Duty Bound Desire: The Sheikh's Forced Marriage (Desert Desires Book 1) Read online

  Yasmin started. What was he talking about exactly? What was really going on? She felt like a child who had just been scolded. Like a child whose parents were keeping things from her.

  Her patience levels had just dropped to zero, but more than that she was beginning to realise panic was setting in. Her palms were growing sweaty and her breathing was heavy.

  ‘W- what do you mean?’ she asked, her voice slightly more raised now. She was really feeling rattled.

  He watched her intently for a few more seconds. Then he turned slightly and ran a hand across the back of his neck. This was the first sign she had seen that he was feeling some stress too. Then he spoke quietly and soothingly again, choosing his words very carefully.

  ‘You and I are not average people are we, Princess Yasmin?’ He said, emphasising her title of Princess. ‘Our situation is not normal and we have duties and responsibilities that most people do not. We do not always have choices in certain areas. Marriage is often one of them.’

  Yasmin frowned as she listened. He was right of course but that didn’t mean she would concede easily.

  She lifted her chin. ‘I am an educated woman. I have just completed a medical degree and now want to specialise. I have my own dreams Prince Nabil. I do not intend to sit behind palace walls, either this palace or any other one, and enjoy a life of luxury when I can be out there,’ she pointed with a finger, ‘making a difference, especially to women and children.’

  Nabil’s face again didn’t change. It was as if everything she had just said meant nothing to him, that he saw only what he needed and not what she wanted.

  ‘That’s all very well and good, noble even. However, quite unrealistic for someone in your position, don’t you think?’ He spoke with no emotion of any kind. Just stated facts – according to him.

  ‘Princess Yasmin, your father the king, wants, and as I understand it, needs the strengthened ties with Zashar.’

  ‘Why? Why needs?’ She asked louder than she intended.

  Nabil looked at her with those dark eyes. He exhaled and paused for a moment before responding.

  ‘The situation with your neighbour to the west has become extremely precarious.’

  Yasmin took a deep breath, suddenly understanding that there was so much more, and not liking where this was going.

  ‘I know there have been rumblings along the border with the neighbouring princedom….but I’ve heard nothing more since I’ve been away in England studying. The BBC is second to none. Surely there would have been some report.’

  Nabil stood, looking down at her. His tone now becoming softer albeit darker and more serious. ‘Let me put it more directly. The situation with the neighbouring kingdom has now become urgent. The government has been ousted.’

  ‘That, I know,’ Yasmin replied. ‘But that shouldn’t affect us, should it?’

  ‘My intelligence service advises that the new authorities are considering annexing more land. Your country is directly in their sights. Since two days ago, soldiers have been amassing on the border.’ He paused for a moment as if to allow her to absorb what he had just said. Then he continued. ‘An alliance with me would make Qaman secure in this sense. No-one in their right mind would dare challenge me and my military.’ He spoke with such an air of power and authority that was unmistakable.

  Yasmin was beginning to feel sick. She was also fast becoming terrified. But Nabil remained unfazed.

  Yasmin stood there not reacting for a moment. This was terrible, to say the least. How had this situation come to such a stage so quickly? She swallowed hard, her mouth now completely dry.

  ‘I….I can’t believe this.’ She looked up at him. ‘I’ve seen what war does. This region has had too much war. This can’t be happening.’ She stopped and shook her head, lifting her hand to her mouth touching the edge of her lips.

  Nabil moved his body closer to hers.

  ‘Rest assured, Princess, your people will be safe as long as our nations’ alliance is strong.’ Yasmin looked up at him. He continued, ‘Qaman gets the protection it needs. Zashar gets the queen and new generation of royals it needs.’

  Yasmin jerked her head up. She was to be the sacrifice. ‘And what if I don’t want what you are offering?’ she dared to ask, knowing it was ridiculous because of what was depending on it but not being able to stop herself.

  ‘That is not a choice you can make,’ he said sternly. ‘But have no fear, princess. You shall be very well compensated for your role. You can relay all your needs to my secretary. You name it, you will have it.’ His gaze stayed on her. ‘Understand, Princess, this is strictly a marriage of political necessity.’

  Bang! Loud and clear he was telling her he didn’t really want her, would never really love her and that her choices were no longer hers to make. She could feel all the dreams she had for her life slowly floating away. She felt like her life force was being drained to now be used for the good of her country.

  Yasmin stood rooted to the spot. She knew the political atmosphere had changed somewhat but she had no idea how much. Oh Lord, how could this be?

  Both hands moved up and she held them to her head for a moment. Her mind was beginning to work overtime spinning with so many thoughts, so many fears. She loved her country, she loved her people. The only one who maybe felt stronger about them was her father. It seemed she was trapped. Many things were resting on this marriage.

  ‘This is .....I….’ Yasmin whispered looking up into Nabil’s eyes. Her hands were shaking, her head was spinning. The reality that this marriage was actually a necessity began to really sink in. It was going to happen.

  Nabil’s face was blank. She couldn’t read him and didn’t know him well enough to even hazard a guess at what was really going through his mind. Heck, she didn’t know him at all. He, on the other hand, had eyes that seemed to see too much.

  Yasmin realised that she would have to accept this marriage. It seemed that there really was no way out of it if what Nabil was telling her was true.

  ‘It seems I have little choice. I’ll be married to a man I don’t know who has already had one failed marriage and a string of women - ’ she blurted out mumbling more to herself but then suddenly stopped realizing her egregious error.

  Nabil’s facial expression changed immediately. His whole body tensed. His jaw muscles stiffened. Yasmin regretted her outburst as soon as she heard it coming out of her mouth, but realised it too late.

  ‘My past is passed,’ he said coldly, his face now frozen.

  The entire energy changed to icy cold. She wasn’t really sure what to do at this stage. The look on his face didn’t change.

  ‘I – I just would have liked some consultation since this is my life,’ she stuttered.

  Nabil’s eyes were still locked on hers. ‘Consider yourself consulted,’ he curtly replied.

  Yasmin jerked her head back slightly. She could think of nothing else to say in that moment. She had insulted the man who could save her country. The man who would be her husband. The man who would share her bed. Her head began to spin in something close to real panic.

  She quickly excused herself and walked as fast as she could without running, back to her quarters, leaving Nabil standing out there in the gardens alone.

  By the time Yasmin reached her rooms, a headache had begun pulsing at her temples. Not only had her father sprung this on her, but it seemed everyone else involved knew about it. She was the only fool who had been left in ignorant bliss – until now. Her palms were still sweating and she began to feel herself shaking slightly. She wasn’t sure if it was from anger or panic - or both.

  Without having time to cool down, Yasmin was once again summoned to a meeting with her father. He had called her to his office. She shakily walked down the palace corridors, her short heels clacking and echoing through the large hallways until she reached his office. She pulled on the golden door handle and walked in. She stopped short. He wasn’t alone.

  Her mother, Queen Dalia, was standing beside he
r father.

  ‘Mother?’ She looked at her mother’s sympathetic face. ‘How long have you been organising the details of my life behind my back?’

  The words just came out.

  ‘Yasmin,’ her mother spoke quietly, ‘I understand this is a shock to you…’

  Yasmin inhaled deeply and swiftly. ‘Mother.’ She stopped and just shook her head in disbelief.

  Queen Dalia walked over and stood close to her daughter. She was a slender, graceful woman, slightly shorter than Yasmin.

  ‘Yasmin, my girl, don’t make a bigger deal of this than it is. Your father and I were married under similar circumstances and look how happy we’ve been.’

  There was a short pause as Queen Dalia searched Yasmin’s eyes. ‘For people like us, life is planned. You know that, you’ve always known that.’ She moved even closer to her daughter, placed her hand on Yasmin’s cheek. ‘Remember, you and your brother are the products of an arranged marriage. Just like me, you are a princess and you will marry a future king. With this comes great responsibility…and also great power.’

  Yasmin moved away, stood over by the large windows overlooking the gardens. A sigh escaped her lips. ‘I know I’m no longer a child. I’ve lived away from home,’ she turned then and looked again at her mother. ‘But this is different, mother and you know it. I’ll be far from home as I’ve been before, but this time it will be to marry a man I’ve only just met so my father and his can sign trade and defence deals and my new husband can use me as an incubator for his heirs.’

  ‘Yasmin,’ she heard her father’s deep voice, ‘is that what you think of your mother?’

  Yasmin turned to him then. She wasn’t sure how to answer that for a moment. But then she said, ‘Father, you and mother were lucky, very lucky, and you know it. Not many royal marriages are happy, especially arranged ones.’

  Her father nodded slightly. ‘I know where you’re going with this Yasmin, but despite being younger than your brother and him being the crown prince who has ever fewer choices than you, you are one of very few princesses in our region that holds the status you do. As such, you are in high demand, and you know that crown Prince Nabil holds a great position due to his nation’s power, wealth and stability. It’s not like we are sending you to someone of a lesser status, Yasmin.’ Then his voice changed again. ‘And you now know that we need this alliance.’

  Yasmin just looked at her mother barely daring to speak the words.

  ‘For our nation’s security. Is… is it true? Are we… close to war?’

  Her mother hesitated a moment. ‘The situation is unexpected and one we need to ensure doesn’t escalate,’ she said slowly, her royal diplomacy skills put to good use. ‘Yasmin, Zashar is a very important country in this region and we must make our political and economic alliance stronger.’

  By using me.

  ‘We need Zashar,’ her father’s deep voice resonated. It was a simple statement that held the power of an explosion – the power to blow her world apart. We need Zashar. She heard the words again in her mind. We need Zashar and in needing this nation she would be offered as a sacrifice.

  ‘Daughter, you are much loved and much cherished. Neither your mother nor I would ever intend for you to be with someone we believe would not be good for you,’ the King added. ‘Nabil is a fine man. He will make a good husband – as he has made a good leader. The prince is well respected throughout the world for his diplomatic and political expertise, and at only thirty-four he is responsible for enormous change and development in his country since his father, and my good friend, has been ill. Infrastructure, new hospitals, new schools, better health care have all been achieved on his watch. These are things you yourself hold dear.’

  It was true. She did care about all those things. But Yasmin wouldn’t concede defeat so easily.

  ‘I’m not a commodity to be traded, Father!’ Yasmin snapped.

  The king’s face contorted. ‘No, you are not a commodity, Yasmin, nor are you seen as one! You are, however, beautiful, healthy, well-educated and trained in royal protocol. You will be able to provide support and advice to a prince, and later, a king. Much like your mother has to me. And Zashar will have heirs to carry on the Al Massoud House.’

  There it was again – her usefulness as a baby making machine.

  ‘You will be well taken care of and will be treated with respect. You will have everything you want.’

  Except love, she thought.

  ‘Yasmin,’ the king continued, his expression serious, ‘Nabil is an exceptional young man.’

  Yasmin couldn’t contain all the emotions that had been building up throughout the day. She couldn’t contain her frustration. ‘I read that he cheated on his wife and has a string of girlfriends a mile long! He couldn’t keep it in his pants long enough - ’

  ‘Enough!’ Her father growled, his eyes stern. ‘I have known Nabil and his father for a long time. Things are not always as they seem, my dear.’

  ‘And what does that mean?’ Yasmin bit out.

  ‘Exactly what I said. I won’t have you bad-mouthing the Crown Prince of Zashar and your soon-to-be husband! And speaking of the Crown Prince, if I’m not mistaken, you walked away from him in the gardens.’

  Yasmin held her breath. Was her father observing them?

  ‘You know in our region it is considered an insult, especially to a man in such a position. I expect you will make this right, Yasmin.’

  He walked closer to his daughter and held her by the shoulders gently.

  She heard her father sigh as he tightened his hands around her.

  ‘Yasmin, I’ve tried to protect you from this situation for as long as I can, but time has run out.’ He inhaled loudly. ‘I need this alliance…and Zashar needs a Princess - soon. You must do your duty.’ Then he released her quickly. ‘The prince is still in the gardens with Yasser. Go. Go and make this right.’

  You must do your duty. The words hung in the air and rang over and over in her head. You must do your duty.

  ***

  Yasmin excused herself and tried to mentally prepare herself to see Nabil for the second time in one day. Even that seemed too much. She wasn’t ready to be a wife. Not ready to have her life changed in such an extreme manner and in such a short space of time.

  Exhaling, she adjusted her hair clip then turned for the door. She was nervous. She hadn’t been able to eat anything that morning and barely managed a cup of coffee. This ‘arrangement’ had been so sudden and unexpected. She hadn’t been prepared for it mentally. But speak to the prince she would, and her royal etiquette would be on top display.

  This man, this strong, confident, handsome man, made her nervous. He was the opposite to her in many ways, so confident, obviously experienced in life. She felt awkward and unsure.

  As she approached him in the landscaped gardens, she watched Nabil deep in conversation with Yasser. He was so easily able to allow other people to feel like he was completely absorbed in what they had to say. She could see it in the way he stood and smiled with Yasser. And what a smile it was.

  Both men looked over as she approached, Yasser bowing deeply and excusing himself quickly. Nabil didn’t speak, was waiting for her.

  ‘Your Highness,’ she began.

  ‘Yasmiin,’ he interrupted, ‘there is no need for such formalities. And before you say any more, let me assure you I totally understand that this has been a stressful day for you.’

  In one way Yasmin felt relief and a softening in her heart. His empathy was touching despite their circumstances. ‘Nevertheless, I wish to apologise for my rudeness,’ she said, and he simply nodded his head and gently motioned for them to walk.

  ‘Show me your home,’ he said in his velvety voice and they began to once again stroll through the lush greenery as if they were two lovers and nothing was wrong.

  ‘So, you care about our environment too?’ He said, surprising her.

  ‘How did you know that?’ she asked, feeling unnerved by how much he se
emed to know about her.

  ‘Your father mentioned it while we were waiting for you earlier.’ He looked deep into her eyes. ‘I like that. I respect those with a broader sense of responsibility.’

  She looked up at him. She wasn’t quite sure what that remark was in reference to but felt there was more to it than just the environment. She simply replied, ‘Thank you.’

  Again it seemed amusement crossed his features. She tried very hard to keep the annoyance out of her own.

  ‘I believe we have responsibilities to our environment, our people, our nation, ourselves.’ She thought she’d throw in a compliment too. ‘I understand you have accomplished a great deal in all areas within your own nation. I know you are advancing the health system and education is now free for everyone.’

  He nodded. ‘Several natural heritage areas have also been placed under protection and we are currently working with the UN to place them under the UNESCO agreement.’

  ‘I’m very impressed,’ Yasmin responded politely. ‘I respect that you care and actually follow through with action.’

  And as she spoke those words, she realised that she did respect that. It was a noble trait. It showed he cared, truly cared about his nation and his people. She knew enough about the region to know that there were many rulers who cared only about filling their own coffers, not bothering to develop their nations at the expense of their people.

  They had stopped walking as he listened to her speak. His full attention was on her.

  ‘Respect. It’s something very important to me. Thank you, Princess.’

  His eyes were sincere. She felt a little flutter in her heart as he looked at her. She didn’t know what it was, never felt it before but she was pleased that he liked what she had said. And, despite herself, what she really liked was the way he was looking at her.

  They finally reached the water gardens. Yasmin had always thought them glorious. The sound of the falling water against the rocks was always soothing. Nabil didn’t speak. She turned to look at him.