enjoy it, although he knew he daren't tell Aliyah that. Then, there would be no stopping her.

"What was it?" he asked.

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