Read Online The Sheik's Arranged Marriage by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online Page A

hold it back, and if her new husband heard the squeak that escaped, he didn’t comment.
    “ Fatima told me you were taking riding lessons,” he said as he pushed the right-hand door open and led the way inside. “She said you wanted to be able to ride to our marriage tent. Do you feel ready, or would you rather take a Jeep?”
    It was a reasonable question, she thought as she took in the large open living room with its magnificent view of the Arabian Sea . She had a brief impression of comfortable furniture and lots of artwork before she forced herself to concentrate on the question.
    “I can ride a horse,” she said, hoping her voice wasn’t shaking too much. “I’ve been practicing. I’m not ready to race or take on one of the stallions, but with a well-tempered gelding and a not-too-fast pace, I’ll be fine.”
    Jamal reached up and lifted the veil off her face. Then he tugged off her headpiece and tossed it on a nearby chair.
    “Tell me again that you’ll be fine,” he said.
    He, too, wore ceremonial robes. His were the same thick creamy, white material, although not decorated. His formal headdress made him look dangerous and uncivilized, which didn’t help her frame of mind at all. She was going to have to take her clothes off and let this man touch her and do those other things with her. Since she’d agreed to the marriage, she’d tried to ignore that reality, but that was impossible when it was standing right in front of her, so to speak.
    “Everything is wonderful,” she said through gritted teeth.
    He smiled. “You’re not a good liar, which is a positive quality in one’s spouse.” He jerked his head to the right. “You’ll find your riding clothes in there. Go on and get changed. I’ll meet you at the stable in fifteen minutes.”
    She did as he requested. The room she entered was small—obviously a dressing room. Her riding clothes and boots waited for her on a small table. There was also a brush and ribbon with which to secure her hair. She stared at the items. Jamal had thought of everything. He’d even left her alone to gather her composure, which was very nice of him. Obviously he was trying to put her at her ease. She wished it wasn’t going to be such an uphill battle.
    Heidi walked into the stable like a martyr approaching the stake. She held her head high, but Jamal could see she was shaking, and there was an air of panic about her, as if she might bolt at any moment.
    He wanted to tell her that there wasn’t all that much to fear, but he wasn’t sure she would believe him. There was no delicate way to explain that while he fully intended to begin their journey toward intimacy, he didn’t plan on them becoming lovers that night. Heidi was obviously inexperienced. He found her appealing enough that he wanted to make love with her, but there wasn’t any rush. They were married—they would have the rest of their lives together.
    He stayed quiet, giving her a few minutes to gather her composure. He took the time to study her. He’d only ever seen her in shapeless dresses. He was pleasantly surprised by the curvy shape her tailored blouse and riding breeches exposed.
    She had the full breasts and hips of a woman born to please a man. Her waist was small, her legs long enough to make her both elegant and appealing. She was also wearing makeup for the first time he could remember. Her eyes looked larger, even with her glasses, and a dark stain emphasized her mouth.
    He’d thought of Heidi as pleasant, intelligent and funny, but this was the first time he’d thought of her as sexy. He could imagine her naked, and the image pleased him.
    “How are you doing?” he asked.
    “I’m ready,” she said, sounding as if she were preparing for an execution.
    “Take you now, and get it over with?” he teased, meaning her death sentence.
    Heidi paled and took a step back. “Here? In the stable?”
    She looked around frantically. He wasn’t sure if she was checking to see if they