Reluctantly, Zavian withdrew his gaze from Gabrielle, who was making her way over to him with Ruby and Hani. “Yes, but not for long. The Tawazun princess is beautiful, and you’ve always appreciated a beautiful woman, Roshan. Maybe the appreciation will develop into love.”
Roshan shrugged and glanced around the room as if searching for someone. Zavian frowned. There was something restless about Roshan tonight, which was different. He was usually the life and soul of the party. But, tonight, he appeared almost subdued. Zavian opened his mouth to ask Roshan what was going on when his thoughts were derailed by Gabrielle’s touch on his arm. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He didn’t care who witnessed it; he adored his new wife.
It was Gabrielle who pulled away first and exchanged a knowing look with Ruby.
“Come on, Amir, we must be leaving,” said Ruby, looking like she’d just stepped out of a fashion shoot—stunning as ever. “It’s way past Hani’s bedtime.”
Amir, Ruby and Hani said their goodbyes, and Zavian and Gabrielle watched them leave.
“Hani is a different boy now he’s well,” said Zavian.
“And now he’s with his mom. Ruby is an amazing mother. She’s expecting, you know.”
“That’s good. A brother or sister for Hani. Amir has always wanted a big family.”
Gabrielle stepped in front of him and locked her fingers around the back of his neck, looking up at him with a secretive smile. “And do you?”
He’d almost forgotten what they were talking about.
“Do I what?”
“Want a big family?”
“Huge. I want many, many children, Gabrielle,” he murmured as he kissed her. “In fact, I think we should leave now and continue to work on this particular objective. There’s no time to waste.”
She laughed, a delicious giggle which wrapped around the heart he’d spent so many years ignoring.
“As it happens, my love,” she said, “it appears the first time was enough.”
“Enough?” he whispered. He didn’t dare to believe her meaning. “Gabrielle?”
She nodded, and her eyes swam with tears. But they weren’t sad ones, her wide smile told him that much. She took his hand and placed it on her stomach, and for the first time, he realized the meaning of the slight thickening around her waist. Not, it appeared, the result of her increased appetite.
“I’m pregnant, Zavian. It must have been the night of thekhamseen, in the cave.”
If he’d ever been in any doubt as to the state of his heart, it was blown away by how he now felt. He’d thought he couldn’t love her any more; he’d thought wrong.
“I love you, Gabrielle.” He caressed her stomach, where his hand still lay.
She laughed. “I think I know, now, Zavian. You tell me often enough.”
He kissed her forehead. “And I’m going to continue telling you”—he kissed her nose—“throughout every day of our long lives together.” He lingered on the kiss on her lips. “Time for bed, my queen.”
Hand in hand, they walked through the emptying reception room and out into the garden. As Zavian glanced across the garden, he halted. For a moment, he thought he’d seen Roshan, his tall figure briefly visible in a patch of moonlight. He wasn’t alone. A woman’s profile was also caught in the moonlight, but it wasn’t anyone he recognized. He shrugged. Roshan was no doubt up to no good, as usual.
He just hoped that, whatever he was doing, and whoever he was doing it with, it wouldn’t jeopardize the future of the three sheikhs of Havilah.
THE END