The Sheikh's Arranged Marriage: The only thing worse than falling in love with the man she'd married was knowing he would never feel the same... Read Online Free PDF Page A

swish of her dress with each step she took. That was it. It was over. When would she see her husband next? Another week? Two? Was this really the life she’d chosen to lead?
    She thought of the children she was spending her days with and at least that brought her happiness.
    There was a creak at the door and Rebecca turned around slowly, her heart starting to race as she prepared to see her husband. Surely he had come back, after all. Maybe he wasn’t as unaffected by her as he seemed. Only it wasn’t Tariq. Faisal Kassis was back, and for once, there was not a security guard in sight.
    CHAPTER THREE
    “Your highness,” he drawled slowly, and his eyes, small and black like raisins, shone with hatred.
    “Faisal.” Rebecca was amazed at how calmly her voice came out.  Adrenalin was coursing through her body, but miraculously, outwardly she appeared unconcerned.
    “Did you enjoy your evening?”
    So far, so good. Or at least, not terrible. She was pretty sure cornering her on her own was highly inappropriate, but still, she kept her expression neutral.
    “I did. And you?”
    “It was a pleasure watching you work,” he said, taking slow, deliberate steps in her direction.
    Rebecca had dealt with bullies all her life. Winona and Greg could have written the manual on how to terrify someon e into obedience. She let out a slow breath. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said, trying to regain control of the situation by walking towards the door.
    He cut her off. “And? If I won’t?”
    He wasn’t touching her, but he was so close that he could have easily grabbed her. She stared at him with a haughty expression. “I don’t think you have any choice in the matter.” She clipped.
    He made a grunt of disapproval and she smelt cigar smoke and alcohol on his breath. “Who are you? Just a nobody from England. Now you’re acting as though you’re better than everybody else.”
    A hint of a frown scarred her forehead. She had done no such thing, but clearly Faisal was go ing to see only what he wanted to see.
    “You know,” he changed tact, taking one of her hands in his. “Many years ago, when Assan was still tribal, the wife of the Sheikh was a commodity to be traded to the Sheikh’s friends and families.”
    His words rolled through her head and she felt nausea in her stomach. She tried to pull her hand but he dug his fingers into her palm. “It is a shame the tradition is no longer practiced. Although...”
    “What the hell is going on here?” Tariq demanded from the doorway. Though he was rigidly still, only a fool would miss the rage that emanated from every line of his body.
    At the sight of him, so tall and imposing, Rebecca felt a sob welling in her chest. She clamped down her lips, forcing herself to stay in control.
    “You will remove your hands from my wife this moment.” Tariq’s words were like steel. The authority he commanded was impossible to doubt.
    With a look full of antagonism towards Rebecca, Faisal did as Tariq had said and stepped backwards, catching his hip on one of the ornately carved dining chairs.
    “ If I was my grandfather, I would have you put to death,” Tariq drawled. He moved to stand in front of Rebecca, placing a strong shield between her and Faisal.
    Faisal couldn’t look into his cousin’s eyes. Rebecca was almost certain he had just been intimidating her for sport. It seemed highly unlikely he would have carried out his implied threat. But the thought of what he had suggested still made her blood run cold. She swayed a little, and her body lightly brushed against Tariq’s. The strength of him bled towards her, giving her strength to endure the next few moments.
    “Faisal Kass is,” He spoke slowly, crisply, “I hereby strip you of your title. You are no longer welcome at any palace of Assan. You forfeit your right to all the privileges that came with your previous rank.”
    “What!” The smaller man gaped, spittle foaming at the corner of his mouth. “You can’t