“I know you have important issues to take care of, so this conversation only has to take a few minutes. You were right to call this meeting because I’ll only be in Barrakesch for a few more days, and the new ambassador arrives on Monday. What are your thoughts on how we should proceed with…” Imani glanced back at the open doors and lowered her voice. “Our relationship.”
No emotion showed on his face. “I’ve thought about that a lot since my father died.”
“And…how do you want to end this?” The words were more difficult to speak than she’d expected.
“Let’s talk over here.”
They walked along the expanse of the wall to the end where floor to ceiling windows overlooked the courtyard. Imani sat down, but Wasim remained standing.
“I have a proposition for you,” he said.
“Okay,” she said slowly.
He slipped one hand into his trouser pocket and walked slowly in front of the window. His profile was a study in deep concentration before he faced her again. “You saw how excited our families were when they learned we were ready for marriage. Everyone thinks we’re compatible and a perfect match. And I agree. I think we should get married. To each other.”
Imani let out a startled laughed. “What?”
His expression didn’t change, which made her laughter seem completely out of place. She immediately sobered.
“Have you never thought about it? You and me? You can’t deny there is something between us. We can build on that.”
Imani’s heart raced, and she licked suddenly dry lips. Had he really just offered her marriage? She didn’t want to reveal how deeply attracted she was to him and the way he made her skin tingle without touching her.
That night in Estoria had upended her world in an unexpected way. She’d always had a bit of a crush on Wasim, but they’d only ever been friends. Good friends. She appreciated all his help when she had become the ambassador to their country. But what he was suggesting was outside the parameters of their friendship.
“Marriage is a serious undertaking. It shouldn’t be entered into lightly, so sexual chemistry is not enough. We don’t even know if we would enjoy each other.”
“There’s no doubt in my mind that we would enjoy each other,” he said, eyes turning intense.
Imani felt that look as surely as if he’d touched her—wrapping his hand around her neck again and plowing her skin with kisses. The temperature in the room went up several notches, and she resettled on the sofa.
“I’m not Muslim, which would be a problem for the conservative members of your government. And I want to marry for love. You know that.”
“And I have to get married.”
He didn’t have to tell her what was coming next. She already knew how royal families worked and the importance of having an heir to continue the family’s lineage. She bent her head as unexpected pain twisted inside her at the thought of Wasim finding a wife and starting a family in the not-too-distant future.
She stood. “I came here today expecting you to tell me you’ve thought of a way for us to dissolve this fake engagement. You have what you wanted, your birthright. Your father chose you as his successor. There’s no reason for us to be tied even more deeply together.”
“I think a marriage could work between us.”
“No.”
A muscle in his hard jaw tightened. “You’re not even going to consider it?”
“There’s nothing to consider.”
“Well then, we have a problem, because I promised my father you and I would get married right away.”
He said the sentence so flippantly she gawked at him. “What!”
“You heard me.”
“Pick someone else.”
Wasim took a deep breath and ran a hand down his face. “I promised my father on his deathbed that I would marryyou.”
“And that’s the only reason, because of a promise?” She swallowed the tightness in her throat but didn’t wait for him to answer because she didn’t want to hear him sayyes. “I can’t do it. We’re not in love.”
