Mistress to a Sheikh by Lucy Monroe

Author:Lucy Monroe
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Man-Woman Relationships, Anthologies (Multiple Authors), Fiction, Romance, General, Short Stories, Love Stories
ISBN: 9780373837212
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2007-01-02T05:00:00+00:00

The next day they took a procession of ATVs out into the desert to visit Hakim's Bedouin relatives. The drive through the desert in the early hours of dawn was breathtakingly beautiful. The sun painted the sand with golden rays, and what looked like a huge expanse of nothingness was actually alive with desert blooms, interesting rock formations and unexpected life when she watched closely out the window of the slowly moving vehicle.

Lizards darted in the sand, and she even saw a hawk high in the sky come swooping down on its prey.

Once they'd arrived at the encampment, and stepped out of the air-conditioned vehicles, Jade stood for several seconds soaking in the heat of the dry air. It felt good against her skin, and she closed her eyes to soak in the sounds and smells of the desert encampment. Voices sounded from the tents, mixing with those of the tribe who had come to greet the caravan.

She could smell the lingering scent of incense on the clothes of their welcoming party, and she opened her eyes, worried she'd be caught daydreaming when introductions were made. Hakim's grandfather was a charming, elderly man who had the vibrancy and presence of someone half his age. His dark eyes seemed to see into her very being, and Jade found herself wondering what he had seen.

Once their group was led into the encampment she was immediately fascinated by the Bedouin people and their nomadic way of life. The tents were obviously movable dwellings, and yet the clotheslines hanging with freshly laundered robes and blankets, and the fire pits, as well as the other comforts of camp life, gave their surroundings a permanent feel.

Despite the fact that it had to be moved from encampment to encampment, the tent of Hakim's grandfather was huge and as opulent as any palace. Rich silks covered the walls in the large central room used for entertaining, and the spicy incense that lingered on their clothes permeated the room as well.

The Sheikh had settled against a plethora of brightly colored pillows, and the rest of the family took their places around them. Jade and Khalil sat close together, but not touching.

"This is all too like an Arabian Nights fantasy for words," she leaned close to say to him, as Hakim and Catherine showed off the newest member of their family to others.

Khalil sat with his knees up and his arms wrapped around them. "It is an amazing way of life." "Do you have Bedouin relatives?" "No. Unlike Hakim's, my mother's family has no colorful relatives such as these. But were we to look back far enough I am sure I could come up with a connection. Would that please you?"

"Since I could not meet them, I don't suppose it matters, does it?" She regretted the words as soon as she had said them.

She should not have said that about his family. She was determined to focus on the positives in their relationship and ignore the negatives... as long as she could.

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