The Sheikh's Dilemma - completed

Chapter Twelve

"I don't understand," Catherine whispered. "You helped them to escape." His eyes turned towards her taking a step closer. The Palace walls had ears. She clasped his arm, closing her eyes, pressing her forehead against his arm. "You never loved her," she whispered. "You chose me," she sighed, growing weak, legs giving out as her heart soared.

"Catherine!" Sayyad swung around, sweeping her up into his arms and carried her over to a sofa, laying her down. "Catherine," he called to her, where she pressed fingers against his lips, her eyes shining with love for him.

"Not here, my love. I think we need to visit the desert to the oasis."

"For what possible reason?" He asked curiously, yet intrigued.

She eased back into the sofa looking at him sadly. "I have been feeling poorly lately." He shifted to sit on the edge, holding her hand.

"Have you my love?" She nodded eyes wide as he brushed her hair from her face.

"Hmm. I just can't seem to get my strength back. The heated water of the oasis would be very beneficial to me."

He leaned in to kiss her softly. "You want me to grant you another wish when I have granted all your wishes?"

"Then I would owe you one," she promised.

He smiled. "Like what?"

She smiled back. "Whatever you want that is beneficial to you. I would grant whatever wish you wanted."

"A wish for a wish?"

"No," she corrected. "You're seeing to my need to recuperate. I would grant whatever you want for your pleasure. Only your pleasure."

Groaning, he buried his face into her neck to kiss. "I have to think of something very special for you," he groaned again in thought. "Might mean certain clothes, a vision, as I always wanted to see you."

She gasped. "In private," she breathed.

"Of course, yes, I will see to your needs to recuperate. Our queen needs recovering from her overload of work demands and needs to visit our healing waters in the oasis to regain her strength." He straightened. "I will see to it at once."

"Sayyad," he turned back to her. "Tomorrow would be soon enough," she smiled, having him back, seeing to her needs personally as she saw to his. No more doubts lingered in her heart. He truly did love her, only her. They were one and always would be.

The next day they were flown out to the lost city by helicopter, walked through the cave this time properly prepared wearing bathers to float in the waters. Alone in the natural water springs that were warm. Catherine clung to Sayyad's broad shoulders as they tread water, the middle very deep, sharing long and lingering kisses.

No one was going to disturb them, he had made sure of it. The waters were very healing for body and mind. Finding peace. Her arms tightened around him as she lavishes him in kisses. "Don't you think you better tell me from the beginning what's going on."

"It's quite simple Ali was escorting Princess Nadia to our country for the wedding, going across the desert and fell in love with each other. Ali came to me and explained what happened that they loved each other and asked for Nadia's freedom so she could marry him instead."

"Which of course, you granted, my soft-hearted man," she beamed kissing him. "No wonder I love you so much."

"How can I deny true love, my love? I have seen it all my life."

"Your parents," she whispered.

He nodded. "I saw it in their eyes, but it wasn't that simple. There had to be sacrifices, if they did do it."