It would be impolite, not to mention illegal, to strip the lock from his door to keep Malika with him for the determinable future.
The movie Hotel Rwanda had ignited bouts of outrage at the injustices by and against humanity. They’d also discussed the goodness that people could display when they chose to.
After devouring the lunch he’d had a palace chef prepare and deliver to them, they’d settled in for an action-adventure of her choosing. Twenty minutes into the film, Malika’s head flopped onto his shoulder. He’d looked down to find her eyes closed and her breathing deep and rhythmic. Adjusting their bodies, he’d looped his arm around her so that his chest became her pillow.
He was in heaven with her snuggled into his side. How had he gotten to this point so fast? Deep down, he knew she was the one for him. Why would she have such a captivating and soothing effect if she wasn’t?
He switched off the movie, grabbed his tablet, and assessed the camera feed at the palace. For the next two hours, he sent instructions to his second-in-command before researching the remainder of the people who had accepted to attend the competition next Saturday. No participant, coach, or invited guest would enter if they hadn’t been vetted. He wasn’t taking any chances. If it were up to him, he’d cancel the tournament, but the king and crown prince had insisted on showing the world that Bagumi held no fear.
Zawadi was leading diplomatic talks between the countries. So far, General Noda seemed appeased although the Barakat president was known to be temperamental and could change his mind on a whim.
Zareb’s instincts still tingled, but he hadn’t pinpointed why. He’d rather play things safe when it came to his family.
Malika wiggled and placed a hand on his chest. The movement was accompanied by a whimper that had the most sensitive part of his body twitching.
Her small palm roamed over his muscles. Without warning, she stopped her groping and went stiff. She shot her upper body away from him and across to the opposite side of the couch. Wild eyes glanced around the room as she placed a hand on her hair and patted it. Recognition seemed to settle when she touched her fingers to the base of her slender throat.
“I’m sorry, Zareb. I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.”
“You must’ve needed the rest.”
She nodded. “What time is it?”
“Three o’clock.”
“I was out for two hours?”
He crossed his arms to keep from reaching over to draw her back to him. “Yes. The explosions and gunfire in the movie were like a lullaby. You’re a very deep and still sleeper.”
“I’ve been told. My sister insists on putting a mirror under my nose to make sure I’m still alive.”
That reminded him of the time he’d discovered Sule sound asleep and difficult to wake up in the locker room. It had scared the hell out of him. It must’ve been what had accounted for his reaction to the young man afterwards. Fear made a person react in odd ways.
Malika stood and grabbed her purse. “I’m going to use the restroom.”
She didn’t wait for him to speak before pivoting and going. As he watched her, he found a familiarity in the straightforward sway-less stride that reminded him of her brother. If her fuller hips and perfect butt weren’t emphasized by the cinched waist of her dress, he’d think they were the same person walking away.
The family resemblances were disturbing. He distracted himself by setting up the movie to the point where Malika had fallen asleep.
She made a quick return, lipstick refreshed.
“Would you like something to eat or drink?”
She sat and rubbed her flat stomach. “All of that incredible food you fed me was probably why I fell asleep. I’m still full.”
Holding up the remote control to keep his vision from lingering over her body, he asked, “Ready to continue where you left off?”
“Do you mind if we talk?”
The tight clasp of fingers and slightly higher pitch of her voice didn’t intimate that she had a topic in mind that he’d enjoy.
He rested an ankle over his knee and draped an arm over the back of the seat, feigning an appearance of relaxation. “Not at all.”
The inward roll of her lips dragged his gaze to a mouth he desperately wanted to taste again.
“Why don’t you train women to fence?” She slanted her eyes at him as her nostrils flared. “Do you think we’re inferior to men?”
Her hands rose to a defensive position at his bark of laughter. Malika had made him laugh more in the time he’d known her than he had all of last month.
“After meeting my mother, how could you ask such a question?”
Her slim shoulders relaxed. “It’s the society we find ourselves. For men, women are to be controlled, not respected.”
“Not in my world.”
“And yet, your father has two wives. How is this fair to the women?”
Rubbing his chin, Zareb thought about how much to reveal.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have brought it up. It’s none of my business.” She glanced at her watch. “We have a few hours before I need to be at the palace. We can get back to our movie viewing. I promise to stay awake.”
“My mother granted my father permission to take a second wife.”
She waved her hands between them. “It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me.”
He felt compelled to confide in her. “I want to. You see, my parents’ marriage was arranged. They share a mutual respect, and as much as I hate to admit it, an attraction for each other. Although my father is fond of her, he’s with her for political reasons. My mother has loved him since they first met.”
Zareb shrugged. “Not long after they were married, my father fell in love with the woman who is now his second wife, but wouldn’t act on it out of deference to my mother and her powerful war-mongering family. She had no wish to keep him away from his desire. She didn’t want to divorce him, either. As a couple, they were good together. She insisted that she bear the heir to the throne before he took his second wife.”
He tapped his temple. “My mother has an analytical mind. Her advice to my father over the years had proven invaluable and profitable. Both had gained from the relationship.”
Her braids slid over her shoulder as she tilted her head. “It’s sad that it wasn’t a love match.”
“My mother explained that she’d fallen in love with four of the most beautiful creatures she could have ever created. She would always be grateful to her husband.”
“That was sweet of her to allow him to marry.”
“You can think that until you hear the other condition she set.” He faked a shiver. “I still find this disturbing because they’re my parents, but my mother is open with us about everything.”
“My mom was like that, too. She expected full disclosure just because she gave it.”
“Exactly. Anyway, she told the king that he must continue to be true to her by way of their marriage bed.”
Her eyes grew wide. “That might be too much information for me.”
This conversation was another way he knew that Malika was someone special in his life. He’d never think of telling his family’s secrets to someone he didn’t intrinsically sense would keep the information to herself.
“I’ve always held your mother in high esteem, but she’s gone up a hundred more rungs. If she doesn’t take care, she’ll get to Heaven with the angels.”
He chuckled. “Just think of how pushy she can be. That should demote her quickly enough.”
“Will do. Now will you answer my question about why you don’t coach women?”
If he could reveal private things about his family, he could divulge his own secret. First, he needed something in return.