The Sheikh's Captive Bride

By Kelly Dark

When Prince Seyed Basri's fiancée informs him of a pregnancy that isn't his, he's relieved to get out from under their looming arranged marriage. Now, he has the chance he's been waiting for - to head back to America and offer marriage to the only woman he's ever loved. 

But when he gets there, he finds her practically engaged. In order to win her back, he's willing to do just about anything, including paying off her boyfriend to break up with her and whisking her off to his home country of Kabir, where he intends to keep her!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kelly Dark
• Release date: Jun 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524218904

Book preview

Chapter One

I'm pregnant.

Intrigued, Prince Seyed Basri leaned back in his chair and stared at his betrothed.

Fatima held her hands tightly together in front of her, her back ramrod-straight as she stared back at him, a mixture of fear and determination in her almond shaped eyes.

She had guts to come here and meet him personally, he admitted inwardly. Though Kabir was one of the more advanced countries in the Middle East, one could still imprison a woman for cheating. In her home country of Atul, the penalty would have been death if they were married.

It was not his child. He knew that for sure. Except for shaking her hand and kissing her on the cheek a few times, he'd never even touched her.

Naturally, the marriage is off, he started.

Their betrothal was an arranged one, one that had been arranged before they'd even been born as part of peace negotiations to stop the fighting between their two neighboring countries.

And though he’d begun to resent the betrothal, he’d always known his duty. His country’s safety was far more important than his happiness. But that didn't mean he was about to let another man's child become King of Kabir.

She nodded gravely. I understand.

The grip around his heart eased. He wasn't going to have to marry Fatima.

Have you told your father? he asked, keeping the relief out of his voice. Though it was joyous news to him, he knew that she had a lot of difficulties ahead of her.

For the first time, indecision flickered in her eyes before she stiffened. No. I will call him when I go to London.

Knowing what would happen if she stayed, he nodded understandingly. She would do her part and on his side, he would talk with his father to ensure that he did not do anything to retaliate.

Though his father was a reasonable man, he was from another time. He would think that this pregnancy was an insult, but Seyed, more than anyone, understood the temptation of being with the one you loved. It was all he wanted as well.

He just couldn't believe it had been Fatima who had broken the vows. She’d always seemed so cold. It didn't seem possible that someone could've warmed her heart.

But nonetheless, he nodded, relieved. God speed, Fatima.

Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't say a word. She bowed gratefully and turned to leave. As the door of his office closed, he let out a breath he hadn't known he had been holding.

He couldn't believe it.

He was free.

A smile broke out on his lips as he picked up the phone. He knew just who he wanted to see. Claire Richardson.

Chapter Two

The sweet smell of chocolate teased Claire as she opened the oven door.

Satisfaction filled her when she looked over the small cakes. They were perfect.

With an efficiency earned only by practice, she took them out with her mitts and placed them on the countertop to cool down. As she set the last one down, the kitchen door creaked open.

I'm sorry Claire, Tom began as he used his back to prop the door open, there's a gentleman at the door. I tried to tell him we were closed, but he said he knew you.

She raised her eyebrows when he didn't elaborate. Tom wasn't some busboy fresh off the block. He knew he should be giving her more information. At the very least, the name of the company the salesperson was from.

Did he give a name? she asked when it became clear that her maître d' wasn't going to elaborate.

In the background, the chit-chat and the chopping stopped. Her lips twitched. Though she loved everyone to death, she wished they would be less noisy.

Tom cleared his throat as his hands went up to his bowtie reassuringly. The man doesn't seem like the kind of person you question.

She stifled a grin. In all the years that she'd known him, she'd never seen Tom intimidated. He always seemed too sophisticated to even blink an eye. She had to meet the person who had finally gotten to him.

I'll be out there in a few. Thanks, Tom.

She tamped down the urge to laugh when she saw the relief in his eyes. Perhaps she could learn a thing or two from whoever this visitor was.

Tom nodded and disappeared behind the swinging door.

She took off her apron and quickly scanned the busy kitchen as the cooks went back to preparing for the lunch crowd. Dane was working on the bisque, Rebecca on the baguettes, Chris and Jerry on the beef stew.

She didn't miss the eye glinting and the smirks they exchanged.

I wouldn't be so smug if I were you guys, she said, making sure she made eye contact with each and every one of them. If this is a salesman offering me knives, I'm buying them and bringing my set back home.

Their eyes widened and Rebecca actually gasped. Claire fought the smile that tugged at her lips. When she'd splurged on the Japanese knives a few months ago, she'd never thought that the guys would become so dependent on them.

Judging from everyone's faces, it looked as if she'd just announced that they were working Christmas day.

Stifling a laugh, she turned around and headed towards the dining area. She froze when she saw the man in the foyer.

It couldn't be.

She slowly took in his soft dark hair and familiar hard nose. He'd always been tall, but he seemed even taller now. His presence dominated the foyer of the restaurant and oozed of power that she hadn't remembered him having.

But it was him all right. Even from the side, she would've recognized that face anywhere—his chocolate eyes and sensual lips had been ingrained in her head and, she was afraid, her heart for so long that he felt like a part of her.

His hair was a little longer than she remembered and she had the sudden urge to run her fingers through it to see if it felt as silky as it looked.

As if sensing her, he turned, his dark eyes meeting hers.

Time stood still as those eyes seemed to touch something inside her soul, making her heart clench deep inside of her.

Seyed Basri.

For a moment, all they did was stare at each other. After not seeing him for six years, shock kept her rooted to the floor but all she really wanted to do was run up and wrap her arms around him and confirm that he was really here in the flesh and not just a figment of her imagination.

After wondering about him so much, she wouldn’t be surprised if she was dreaming. His lips broke out in a smile, the corners of his eyes wrinkling, and her heart bloomed as she blinked back tears. She couldn’t believe it.

She was tempted to run to him but was afraid that he would disappear into thin air if she so much as took a step towards him. Remembering Tom was watching, she regretfully broke eye contact and prayed that Seyed would still be there when she turned back.

It's all right, Tom, she said with more calm than she felt. Mr. Basri and I are old friends.

She turned back to Seyed and tilted her head towards the back room, silently inviting him.

He walked swiftly towards her and she was surprised to find just how tall he'd become. And how large. In just a few steps, he had completely blocked her view so that she couldn't see anything past his broad shoulders.

A smile tugged at his lips as he looked down at her, his dark-chocolate eyes sparkling with mirth. Claire.

No longer able to act cool and calm, she threw her arms around him, choking back tears of happiness. Seyed.

She had thought that she would never see him again. As his strong arms went around her, the same smell of fresh pine trees that she’d forgotten about engulfed her and she wanted nothing more than to sink into him and stay in his arms for a very long time. She couldn't believe it. Seyed—her Seyed—was back.

Regaining some semblance of composure, she moved away and hit him soundly on the arm. You stopped responding to my emails.

Though she knew he'd never returned her feelings, she'd been hurt when he'd stopped talking with her. They'd been best