CHAPTER FOURTEEN
STANDING there in her strapless silk corset and her insubstantial thigh high white hose. Ino saw how ridiculous she looked. How ridiculous she must have looked for the past three weeks.
He'd known she was Ino from the moment the yacht docked at his harbor wall. He'd known the only Shinobi coming to Atiq would be Ino. There had never been any other Shinobi princess... just a plan to force Ino to the altar and fill the Shinobi coffers.
The icy cold in her face gave way to a burning heat. She was blushing now, embarrassed. Ashamed. Here she'd been feeling so noble. She'd felt so good about her decisions... her compromises. Hersacrifices. She was giving up her own best interests for the sake of Kaori and Hinata's happiness.
But now she saw it was just a big joke. She'd been set up. How could Hinata do this? Hinata wasn't a trickster. Hinata wasn't cunning and manipulative. How could she sell her own sister out?
"You're angry," Sai said, lying on his bed, the sheet low on his hip, watching her fume and pace.
"Damn straight." Ino stared at him through new eyes. He was a schemer. A player.
A playboy.
Oh God, she'd married just what she'd sworn she'd always avoid.
"She did it to help you," he said, arms folded behind his head now.
Shut up, she wanted to tell him. "Marriage doesn't help me."
"It helps your country." Because Konoha gets money, a serious investor and developer, as well as a strong arm to keep bullying neighbors at bay. "She said you'd all agreed to marriages that would improve your country's situation, and position." he continued remorselessly.
Ino couldn't listen to this. They'd both tricked her. They'd both known she hadn't ever wanted to marry but they'd ignored what she wanted, what she'd believed, and forced their own wishes on her. "Did she come to you, or you go to her?"
He smiled, as if finding her question touching. "Trying to figure out who's the villain?"
"You're both the villain." she retorted grimly, "but yes. I'd like to know who initiated this... sham of a marriage."
His expression grew dark. "It's not a sham. It's a real marriage. Legal. Consummated. Permanent."
"You haven't answered my question."
He shrugged, as if the answer was obvious. "I went to her. After I went to your grandfather."
Her lips parted. "You went to Grandfather? In the very beginning?"
"Of course. He is the King. No one else could give me permission to marry you, and all it would take is his permission."
Ridiculous! "What about my permission? What about my free will?" It stunned her to think that Grandpapa could be in on this, too. It was as if the entire kingdom wanted Ino settled, married, belly fat with baby.
He patted the bed. "You came to Baraka of your own free will."
"Because I thought I could go! I thought a couple weeks as a brunette, a few state dinners, and then voila, off to the Fire Country, see Hinata and Kaori safe, and then I'd be back to Konoha, back to blonde, back to life as I prefer it."
"You're shivering. There's no reason to let yourself get so worked up." He sat up, pushed the covers aside. "Come back to bed, laeela."
She couldn't even look at him. All those comments he'd made about her sister "Ino." those remarks about her beautiful brown hair, the digs against blondes.
He'd been having a grand time, hadn't he? He'd really enjoyed himself, and he'd planned it all. Every little bit of it. "I can't."
"You can." His voice dropped. "You will."
"You can't boss me around. I never let you before, and I'm certainly not about to start now." She was shivering, she realized, seeing how goose bumps covered her arms. She needed to get dressed. "I can't believe what a fool I was. Such a romantic idiot."
"Nothing's changed."
"Nothing?" she sputtered, turning to face him, eyes wide with shock. How could he say nothing had changed? Their whole relationship was... a lie! "I don't even know you, Sai Kazuri. I thought...I thought..."
"You thought what? That I was a fool, that I was just another man you'd lead around like a little spoiled poodle?"
"I've never treated a man like that!"
"You've treated every man like that. You use your beauty against men. You dazzle them, you win them, you dump them. I wanted you, and I was willing to take some risks to woo you. You can't be angry because I beat you at your own game."
Damning words, she thought, lighting tears. But he was right, of course. She was furious with him —and herself— for precisely that reason. She'd thought she could pull the charade off—and she'd expected to escape from her charade relatively unscathed. Instead she was married. Instead she'd be spending the rest of her life in Baraka.
"You were so dishonest." She sputtered the words, riding an endless roller coaster of emotion. She was married,married, and it was all a... trick. He'd set her up and then tricked her... coerced her... into marrying him, knowing perfectly well her fear of commitment. He'd found a way to get her to the altar and more.
"You weren't honest, either," he answered calmly, completely unruffled by her furious outburst, "and I never blamed you. I knew you. Understood you. You're competitive. You like to win."
"This isn't about winning."
"Laeela, it's only about winning."
She couldn't even see straight. "Yes, but two wrongs don't make a right!"
"I'd planned to tell you the truth."
"When?" she demanded, inarching toward the bed. "Because I don't remember you coming clean, either."
"No. I didn't confess. I figured I'd tell you, when you told me. But you didn't. So I didn't." He smiled like a cat with a big bowl of cream. "Ino, darling, you wanted me. You have me. Forever."
He really didn't need to add that last part, she thought bitterly, wanting to grab a pillow and cover his smiling face. "But I didn'twant to be married."
"But if you're going to be married, aren't you glad you married me?"
"So not the point. Your Royal Highness."
"Some points become pointless." His massive shoulders shrugged carelessly. He'd
become the ultimate male, all contented authority. "We are married, and we're going to enjoy our life together. We certainly enjoy each other."
"Not anymore." she flashed, turning away, unable to stomach this a moment longer.
This whole time, all these weeks... the night she'd spent in his arms...
"What was my bride price?" she whispered, her gaze on the sparkling lights of the port. It was quiet now, but if she hadn't married Sai, it could have been jammed with cruise ships and passengers, the very thing the Shinobi family had been desperate to avoid.
He didn't leave the bed. "High."
She swallowed hard. "How high?"
"Twenty-five."
"Twenty-five...?"
"Million."
"Dollars?" she choked, turning around, staring at him incredulously. "Tell me that's not dollars."
"It's not dollars. It's pounds. My bank in London handled the transaction."
Ino slowly sat down on the window sill. The glass felt cool against her nearly bare back. The wire in the silk bustier pressed against her underarms. "That's it?" she jested, feeling absolutely flattened. She'd been an extremely expensive wife. Not to mention extremely reluctant.
"Another twenty-five million when our first child turns fifteen."
She couldn't take this in. She couldn't believe anyone would spend that kind of money... even if one wanted a royal wife. "Why fifteen?" she asked, giving up on even keeping the facts straight.
"At fifteen, our son or daughter could legally assume the throne, without need of a guardian. That's important. Guardians often attempt to seize control. So fifteen is important."
She felt her eyes burn. Carefully she drew a breath, refusing to let even one tear form. "Are you planning on going somewhere in fifteen years?"
"No."
"I see." But she didn't see. She didn't understand anything right now. Standing, Ino glanced around for a robe, something to wrap around her now that she'd grown cold. Instead she picked up her discarded wedding gown. Stepping into the slim skirt, she fought to keep her tears from falling. What a terrible end of a beautiful day.
"Errands?" he asked quietly, his tone losing all playfulness.
She swallowed the tears. She didn't care if he was watching her, looking at her with that combination of worry and understanding. He could pretend he understood her. He could pretend he cared.
She hiccupped, stuck her arms through the thin straps and held the back of her dress together with one hand. "I think I'd prefer sleeping alone tonight."
"There's no reason to do this—"
"There is," she interrupted fiercely. But she ruined her defiance by letting her lower lip quiver. "I'm hurt. And angry. I'm going to go to my old room. I need to be alone."
"Why?"
"I have to think."
Sai slowly rose, wearing nothing but his boxer shorts. "You'll just get angrier."
"Probably."
"But if it's what you want...?"
"It is."
He didn't approach her, didn't kiss her. Instead he headed for the bathroom.
"Good night."
The worst wedding night in history. Ino told herself for the hundredth time, fighting tears all night long. She couldn't sleep and she couldn't rest and yet she was too tired to get up and actually do anything, either.
But morning did arrive and Ino dragged herself into the shower, and then put on a least-likely-to-be-a-princess outfit— rally jeans and a super soft pink cotton Tshirt.
The pink reminded her of her gorgeous floral bouquet from yesterday, and her eyes stung.
This was all her fault.
Well, Hinata and Sai's, too.
Hinata entered Ino's room while Ino was sliding her feel into a pair of leather loafers.
"One of the housemaids said you'd slept here last night," Hinata said, glancing at Ino's bed, the sheets tossed on only one side of the bed. "You slept alone?"
"Glad the housemaids are keeping everyone informed." Ino answered, standing. She was not in the mood to talk. Her heart hurt. She fell... used.
Hinata sat down in the armchair near the window, gracefully crossing her legs.
"I'm sorry, Ino."
Ino looked away, lighting the angry words that came to her lips. She didn't want to fight with Hinata, not when Hinata was still so ecstatic about getting Kaori free from Jiro's family in The Tea Country. It was the first lime Kaori had been away from there in nearly two years. And now that she was home here in the palace. Kaori would be safe.
"You should have told me," Ino's voice came out husky.
"It was a bit underhanded—"
"A bit?"
Hinata blushed. "But I knew you'd like him, Ino. I know your type. I just wanted you two to meet. I thought you'd hit it off, and you did. And I knew you wouldn't marry him unless you wanted to."
Ino exhaled in a rush. "We agreed you'd never play matchmaker with me."
"But stop for a minute and think about the big picture." Hinata said, moving toward the door. "You haven't just saved one country, you've saved two. Konoha needed King Kazuri's money, but King Kazuri needed you."
King Kazuri did not need her. Ino fumed, leaving her bedroom, heading outside. King Kazuri wanted a royal marriage, and heirs— don't forget the heirs—but he didn't need her. In this instance, any fertile princess would surely do.
She set off for the water, cutting through the extensive palace grounds, zig zagging through the rose garden, the perennial garden, the formal maze, the little rock garden with the imported alpine flowers that one royal from Salzburg had planted in hopes of bringing a little bit of Austria to her new home.
But Ino didn't pay attention to any of the glorious flowers or the pale morning sunlight glinting off the water. She was thinking of Sai and his trickery, thinking of Hinata who had trapped her into marriage—two people she respected, two people she trusted.
She couldn't believe it.
Couldn't understand it.
Why not just introduce her and Sai at a party, say, "Ino, this is King Kazuri, Daimyo of Baraka, and I thought you two would hit it off together..."
Ino kicked a pebble, watched it bounce, and on reaching it, kicked it a second time, this kick sending it flying so high and far that it disappeared over the stone wall into the port itself.
"Nice kick," a male voice drawled.
Ino turned around and spotted a man in jeans and a thin cashmere turtleneck sweater leaning against the wall behind them. She sized him up, saw that he was young and fit, and from the way the sweater clung to his biceps, obviously quite muscular.
"I used to play football," she said irritably.
"I bet you were good."
"Very good." She was so mad, so mad at people—and men—that she had no desire to be nice to anyone. "Enjoy the sunshine," she said, eager to move on.
But his voice stopped her. "It must feel pretty wonderful bringing a man back to life."
What was that? Ino turned, looked at the stranger, a scathing retort on her lips when she realized that this man spoke like Sai, same kind of rich, cultured tone, same husky pitched voice except his accent was more English, more uppercrust, less... desertic.
He was dark like Sai, too, but his eyes were golden— amber—and his expression was harder, more cynical. He might be wearing jeans but he was already an old soul.
Jaded.
He drew on his cigarette, held the air in, turned the cigarette to look at the burning tip and then exhaling, dropped the cigarette and crushed it out. "I take it he didn't tell you about the— attempt?"
"Who?"
His eyebrows lifted, satirical. "King Sai Roman Kazuri."
And she suddenly put it all together. "You're a cousin or..."
"The younger brother."
Kalen, she silently said, understanding. "You came for the wedding."
He laughed. "I was the best man."
"I didn't—"
"See me, I know. You only had eyes for my brother." He looked at her for a long moment. "Congratulations on the wedding. I guess that makes us family."
She nodded, crossed her arms over her chest, still angry, still hurt. "What did you mean by the 'attempt'?"
"The assassination attempt." His golden gaze met hers. "Last year."
It seemed there were many important things Sai hadn't told her. Ino put a hand to her stomach, feeling sick. Somebody had tried to hurt Sai.
Her Sai?
"He hushed it up." Kalen continued calmly, as if his news were inconsequential.
"Baraka's secret service agents arrested the shooter and Sai acted as if nothing had happened. But something had. Obviously. He wasn't the same afterward."
Kalen's jaw grew tight, and for the first time Ino saw how Kalen's cavalier altitude hid his deep family ties. "There was a time I almost thought I'd have to return to Atiq. Put on theold jellaba again," he continued lightly, but his golden gaze was hard and angry. "He'll never tell you, but the attempt killed something in him, stole his spirit. And then he realized that he had to provide for his country. It was his duty."
Duty, she silently echoed, hearing Sai's voice in her head and one of their many, endless conversations about duly and choice, responsibility...
She took several steps away, leaned on the low stone wall overlooking the water.
"He wasn't going to tell me."
"Probably not." Kalen answered calmly. "He's a king."
Ino felt the roughness of the wall bite into her knuckles. He was a King. He was also a man. A very great man. Her chest squeezed. Sai should have told her so many damn things. She pushed off the wall, furious all over again. "I better go back."
Kalen's dark head inclined. "He'll be worried about you."
Ino felt a rush of pain, and just like that Kalen had diffused her anger. How had Kalen managed to find the chink in her armor so quickly? She loved Sai. She'd never want Sai to worry—especially not about her. She never wanted to add to his burden, create more stress in his life. She wanted to help him. Protect him.
Love him.
She shook her head, struggling to smile but couldn't. Her heart had never felt so bruised. Less than three weeks ago she'd met Sai for the first time. Now she couldn't imagine her life without him. "Will we see you again before you return to London?"
"I doubt it." His smile gentled."Allah ihennik."
"May God's peace go with you, too, Daimyo Kalen."
Ino started off, back up the stone path leading to the palace gardens.
"Queen Kazuri—" Kalen called out.
She stopped, glanced over her shoulder and saw that Kalen still leaned against the low stone wall.
"I don't know what he told you, but he loves blondes." Kalen's teeth flashed white. "He'd never marry a brunette."
Ino waved farewell, bit back a smile. The Kazuris were impossible. How could she have married into this family? How could she possibly have agreed to marryanyone after only three weeks?
Climbing the palace staircase, she headed for the elegant guest suite which had been given to them as a bridal suite. The door was unlocked and Ino walked in, through the grand entry, the elegant sitting room and into the bedroom where
Sai was still in bed.
Enjoying breakfast in bed.
Ino dropped into a chair opposite the bed. "Bastard."
He looked up from the newspaper he was reading in bed. He was wearing a scholarly pair of glasses and a tray with freshly baked croissants, juice and coffee sat next to him in bed. "Good morning, wife."
"You're right. I don't like losing. I thought..."
"You could win." he concluded, pulling his reading glasses off. "But you did win. You got me. And you know I love you."
"And you know I was terrified of marriage." She balled her hands. "So far, my early impressions of marriage aren't positive, either."
He smiled sympathetically which was the wrong thing to do. "It's not funny, Sai. You don't just manipulate women into marriage."
"Let alone extremely popular, eligible princesses."
"Let alone," she agreed hotly.
"I wanted you."
"But life doesn't work like that."
"It does. If you find your soul mate."
She crossed her legs, shook her head, thinking he was so unbelievably confident. "But you'd be honest with yoursoul mate," she answered, her voice growing husky. "You'd tell her the truth—"
"Just like you told me the truth?" He set his paper aside. "Come on, Ino, this isn't about honesty. It's about power. Control. You're angry because you were outsmarted."
"You didn't outsmart me."
"I did. You're just a sore loser." He pushed the covers away and climbed from the bed. "I detest sore losers."
He was naked. Beautifully naked.
"You're cheating," she whispered, "you can't walk around naked when we're fighting."
He ignored her, pulling her to her feet, closing the distance between them. She sighed as his hands slid around her waist, moving to the small of her back and then lower, to clasp her backside.
"You're still cheating," she gasped, as his hands continued a very slow, thorough caress across her bottom.
"I've never met anyone so obsessed with winning." He kissed the side of her neck, then lifted her long hair and kissed the pale skin at her nape. "But all's fair in love and war. And you have to know,laeela, I'd do anything to keep you from running."
"But why, Sai? And why me?"
His hands stilled on her hips. He stared down at her, his expression unusually fierce. "I've become a realist. I'm driven by practicality. And although I knew you weren't interested in marriage. I admired your independence. You didn't see marriage as a means of getting things. You wanted a relationship where you were an equal—"
"Yes, and yet what did you do? You trapped me into marriage, you live in a country where women aren't equal—"
"And I know if anything happens to me you will stand by our children no matter what," he interrupted. "I can imagine no other woman as the mother of my children. I chose you, not based on beauty or title, but out of respect."
Ino's eyes burned, so hot and scalding she had to look away. "Surely there were better suited women in Baraka."
"I needed a wife who wouldn't be intimidated by power or politics. You're not just a princess that understands duty, you've studied math and science, and you've traveled extensively. And best of all, you embraced my country and our customs."
She hated the lump tilling her throat. She struggled to swallow, lifting her chin as she did so. "There was an assassination attempt last year."
He looked at her strangely. "No one knows."
"Your family knows."
His eyes narrowed. He considered her for a long moment. "Kalen had no right." Damn these arrogant men! It didn't matter if they were a Daimyo or a king, they were all the same. All they ever thought about was their reputation. "He loves you."
She glared at him. "Although why, I don't know."
He reached out to her, clasped her face between his hands. "I've waited years to marry. I didn't think I'd ever find anyone right for me—but you are right for me, and I know in my soul, where my hope and my ancestors live, that you are the only one for me."
She pushed against his chest, feeling the smooth hard muscle beneath her lists.
His skin was warm and fragrant. His nearness was doing crazy things to her senses.
"Do you have any idea how much I love you? Do you have any idea how much your life means to me?" She heard the catch in her voice, fell the heartbreak on the inside.
Knowing his family history, knowing how his grandfather had died must add to his fear.
"I don't want anyone to hurt you," she whispered, knowing the burden he carried, understanding even better the great love and compassion he fell for his people. "I don't want anyone to take you from me."
"I don't want anyone to take me from you, either, but if the unthinkable should happen, laeela, I know you will be a tiger in the palace. You will fight like hell for our children. You will do whatever is necessary to protect them—"
"But nothing is going to happen to you." She wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face against his chest. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. For better or worse, you are my other half and if you're going to give me children then you have an obligation to slick around and help raise them. Understand?"
"Is that an order?"
"It's the first edict from Ino Kazuri, Queen of Baraka."
He laughed softly, and lifting her chin, he studied her as the morning sunshine illuminated her face. "Yes, my beloved Ino." He dipped his head, kissed her deeply, thoroughly. On lifting his head, he gave her a little wicked smile. "And now, Queen Kazuri, your husband, the King, and Daimyo of Baraka requests that your clothes come off. The King wants you naked and kneeling in his bed."
"Naked and kneeling?" She balked indignantly. "Well you can tell your King—" she broke off, and despite blushing wildly, her curiosity got the better of her. "Why does he want me kneeling?"
Sai was trying desperately hard not to laugh. "There are still a couple choice positions for the royal newlyweds to try, including the King's personal favorite. Catch the Tiger."
Ino didn't know whether to be amused or mortified. "I certainly hope it's nothing to do with the tiger's tail."
"Most definitely not. The King wouldn't want to harm your tail. You have a beautiful tail." And kissing her again he reached for the hem of her pink T-shirt and tugged it over her head. "And never forget, you have free will. You can stop me anytime."
Stop him? Ino thought, hearing the zipper on her jeans go, and swoosh as the faded denim came down over her hips. Not a snowball's chance in hell.