Zavian stood with his two friends—Amir and Roshan—watching his wedding reception come to a close. Thanks to Gabrielle and her new best friend, Ruby, Amir’s wife, the usually austere reception room had been transformed into party central, complete with lights, dance floor and balloons, courtesy of Ruby and Amir’s son, Hani.
Now, at the end of the day, some of the balloons had drifted to the marble floor. He noticed Naseer clicking his fingers for someone to take them away. He smiled to himself. No matter how fond Naseer had become of Gabrielle, he doubted Naseer would ever get used to informality in the palace.
“You certainly didn’t waste any time,” said Roshan, taking a sip of his champagne. He indicated Zavian’s advisor, Naseer. “I bet the old man wasn’t impressed with only having a month to organize the wedding.”
Zavian smiled as he remembered Naseer’s reaction. “Indeed. But he didn’t make a fuss. I think he was relieved I was getting married at all.”
“That anyone would have you,” added Amir, with a smile.
Zavian’s gaze rested on Gabrielle, who was talking with Ruby and Hani. “She nearly didn’t,” he commented.
“No,” said Roshan. “She’s far too clever to consider a wealthy, powerful king to be a good match.”
Zavian ignored Roshan’s comment. Zavian knew that, despite how sarcastic it sounded, Roshan meant it. For all his outward appearance of confidence, there was something very unconfident that sat at the heart of Roshan. Sometimes Zavian wasn’t even sure if Roshan liked himself. But he was too focused on Gabrielle to question Roshan further.
“You’re right. It had to be love,” said Zavian. “And, as it happened. I’m madly in love with her.” The words of love came easily now.
Gabrielle glowed in the soft lights, outshining any of the other women in their dazzling dresses. At that moment, Gabrielle looked up and caught his gaze. She smiled, that wonderfully warm smile, that heated his gut, and lower. He sucked in a sharp breath as he imagined taking her to bed. Their lovemaking had always been intoxicating, but in the past few weeks, it had become even more intense. Gabrielle was more sensitive than ever to his touch.
Roshan groaned. “For goodness sake, take her to bed, now, and be done with it.” He shook his head, and Amir laughed.
Amir clapped his hand on Roshan’s back and addressed Zavian. “Our friend Roshan is a cynic, Zavian.”
Reluctantly, Zavian withdrew his gaze from Gabrielle, who was making her way over to him with Ruby and Hani. “Yes, but not for long. The Tawazun princess is beautiful, and you’ve always appreciated a beautiful woman, Roshan. Maybe the appreciation will develop into love.”
Roshan shrugged and glanced around the room as if searching for someone. Zavian frowned. There was something restless about Roshan tonight, which was different. He was usually the life and soul of the party. But, tonight, he appeared almost subdued. Zavian opened his mouth to ask Roshan what was going on when his thoughts were derailed by Gabrielle’s touch on his arm. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He didn’t care who witnessed it; he adored his new wife.
It was Gabrielle who pulled away first and exchanged a knowing look with Ruby.
“Come on, Amir, we must be leaving,” said Ruby, looking like she’d just stepped out of a fashion shoot—stunning as ever. “It’s way past Hani’s bedtime.”
Amir, Ruby and Hani said their goodbyes, and Zavian and Gabrielle watched them leave.
“Hani is a different boy now he’s well,” said Zavian.
“And now he’s with his mom. Ruby is an amazing mother. She’s expecting, you know.”
“That’s good. A brother or sister for Hani. Amir has always wanted a big family.”
Gabrielle stepped in front of him and locked her fingers around the back of his neck, looking up at him with a secretive smile. “And do you?”
He’d almost forgotten what they were talking about.
“Do I what?”
“Want a big family?”
“Huge. I want many, many children, Gabrielle,” he murmured as he kissed her. “In fact, I think we should leave now and continue to work on this particular objective. There’s no time to waste.”
She laughed, a delicious giggle which wrapped around the heart he’d spent so many years ignoring.
“As it happens, my love,” she said, “it appears the first time was enough.”
“Enough?” he whispered. He didn’t dare to believe her meaning. “Gabrielle?”
She nodded, and her eyes swam with tears. But they weren’t sad ones, her wide smile told him that much. She took his hand and placed it on her stomach, and for the first time, he realized the meaning of the slight thickening around her waist. Not, it appeared, the result of her increased appetite.
“I’m pregnant, Zavian. It must have been the night of the khamseen, in the cave.”
If he’d ever been in any doubt as to the state of his heart, it was blown away by how he now felt. He’d thought he couldn’t love her any more; he’d thought wrong.
“I love you, Gabrielle.” He caressed her stomach, where his hand still lay.
She laughed. “I think I know, now, Zavian. You tell me often enough.”
He kissed her forehead. “And I’m going to continue telling you”—he kissed her nose—“throughout every day of our long lives together.” He lingered on the kiss on her lips. “Time for bed, my queen.”
Hand in hand, they walked through the emptying reception room and out into the garden. As Zavian glanced across the garden, he halted. For a moment, he thought he’d seen Roshan, his tall figure briefly visible in a patch of moonlight. He wasn’t alone. A woman’s profile was also caught in the moonlight, but it wasn’t anyone he recognized. He shrugged. Roshan was no doubt up to no good, as usual.
He just hoped that, whatever he was doing, and whoever he was doing it with, it wouldn’t jeopardize the future of the three sheikhs of Havilah.
THE END