Сьюзен Мэллери: The Sheik & the Princess Bride

“You are a woman of many surprises,” he said as he stroked her cheek.

“The same could be said of you. Not the woman part,” she added, feeling more than a little foolish. “You’re a man of surprises.”

“Thank you.”

He brushed his thumb across her mouth. “I look forward to what tomorrow brings,” he said. “Sleep well.”

“Good night.”

She waited until he disappeared into the darkness before stepping into her room. Sleep well? With her body on fire and her mind swirling? Between the kiss and what he’d told her about her brothers, she wasn’t sure she was ever going to sleep again. Which was fine. She could spend the night planning her revenge against all the Van Horn men.

J efri arrived for his weekly meeting with his father a few minutes early. The king’s office was near his own. Several guards stood on duty, while dozens of staff members raced around with folders and stacks of papers.

The king’s senior assistant waved Jefri in. One of the wide double doors stood open and several people filed out.

Jefri waited until they’d left before walking inside. He found his father standing behind his desk, flipping through a calendar.

“I’m thinking of visiting Europe,” the king said without looking up. “With Murat taking over most of my state duties and the other work divided between you, Sadik and Reyhan, there is little to keep me here.”

Jefri grinned. “Are you complaining you do not have enough to do?”

“I suppose I am. It is a sad state of affairs when a king is no longer needed.”

Jefri took a seat on the visitor’s side of the desk. “I think it is unlikely you will be beheaded anytime soon.”

His father sat down and smiled. “How you comfort me.” He leaned back in his chair. “So our new air force is off to a positive start?”

“Of course. The Van Horn team is in place. All the instructors have arrived. Billie is in charge of them.”

The king nodded. “A most pleasant young woman.”

Jefri could think of several words to describe Billie, but pleasant wasn’t one of them. It was too bland, too lacking in style. Billie could never be accused of either.

“She assists in the pilot training, both with actual flying and in simulators. The Van Horn people have prepared an intensive eight-week program to forge our pilots into a team. When the initial instruction is finished, they will return to offer refresher courses until we get our own training in place.”

“Very impressive,” the king said. “I would advise you not to annoy her. I would hate to lose you because, to quote the young woman herself, she blows you out of the sky.”

Jefri smiled. “I will not allow that to happen.”

“It sounds as if she is unbeatable.”

“Perhaps.”

But he had a feeling he knew her weaknesses. Last night she had melted in his arms. Whatever her skills in the sky, on ground, she was mere woman. He planned to take advantage of that fact, pleasing them both along the way. He did not believe she could respond to him so easily in the night and then destroy him, however much in theory, during the day.

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