Wrapped In Pleasure - Brenda Jackson [68]
“Ready to go back inside, Princess?” Jamal asked, leaning down and placing a kiss on her forehead.
“Is there another dinner party we must attend tonight?” she asked, twisting around to face him, suddenly captured by his dark gaze. Her body began feeling achy, hot and hungry. She wondered if there would ever be a time she would not be sexually attracted to her husband.
“No. In fact I thought that we could spend a quiet evening in our apartment,” he said reaching down and tracing a finger along her cheek.
“That sounds wonderful, Jamal,” she said smiling. They hadn’t found a lot of time to spend alone except at night when they finally went to bed. She enjoyed the nights he made love to her, reminding her over and over again just how much she meant to him and just how much she was loved. She would fall asleep in his arms at night and be kissed awake by him each morning.
“Everyone should fall in love, shouldn’t they, Jamal?” she asked smiling.
He grinned. “Yes, but I bet you would never convince your brothers of that.”
She nodded, knowing that was true. “But they were happy for us, even Thorn, once he got used to the idea that I was indeed getting married.”
Jamal shook his head, grinning. Thorn Westmoreland had taken great pleasure in being a thorn in his side. “Yes, but look how long it took him to come around. I almost had to call him out a few times. I’ve never known anyone so stubborn, man or woman, and that even includes you. I don’t envy the woman who tries to capture his heart. I doubt such a thing is possible.”
I wouldn’t be too sure of that, Delaney thought. She couldn’t help but recall how Thorn kept looking at Tara at her wedding when he thought no one was watching. Tara had been her maid of honor, and all her brothers had been openly friendly to her, treating her like a member of the family. But for some reason Thorn had kept his distance. She found that rather interesting.
“What are you thinking, sweetheart?”
“Oh, just that it wouldn’t surprise me if there is a woman out there who can capture Thorn’s heart. In fact, I have an idea who she is.”
Jamal raised a curious brow. “Really? Who?”
Her mouth curved into that smile that he adored. “Um, you’ll find out soon enough.”
Later that night, after making love to his wife, Jamal slipped from the bed, leaving Delaney sleeping. Putting on his robe, he left the confines of their apartment and walked down the stairs to the courtyard to find a private place to give thanks.
A half hour later on his way back to his apartment he met Asalum lurking in the shadows, always on guard to protect his prince.
Asalum studied Jamal’s features. “Is all well with you, Your Highness?”
Jamal nodded. “Yes, my trusted friend and companion, all is well.”
Silence filled the space between them, then a few moments later Jamal asked, “Do you know what I’m feeling now, Asalum?”
A smile curved the older man’s lips. He had a good idea but asked anyway. “And what are you feeling, My Prince?”
Suddenly Jamal began to laugh. It was laughter of happiness, joy and contentment, and the rapturous sound punctured the silence of the night and echoed deep into the courtyard.
Moments later Jamal spoke when his laughter subsided. “Exultation.”
SEDUCED BY A STRANGER
Prologue
“Sheikh Jamal Ari Yasir is on the line, Your Highness.”
Turning from the hotel window, Sheikh Rasheed Valdemon nodded before moving across the suite to pick up the phone on the desk. It was the call he’d been expecting. “Has she been found, Jamal?” he asked immediately upon placing the receiver to his ear.
“No, she has not, Monty.”
“Damn,” Rasheed muttered. That single word was an American form of swearing, an expression of anger, irritation and contempt. However, at this particular moment, for him it represented infuriation to the nth degree.
Sheikh Jamal Ari Yasir of Tahran was the brother of Rasheed’s missing fiancée and a man he had always considered a good friend. Both he and Jamal were heirs to the thrones of their native sheikhdoms, and had