Wild Desert Princess (6 page)

“It is not permissible,” Jahan grimly insisted.

“I really don’t care what you consider permissible,” Dr. Kahn told Jahan coldly. “If you care more about your control over her and her actions then you do for the welfare of her and your unborn child, then I’m not sure if you should be allowed to marry her.”

“She will be mine!” he growled and stepped toward the room.

Malek stepped in front of him, blocking his way. “Wait,” he silently commanded.

Jahan halted, surprised at the command.

“Listen to what the doctor has to say, Jahan.” Malek admonished softly wishing he’d been a little slower to tie Chia to him.

“I’m putting her in the hospital in a private room.  I will monitor her visitors, and neither of you can visit her for a while.”

“What about the wedding?” Jahan was so focused on claiming her, you didn’t see the disappointed look shared by Dr. Khan and Malek. 

“If you insist, you can wed her by proxy.  Aren’t you even concerned about her health?  Aren’t you even concerned that she could lose your child?” Dr. Khan glared at the younger man.

“Lose the baby?” Shock froze Jahan as he stared at the doctor in disbelief. “I didn’t realize she was so ill.”

“You’re so focused on what you want, on your plans, you’ve not consulted Chiandra at all.  Listen well, my prince.” Dr. Kahn spat with derision. “Chiandra must have rest to recover, if she’s upset in any way she may lose the baby.  Her blood pressure is through the roof.”

“God, I didn’t realize,” he choked.

Malek
clasped him on the back, looking at Jahan and seeing his own actions against Amanda.  He’d done everything wrong the past couple of months.  Now his daughter couldn’t stand the sight of him and his wife was so angry she ignored his presence. “Do what you must, Dr. Khan.  Take care of my baby.”

Dr. Khan nodded
and showed the ambulance attendants to Chia’s room.  Soon they had her strapped to the gurney and were carrying her down the steps and IV in her arm.  Amanda followed, her worried gaze flicking over Malek before sliding away.  She rode in the ambulance not leaving Chia’s side.

“Can we at
least come to the hospital?” Jahan asked quietly, his face haggard with pain.  Chia had looked so fragile as they carried her away.  He hadn’t realized there was a chance he might lose her or his child.

“If you wish.  Just don’t expect to be able to see her right away.” Seeing the devastation on Jahan’s face, Dr. Kahn relented a bit. “She’ll need some things.  Mara will know what to pack.  Take care of your business and a little later bring her bag.  By then I should have her stabilized and can be able to tell
you more about her condition.”

“Take care of her, Doc.” Jahan pleaded, following the doctor slowly down the winding staircase.

Malek pulled him into his steady and poured him a shot of bourbon. “Drink.”

Jahan numbly tossed the fiery liquid down his throat. “I didn’t realize her condition was so serious.”

“Nor did I, Jahan.  We’re so used to her amazing strength, it never occurred to either of us how fragile she could become.”

“I would never harm her.  She means more to me than my own life.”

“Then you must stop ordering her about.  She’s no longer the child who worshiped the ground you walked on,” Malek offered wryly.

“Please, she never felt that way,” Jahan protested in disbelief.

“Mm hmm.  Until the summer of her twelfth birthday she thought you walked on water.  Her mother and I grew thoroughly sick of hearing Jahan this and Jahan that.  For some reason she never mentioned your name after that summer.”

Jahan shifted restlessly in the chair.  He didn’t plan on enlightening
Malek for the reason his daughter had changed. “Her hormones probably,” he offered not meeting Malek’s shrewd gaze.

“Perhaps
. If you wish you may take care of your business while I have Mara pack something for Chia.  Do you think you can be ready in an hour?”

“That will be sufficient.  I have nothing that can’t wait until the end of next week when we begin our negotiations.”

“Then I will leave you to your thoughts.”

Jahan sat for a few moments, his regret for wasted time deep.  He
had thought Chia was experimenting with her new sexual awareness.  He hadn’t dreamed she’d actually cared for him other than as a friend.  Not that he would have acted on his desire for her.  God, she’d only been twelve but he might have kept her affection and in time convinced her to love him. And then by the time she was old enough they could have been married.

Sighing, he pulled out his cell phone and call
ed David.  In minutes he was immersed in plans, his mind rushed to complete the last minute details of the upcoming negotiations.  David had protested his decision to wed by proxy.  Jahan was an important ruler, his wedding should have been a gala, political event.

Jahan ruthlessly cut him off.  “My fiancé is in the hospital at this very moment, David.  She can have no stress to hinder her recovery.”

“What will you do when the child is born a month early,” David dared to ask.

“I will do nothing, but thank the heavens for my good fortune on having a healthy child and a beautiful wife,” he growled.

“Is there a chance she might lose the child?”

“If she isn’t left alone to heal, yes she could lose the baby.”

“Hence the marriage by proxy.  I’m assuming your presence upsets her.”

“Yes,” Jahan bleakly answered.

“Jahan, stop.  Once you are wed, you can make it up to her.  Show her how you truly feel about her,” David softly suggested.

Jahan’s brows rose.
“And how is it you know how I feel?”

“Please, everyone has known how you felt about a certain
auburn-haired hellion for years.”

“Be careful, David.  That’s my future wife you’re talking about.”

“Okay, okay.  I’ll make the arrangements for you to be wed tomorrow morning.  I’ll stand in for you and Ms. Phillips can stand in for Chiandra.”

“Thank you, David.” Sighing, Jahan stood and moved towards the foyer, where
Malek was waiting somewhat impatiently.

Jahan glanced down at his watch, noticing an hour had gone by. “I’m not late, am I?”

“No, no.  I’m just anxious to get down there and see how she’s feeling.” Worry clouded his face and he looked every year of his age. 

Malek
drove quickly, but efficiently through the busy streets to the hospital.  A new facility, one of Jahan’s many improvements for his country, it was state of the art.

They found a parking space in the garage and hurried inside.  The woman recognized both
Malek and Jahan and gave them the room number with a smile, room 314.  In moments they stepped off the elevator and found Amanda sitting in the luxurious waiting area, the whole third floor was nothing but private rooms.  Amanda took a step towards Malek, relief lifting her face before she closed herself off from him.  She needed his support desperately, but after the night in his arms when he forced her response, she had to decide if that was the way she wanted to live for the rest of her life.

Jahan watched the by-play between them and realized he had caused a rift between two of his dearest friends. “Please Amanda, how is Chia?  What has the doctor said?” Jahan raked his hand through his long hair, his feeling of helplessness not one he was familiar with.

“I haven’t seen Dr. Kahn since they admitted Chia.  She started cramping in the ambulance and there was some blood.  He was afraid she might miscarry and gave her a shot to help calm her down.” Tears slid down Amanda’s pale face as Malek pulled her close, his arms holding her tightly to his heart.  As she tried to pull away, he whispered, “Not now love, fight with me later, after we get through this.

Nodding, she allowed her tense body to relax against him, pulling from his great strength.

Jahan stumbled to a chair and collapsed. “My god what have I done?  I never dreamed she could lose the baby.”

Amanda watched the pain and remorse settle on Jahan’s face and prayed it would be enough to change the way he treated Chia. “I’m afraid she inherited the problems I had with her.  I had a very difficult pregnancy and almost lost her once.  I could not have another child.  Now you see why she’s so incredibly dear to us.”

“Yes, I wish I’d known.  I shouldn’t have chased her.  That lump on the head and nearly drowning, surely hasn’t made her condition any better.” Jahan refused to think about the possibility that he might lose both Chiandra and his child.  He couldn’t bear the thought.

He spun around when he heard Dr. Kahn’s voice at the nurses’ station, spying Jahan and Chia’s parents, he strode towards them, his dark face grim. “She’s fine for the moment.  The cramping has stopped.  Thankfully, there was only a bit of spotting.  She’s resting quietly now, her blood pressure has leveled out.”

The tension suddenly drained from Jahan and tears sparkled in his obsidian eyes. “Thank God.”

“We still have to watch her carefully and I’d suggest you postpone the wedding for the
time being.” The doctor suggested.

“Absolutely, we can wait until she has recovered and then make our plans,” Jahan agreed, deciding her health was more important.

“She should be out of danger in a couple of months.  The first trimester is the hardest, Jahan.  She wants to see you.” Dr. Khan had tried to talk Chia out of it, but he’d been too afraid of agitating her further to push it.

Hope glittered on Jahan’s face as he rose to his feet. “May I go in now?”

“Yes.  But Jahan whatever you do, don’t upset her.”  Dr. Kahn cautioned.

Jahan nodded and walked slowly to Chia’s door.  He took a deep breath and stepped inside, his face paling as he saw her lying so still and fragile on the bed with tubes in her arms.

Chia sensed when Jahan entered the room, she smiled weakly and motioned for him to come closer. “Jahan,” she whispered.

“Chia,” he moved towards her, his heart nearly shattering at the vulne
rable droop to her shoulders. “Oh, baby,” he moaned.

“I’m sorry, Jahan.  I never meant to put our child in danger.  I didn’t know I’d be a high risk for pregnancy.”

“It’s not your fault, honey.  I have pushed you too far.  Please don’t fret yourself.” He tenderly cupped her cheek and pressed a soft kiss on her trembling lips.

Chia felt tears fill her eyes at his gentleness.  “I want to tell you now, Jahan.  I love you.  I have loved you since I was a little girl.”

“Baby, I have loved you since I saw you as a baby.  I knew even then you were the other half of my heart.  I have made such a mess of this.” He groaned.

“I want to be your wife, Jahan and bear your children.  Can
we make a fresh start?” She hopefully watched his face, praying they could make a go of it.

“I want that more than anything, baby.  Dr. Khan the suggested we wait to wed, he doesn’t want you to get excited.”

“No, tomorrow bring in the priest, and just enough witnesses, plus my parents.  We must be married as soon as possible for our child’s sake,” she insisted with a small return of spirit.

“Whatever you want, Chia.  I must go make arrangements.  Do you wish to see your parents?”

“Please send them in.” As he turned to the door she called in back. “Will you come back later and stay with me awhile?” she asked shyly.

“Honey, I’ll be back just as soon as I set everything up and you’ll have a hard time getting rid of me.” He flashed her one of his sexy
, cocky grins as he hurried out.

He met Amanda and
Malek with a smile. “She wants to see you both.”

Malek
sighed with relief, “Where are you off to?”

“She wants to get married tomorrow.  There are a few things I need to put together.” Jahan could no longer hide the joy he felt. “She loves me.”

“Of course she loves you.  Shes always loved you.” Amanda told him, confused that he hadn’t known what had been so blatantly obvious to everyone else.

Malek
led her to Chia’s room, sending Jahan on his way with a smile.  Amanda ran to Chia’s side, Malek on her heels.  They stood by the side of the bed gazing down and Chia’s smiling face.

“He loves me,” she sighed happily.

“Oh, honey.  He has always loved you.  Your mother and I have known since you were just a baby.”

“I didn’t know,
Daddy.  I thought it was all about possession.”

“Part of it is, the largest part is love though, Chia.” Amanda tenderly brushed Chia’s hair away from her face.

“I hear you’re getting married tomorrow.” Malek hoped it would not put too much stress on her.

“Yes, a small, quiet ceremony.  Jahan is taking care of it now.  Before I fall asleep I want you both to promise me you will try to work at the constraint between you.  I know it is because of Jahan me and I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about us honey.  Your father and I will be just fine.  Right now you need to concentrate on getting well.” Amanda refused to look at Malek.  She wasn’t ready to deal with their problems just yet.  They needed to get through the next few days and help Chia get stronger first.  Once she was out of danger then they could try to salvage their relationship.  She prayed there was something to save besides the physical attraction.