Her Forbidden Sheik (The Del Taran Series Book 4) Read online

  Her Forbidden Sheik

  By Elizabeth Lennox

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  Copyright 2022

  ISBN13: 9781950451593

  All rights reserved

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Any duplication of this material, either electronic or any other format, either currently in use or a future invention, is strictly prohibited, unless you have the direct consent of the author.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Neville’s Fate:

  Excerpt from “Untamed Billionaire”

  Chapter 1

  “I know how to fix this!” Princess Ayla del Taran announced, bursting into her older brother’s office. She flattened her hands on Astir’s desk and repeated, with an excited voice, “I know how to fix this!”

  Sheik Astir Del Taran stared at Princess Ayla, irritated by her intrusion, but not overly surprised. “Fix what?” he demanded. With anyone else, Astir might be surprised by her unannounced presence in his office, but this was his baby sister. She was always energetic, always vibrating with energy and enthusiasm for whatever cause had caught her interest.

  She didn’t notice his eyes shifting away from her, too eager to tell him about her idea. Ayla ignored his irritated tone and continued, almost bouncing on the balls of her feet, unaware of the wiggling of her back end as she tapped her fingers on her brother’s desk.

  Her eyes twinkled as she said, “I’ve heard about the issue down south, where the entire village collapsed on itself. Several people were hurt and one person died, not to mention everyone’s homes and businesses were destroyed. From what I understand, you’re rebuilding, but the recovery effort…” she fluttered her fingers in the air as if his plans were not significant. “Then there was the problem in Silar where someone tried to start another illegal mining operation. And just last year, there was the problem in Citran with all of those trucks and…well, whatever. I know that nothing horrible happened in Citran because…okay, so the reason doesn’t matter.” She lowered her hands so that they were braced wide on her brother’s desk. “We all know that the efiasia deposits are huge and cover four different countries. Apparently, the person in charge of placing minerals under the Earth’s crust didn’t pay attention to our national boundaries, right?” She straightened, clapping her hands. “Now there’s a problem in the border town between here and Minar. The crime rate has skyrocketed in recent months, right?”

  “Yes, but…”

  With her typical energetic style, Ayla continued. “I know that everyone thought that the arrests in Citran have stopped the efforts to mine efiasia, but I don’t agree. In fact, I think that the same issue that was going on in the other towns is now happening in Boutir,” she said, referring to a small but bustling town on the border between Silar and their neighboring country of Minar. “But this time, whoever is trying to mine underneath the town is attempting to get the residents out of their homes. I think that the increased crime rate in that area is just to cover up this mass relocation! The bad press towards mining companies all over the world that occurred after the cave-in at Dilan here in Silar was brutal, and drew a lot of international attention. So now, I think that the mining company corporate executives have hired goons and thugs to infiltrate Boutir, create panic with the residents, then someone from the mining company comes in an offers the families a ridiculously low offer to buy their house and or their business.” Ayla clapped her hands together once more, still bouncing excitedly. “It’s actually a brilliant plan. It lowers their operating costs and gets all of the residents out of the way so that when the mining equipment moves in, there’s no one around to complain.”

  Ayla watched her brother’s expression carefully, wondering if he would dismiss her. Before he’d met Rachel, his lovely wife, Astir had an annoying tendency to dismiss all of her ideas. But lately, he’d been a bit more receptive. She just hoped that this time, he’d truly listen to her because…well, she was right! Ayla had done her research and just knew that something illicit was going on in the southern town.

  Astir didn’t dismiss her. Not immediately, at least. In fact, he leaned back in his office chair, lacing his fingers over his annoyingly flat stomach and looked at her with raised eyebrows. “Why do you think the crime rate in Boutir is connected to another attempt to mine efiasia?” Astir asked.

  Ayla took his body language as a sign that he might actually agree with her. “Because of the geology report you commissioned several months ago. The guy explained that he thinks the deposits of efiasia are that large.” She was warming up to her argument now that her brother hadn’t casually dismissed her. “It costs approximately fifty-seven percent less to produce a computer using efiasia. It’s incredibly cheap, easy to manipulate in the factories that produce the microchips for the computers, but it isn’t very stable. The computers break down after a year or two.”

  Astir nodded his understanding. “That’s all true, however…” Astir started to explain.

  Ayla was on a roll, so before he could tell her that she was wrong, she continued, pulling out a graph that she’d created to demonstrate her thoughts. “Here is the crime rate in Boutir over the past two years.” She laid the graph down in the center of his desk. “See this spike?” she pointed out, relieved that her brother was actually listening to her and looking at the chart. She pulled out another paper from her file. “And this one shows a map of the efiasia deposits, as well as the roads going through Boutir.” She ran a manicured finger along one line. “This is the border between Silar and our neighbors in Minar. If someone were to use this road,” she explained, pointing to a road that wiggled back and forth over the shared border, “it goes all the way to the coast. It would be a simple way to get the efiasia out of the country without digging the damaging and expensive tunnels they found in Citran.” She paused for a breath, then continued. “If the deposits are as large as your geologist thinks, then it would be foolish to dismiss the possibility that the problems in Boutir aren’t related to a renewed mining effort.”

  Astir stared at her for a long moment and Ayla concentrated on her brother, ignoring the tingling sensation that niggled at her conscious. It felt…sort like someone was watching her. But…Ayla focused on her brother. This was too important. She had to convince Astir to go with her plan.

  When he still didn’t dismiss her, Ayla’s hopes soared. She pulled out three more pages, laying them down on top of the map and the crime chart. “Furthermore, I also know that you’ve sent several investigators from various government agencies down to Boutir and they’ve all disappeared. Which means that sending additional personnel to that area is the very definition of insanity.”

  Astir’s eyebrows shot up at that last sentence. “It is?” he asked in an amused tone.

  Ayla nodded firmly, ignoring his tone because this was too important. “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.” She leaned forward again, her gaze intense as she stared
into her brother’s eyes. “I have a better idea.”

  With that announcement, she straightened and waited, holding her breath in the hopes that her brother would be open to new ideas. He was a great leader, she thought. He’d done a wonderful job of improving the lives of the people in Silar. He was well loved and open minded.

  She just hoped he was open enough to new ideas!

  Astir glanced behind Ayla, glaring sternly at the tall man who was currently relaxed in one of the leather chairs off to the side. The man had been pouring two glasses of scotch when Ayla had burst into Astir’s office. As she’d explained her ideas, the man had taken a seat, sipping the damn scotch and…hell! Astir wanted to snap at his friend for staring at Ayla’s butt. However, Ayla wasn’t the only one with a brilliant mind. Astir’s mind was working, making connections and…yes, he had a plan as well.

  With that plan in mind, Astir didn’t bother to warn his baby sister that there was another man in the room. Especially not this particular man. He’d seen the sparks flying the last time these two had been together. Perhaps it was time to see where this might go.

  With that in mind, he relaxed back in his leather chair and focused his attention on his sister.

  “What’s your idea?” he prompted, promising himself that he’d deal with his friend’s lascivious gaze later.

  Ayla smiled eagerly, relief making her tensed shoulders drop. “Well, what if one of your investigators poses as a potential fiancé to me?” She must have recognized the look of horror on Astir’s features and shifted forward, hands out to stop his immediate protest.

  “Hear me out before you completely reject my idea!” Ayla paused, waited for him to focus back on her eyes, then proceeded. “From what I’ve heard, you’ve lost about six or seven agents and investigators over the last few months. They’ve just disappeared as soon as they tried to figure out what is going on in and around Boutir. However, if one of your agents poses as my fiancé, then you could send along a contingent of military personnel, plus my own bodyguards, plus a slew of other agents who could act as my fake fiancé’s bodyguards. It would be an easy way to get enough people into Boutir to figure out what’s really going on without scaring off the people who are behind the problems. We could visit a couple of other cities before heading to Boutir, giving the appearance of a formal courtship with all the fanfare. We could even invite reporters – and within that mix of reporters there could be additional agents who could be taking pictures all over town without anyone asking any questions.” She tapped her finger on the papers still resting on Astir’s desk. “Think of how easy it would be to find out what’s really going on! Boutir is small enough that strangers stick out. And it isn’t a tourist destination, so there isn’t an easy way to get new people inside. This will work!”

  Ayla forced herself to stop speaking, then waited tensely for her older brother to respond. She thought it was an ingenious plan! But would he? Astir was very protective, but in this instance, he had to understand that the people in Boutir needed their help!

  Worried that he might not like her idea, Ayla continued. “At the end of the ‘courtship’, once you’re able to find the person who is committing all of the crimes, then I can call off the courtship and tell the reporters that we simply don’t suit. I could even arrange to meet this suitor at several other restaurants in a few months, have someone photograph us being friendly with each other so that the world doesn’t think we have any hard feelings for each other, then both of us go on our merry way!”

  Again, she stopped and waited, wondering what could be wrong with the plan. It would work. She just knew it would! There were so many advantages, and not a lot of disadvantages that she could think of.

  Nasir el Bodar, Sheik of Minar, had been almost too focused on the lovely derriere that kept wiggling in front of him to follow what the princess was saying. Ayla! Damn, he couldn’t remember a time when he didn’t desire the lovely woman! In contrast to Ayla’s sister, Princess Calista, who was calm and elegant, always poised and in control, Ayla was a bundle of energy. Every time she dined with them, Ayla was always moving. Even if she was still, there was an energy about her that made her seem to be vibrating.

  He wanted her. Nasir wanted all of that passion and eagerness. He wanted to make love to her and feel all of that vibrating energy in his hands. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her until every fiber of her energetic body was focused on him and only him!

  Unfortunately, she’d been in love with some idiot she’d met at university and didn’t ever notice Nasir when he was around. The guy had passed away over six months ago and Ayla had been grieving ever since. This was the first time Ayla hadn’t looked as if she was about to burst into tears since the funeral.

  Even back then, Nasir had wanted to gently pull her into his arms and assure Ayla that everything would be okay. That he’d make it okay. He wanted to hold her and absorb all of her pain. He wanted to give her small presents in the hopes of getting just a small smile from her, a fraction of the brilliance that used to shine from her eyes before the other man’s death.

  Unfortunately, Nasir didn’t have that right. As ruler of Minar, the country bordering her own, he had to respect not just her boundaries, but all of the damn protocols that surrounded him as leader of Minar.

  Not to mention the wrath of Ayla’s older brother! Nasir couldn’t even imagine what his friend, Astir, would do if he ever made a move on Ayla.

  And now the little woman was talking about pretending to be interested in another man? Oh, hell no! Not in this lifetime! Even a pretend courtship was offensive to Nasir!

  Granted, eventually Ayla would fall in love and marry some other man. But Nasir was determined to put off that future event as long as possible.

  “I think it’s a brilliant idea!” Astir finally replied.

  “No!” Nasir blurted out. He shoved out of the leather chair so forcefully, that it almost toppled backwards. The scotch in the crystal glass…well, it was gone now, although Nasir couldn’t remember drinking it.

  Ayla spun around, her beautiful, dark eyes wide with surprise and shock. Obviously, she hadn’t realized that he was in her brother’s office. From past experience, Nasir suspected that Ayla escaped the palace whenever she discovered that he was coming for a visit, either official or just friendly, to Silar. And she’d never accompanied Astir when her older brother came to Minar for a visit. Not even in an official capacity. It had always been Calista who had accompanied Astir, until Rachel, Astir’s wife, arrived in the man’s life.

  Nasir noticed that Astir was now leaning back in his leather chair, a smug smile on his ugly face. Nasir wanted to punch his friend, but there was no way that Astir could know about Nasir’s feelings for his sister.

  Astir chuckled as he said, “What’s not to love about the idea? It really solves all of the problems you and I have been trying to figure out for the past hour. She’s absolutely right. If Ayla travels to Boutir, I could justify sending a large military contingent along with her.”

  Nasir’s hands curled into tight fists and he had to restrain himself from throwing himself at the other man.

  Astir continued, unaware of how close he was to being pummeled. “I could also include several of my best intelligence agents along with her.” He laced his fingers together, laying them casually over his flat stomach. “Hell, you could send some of your investigators along as well and they could work on your side of the border. You were just saying how the spike in crime reports was no longer confined to Boutir now. That you suspect something is happening over the border in Minar.” He tapped the map on his desk. “Ayla is right. This road winds back and forth over both of our countries. It is the perfect extraction route.” He stood up and shifted the papers slightly. “Ayla’s presence in Boutir would also allow you to send a large military force down to the border towns, with the excuse that you don’t want any trouble seeping over the border when she’s in town. It would allow everyone to investigate, and we might not lose an
y more agents. It’s the perfect cover.”

  Everything Astir said sounded right, and yet, the idea of putting Ayla in danger just…no. He couldn’t allow it.

  “In fact,” Astir continued, a slow, evil smile forming on his face, “an even better solution would be for you to pose as her potential fiancé!”

  Nasir had been staring into Ayla’s eyes ever since she’d turned around, unable to look away. But with that announcement, both of them turned to stare at the man, both of them looking at him with stunned horror.

  Nasir stared at his friend, wondering if the man had lost his mind! And yet, Astir just looked back at Nasir, acting like he’d just solved world hunger!

  “No!” Ayla gasped, actually stepping back to reinforce her rejection.

  Astir’s eyebrows lifted and he asked, “What’s wrong with that idea? Nasir is having problems on the border near Boutir. We’re having problems. We’ve spent too much time and too many resources trying to stop whoever is behind this illegal mining operation already. Everyone thought that after Citran, the issue had stopped. But now we all suspect that they are back and even more evil than before.” He shrugged, nodding his head. “Your suggestion is brilliant. Why not join forces so that we can figure out who is behind the issue?”

  Acting as Ayla’s fiancé? Her lover? The idea made Nasir’s body throb with need, but he could too easily see the downsides. “I won’t put Ayla in danger!”

  Astir leaned forward, his hands splayed out over the charts and research laying across his desk, amusement still lurking at the corners of his mouth. “So you admit that it’s a good idea.”

  Nasir’s jaw clenched as he glared right back at his friend. “Not. In. Danger!” he said, pausing between each word. Nasir glanced over at Ayla, not sure what the look in her eyes meant. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t…wouldn’t…put Ayla in harm’s way just for expediency.