Page 45 of The Sheikh's Matchmaker Bride

Chapter Fifteen

Aliyah gripped the steering wheel of her car and glanced into the rearview mirror.

Why had Shahid tried to say that to her? Those words of all things. Didn't he know how a declaration like that would change everything? She couldn't believe how close they'd come to ruining everything with one simple, devastating sentence.

She could see Azim's palace getting smaller as she sped along the road that only days before she had traveled with Shahid. But the circumstances of that drive had been so very different, she told herself. There had been no hint of love during that drive, had there? Now that she considered it more carefully, maybe there had been more to that than she had wanted to admit.

One thing was for sure. She and Shahid were no longer playing a game. She'd realized that when she'd reflected upon what had happened during the wedding vows rehearsal. Their pretense had felt so real.

And then Aliyah had seen the look in Shahid's eyes when he'd almost uttered those heart-felt words. Words of love. Perhaps they were words he had spoken to countless other women, she told herself. Maybe.

But, deep down, in her heart of hearts, she guessed that wasn't the case. There had been a truthfulness to the way he'd looked at her. She had known what he had been prepared to say to her.

He'd almost declared his love for her. Hadn't he?

Why had she stopped him?

One reason came to mind. Because she knew that if he said that he loved her, there would be no pretending anymore. There would be no way to hold back the torrent of emotion they'd been holding at bay these past few days. And then what would happen? She knew the answer to that question, had thought every night this week about being so close to Shahid. As close as was possible. Then, everything would change; nothing would be the same ever again.

Aliyah glanced in the mirror. Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel, and her eyes widened with disbelief.

Shahid's car was emerging from the gates to Azim's palace. Was he following her? Was he trying to catch up with her?

Aliyah pushed her foot down on the accelerator, and she felt herself sink back into the soft leather seats as the car picked up speed. She glanced urgently in the mirror expecting to see Shahid's car pick up speed and gain on her. But she didn't see any immediate reaction on his part. Was he just content to travel the same road as her, but do nothing to draw close or try stop her. Not that she would expect Shahid to do any such thing. She knew he wasn't the kind of man to resort to that kind of behavior. Maybe he was just making sure she got home safely.

She drove on for a while, regularly checking in the mirror to see just how close he intended to get to her. It looked like he'd settled into a position a few hundred yards behind her car.

Aliyah smiled as she thought of Shahid's determination, his undeniable tenacity in the face of her constant resistance. He wanted her. There was no doubting that. She knew that for sure. It was just like him to not let go, to keep on trying to break down the barrier between them. She had to acknowledge one thing.

Shahid wasn't a man who gave up easily.

Aliyah had never felt wanted like this in her entire life. His kisses had ignited passion inside her every time. His touch triggered a flame of desire that tempted and terrified her, all at the same time. What was it about Shahid that drew her to him like a moth to a flame?

It was simple. He was the most incredible man she had ever known. And the fact that he was relentlessly pursuing her, wooing her, courting her was surely something to treasure. Wasn't it?

She drove on for a while longer, her mind a riotous, confused cacophony of warring thoughts. She could still feel the remnants of the passion he'd ignited in her. Every nerve in her body tingled at the memory of his touch, the sensations he'd sparked in her body.

What was she to do? He'd invited her to his palace. For lunch? Really? She knew that if she accepted the invitation, there would be only one outcome. Did she really want that?

Even as she asked herself that question, she already knew the answer. She'd known the answer for a very long time.

Every part of her being wanted to be with Shahid, wanted to surrender to him, wanted to submit to his ferocious, tender desire. Her breath caught in her chest at that thought, at the images it conjured up in her mind.

Dare she give in to the yearnings tugging at her, pulling her relentlessly toward Shahid? If she gave herself completely to Shahid, she knew her life would be altered irrevocably.

Up ahead she saw the crossroads she and Shahid had come to earlier in the week. On that occasion, she'd chosen the safe route, the one to the beach where the first real inklings of what was to come had been revealed. This time, there was only one road she was seriously considering.

The one to the right, heading north to Shahid's palace.

She slowed the car and glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing that Shahid had done likewise. She saw his face through the glass of his windscreen. He seemed to be patiently waiting. Did he guess what she was deliberating about? Of course, he did, she told herself. They'd been through this before, only this time it was so different.

She slowed her car to a halt and gave herself one long moment to really consider whether this was the right thing to do. Shahid had slowed his car to a halt, and she almost expected him to draw up beside her, but he didn't, instead keeping a distance.

Aliyah drew in a sharp breath, feeling the pulsing excitement coursing throughout her body at the prospect of what she was about to do.

Then, with a sudden gesture, she brought the indicator down with a sharp movement of her hand. In the mirror, she saw Shahid smile as he saw the indicator of Aliyah's car begin to flash, telling him in no uncertain terms that she had made a decision to take the right-hand road.

Aliyah pressed down on the accelerator and the car surged, leaving Shahid's car behind. She twisted the steering wheel and heard her tires squealing, almost as if in protest. Then she was heading north, faster than she'd anticipated at first. It almost felt like she was trying to beat Shahid to his own palace.

Behind her, she heard the engine of Shahid's car roar and then he was following her up the road. His car was obviously quicker than hers, and in a moment his was alongside her, and he she saw him looking at her through his side window, a broad smile on his face.

Aliyah knew there would be no competition if she decided to make a race out this, but that didn't stop her from quirking a brow at him and then slamming her foot down on the gas. Her car sped forward, momentarily leaving Shahid's behind.

She'd always been so cautious in everything she did, always been the prim and proper daughter and sister. Right now, though, she'd never felt more alive. She felt exhilarated, filled with anticipation at what awaited her in the palace. She tried not to think of that too much. Instead, she leaned forward and pressed her foot down as hard as she could, sensing, out of the corner of her eye, the golden dunes rushing past in the afternoon sunlight.

Then she heard a loud roar and Shahid was beside her again. She glanced across and saw the flash of his red sports car as it hurtled past her own more modest little vehicle. Shahid settled his car in front of her, and they were both still racing at top speed, even though it was clear that Shahid could have gone much faster if he wanted to. The way he'd tucked in ahead of her, it felt almost as if he was escorting her to his palace, ensuring she got there safely.

Aliyah took the hint and lessened the pressure on her accelerator. She slowed and saw Shahid do the same.

Aliyah gazed ahead at the road which stretched to the horizon. It wouldn't take long to get to the palace, perhaps a half hour. Plenty of time to calm herself, prepare herself for what was to come. If it was even possible to prepare for someone like Shahid, she told herself. She'd already made her mind up what would happen once she arrived there. It would finally be time to find out, once and for all, what it meant to give herself to the one man who had succeeded in conquering her heart.

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