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

were alone, or searching for a way out.
    “Calm down,” he told her. “That isn’t what I meant.”
    He motioned for one of the grooms to bring out their horses. After she’d mounted and adjusted her seat, he did the same, then led the way around the rear of the stable. There a dozen soldiers sat on their horses. The men were armed as if going into combat. Several held torches to illuminate their way in the early-evening darkness. As he and Heidi approached, they parted, making room for them in the middle of their group.
    Heidi looked around in amazement. “You really were worried that I’d run away.”
    “Not exactly. Tradition dictates that we spend our first night out in the desert. But we’re both members of the royal family. It makes sense to have a little protection.”
    She glanced at the men and swallowed. “You don’t do anything by halves, do you?”
    She’d given him a great opportunity to tease her about wanting to finish every job he started. But he didn’t. For one thing, she wouldn’t get the joke. For another, she was already so skittish that she might make good on her desire to take off running.
    He called out to the men, then released his tight hold on his stallion’s reins. Immediately the large black horse began to trot. The animal shook his head, trying to get Jamal to let him streak across the desert as they did most mornings on their ride, but Jamal was careful to keep him under control. Heidi might have been taking riding lessons so that she was reasonably comfortable in the saddle, but he knew she wasn’t ready for a mad dash at a full gallop.
    She kept pace with him, and the soldiers fanned out around them. The early-evening air was still stiflingly hot.
    “Can you talk and ride?” he asked. “Or do you need to concentrate?”
    “I’m a woman,” she called to him. “I was born to multitask.”
    Jamal grinned. “We’re going to have to work on your prejudices. It’s bad form to hate an entire gender.”
    “I don’t hate men,” she said, giving him a quick glance before returning her attention to keeping her horse in line. “I think you’re a bit overrated, but that’s not hating . Men have ruled women and the world by virtue of their gender for several hundred years.”
    “Cream always rises to the top,” he replied.
    “This isn’t about cream. It’s about ruling through physical and mental intimidation. We all have strengths and weaknesses. The difference is , most women are willing to discuss both, while most men only want to talk about their strengths.”
    “That’s because we don’t have any weaknesses. We’re perfect.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Give me a break. If you’re so perfect, how come your gender hasn’t figured out a way to have children on your own. Then you could free yourself from the weaker sex.”
    “You shouldn’t say such negative things about yourself. I don’t think of you as weak…or unintelligent.”
    She lunged for him, which made her horse shy. Heidi yelped, then got back her control.
    “You didn’t answer the question,” she said.
    “Why would men want to do without women? We adore women.”
    “Because they serve you,” she grumbled.
    “No. Because they complement us. And I mean complement with an e, not an i. Women are our other halves. Men need women.”
    Heidi looked at him. “I wouldn’t have thought of you as needing anyone.”
    He didn’t. He never had. For a brief time he’d thought he might want to love a woman, but Yasmin had taught him the error of his ways.
    They crested the hill leading into the valley where they would make camp. Instead of responding, he pointed to the large white tent in the distance.
    “Want to race?” he asked.
    “Only if I get a significant head start. You’re a better rider, and I suspect your horse is faster.”
    “How much of one do you want?”
    She laughed. “Why don’t you stay here until I get to the tent? Then you can start.”
    Before he could answer her challenge,