Free SEAL's Deception (Take No Prisoners Book 8) by Elle James

Before she realized it, her ears popped as the plane descended into Riyadh.
    Yasmin sat up and blinked. Someone had placed a blanket over her and leaned her chair back. She swept off the blanket and laid it aside. Her scarf had shifted, sliding off her hair to pool around her shoulders. She unbuckled her seat belt and stood.
    The seat Rashad had occupied when Yasmin fell asleep was now empty.
    “Have a nice nap, your highness?”
    Ben’s deep, warm tones sent ripples of awareness across Yasmin’s skin. She turned and smiled up into his eyes. “Yes, I did, thank you. Did you get any rest?”
    “Didn’t need any.” He nodded toward Irish and Stingray. Both men had kicked back in their seats, each deeply asleep. “I stood the first watch.”
    “You mean the entire watch.” Yasmin shook her head and glanced at the guards sitting at attention where they’d been throughout the flight. “Rashad?”
    “He disappeared into the cockpit shortly after you fell asleep.”
    Yasmin leaned toward the window. “Are you sure we’re flying over Saudi Arabia?”
    Ben grinned. “We are.”
    The sound of the landing gear deploying made Yasmin’s heart leap.
    “Are you ready to face your fiancé?”
    She nodded. “Now that I’m refreshed, I can face practically anything.”
    Ben looked out the window as the plane circled a private airport. “I hope so, because either they have some foreign dignitaries arriving soon, or they sent the welcoming committee to greet their new princess.”
    “Gird your loins and fasten your seatbelts.” Stingray blinked open his eyes and yawned. “We’re about to land.”
    Yasmin took her seat, buckled her belt and tried not to think too far beyond the welcoming committee and fooling her prospective groom. One hurdle at a time.

    B en took his time making his way back to his seat. He would prefer to sit across from Yasmin and reassure her everything would be all right. But, how could he do that when he had qualms about their mission? In the middle of Saudi Arabia, they couldn’t just run if the shit hit the fan. Surrounded by miles and miles of desert, they wouldn’t get far before they died of dehydration, or were shot by the Saudi army or Bedouin tribes protecting their herds and families.
    His gaze connected with his SEAL brothers. One by one, they nodded, each giving the other a silent acknowledgement that they had each other’s backs. That little bit of encouragement calmed Ben. He could count on his teammates to have his six if they got into trouble. And they could count on him to come to their rescue.
    The trick was to make this façade of being bodyguards appear real.
    During the trip, Ben had remained awake, checking out the escorts the prince had sent along with the plane. As far as Ben could tell, they hadn’t been armed while they were in London. Once on board, the guards had stepped through a door in the rear of the plane and returned with decided lumps beneath their white robes. As for Rashad, he hadn’t appeared armed. That didn’t make Ben trust him any more or less. The man had no respect for women, and he’d made it clear to his prince’s prospective bride. He’d be one to watch.
    When the plane came to a halt on the tarmac, the cockpit door opened, and Rashad came out. He glanced at the passengers but didn’t say anything. Instead, he waited while one of the Arab guards lowered the stairs. When the man stood back and gave a slight bow, Rashad exited the aircraft.
    So much for making certain his guest was ready to face her prince.
    Ben’s experience with the Saudi culture reminded him of differences in this part of the world, but he also knew Yasmin. Though her mother was from Turkey, she herself hadn’t grown up in a land where women were dominated by men, where the men more or less owned them. She had to be stewing over Rashad’s rudeness.
    Rising from his chair, he turned toward Yasmin. She’d pulled the sheer black scarf over her thick hair, freshened her