The Sheik's Son (33 page)

She saw them in her hands but the image blurred. “Bash.”

He had recovered the writings for her at risk to himself to keep her safe. She knew then with utter certainty that she loved him.

“I don’t know what to say.” She gazed down at the card and the sheets of paper, and then into his handsome face.

“There is nothing to say. You are free from him.” He watched her lovely expression.

Sophie threw her arms around his neck and held him tightly. “Thank you, Bash.”

She kissed him on the lips and then turned to the fire. She threw both handwritten papers into the flames, watching the fire lick at the paper. She remained kneeling before the fire until the papers were ash. Sebastian didn’t tell her, but he had also visited Juliette to permanently break things off with her. She had not been surprised by the break and had wished him joy and happiness in his marriage. He had given her a final, generous compensation and they had parted as friends.

Sebastian moved to sit by the sofa and Sophie joined him.

“You have been kind to me. I never expected so much from you,” Sophie admitted. “In the beginning, I was a little ashamed to have forced you into such a marriage.”

“Sophie. I married you to help keep you safe. But the more time I spent with you and realized the danger you were in, the more I realized I loved you.” He touched her face lightly and spoke the simple words that held so much.

“I love you, Bash. I’m sorry it has taken this to make me say it. But I do love you.” Sophie felt his hand behind her neck as he pulled her to him, his lips touching hers tenderly.

“I will never let you go,” he said with passion.

“And Arabia?” she countered.

“I must and will return to Arabia. But my father is young and healthy. He will rule for many, many years. Still, we should return there, and soon. France is on the brink of a revolution. It will not be good for our class. The tide is turning,” he said, his tone somber.

Sophie nodded. “Yes. I have been telling my father that he should take my grandmother and journey to England for a time.”

“That is wise. I will also recommend the same for Etienne and my sister,” he replied.

“Poor Madame Necker!” she suddenly exclaimed. “She and her family should flee as well. They are so close to the power that everyone is coming to despise.”

Sebastian nodded. “In the meantime, my parents would like to host a ball in our honor before they return home. They have mentioned it several times but I think the timing is right now.”

Sophie seemed delighted. “I would welcome it.”

“And since we are no longer a marriage of convenience, I think we should use this time to celebrate our true marriage.”

“I am in agreement.”

“Are you?”

“Yes.”

“This is a first,” he said, kissing her lightly again.

He pulled her to him and she lay half leaning across his body as the kiss deepened. He moved her onto his lap and she straddled him.

“Sophie. My own love. I will always keep you safe. Never doubt it, or me. Come to me if you fear anything,” he said, his hand tangled in her hair.

“I will. I’m sorry I didn’t come to you at first. I was ashamed. Everything you said was right. He did find me.” She looked down at him and he brushed the hair back from her face.

“But no more. It is over. He can blackmail you no longer. Now it is just you and me.”

Sebastian moved his hands under Sophie’s petticoats and over her silk stockings and garters. His fingers moved past the tight curls and into her slick passage. She sighed in his ear and rested her hands on his shoulders.

He unbuttoned his breeches and pulled himself out and settled her over his thick cock.

“Go slowly. Set the pace,” he instructed her.

She didn’t understand at first but moved her body over his shaft, sliding down upon it.

“My God!” she whispered as he filled her fully and completely. It was a new sensation that she enjoyed greatly.

“That’s it.” His hands were on her hips even as she used her hands on his shoulders to move up and down.

She closed her eyes and he watched her face in the firelight. She looked so innocent and lovely. She moved faster and faster and he only wished that he could see her beautiful body underneath the clothes. She gasped and moaned in the salon and Sebastian held on to her hips tightly as he climaxed. She rested her forehead against his.

“I think I quite like being married,” she said.

Sebastian smiled. “And this is just the beginning.”

***

Alain knew someone had been inside his lodgings. He walked around the small room and looked at the books that had been replaced incorrectly on their shelves and the chair which had been moved ever so slightly.

His suspicions were confirmed when he checked the painting and discovered his treasures gone.
Damn
. He knew he should have kept them in his office. He placed the painting back and remembered his wife, Bridgette. She had always enjoyed the painting, even though it lacked merit and skill.

When he had discovered Bridgette in the arms of her lover, one of many, he had run the man through with his saber and strangled his wife with his bare hands. He had gotten rid of their bodies very easily. The painting had been on the wall at the time of the murders and was a reminder and witness to his crimes. He always smiled when he looked at it and thought of her.

He had no doubt that the dashing and debonair husband was responsible for this. He doubted the intelligent Sophie would risk coming to his lodgings to steal her writings, but Sebastian was such a man who would certainly steal to protect his new bride.

Alain’s passion and desire to become commissioner was stronger than ever. He would not be held back because the blackmail papers were gone. If anything, he would move forward with more vengeance. The papers stolen from Sophie’s father’s office had been helpful and had set the wheels in motion. He would soon be able to bring down a powerful man close to her father and it would help his appointment.

He was suddenly very angry at Sebastian and the little slut, Sophie. She had most likely used her feminine wiles to plead with him and her husband had crept into his lodgings like a criminal and stolen the papers. Even though he himself had stolen the pamphlet writings, the card had been his. He cursed their class and the ease of the world around them.

He never admitted it to Sophie, but he had not ever cared about her revolutionary writings. Indeed, he had only used her to gain access to the more important papers held by her father. Even though he had called her a traitor to king and country, he couldn’t have cared less. For Alain was waiting for the revolution to start, and he actually welcomed it.

Once the revolution began, people like Sebastian and Sophie would be unable to buy their way out of situations, or buy people. Their class would be destroyed and the working class would rise.

He waited with relish for the revolution to begin. Once it did, he would be commissioner and Monsieur and Madame Fairfax would be at his mercy.

***

The wedding of Etienne and Leila was a week away and Sophie was happy to help partake in the final preparations.

Leila and her mother were at the dressmaker’s having final alterations made on the gown and Sophie had been invited as well. The cream-colored satin gown had a square bodice and lace along the elbow-length sleeves. Intricate beading decorated the bodice and skirt and Leila looked exquisite in it.

Sophie was a little jealous, but knew that she had made a bargain with Sebastian and effectively cheated herself out of the wedding she had always dreamed of. Besides, now she was happy and she knew he loved her as she loved him.

Katharine shook her head at the seamstress and Leila smiled at Sophie.

“My mother is so particular,” she murmured, rolling her eyes.

“I want the best for my daughter is all,” Katharine explained.

Katharine had demanded a certain amount of delicate beading on the bodice but the seamstress was trying to skimp. Katharine would not back down and the seamstress relented.

“How is married life, Sophie? Well?” Katharine asked, curious but not wanting to pry too much.

“It is good,
madame
. Sebastian is a kind man. You should be proud of him.”

“I am. He is his father’s son—a respectable man who knows his duty,” Katharine said while carefully watching the seamstress.

Leila sat on a chair on the raised pedestal wearing her wedding gown. “Ow!” she yelped.

“Remain still, Leila,” Katharine admonished her.

Sophie watched the scene and then asked quietly, “What is it like in Arabia?”

“Hot!” exclaimed both women.

Katharine laughed. “It is hard to describe to those who have never been. It is hot, but also magnificent and wild, as well as ordered. We live a privileged life at the palace.”

Sophie looked intently at her mother-in-law, who was still so lovely with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her daughter looked very similar, with blue eyes but dark brown hair. Katharine was a true English rose while her daughter was exotic and striking.

“I suppose I will be a grandmother again soon.” Katharine looked at both of the younger women.

Leila looked away while Sophie blushed lightly.

“I should like you to come to Arabia. There are very few Englishwomen about and I think no Frenchwomen at all,” Katharine mused.

“Was that hard to get used to?” Sophie asked.

“Indeed it was. From the moment I landed in Arabia, I was trying to get home to England. Then it all went wrong,” Katharine said.

“Wrong?” Sophie asked.

“Yes. I fell in love. And Arab men hold on to those they want.”

Sophie smiled shyly. “I suppose they do.”

Leila cried out again and Katharine narrowed her eyes at her.

“You have other children?” Sophie asked Katharine.

“Two daughters. Margaret lives in England with her family and Isabelle is here in France. She is to take the vow soon.”

“The vow?” Sophie frowned.

“Yes. She is in a religious house.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I never saw that coming, but then neither did I think my daughter would marry a Frenchman and my son a beautiful Frenchwoman. France has much to answer for,” she said and smiled.

“You and
monsieur
are very kind to host the upcoming ball for us,” she said.

“Nonsense, my dear. We are welcoming you into our family in front of Parisian society,” Katharine replied.

“I am looking forward to it. We both are,” Sophie said.

Leila yelped again and this time both Katharine and Sophie laughed.

“Silly child. Sit still,” her mother said.

***

Sophie lay naked on her stomach in the large bed. Sebastian drew a finger along the base of her neck, moving slowly down her alabaster back and ending on her buttocks. He placed one hand on a delicious globe and kissed the other as Sophie giggled.

“You are so lovely,” he whispered to her as he moved over her.

She made to turn over but he stopped her. “No. Stay as you are.”

He moved over her and she could feel him as he pressed her legs apart slightly.

“Bash?” she said with uncertainty.

“It’s OK,” he told her.

He moved between her legs and pressed into her tight passage, filling her as he had before but from behind. He went in deeper and she gasped, almost in pain. He filled her fully and pressed into her then pulled back. It was a delicious feeling and she arched into him.

She clutched at the pillow with both hands to steady herself, even as she groaned in pleasure. He moved his hands underneath her, squeezing her breasts and fingering the tight nipples.

“Sophie.” He felt the tension building and when she gasped loudly, he climaxed inside her.

She rolled over to face him. “You are demanding!” she whispered to him.

“Just wait, my lovely wife,” he assured her.

***

Sebastian gifted Sophie with a dress for the upcoming ball and she decided upon a rust-colored silk gown with gold embroidery lining the square bodice and shorter sleeves. The heavy skirt was plain but stylish and even Katharine approved when they went for a fitting.

“That dress and the color certainly do you credit, my dear,” Katharine said, nodding as the seamstress with a mouthful of pins moved around her, pinning as she went.

Sophie was excited to begin her new married life with Sebastian by her side. She was a bride and wife in the true sense, and belonging to her husband gave her great pride.

***

The morning of Leila and Etienne’s wedding came and so as to not outshine the bride, Sophie wore a gown of lilac and little jewelry. She asked Marie to dress her hair plainly and Sebastian came into the room just as she was touching perfume to her wrists and neck.

“You look stunning.” He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her mouth and neck.

“None of that! We’ll be late,” she teased.

Sebastian groaned but followed his wife downstairs to their carriage.

The church was well known to Etienne’s large family, which included several siblings who had all been welcoming and kind to Leila.

Sebastian stood beside his friend while Sophie stood next to Leila at the altar. She considered it an honor as Leila could have chosen one of Etienne’s sisters but instead chose her. Leila was very close to her brother and as her sister-in-law, she gave Sophie the honor of standing beside her.

The vows were spoken and rings exchanged in the morning light of the church. As custom dictated, wheat was thrown at the couple as they emerged from the church, symbolizing fertility.

The entire party returned to Etienne’s family home to drink, eat and be merry. Leila smiled much of the time and Sebastian was happy for his sister.

Etienne came toward his friend and they clasped each other briefly.

“All is well, my friend,” Etienne exclaimed, drinking a glass of wine.

“Indeed. The inspector seems to have tucked his tail between his legs and I hope it is at an end. I plan to enjoy married life and return to Arabia,” Sebastian said.