Free The Defiant Princess by Alyssa J. Montgomery

he’d remain faithful to her. Loyalty was something he’d demand and reciprocate.
    He shrugged. “My father would like to think the betrothal arrangement made by our parents still stands, however—”
    Sabihah stood. “Then, that’s the answer to the problem.”
    Khalid couldn’t credit her response. Was she actually suggesting they marry?
    â€œI will marry you, Khalid,” she rushed out as her hands moved in quick agitated circles. “If we get married—”
    â€œYou haven’t been asked,” he cut in sharply.
    She stilled immediately, then sat back down. “You said we’re betrothed.”
    â€œThese are modern days. My father and yours were of a different generation. Neither of us has to comply with their wishes.”
    As he purposely crossed one leg casually over the other and tried to keep his cool, she jerked to her feet again and positioned herself at the back of her chair. “But through our marriage, you could gain control of Rhajia and the country would no longer be under Mustaf’s rule,” she said.
    â€œNo. Marriage is out of the question.”
    She took a step toward him, then retreated. God, but the woman was as wound up as a spring and wasn’t thinking clearly. Her plan to marry him was ridiculous. Despite the political advantages that would be gained and the raging sexual chemistry between them, he knew nothing about their general compatibility—except that she’d opposed him at every turn since he’d arrived.
    Yet, if she was as passionate in her lovemaking as she was in her arguments …
    He compressed his lips in displeasure. The last time he’d felt anything close to this level of sexual desire he’d been a youth. He’d learnt the hard way that it was imperative he never lose his head again to lust. It was a lesson well-learned and embarrassingly painful to remember. Moreover, the attraction he felt for Sabihah was more potent than that he’d felt for the woman who’d made a fool of him. That was enough to warn him to stay away.
    Sabihah was dangerous to his equilibrium.
    Inaya was his choice.
    â€œDid you believe after all these years that Hazim would come to claim you as his bride?” he said as the thought dawned on him.
    Her head snapped up. Initially, he thought hurt cloaked her features, but then the blue depths of her eyes flared with anger. Her lips twisted into a scornful expression. “Yes. For many years I lived under exactly that illusion. I believed it because it’s what my father told me. It was the agreement made between our fathers.”
    â€œBut you’ve been living in Australia for years.” He couldn’t assume his casual pose any longer. Planting both feet on the ground, he sat forward. “Surely you couldn’t have wanted to marry Hazim—a man you’d only met once when you were a child.” He couldn’t keep the incredulity from his voice.
    â€œI didn’t believe I had a choice. Even though my ties with Rhajia seemed more distant, I still felt a loyalty to my father and his ideals. I still believed in him and the promises he made to me.”
    There was deep sadness in her face as she sat back down. For a few seconds there was a strange tugging sensation in his chest. Ignoring it, he looked at the slump of her shoulders and knew he needed to press on her loyalty a little more.
    â€œIf that’s the case, why do you resist my attempts to persuade you to return to Rhajia?”
    She held out her hands, palms upwards and gave a shrug. “It’s too late. I don’t feel the burden of my father’s wishes anymore. My father died. Nobody came for me.” She shrugged again. “It’s just too late.”
    â€œThen why do you want to marry me?”
    â€œThere is no way I’d ever want to be married to a man like you,” she scoffed. “But it does seem to be the best solution to this entire