CHAPTER TWELVE

INO stretched, rolling onto her side with a deeply contented sigh of pleasure. Now that was brilliant sex. Just one night and Sai had spoiled her forever. Opening her eyes she discovered Sai standing, arms crossed, watching her from the front of the bed.

She sat up, combed her long hair back, the covers at her waist. "You're dressed."

"I've been in my office working the past couple hours but I returned to have breakfast in bed."

His expression made her breath catch in her throat. "Are we talking orange juice and scrambled eggs?" But her body was already responding, her bare breasts tingling, the nipples peaking.

His gaze rested on her full breasts. "Sure."

She felt heat rise through her, a blush that pinked her skin from head to toe. "I mean, on aplate."

His deep laugh echoed, the sexy husky sound coiling in her tummy, making her feel hotter, emptier. She could almost feel his hands on her, his hard body slowly filling her, all silky heat and strength until she was dissolving around him. Pleasure.

Endless pleasure, endless sensation.

"If you insist," he mocked, moving to ring for the breakfast tray. It arrived minutes later and Sai took the tray from the male steward, carrying the tray to the bed where Ino waited.

Sai lounged on the bed next to her, his powerful body at ease and cradling her coffee. Ino felt as if the night had been one long, sexual dream. The lovemaking had reached a level of eroticism Ino had never experienced before, and yet it had felt completely natural, too.

"How do you feel?" he asked, popping a miniature almond and apricot pastry into his mouth.

The muscles deep inside her clenched. He was more man than ten men together. Again heat swept through her, burning her. "Fine. Thank you."

He lay on his side, his elbow propping his weight. "Have you changed your mind about the wedding?"

"No. Have you?"

He laughed once. "I knew I shouldn't have gotten intimate with you. Now you'll have forever confused love and sex."

Ino nearly rolled her eyes. "I've never confused love and sex before."

"Yes, but was the sex that good before?"

Blushing all over again, Ino gave him a reproving look. "No one's ever made me beg before."

"I withheld nothing."

Her blush deepened. No, he had not. He gave her everything—and more.

"I want you." His voice suddenly dropped, throbbing with raw naked need. "I want you like you won't believe. What I feel for you—what I want to do with you—" He shook his head, warningly. "This is dangerous, laeela."

She couldn't breathe. She wanted him in her, now, filling her. She fell fierce, demanding, her body all melting need, a need that could only be answered by him. "You might be right about that."

His hungry gaze held hers. "I had an idea."

"Yes?"

"I think we should get married in Konoha."

It was the last thing she'd expected him to say. "Marry...in Konoha?"

"You could have your family with you—"

"I thought we were going to have just a traditional wedding here. You know, televise the ceremony, big national holiday."

"We'll just broadcast the ceremony from there."

Panic raced through her. "It'll be too much of a strain on my family. My grandparents aren't well—"

"Which is why we'd go there. There'd be no travelling for your family. The cathedral is just down the street from the palace."

She leaned forward, planted a desperate kiss on his lips, trying to distract him.

"We can see them later... after our honeymoon. Really, Sai, let's not complicate things. It'd be too much fuss. Royal weddings are such big deals in Europe."

He wasn't to be distracted. "Perhaps we ought to think about your grandparents' needs. I know how it feels to worry about one's family. I know what a comfort it is when you know that your family is looked after, and I know it'd greatly reassure your grandfather to know that while ours is an arranged marriage, it isn't cold, or unbearable."

Did he even know what he was doing? "There would be so many preparations."

"Taken care of."

Her mouth dry, she reached for her juice glass off the tray and sipped slowly, trying to give her mind a chance to clear. "What do you mean...taken care of?"

"As I said to your grandfather earlier—"

"What?"

He wrapped his hand around hers, securing the glass in her fingers. "You better drink. You look pale."

But she couldn't drink. She couldn't think.

He urged the glass to her lips, tilted it against her mouth. "You need some sugar. Drink up. I don't want you fainting on me now, not when we've so much to do before we fly out."

Ino nearly bit through the glass. She forced herself to swallow one mouthful before she pushed the glass away. "I don't understand any of this."

"You're a widow, not a divorcee. You're entitled to a lavish second wedding, and so this morning, after waking I've been on the phone. I called your grandfather first, and then had my office staff begin shifting all wedding arrangements from Atiq to Konoha."

He'd called Grandfather...

Ino blinked. "What did you say to him?"

"That you were here, and you'd agreed to marry me—"

"Who did you tell him I was?"

Sai looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. "Who do you think?"

She reached for her juice, slurped it down, and wiping off her mouth she looked up at him. "You told him I was Hinata."

"Yes."

"And Grandpapa said...?"

"That no, you couldn't be Hinata because Hinata was in The Tea Country. He'd just spoken to her a few minutes earlier."

Ino's eyes searched his. "Sai?"

"Yes, laeela?"

"What are you thinking right now?"

"That I have an impostor princess."

Pretty accurate description. She set her glass down very carefully. Thank goodness he wasn't getting angry. She didn't think she could have handled that on top of all this. "I am a Shinobi princess."

"But not Hinata."

"No." He smiled at her, rather pleasantly actually, considering the circumstances. Her stomach fell funny. She'd drunk the juice too fast, maybe. "I'm..."

"Ino."

She nodded awkwardly. "How'd you guess?"

His black eyebrows lifted. "Are you serious?"

"I just thought..."

"We've spent the night together. It's been pretty intimate, but that's not how I knew." He hesitated and her heart lurched sickeningly. "I've always known," he admitted. "From the moment you arrived."

"What?"

"I've spoken with the real Hinata on the phone before. You're smart, Ino, and you're beautiful, but you're nothing like your older sister."

She lay back on the bed, dragged the covers to her shoulders, and stared at the ceiling. "That's why you called grandfather."

"He knew you were here all along."

"Just like you did." She squeezed her eyes shut. This was just getting worse and worse. "Why didn't you confront me? Why didn't you make me confess the truth?"

His laughter drifted over. "I was... amused. I found your charade entertaining."

He didn't just say that. He couldn't have just meant that. She'd been in emotional turmoil and he'd been having fun? "So what happens now?"

"We go to Konoha and get married."

"You still want to get married?"

He made a rough sound, impatient, disbelieving."Yes."

"What else did he say, my grandfather?"

"That you had it coming." Sai's laughter was soft, goading. "He said to remind you that he'd once said—"

"I'd meet my match." She opened her eyes again, feeling as if she were riding a roller coaster. What was happening? How had everything turned so fast? Her head was spinning. "Maybe we could just stay here and skip the big wedding."

"Skip the wedding?"

"I'll be your mistress."

The covers came flying off her and Sai loomed over her, his expression incredulous. Sai, for all his sensuality, was quite old-fashioned. "You didn't just say that."

She felt a quiver shoot through her. "Our children could still be your heirs."

"Make a princess a mistress?" he drawled derisively. "I don't think so."

She'd always been such a truthful person. All her life she'd pushed at the limits, refused to accept the boundaries, but at least she'd always been honest. "You wanted Hinata."

"But I've made love to Ino."

She shook on the inside, and she realized she hadn't just been lying to him. She'd been lying to herself. She loved him. She'd fallen in love with him.

"Sai." She hadn't realized she'd even spoken his name aloud until he reached for her, lowering the weight of his body, his hips and chest covering the naked length of her. She shuddered at the pleasure of his body on hers and closed her eyes, overwhelmed by everything. She'd fallen for him. So hard.

But how?

Opening her eyes she looked into his dark gaze, the cool depth lit by a small silent smile, she knew how.

He was amazing. Gorgeous and physical, sexual and sensual, he was smart. And patient. Tolerant.

"You don't have to marry me just because we made love," she said, her voice hoarse.

He kissed the side of her neck. "You're still running away."

"No."

"You can't run."

"I can." But her voice wobbled.

Looking down at her, his eyes warmed to hot liquid osbidian. "You can't," he chided gently. "I won't let you go."

But she knew those were just words. He was teasing her, playing with her. Enjoying her.

And God, he did enjoy her, didn't he? She felt it in every nerve and liber of her body. She felt his humor and pleasure, fell his interest, fell his concern. He would always do what was best for her. He might say he'd never let her go, but if she wanted out, wanted to leave, he'd never keep her with him against her will.

"I never planned on getting married." It felt as if the words were wrung from her. "I never planned on staying in Baraka."

His smile faded and he shifted his weight, moving off of her. "I know."

They spent the rest of the day apart, even had their meals alone, but late that evening Sai came to her bed and his kiss was hard, possessive, territorial. Sai stretched her out beneath him and she fell the volatility of their emotions in the intensity of their lovemaking. He wanted her, and he wanted her to know that there was no way in hell he was letting her go.

Two days later they returned to Atiq, but they weren't staying for more than a few hours. Sai was giving her time to pack and then they'd be off heading to Konoha where her family was waiting.

In her room, Ino asked Alea for help. "I need a really good hair stylist." Ino said, telling Alea exactly what she intended to do. Alea looked horrified but Ino felt calm. Sai knew who she was. It was time to become a blonde again. Ino was more than ready to rinse all signs of Hinata away.

Ino wore a robe and head covering on the way to the airport. She wasn't ready to shock all of Sai's household staff. Let Alea pass the word while Ino was in Konoha.

They boarded on schedule, and Sai's royal jet took off from Atiq's airport at two in the afternoon. The flight from Atiq to Konoha would take about three and a half hours but three and a half hours sounded like forever to Ino right now.

They'd only been in the air a few minutes when Sai leaned forward and lugged the head covering off. "Can I see what my fiancee looks like?"

She silently endured Sai's inspection. His intense examination reminded her of her first day in Baraka, when he'd circled her twice, studying her from head to toe.

"Do I pass?"

"Is that your natural color?"

"You don't like it."

"You're very blond."

She turned her head, stared out the window biting her lip. But she couldn't keep her temper in check. "You don't have to marry me."

"You could already be pregnant."

What kind of answer was that? "Well, don't do me any favors!"

He surprised her by laughing. "I won't." His laughter faded and still studying her, he asked. "Does Kiba still work in the palace garage?"

"Yes, why?" Ino blinked in surprise. "And how did you remember his name?"

"I'm very good with names." He gave her a long, level look. "Do you still love him?"

Sai's dark gaze was no longer cool. He seethed with emotion.

"No. I don't love him. I'm marrying you."

"Do you love me?"

She pointedly held his burning gaze. "Do you love me?"

He said nothing. He just looked at her as if he knew her, and understood her. He looked so kindly and intently that she felt hot sparks shoot through her belly, into her veins.

He wanted her. He loved her. Maybe he hadn't said I, Sai Kazuri, love you, but the words, it was there in his body, in his eyes, in his heart.

He might not even use the word love in the Western sense, but the emotion she saw in his eyes was the emotion she wanted to feel when the man she loved looked at her.

She felt a surge of raw emotion so strong it hurt.

Sai unbuckled his seat belt. "Let's get something to drink from the bar. I think we both need to relax."

Three hours later the jet circled once over Konoha before making its final descent. Safely buckled back in her seat. Ino's breath caught in her throat as she gazed at Konoha from the air. In the late afternoon sunlight, the ocean gleamed purple and turquoise, the surface of the water sparkling in sheets of silver white, and Konoha's historic buildings shone a rich creamy beige against cliffs of dark green. Konoha.

Ino suddenly reached for Sai's hand. "I'm nervous."

He grimaced. "You're not alone, princess. I am, too."

The plane's wheels touched the tarmac and settled into a smooth taxi down the length of the private runway. They'd arrived at the Shinobi family's airport, a small terminal reserved for the royal family and visiting dignitaries, and Ino's insides were turning over again. She couldn't pretend it was excitement or happiness. It was dread. And fear. She'd come home to Konoha to marry—a Daimyo, no less.

A chauffeured Mercedes sedan waited at the airport for them. Within minutes they were entering the palace gates and sweeping up the grand driveway, shaded by palm trees planted over a hundred years ago.

The palace was a graceful stone building with a Palladian entrance, a domed center court, and elegant wings flanking either side. Massive marble lions guarded the front door and Ino shot Sai a nervous smile as they climbed the front steps.

"This is home," she said, nodding at the navy uniformed staff members who'd quickly assembled in the hall to greet them.

Sai took a moment to gaze around the grand entrance. The Konoha palace was smaller than many European palaces, and yet the charm lay in its style and scale. Although the central staircase was quite grand, and all the floors and columns were two shades of marble—pink and gold—the palace interior was sunny and warm like the late afternoon sunshine outside.

Footsteps sounded above, and Sakura appeared at the top of the stairs. "Ino!"

She dashed down the stairs and threw her arms around her sister, whispering in her ear. "You've got everybody in an uproar. What have you done?"

"I don't know." Ino answered weakly.

Sakura drew back, studied Ino's face. "You're really getting married?"

Ino didn't know whether lo laugh or cry. She turned, gestured to Sai. "Sakura, the groom's right here."

There were endless introductions for the rest of the evening.

A private predinner reception with Ino's grandparents, King Hiruzen and Queen Hitomi, and then a massive sit down dinner with nearly all of the King's advisors. Ino had no chance to be alone with Sai. Her grandfather kept Sai firmly at his side.

Ino went to sit with Queen Hitomi once dishes were cleared and everyone was free to informally socialize. "Are you angry with me, Grandmama?" she asked nervously.

Her grandmother's stroke last year had made it difficult for her to speak, but she managed a small smile. "No." Queen Hitomi mouthed. "Grandpapa and I know you."

The next morning Ino woke and her first thought was that there'd been no word from Hinata. The wedding was in two days.

Where was she? Why weren't she and Kaori here? They were supposed to be here. Her grandfather said Hinata had planned on leaving with Kaori yesterday to help Ino with last minute wedding details. But Hinata hadn't arrived and Ino went in search of answers.

Grandfather was worse than no help. He was the bearer of bad news. "They're not going to make it," he said, motioning for Ino to move from the doorway and sit in his private office. "I didn't want to upset you yesterday, not when it was King Kazuri's first day here, but apparently the Hamazakis don't think it's wise for Kaori to travel so far for such a short period of time."

Ino felt the old anger return. It was all she could do to keep her voice quiet. "Then let her come for a couple of weeks! Kaori hasn't been home to Konoha in nearly two years". It was all she could do to keep her voice quiet. "Two years. Grandpapa. Don't you want to see her?"

"Of course I do."

"Then call King Phillipe, tell him you and Grandmama insist that Kaori come—"

"The child's not well, Ino."

Tears started to form in Ino's eyes. "If she's not well it's because The Tea Country is bad for her! All I ever hear is how fragile Kaori is, how small and delicate for her age. Maybe she needs someone to get her out of there."

"You're being overly dramatic."

Ino stared at him, not understanding how he could ignore the facts. He hadn't seen his great-grand-daughter in fourteen months. He and Grandmama had gone to The Tea Country to visit Hinata and Kaori a couple months before Kaori's third birthday. Well Kaori was four now. And her grandparents who were just an hour and a half away by plane had had no visit since then.

Was he afraid of the truth? Did it make him feel helpless, powerless, or was he just too tired to face the reality anymore? "The Hamazakis have taken over her life. Hinata has little say in Kaori's upbringing. They've pushed Hinata out—"

"This isn't right. I don't like this." He stood up, leaned on a corner of his desk. "You mustn't speak of Phillipe and Shizuka this way. I've known the Hamazakis my whole life. Queen Shizuka and your grandmother were close, childhood friends."

Ino swallowed the lump lodged in her throat. "That doesn't mean—" She broke off as her grandfather headed to the window, walking slowly, virtually turning his back on her. He'd aged a decade in the past year. She couldn't stand it.

"I'm going to bring her home. Grandpapa. You don't have to like it. You don't have to agree. You just can't stop me."