he told her, meeting her gaze in the mirror.
“Do you disapprove?” she asked.
“Not at all. You reassured her and she will reassure her sisters.” One corner of his mouth turned up. “Perhaps you could have hesitated before agreeing you would probably leave me.”
“I never said that. I won’t. Marriage is forever for me.”
“As it is for me,” he told her, then turned her to face him. “You are an excellent mother. That pleases me. For the girls and the sons to follow.”
“You do realize that you’re technically responsible for the gender of any children we have. That if I have girls, it’s your fault?”
He smiled. “Yes, I know. Although I would remind you I am one of six brothers. So the odds are in my favor.”
She wanted to mention that a healthy child should be enough, regardless of gender. But what was the point? As’ad was a prince and a sheik. He was arrogant, but he was also kind and charming and she didn’t want to change anything about him.
“Are you enjoying shopping?” he asked.
“It’s a lot of work. I’m not really used to this level of service.”
“You will become accustomed to it.”
“Maybe. Do I really need all these clothes? It seems excessive.”
“You are my wife.”
“I get that, but still...”
“You represent El Deharia. The people have expectations.”
Oh. Right. How long would that take to get used to? “Then it’s fine,” she told him.
“So you will do what is necessary for my people but not for me.”
“Pretty much.”
He bent down and kissed the side of her neck. Her insides clenched in response.
“I see I have to teach you to respect me,” he murmured, his mouth moving against her skin.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her back against him. He was warm and hard and she loved the feel of him so close.
She wanted this to be real—all of it. The girls as her family and As’ad as the man she loved more than anyone else. She wanted him to feel the same way. She wanted to make him weak at the knees and be all to him. If only...
He turned her to face him. “When we return to the palace I wish to discuss finances with you,” he told her. “You and the girls will always be taken care of. Even if something should happen to me, you will be financially secure. The palace will always be your home, but should you wish to live elsewhere, money would be made available.”
He didn’t have to do that. She wasn’t marrying him for the money. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Neither do I. Regardless, you are protected. Now that we are engaged, I have opened a bank account for you. As you spend money, more will be provided. I will give you credit cards, as well.” He touched her face. “I want you to be happy, Kayleen. Go shopping as you like.”
“I don’t need much.”
“Then you will be embarrassed by your excesses. Life is different now. You are different.”
He kissed her, his mouth moving lazily over hers. When she parted, he slipped his tongue inside, teasing hers until she couldn’t catch her breath.
She wanted him to touch her everywhere. She wanted them to make love. She wanted to know the wonder of a release, his body so close to hers, their hearts beating together.
He pulled back slightly. “Although I would prefer you didn’t change too much,” he whispered as he lowered the zipper on her dress.
She felt his hands on her bare skin. He pulled the dress down to her waist, then moved aside the cup of her bra. His fingers were warm on her breast. He brushed against her hard nipple, making her gasp, then lowered his head and sucked on her.
Aware they were in a dressing room with a very flimsy door, she did her best to keep quiet, but it was difficult as his tongue circled her. Heat blossomed between her legs. Heat and an ache that made her squirm for more.
“So impatient,” he whispered, then unfastened her bra.
She pushed the scrap of lace away and ran her hands across his head, then his shoulders. More. She needed more.
He chuckled before moving to her other breast and teasing it until her breath came in pants.
She felt one of his hands on her leg. The material of her dress was drawn up and up, then he moved between her legs.
She knew she should stop him. The girls were gone, but there were other people out there.