The Sheikh's Pregnant Wife - Leslie North Page 0,1

her period had failed to arrive.

And now here she was in a wedding dress. A lace veil fell over her hair, which had been swept back in an expert chignon. The fabric brushed against her arms just above the elbows, giving her goose bumps.

She shook herself out of the memory of the club, with the bass pounding against her ears and Yaseen’s body moving behind hers with a sinuous strength she never would have expected from a man of his size and build. Yaseen, she soon learned, was the same height as his brothers but far more built. His muscles weren’t just defined, each one a testament to many hours at the gym—he wore them well. Very well. And his well-tailored slacks over those legs—

“You’re not the first,” Kara blurted. How long had it been since she slipped into the daydream? And, more importantly, how long would it be until the ceremony ended and they moved on with their lives? She had so much to do. With her new status as princess, she’d be able to make a difference to the people of Raihan on a far more accelerated schedule. “But thank you.” She put all the positive energy she could muster into a big smile, then took a deep breath. “Is every bride this jittery, do you think?”

“I was. I can’t speak for any other brides, though.” Laila considered her in the glass. “Are you nervous about anything you want to talk about? I’m here. And everyone else.” She gestured behind them at the beehive of the bridal suite. They’d decided to keep the guest list to the royal family, and it seemed like every woman even remotely related to Yaseen bustled through the suite. Kara’s heart softened at the sight. She didn’t have any siblings, and her parents had been gone for years. Here in Raihan, she had a few colleagues at the NGO and, she guessed, Laila.

Laila, who’d married Zayid as a direct result of Kara’s pregnancy. Laila, who’d been a bride of convenience for the sake of Raihan’s laws. Laila, who gave her hope—because it was clear from the light in her eyes that their marriage had become much more than convenient. If Laila and Zayid could have a happily ever after, why couldn’t she and Yaseen? Kara didn’t want to imagine it for another second. She wanted to get the show on the road.

“I’m good.” She turned away from the mirror and faced Laila, scanning the bridal suite for the royal photographer. “Is it time for photos? If it’s not, let’s call the photographer and get started.”

Yaseen needed to get through the ceremony and get back to work. The palace gardens bloomed full around him, but Yaseen found himself yearning for his office. Which was silly. Daydreaming of work, on his wedding day? Maybe it wasn’t so ridiculous. The biggest value he could provide to his family—which would soon grow by one member and then a second—was to work and work hard.

Working hard had been the cornerstone of his life for as long as he could remember. Becoming a father would only make it more important. A strange feeling passed through him—a combination of lightheadedness and steel. Yaseen had never expected to get married out of necessity. He had never dreamed that Kara would get pregnant from their one hot night together.

He wrenched his thoughts away from that night. Best not to think of it as he stood under a white canopy at an open end of the garden, his brothers close by and the imam murmuring quiet prayers to himself. The guests filed in over a deep green aisle runner decorated with flower petals and took their seats. Not many more of them, and the ceremony would start. And then he would be married. That feeling washed over him again. Anticipation? Dread? Both? It didn’t matter what he felt, only that he did right by Kara. The mother of his child. After one hot night—

“Are you prepared for the consequences?” Zayid’s voice cut through his memory of Kara’s blue eyes glittering in the lights from the dance floor.

Yaseen threw a look over his shoulder at Zayid. “Prepared for what consequences? I’ve been prepared for months.”

“I don’t mean the wedding,” said Zayid.

Their youngest brother, Nadim, let out a barely concealed yawn. “Zayid, don’t. Father will already have lectured him about how to be a good husband.”

“Nobody needs to lecture me about being a good husband.” Nadim might need a reminder that they were being photographed