Free The Sheik's Arranged Marriage by Susan Mallery

she’d urged her horse into a canter, then a gallop. She leaned down, hugging the animal’s neck. Her shirt billowed out around her, and her braid snapped like a flag.
    Jamal watched her for a few seconds, then decided he was less concerned about keeping to her rules than having her break her neck. He let his stallion have its head and went streaking after her.
    He caught up with her nearly halfway to the tent, and they rode into camp together. Heidi laughed as she reined in her horse and slid to the ground.
    “That was great,” she said. “I’ve been practicing, but only in a ring. I haven’t been out in the desert since I was twelve or thirteen. I’d forgotten how much fun it was.”
    Torches encircled the camp. Their flickering light illuminated the high color on her face and the pleasure in her eyes. She’d forgotten to be nervous, he thought, pleased that she was relaxed.
    “I go riding most mornings,” he said, motioning for her to precede him. “You’re welcome to join me whenever you would like.”
    She smiled at him over her shoulder. “That would be very nice. Thank you.”
    She pushed through the main entrance into the tent. A smaller structure stood inside the larger. She made her way into the second tent and stopped. Jamal followed her.
    The preparations were much as he expected. Tapestries lined the walls, and thick rugs covered the canvas floor. There were stacks of pillows, a large bed on a dais, and trays of food on low tables. Rose petals had been scattered all over the room, and an open bottle of champagne awaited them. It was romantic, private and unique.
    Heidi hadn’t moved since she’d walked into the tent. He circled around until he was in front of her, then saw that her good spirits had faded. The color had fled from her face, and she was shaking again.
    “Are you all right?” he asked.
    She shook her head. “I really think I’m going to be sick.”

Chapter 5
    “Words every bridegroom longs to hear,” Jamal said lightly.
    Heidi clamped her hand over her mouth and moaned. “I’m sorry. I can’t believe I said that. How horrible.”
    “Don’t worry about it,” her new husband told her.
    Heidi wanted to believe him…desperately. Her plan had not been to get it all wrong, but here she was—messing up at every opportunity.
    Jamal crossed to the low table by the bed and picked up one of the champagne glasses. He held it out to her. When she shook her head in refusal, he downed the bubbly liquid in one large gulp. Oh, great. She’d been married for all of three hours, and she was already driving her husband to drink.
    She twisted her fingers together and tried not to notice how very large the bed was or how there wasn’t much other furniture in the tent. They couldn’t have made it more clear with a neon sign proclaiming Ritual Deflowering—One Night Only.”
    She drew in a deep breath, then pressed her hands against her writhing stomach. “We have to talk,” she said. “You know, about something innocuous. So I can relax.”
    Jamal poured himself another glass of champagne. “You don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to. I’m not going to attack you. In fact, I won’t do anything you don’t want to do.”
    “Oh.”
    She wanted to believe. Deep down inside, she really wanted to know that he was telling the truth. Except she didn’t. In her limited experience with men—as in both her dates—the guys had only been interested in one thing. She knew too many women who had been forced into sexual relationships they didn’t want. The good news was , Jamal was trying to be gentlemanly about it.
    He sat on the edge of the bed. “All right. Innocuous conversation. Aside from riding, what other princess activities did you study while in the harem?”
    A vision of the rather racy books Fatima had left on her nightstand filled her mind. She’d never actually read one, although she had glanced at a few of the pictures…and had been horrified. Everyone was so