LITMIR.BIZ

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her betrayal, I am allowed a measure of leeway.”

      “I suppose.”

      “Just promise me this. We will take each day as it comes...together.”

      How could she promise that? How could she trust it?

      “Promise me, habibti.”

      “You called me that on purpose.”

      “Everything I do is on purpose.”

      “Not taking my virginity, it wasn’t.”

      Instead of renewing his anger with the reminder, it made him laugh. “No, perhaps not, but taking you to my bed was.”

      “You were drunk.”

      “No, I was not.”

      “Oh.”

      “Were you too inebriated to know what you were doing?” he asked. “Tell me the truth.”

      “No. I told you.”

      “Then we will both accept the consequences of choices we knowingly made.”

      She nodded.

      “Together.”

      “For now.”

      “As long as your pregnancy is a possibility.”

      She tried to read his eyes, but could see nothing beyond sincerity and determination that might give her stubbornness a run for its money. “Okay.”

      He smiled. “Good. That is a beginning.”

      Yusuf cleared his throat. “We need to consider procurement of the morning-after pill.”

      Sayed turned so he stood between Liyah and the bodyguard, his back to her. “What are you talking about?”

      “Emergency birth control.”

      “No.”

      “It’s not—”

      “An option,” Sayed insisted, interrupting his bodyguard.

      “It might be,” Liyah offered, remembering an article she’d read about the different types of after-the-fact birth control. “If it’s the one that doesn’t get rid of pregnancy, only prevent it.”

      “How is it possible you know this and yet are so uncomfortable talking about sex?” Sayed asked, turning to face her again, his expression searching.

      She rolled her eyes. “I read.” One of her secret vices was a long-standing subscription to a popular women’s magazine. “I’m inexperienced, not ignorant.”

      “Tell me about this pill.”

      “Well, there’s more than one, but I think...hope...the one Yusuf is talking about is safe. You know, if I’m pregnant already, it won’t hurt the baby. Or me.” She wanted to keep denying the possibility she was pregnant.

      And truly, she couldn’t believe she was, but she wasn’t an ostrich. She wouldn’t be burying her head in the sand in the face of a potential reality.

      No matter how much she might want to.

      Sayed nodded acknowledgment. “It cannot be one hundred percent effective.”

      “Not absolutely, no.”

      “So, our immediate plans must be the same regardless.”

      “You are right, of course,” Yusuf answered. “I will begin making arrangements.”

      “I’ll have to talk to the local clinic about getting the pill.”

      “No,” Sayed and Yusuf said in unison.

      “What? Why not?” How else were they going to get it?

      “Too risky,” Yusuf said baldly.

      “In what way?” she asked, again feeling like she was missing something.

      Sayed grimaced. “We cannot afford for word of this situation to leak to the press, particularly in the wake of the scandal Tahira’s defection has caused.”

      Liyah wanted to protest at being labeled a situation, but understood Sayed’s viewpoint. He was already facing major public scandal; she had no desire to add to it.

      “Stealth mode. I’ve got it.”

      Sayed sighed. “If destiny has ordained you carry my child, then we will do our best to face that fate with courage and honor, but we will proceed with caution in the interim.”

      “You make it sound like we’re going to war.”

      He smiled and shook his head, dropping his hands. “Life is a war of choices, Aaliyah. Last night, neither of us made the best ones, but that does not mean we rush headlong into rash decisions this morning.”

      She missed the touch of his hands, but told herself not to be a fool. “We look at our options and take responsibility.”

      Something Liyah believed in very strongly and couldn’t help being glad he did, too.

      Sayed was no Gene Chatsfield.

      “Exactly.” Sayed’s tone was laced with satisfied approval, his gaze almost warm before he turned very serious. “However, some responsibilities carry greater weight than others.”

      “What do you mean?”

      “I need to return to Zeena Sahra. Tahira’s actions will have long-reaching consequences for our country.”

      Feeling unaccountably bereft at the thought of his abandonment, Liyah nevertheless nodded. “I understand.”

      “Good. It is unfortunate you will not be able to work out your notice, but it is fortuitous that you already made your plans to leave.”

      “What? Why won’t I work out my notice?”

      “I’ve told you, we must leave for Zeena Sahra immediately.”

      “You said you had to leave.”

      He gave her a look that said she wasn’t following him. “Naturally you must come with me.”

      “Why?”

      “You may carry my child.”

      “But we don’t know.”

      “And until we do, you will be under my protection and care.”

      “But—”

      “Come, do not tell me you would not love to visit the country of your mother’s birth.”

      “I would, very much, but under different circumstances than these.”

      He shrugged. “We make of our circumstances what we wish them to be.”

      “Remember that when you’re dealing with the fallout from Tahira’s elopement.” Liyah felt bad as soon as she said the words. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make light of what you’re going through.”

      “Apology accepted. Now, let us prepare for our trip.”

      “I didn’t say I was going.”

      “But you will.” He smiled winningly. “What better guide to introduce you to the magic that is Zeena Sahra than its emir?”

      “I don’t remember you being this persuasive last night.” Bossy, yes, persuasive, no.

      “It is another facet of my character for you to come to know.”

      * * *

      As the jet taxied down the runway, Liyah marveled at how efficiently Sayed’s people worked.

      It was easier than thinking about why she was on this plane.

      In the time it took Liyah to explain to the head housekeeper that an unavoidable circumstance had arisen which required

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