‘The Sultan does take a great interest in the international press,’ Karim said gently. ‘Like most people, he is already intimately acquainted with your charms.’
The memory of just how those photographs had been taken made her insides churn with misery. ‘Those photographs were taken without my knowledge. I was set up.’
‘You weren’t really with the man?’
‘Yes, I was, but—’
‘You don’t owe me an explanation. And as for the Sultan …’ Karim gave an expressive shrug. ‘I have no idea how he feels about it, of course, but it probably isn’t a good idea to raise the subject. Obviously he isn’t expecting a virgin bride, but that needn’t necessarily work to your disadvantage. On the contrary, having an experienced woman in his bed means that he won’t feel obliged to curb his appetites. Am I driving fast enough for you?’
His question made her wonder whether he had guessed that she was suddenly wishing they were driving in the opposite direction, and Alexa looked away from him. She didn’t want to think about the photographs, she didn’t want to think about discussing her past with the Sultan, and she especially didn’t want to think about being in the Sultan’s bed! It just wasn’t a thought that had even crossed her mind before now. And then she realized why she was feeling so uncomfortable—during all the references to sex with the Sultan, her mind had conjured up disturbingly explicit pictures, and all of them had involved Karim.
The chemistry had been alive from the moment they had met, but it seemed to be growing in intensity with each moment they spent in the desert. Perhaps it was because he seemed so comfortable in these surroundings. Comfortable and confident.
And breathtakingly sexy.
The thought shocked her.
This was not the time to be noticing a man.
Alexa kept her eyes forward, reminding herself that marriage to the Sultan could only be a step up from the life she’d had up until now. ‘Perhaps the Sultan and I will get on extremely well. Have you known him long?’ Glancing towards him, she wondered why the question should make him smile.
‘All my life.’
‘You were playmates?’ She guessed that they were about the same age, so it was the only explanation.
‘Of a sort.’
By that he presumably meant that the Sultan was of royal blood whereas he wasn’t. ‘So you know him well?’
‘Too well. I am closely acquainted with all his most irritating personality traits.’
‘Such as?’
‘The list is endless. He is far too intolerant of the deficiencies of others. Impatient and quick to anger. He’s arrogant, and rarely, if ever, believes that anyone else can understand and grasp the subtleties of a situation as well as he can.’
‘Perhaps he’s right.’
Karim frowned. ‘I wasn’t complimenting him.’
‘No, I realize that. But if he’s as ferociously clever as they say, then it’s entirely possible that no one else does grasp the situation as well as he does. Which makes that the truth, rather than arrogance.’
‘That’s a generous assessment.’ He studied an instrument on the control panel and flicked a switch.
‘Or maybe simply an alternative assessment. Sometimes the facts don’t speak for themselves.’ As she well knew. ‘What else? What matters to him?’
‘Honesty and loyalty. Does that worry you, Alexa?’
‘No. I appreciate the same qualities.’
‘Really? How honest is it to marry a man you don’t love?’
‘Completely honest, because I’m not pretending to love him.’ She glanced towards his arrogant profile, her gaze direct. ‘It means that the Sultan and I know where we stand. There are no lies. I think that’s a good place to start. I’m confident that we can make this work.’
‘And yet you have no idea what the Sultan expects from his wife.’
She didn’t care. Once she was safely living in the palace within the high walls of the Citadel, the rest would be irrelevant. They could work it all out, she was sure of it. ‘I’ll be a good wife.’
‘So you’re basically happy to do anything at all as long as you have access to his wealth, is that right?’
Not his wealth, no. His protection.
The truth hovered on her lips, but she clamped her mouth shut, bewildered as to why she would even contemplate confiding in
this man when she knew the dangers of trusting another person. Hadn’t she learned from bitter experience that thoughts were best kept private? ‘Does the Sultan have a sense of humour?’
Karim concentrated on the road for a moment. ‘In the three years since his father died, there have been many problems in Zangrar, none of which have given much cause for laughter.’
‘Disputes over oil and problems with an irrigation project.’ Sensing his surprise, she shrugged. ‘I can read, Karim. There was a report on the Internet. He takes his responsibilities seriously.’ And she’d liked that about him. It had given her hope. Once she had explained the situation, he would help her with Rovina, surely?
‘The fortunes of Zangrar and the people depend on the Sultan.’
The contrast to William cheered her. ‘I’m quite confident that the Sultan and I can have a harmonious marriage.’
‘The Sultan isn’t a man who could be harmoniously married to anyone.’ Karim stopped the vehicle without warning and stared up at the sky.
‘What’s the matter? Where are we? And where’s the road?’
‘Underneath the sand. The wind is picking up.’ He flicked a switch on the dashboard and several instruments flickered to life. ‘The weather is not looking as stable as I would have liked.’
‘What are you saying? Is this a sandstorm?’ Shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun, she looked at the sky but could see nothing but endless blue, broken by a few wisps of white. ‘It looks fine to me.’
‘At the moment. Conditions change very rapidly in the desert. We will stop here briefly and rest.’
‘Don’t stop on my account.’ Glancing over her shoulder, she checked that there were no other vehicles in sight. ‘I’m quite happy to just push on.’
‘It is important to take regular breaks, and crucial to drink.’ He opened the door and Alexa felt the sudden rush of heat fill the car.
‘I hadn’t realized how effective the air-conditioning was. It’s hot.’
‘It’s the desert, Your Highness. Out here temperatures can reach fifty degrees. Without water a human being would not last long. Wait there, I’ll come round to you.’
‘I don’t need help getting out of a car, Karim.’ What was he thinking—just because she’d been forced to accept the services of a bodyguard, she was happy to relinquish her independence? No way!
Opening her own door, Alexa was about to jump to the ground when Karim caught her, his strong hands hard on her hips as he pulled her roughly into his arms.
‘I told you to wait.’
‘And I ignored you. I don’t know what sort of woman you’re used to mixing with, but I’m the sort who can climb down from a car without help.’ She wished he’d move his hands from her hips. Caught against his hard, powerful frame, she felt her heart jerk and her body melt. ‘What are you