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Chapter 244
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MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 245
Kassandra joined Romanos at the table laid out on the back patio that offered an unending view of the shoreline. The raised porch provided shade from the hot Greek sun. Reaching Romanos, she kissed his papery cheek and sat down.The small table groaned under the weight of a colorful and mouthwatering array of dishes. "I didn’t know that we were having a feast today," she said, spreading her napkin on her lap. "I would have skipped breakfast and run a few more miles.""Eat," Romanos said. "No man likes his woman so much that it could hurt him if he embraces her."Popping a piece of a juicy, thick-crusted pie into her mouth, Kassandra shook her head. "Since no man is actually intent on embracing or otherwise expressing love for your granddaughter," she continued in that same irreverent tone, "no worries there."It had become a bit of a game this past week between them, about who could say the most outrageous thing. The smile disappeared from Romanos’s face. "He is your husband, child. "
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 246
"Come, Darian," Romanos beckoned him with a smile before he could disappear with his shifting thoughts.Darian looked up, zeroing in on Kassandra with a stinging hunger.On her way to the other side of the table, she stilled without looking at him. Her fingers slipped on the serving spoon, the sound clanging on the patio.Slowly, she moved her head and met his gaze. The impact of it rocked through him, the picture she presented ripping through the semblance of control he had fooled himself into achieving over the past four days.An off-shoulder, black, cutoff blouse showed a strip of her back, indented by the line of her spine, an outlandish article of clothing if he had ever seen one, and yet it suited her to perfection, with the long, gray skirt that billowed around her legs.A soft breeze pushed it against her legs, outlining the lean, toned length of them.Heat thrummed in every pore, his arousal painfully instantaneous.He wanted to see if she was just as silky everywhere. He wan
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 247
Her throat raw, she nodded. I believed in the sanctity of it once, yes. My father... I never knew my mother, and I always used to get this sense that a part of him was gone with her. He loved me, but his heart...it was with her. When you grow up seeing love like that, you believe in its power. You start hoping for it even when you know... She shrugged, loath to betray herself even more."I’m sorry for ruining your dreams, Kassandra," he said with such withdrawal that it was Kassandra who held onto him this time. "You were a dangerous combination of recklessness and... I had to protect you from fortune hunters and—""Myself, of course." But there was no real bite to her words.She could not lie and absolve him of any of it. Despite wanting to hate him, she even understood why he had done it, but his apology touched something inside her. I wanted a lot of things. But life happened. I’ll be fine, Darian. "He nodded and rose to his feet. "What will your collection be called?""New beginn
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 248
"What?""That I wish to. It is only when I kiss you that I know you, Kassandra. "Every word that came out of his sensuous mouth was a caress and a promise. "What happened to that phenomenal willpower of yours that had the rest of us quaking in our boots?"Laughter—hearty, gorgeous, and spine-tingling—enveloped her. "In this case, I have decided not to employ it.""You can see Helene, Kassandra, but you must tell me the truth or kiss me." The choice is yours. "How very neatly he had trapped her, and how very stupid she had been in challenging fate when she had said Darian knew nothing but duty. His words now were honeyed, so damn seductive that her heart thudded. "What if I asked you questions?"But I have never lied to you. If you ask me a question and I do not tell the truth, you are free to kiss me as much as you want to."Thanks but no thanks," Kassandra managed to say, past the whooshing of her heart.Turning away from him, she ran back to the sanctuary of her workroom, wonderin
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 249
Those devilish lips opened against her skin, and she felt his smile. "I would like nothing but to continue..."Her forehead flopped against his shoulders, her lungs burning for breath. "Fine, I lied. I love that estate. It’s the most beautiful, most peaceful place I have ever seen in the world. Even Romanos’s estate cannot compare against such simple, stark beauty. "His silence reverberated in the interior, the remnants of lust making the tawny irises wide. "Now I wish I had shown you my bedroom."Their gazes collided and Kassandra shifted in her seat, unbearable to be in her own skin. The rub of her thighs when she crossed her legs, the rasp of her dress against her nipples, every inch of her sparked with awareness. It was like the powerful car they were sitting in. She was all revved up by that kiss, and yet, there was no relief.All evening, this was what he was going to do to her. No wonder he looked so damn interested in taking her.How, despite all her efforts to the contrary,
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 250
"I’ll ask the question now."Brows raised, he nodded. "Ask soon, or you will miss the show."The simply elegant Helene’s polite face had stayed with her. His friend or lover or whatever the hell she was, the woman hadn’t betrayed surprise or shock or any emotion, even by the flicker of a perfectly drawn eyebrow. had talked to Kassandra as if it was any other fashion designer trying to break into the industry.Her will was so weak that falling into bed with Darian felt like fate rushing at her like an express train.If he hadn’t stopped any of the times, if he willed it, she couldn’t resist him. She knew.And she refused to let him make all the rules."How do you...how does this work with you kissing me like this and with Helene? Are you guys taking a breather while you sort me out? What happens if you decide you want to... ""Yes?"Her meager grasp on her own emotions slipping bit by bit, she shivered. Damn it, she had been so happy today and she knew it was largely because it featured
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 251
Kassandra couldn’t speak for the pain in Darian’s gaze, in his sudden withdrawal.She had hated Darian for being so tough on her and Rhode, but Rhode hadn’t once mentioned her unhappiness or her problems to him.Rhode had almost been a different person with him. She was loving, smiling, obedient...as if she had just slipped into a different skin.She wished she had gone to Darian and blurted it all out.Rhode had been troubled, she realized now. Maybe even depressed.With hindsight, she wondered how much of that had fueled her own antagonism toward Darian, because it had been so scary and powerless to see Rhode like that. She had been mired in her own pain about her dad’s death, and Darian had been a convenient target to lash out at. And yet she hated having to tell the truth now, hated this power that she had over him.She didn’t want to cause Darian any pain.He was rigid, he was stubborn and arrogant, but God, he loved Rhode in his own way. He had tried so hard to keep Kassandra aw
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 252
She muddled through the darkness of the auditorium and found her seat. Up-tempo music blared as the runway dazzled with one magnificent creation after the other.But it was mostly lost on her. He didn’t join her in the adjacent seat, and Kassandra, still shaken by everything they had talked about, was glad for a reprieve.She now wished she hadn’t asked. She wished she hadn’t seen that vulnerability in his eyes. That she hadn’t seen the ache when he mentioned his parents.She wished she didn’t know how committed he was to his vows.She wished she didn’t understand what made Darian the way he was. She wished she had never started on this path at all.Because understanding Darian meant wanting Darian with a cloying, all-consuming madness.Already, she saw admiration and respect in his eyes when he looked at her. She saw that flash of curiosity when she evaded his questions.If he showed such commitment, such respect for the vows he had made to the selfish, immature girl she had been, wh
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MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 440
He moved suddenly, turned to her, and gripped her arms; she glimpsed the desperation in his eyes as he dragged her against his chest. "I will do whatever it takes to win you back, Kalila." "You are my wife, the love of my life, and I won’t let you go." His warm breath fanning the curls that framed her face, he pressed his lips to her temple, his eyes briefly closing as if in pain."I have told my father to name his brother Sulim as the interim ruler of Qubbah in the event of his dying before Hazem comes of age." Kate stared at him, shocked beyond words. "But... but why?" she finally stumbled.I thought that you were to rule until Hazem was older. "You are the King’s only son, and it is your duty." Ahsan shook his head. "My first duty is to my wife, and my father agrees." Even if he did not, I would still be here for you."Don't you understand, Kalila?" he asked urgently. "You are more important to me than Qubbah, my father, everything." You, me, and Hazem are a family, and the only thin
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 439
The still silence in the garden that followed his astounding statement was broken by the piercingly sweet song of a blackbird. Kate licked her suddenly dry lips, her heart beating so fast she was sure it would explode. "I don’t understand.""It’s quite simple." He sounded impatient and stared at her haughtily. But to her amazement, streaks of dull color highlighted his cheekbones, and his eyes veered from hers as if he were afraid to meet her gaze. "I love you, Kate."Her rebuttal was fierce and immediate. "No, you don’t.""I should have known you would want to argue about it, Kalila." A little of his tension left him, and his smile stole her breath."You don’t love me," she said again. It was probably some cruel trick, and she had more sense than to be fooled. "You married me for Hazem." You love Farrah. Malika said so.Malika said a lot of things, most of them untrue. Ahsan’s voice was suddenly harsh."But not the things she said about me," Kate said thickly. "My mother was a prosti
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 438
The blue sky was dotted with cotton wool clouds, and the warm breeze carried a scent of lavender and old-fashioned roses. There was no place on earth more beautiful than Ingledean on a spring day, Kate mused—except an oasis in the middle of the desert, where palm trees provided shade from the scorching sun and an azure pool glinted beneath a cloudless sky.She had been home for a month—although Ingledean no longer felt like home without Hazem. The image of his huge brown eyes and impish smile caused the familiar agonizing pain in her chest, and she bit down hard on her lip, tasted blood, and cursed the tears that slid unchecked down her face. She couldn’t cry forever. Somehow she was going to have to find the strength to move on, pick up the threads of her life, or maybe make a new one, far away from Ingledean and all its memories. But since she had left Qubbah, a terrible lassitude had settled on her, and she could not plan anything when the only two people she loved were far away on
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 437
In less than an hour, she was expected to attend the lavish dinner organized in honor of King Kabir’s recovery and his return as supreme ruler of Qubbah. And somehow she was going to have to do so without revealing that she was breaking up inside, which Kate acknowledged despairingly as she stared in the mirror at her paper-white face and red-rimmed eyes.When she first returned to the palace after her explosive confrontation with Malika, she locked herself in her dressing room and recalled, in stunned disbelief, everything the young Arab woman had told her. Could it be true? Had Ahsan always intended to divorce her once he’d gained custody of Hazem and marry his beautiful advisor?She did not know how long she’d sat there, but eventually her maid had knocked on the door and reminded her that it was time to prepare for the banquet. She should have made the excuse that she was ill—no one who saw her pallor would fail to believe her. But the steely backbone of pride that had seen her th
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Despite the warmth of the early-evening sunshine, Kate shivered. "You’re talking nonsense," she said firmly, striving to sound confident despite the sudden lurch of her heart. She was perfectly aware of why Ahsan had married her, but he had given no hint that he wanted a divorce. Ahsan told me he was never engaged to you. She lifted her chin and glared at Malika, trying to ignore the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach."He wasn’t," Malika agreed, looking surprised. "I was engaged to Farhan; Ahsan was engaged to Farrah."The world seemed to tilt alarmingly for a few seconds, and Kate actually gripped the edge of the wall for support. Ahsan and Farrah! It couldn’t possibly be true, could it? "Jamila told me that Ahsan was in love with his fiancée," she said faintly. "She doesn’t know why the marriage didn’t take place."Malika gave a careless shrug. ‘Jamila knows. Everyone at the palace knows that Ahsan adored Farrah and that she eloped with his brother on the eve of their wedding.
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 435
He was suddenly aware that the children had finished their dance and everyone was waiting for his response. Kate had turned her head to him, frowning at his inattention, and he quickly clapped his hands in applause. Once the dancers had filed out of the marquee, his personal assistant Zaid appeared at his side and informed him that a group of local potters had brought their best work for his gracious inspection. Stifling a sigh, he led the royal party out into the blazing sunshine.The garden party continued all afternoon, and Ahsan was not in the best of moods when he strode back to the palace. He suddenly realized that he was too far ahead and slowed his pace, waiting for Kate to catch up with him. He frowned when he noted how pale she looked beneath her wide-brimmed hat. She made no attempt to speed up, and the dejected droop of her shoulders fueled his impatience."I appreciate that an afternoon spent admiring traditional crafts and customs is not likely to top your list of exciti
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 434
Her feet briefly touched the floor, and he spun her around, tugged her zip down her spine, and removed her dress before she had time to catch her breath. Her bra went the same way before he lifted her again and threw her onto the bed as if she were a rag doll, his eyes glittering with a mixture of anger and sexual hunger that made Kate’s stomach dip."At night, I’m happy to give you all the attention you could possibly want," he growled, his shoes, trousers, and shirt hitting the floor with barely controlled savagery until he stood in his silk boxers. "This is the only bed you’ll ever sleep in." The boxers joined the rest of his clothes, revealing his powerful, unashamedly aroused body in all its glory. "But I wouldn’t bank on sleeping for many hours yet."Kate stared up at him, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she struggled to control the wild excitement that was pounding through her veins. She was conscious that she was wearing nothing but a pair of tiny lace pants and the pric
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 433
Clearly embarrassed, Aaliyah determinedly changed the subject to Hazem and how fast he was growing. But although Kate smiled and made token conversation, her mind was whirling. If Malika’s family had expected her to marry Ahsan, was she the woman he had been engaged to years ago—the woman Jamila had said he had loved? But, if so, why had they not married? It didn’t make sense, and she brooded miserably as she stared at Ahsan. He was smiling at Malika and clearly enjoying her company. Perhaps they had argued and broken off their engagement. Was he now regretting his lost chance to marry a beautiful, clever Arab girl who would have made him the perfect wife?From that moment on, the party became a blur of faces and stilted conversation with people she had never met before. She was sure they viewed her as an oddity, with her pale skin and vivid hair—and her glaring lack of sophistication. But until his father had recovered, Ahsan was king, and one of her wifely duties outside of the bedr
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 432
As Ahsan had predicted, his team of advisors was waiting for him when they arrived back at the palace. Even on the journey across the desert, he’d had his mobile phone clamped to his ear, and Kate had sat silently beside him, lost in her thoughts. The honeymoon was over, and he had made it abundantly clear that he now saw her role as his wife as a walk-on part—or perhaps a lie-down part, she thought bitterly. But what had she expected? She had married him for Hazem, and he had married her for sex, and they had each gotten what they wanted.At least she had Hazem, she told herself later that evening, when she tucked the toddler into bed. She had missed him desperately, and his evident delight that she was back was a comforting balm to her raw emotions. She was Ahsan’s wife, a member of the Royal Family of Qubbah, and no one could ever take him away from her now.But as she prepared for the state banquet, her insecurities returned, and she felt sick with nerves. She had been horrified w
