The Sheikh's Lost Bride - completed

Chapter Twenty

The following day they flew to London. Hashim also flew in from Dubai, heading out from his own country, where he had been in hiding, from prying eyes, living in the desert as a bedouin.

Ever since the dinner, Tahir had been quiet, barely speaking, knowing how disturbed he was, so waited until he was ready to speak. Curled up in a chair opposite, she read, not that she took much in. Giving up, she shut the book, glancing across. His head hadn't been out of his Mac, since they had taken off. Uncurling her legs, she stood and crossed over, settling in beside him, and nestled against his side, resting her head on his arm.

"Sorry, beloved," he murmured, not glancing up from his Mac.

"I'm fine," she reassured, clasping his arm with her hand, closing her eyes. She would wait, feeling guilty. Slowly he closed the lid of the Mac, and leaned back, releasing a long breath.

"Casey," she opened her eyes, raising them to his questioning ones. "Are you sure about the dress? She never saw it?"

"No. It was made in Paris, had the last fitting at the palace, then locked it away until the day," she frowned. "No, hold on, only my parents saw. I wore it to show them on Skype."

Sadness filled his eyes. Her hand squeezed his arm. "I'm so sorry hon."

"No, I am. You should have had your friends with you. Your closest friends and your parents. You had no one. No one at all." She had never heard such sadness in his voice, breaking her heart.

"I'm the one who is so sorry."

He looked at her confused. "What about? It was done to you, not me. She came between us. It is unforgiving, and she is not my mother," he snarled.

Casey squeezed her eyes tightly. "Please don't be angry with your father. He had no idea. He did what he did to give you a loving home." She opened her eyes, looking at him. "Anyway, we have no idea what part she played in it. It might have been an accident, not meant. Please Tahir," she begged. "We need your calm mind to figure this out, not your emotions. We are together, we are aware, and the security around me, no one can sneeze at me, without you knowing about it. Let it go, my beloved Tahir. Let's just find the answers, whatever they are and deal with them. We need that brain of yours. Leave me out of the equation."

He looked at her horrified. "Leave you out of the equation. Are you shitting me?!"

She burst out laughing, covering her mouth with a hand. "I see, I have been a bad influence on you," she laughed.

His eyes twinkled. "In the best possible way," then sighed. "Sorry I had been so quiet, and leaving you out, but I need..."

"I know," she smiled. "That is why I let you. We know each other here," she pressed her hand on his heart, "and here," and reached up to touch his forehead, trailing fingers across then fell down to his lips that closed around her fingers and sucked gently. His hand slid around her waist and guided her up against him, releasing her fingers and covered her mouth instead, and didn't stop kissing until they had landed. She hadn't even noticed they had been lowering. Not that she was complaining.

Leaving the plane, they went through customs, met up with Hashim and headed to his apartment in Kensington. A very luxurious three bedroom, three bathroom mews home with the combination of classic and contemporary style, spread over two levels near HollandPark.

Anastasia grabbed her as soon as they entered, after showing her around the apartment, leaving the men alone to talk. Anastasia showed off her wedding dress. They made sure the door was locked, so no one could enter. It was divine the most beautiful dress she had ever seen, and so delicate like the wearer. Lightly Casey touched it.