Emerald St. Clair's POV

"Home sweet home," Al-Farsi announced brightly once his private plane safely landed on the tarmac.

I let out a short laugh as I unclasped my seatbelt. "If you are excited to go home so badly. Maybe you just left me in New York so I can share your sentiment."

My dry comment was met by an angry stare from the man in question sitting across my chair. "Are you still smarting that I take you with me against your will?"

I flashed him my most charming smile that kind of smile that made me earn thousands of dollars. "Geez. You kinda smart today, Your Highness."

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, my love." He looked at me with a dire expression as he unclasped his seatbelt.

I raised my glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. "I think that's part of my charm."

He didn't answer instead he held out his hand in my direction. "Come. Stop being bitter it's too late for now to regret your decision to come here." He flashed me one of his infamous grins. "I promise you that you will enjoy your stay here. Consider this as another vacation."

"Oh, I am not so sure about that," I informed him warily, taking a sip of my juice. "I have a feeling that this trip will not end well--at least, on my part."

"Stop being pessimistic, Emerald." He chided lightly still extending his hand in my direction. "You will love it here, I assure you."

I pointedly ignore his offered hand. I don't care if the cabin crew was discreetly looking horrified that I being rude to their king. I put a big fake smile on my lips. "Thank you for the offer but as I said, I am a strong independent woman. I can walk alone, Your Highness."

I stood from my seat. I wore my oversized sunglasses and grabbed my bag next to me as I walked past him. I noticed the way how he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Are you coming or what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in his direction as I waited for him on the airplane's iron steps.

Al-Farsi shook his head with a reluctant smile playing on his lips walking as to where I stand. His eyes gleamed dangerously. I slightly leaned my body backward when he bent down until his lips were inches away from my ear. "Stop being cocky if I were you. I am sorely tempted to throw you again over my shoulder and throw you straight to my bed."

I could feel my cheeks warming up again. It's because of the scorching weather. I reasoned out silently. It has nothing to do with this arrogant man.

"That will not scare me, you know," I stated bravely while my heart pounded so loudly in my chest. I would not be surprised if he can hear it.

A genuine smile fitted his hard mouth. "That's what I like about you, habibti. You never let yourself be cowed by anyone even if you're talking to the sovereign lord of this land."

I scoffed, starting to descend the iron steps. "That didn't change the fact that he's just a man who happens to have a title in his name. King or not, men are just all the same. A plain pain in the ass."

He clicked his tongue as we were about to reach the limo that was parked nearby. "That's no way to talk to your future husband, Em."

I turned around to face him. "Aren't you forgetting that there is a princess patiently waiting for your return so two can wed so you can start making heirs for the Saqrian throne?"

He laughed heartily, tucking some wayward strands of my hair behind my ear. "You sound jealous, ya amar. And let me make this clear, I don't remember saying that I would marry this woman as for the heir..." he pointedly looked at my flat stomach. "...my little warriors are probably making their way to the finish line."

I took a sharp intake of breath. "You promise--"

"I didn't exactly promise you anything except that I will take care of it."

"This is your plan from the start, right?" I accused him with a deathly glare. "You plan to trap me by making me pregnant, you callous bastard."

He took a deep breath, glancing at his driver. "Let's talk about this inside the car for more privacy."

I was about to argue more but led me inside the cool interior of his limousine.

"You heartless bastard." I spat at him angrily. "I should have killed you a long time ago when I had the chance."

I thought he would be mad at my accusation but the bastard royalty merely smiled at my outburst. "Of course, you don't mean that, love. I am the only man who can make your heart go crazy."

"Not just my heart but my brain too," I stated dryly. "You're driving me nuts. Do you know that?"

"Of course." He agreed sanguinely as he sat back on the opulent interior of the limo. The car sped away from the tarmac. "I feel the same with you that's why we're perfect for each other."

I chuckled humorlessly. "I don't think so."

He laced our fingers together. "Stop denying it. The sooner you accept this fate the better for us."

"Listen to me--"

"I genuinely hope that you will enjoy your vacation here, Emerald." He looked me straight in the eye while there was seriousness in his face. "I want you to feel the warmth of my country and my countrymen."

I frowned at him, placing my sunglasses on the top of my head. "Why?"

He raised our intertwined hands and kissed the back of my hand. "Because I want to marry you."

My heart skipped a beat at his announcement but I tried to extinguish the fire that started inside me. "Are you proposing marriage to me? Is that the best you can do?"

A reluctant smile fitted his mouth again while his eyes were filled with solemnity. "Informally, yes. But I want to do the asking in a more formal way than you deserve."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "What makes you think that I will accept your proposal? Pregnant or not I will not marry anyone."

"Then I guess my plan to get you pregnant before marriage will not affect you. I think I need to convince you more to accept my proposal."

"Damn, right."

He smiled slyly in my direction, his eyes held determination in their depth. "Challenge accepted, my love. I know deep inside you love me."

I seriously want to beat my head. I sorely regret getting drunk last night. "Have you heard that never trust a drunk person's words?"

"Nope." He shook his head with a small smile playing on his lips. "All I know is that a person is being honest with oneself when he or she's under the influence."

"Whatever, Al-Farsi."

A strange smile fitted his lips. "Soon you'll share my name too."

"Don't be so smug if I were you," I replied, narrowing my eyes. "I have no intention of getting married like my sisters. I saw firsthand how Daniel manipulated Ruby to stay married to Roman. I saw how her marriage nearly destroyed Sapphire the first time and then there's Ame--"

He stopped the words coming from my mouth with his finger. "Whatever happened to your sister's marriage in the past doesn't mean that ours will be the same with them."

"Yeah," I agreed to him heatedly. "Our will probably be worse than them. It's one thing if your husband is a wealthy man but it's an entirely different matter when your husband is a king of a conservative country where the husband's words are probably the law. I looked at him straight in the eyes. "I don't want to cut off my freedom from me. Besides, the people in Saqr will never accept an American woman like me as your wife, Khalil. So stop this nonsense."

"I promise you that will never happen, Emerald. They will love you." He said earnestly, scooping me in his arms. He placed me in his lap.

I shook my head. My hands were itching to touch his handsome face. "You are being reckless. I'm sure you are hastily making decisions here. I think just think of me as a challenge since I am the only woman who turns you down. Whatever you feel for me isn't affection."

He wrapped his arms around my waist practically trapping me to him. "Don't put words in my mouth, my love. You don't know how intense my feelings are for you."

"I don't believe you." Looking away from his powerful gaze.

"Habibti?"

"Hmm?"

"Look at me." He commanded gently. I forced myself to look at him.

"What?"

"Ana Uhibbuka." He said, deeply looking at my eyes while saying that.

My eyebrows creased together. "What did you say?"

"It means--" His reply was interrupted when the cavalcade entered the palace gates. "I will tell you the meaning of it some other time, my love."

I was about to argue and demand what was the meaning of those words but the limo already pulled at the palace entrance. I hastily tried to get out of his lap before the palace guard opened the door for us.

Servants were already lined up waiting at the entrance to greet their king. When we're in New York I somehow forget that he was no ordinary man.

He was a powerful king.

A king who keeps on messing with my thoughts ever since the moment I met him eight years ago.

The same man who is a danger to my heart. The only man who has the power to make my heart quiver and beat insanely just a mere smile on his handsome face.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty." They all said in unison.

"Prepare the Malika's room for my guest." He announced like every inch of a commanding king. I couldn't help but notice the way the palace servants gasped at his declaration. What's with that room that made these people look so scandalized?

I was walking a few steps behind him because I didn't want to create unwanted gossip with my presence there. It was bad enough that they were already looking at me with a questioning look.

"Why are you walking at a slow pace?" Khalil inquired marching back to my side. He took my hand in his and guided me to walk side by side with him. "Let's go."

"What are you doing?" I hissed at him when I noticed that everyone was looking at us with undisguised interest.

"Holding your hands." He said simply.

I eyed the palace servants discreetly. I tried to remove my hand from him but he only tightened his grip. "I don't think this is a good idea."

He didn't bother to answer me instead he continued to walk inside the palace. This man can be stubborn when he wants to. We just arrived a few seconds ago and here he is creating gossip about us.

"Your Majesty!" I saw the old vizier was almost running in our direction. "Thank goodness, you are already here--" he stopped dead in his place when he saw me beside his king. I could see the displeasure in his eyes seeing me again. Al-Farsi raised an eyebrow at the elderly man waiting for the latter man to greet me properly. He cleared his throat. "Good afternoon, Miss Emerald."

To my reply, I only gave him a short nod.

"Sire, about the--"

"Not now, Omar," Khalil announced curtly, as he walked passing the vizier. "I'm tired. I want to rest."

"But, sire..."

This hard-headed man didn't listen to his vizier as he continued to walk to the second floor of the palace.

"Where are you taking me?"

"To your room." He answered with a determined stride. He didn't even bother to look at me while he was somewhat almost dragging me to the silent corridor.

I bit my bottom lip. I don't think I like where this is going. This was far from the vacation I had anticipated. "Can't you just instruct someone to show me my room? Do you have to do it yourself?"

"Habibti," he said, abruptly stopping from walking. He smiled down at me. "I might be the king of this country but there are still things that I need to do myself. Besides, I need you to enjoy your vacation here because the next time you are back in Saqr it will be our wedding day."

"Al-Farsi..."

He shook his head. "I am not pressuring you to accept it right now." He paused for a moment, looking at me ruefully. "But I hope during your stay here I can convince you that life with me will not make a prisoner in this palace."

We resume walking in the corridor and finally arrive at my new room. This was far different from the room I had when I first arrived here because for one thing it's located at the wing where the royal family resides. He opened the door and I couldn't help but gasp when I saw the interior.

"Is this my room?"

"Yes."

I looked around at the rich interior of this bedroom. Is that a real gold detailing I see on the walls and ceilings? "Who usually used this room?"

"The queen."

I blinked. "The what?"

"Queen." He said simply as if that wasn't very important information. "The king's wife."

"You got to be kidding me, right?" I asked in disbelief. "How on earth did you come up with the idea of putting me here? In the queen's bedroom? Are you crazy? What will the palace staff think about this news?"

He exhaled a heavy breath. "They need to get used to the idea since this will be your bedroom real soon..." He suddenly smiled at me with a hint of wickedness. "...though you will not sleep here once we're married."

"Where on earth will I sleep then?" I crossed my arms in the middle of my chest, giving him a challenging look.

He gestured to the adjacent door with his thumb. "There is my bedroom."

My mouth gaped open at him. "This is crazy."

He crossed the distance between us in a few strides. He was about to reach for my face when his mobile sounded. He sighed deeply. "Why can't they leave me alone even for a moment?" He asked angrily as he looked at the caller ID. "It's my private secretary." He lifted my chin and placed a light kiss on my lips before kissing my forehead. "I need to go. Let's have dinner together tonight. I will wait for you in the blue room. Rest, habibti." He suggested with an evil grin. "Because I will have sleepless nights in the days ahead."

Before I had the chance to retort he went out of the bedroom leaving me alone to ponder my thoughts.

Ruby St. Clair's POV

"Emerald is where?" I grinned at the disbelief expression on Sapphire's face as I broke the news about my twin sister's whereabouts.

I lay flat on my stomach on the big bed I shared with my husband while I was having a three-way video conference with my two older sisters. Amethyst is now living in Italy with her husband and their cheeky five-year-old son, Max. And there's Sapphire who is in Greece with Loukas.

"In Saqr," I repeated calmly, thoroughly enjoying their animated reaction.

"Is this work-related?" Our oldest sister, Amethyst asked.

I shook my head while a small smile played on my lips. "Nope. Not at all."

I saw Sapphire take a deep breath. I could almost see how her brain works. "So she and Khalil are an item then? I thought they were just pretending to outwit Granddad."

"I think they are just pretending at the beginning but now it..." I trailed off my words, letting them figure it out on their own.

"Do you think Daniel is aware of this?" Amethyst queried curiously.

I snorted, rolling my eyes in the process. "No one can outwit that cunning man. He is always a few steps ahead of us. He is pulling the strings from the shadows."

My older sisters were silent for a moment. Who can blame them? We were all victims of Daniel St. Clair's sly manipulation now he was working his ass off to see his last unmarried granddaughter suffer the same fate as us.

"What about this Daniel's guy? What is his name again? Ryker?" Sapphire fired away. "What's the deal about him? Does Granddad want him to be Emerald's future husband?"

"Nah. I don't think so." Amethyst waved her hand dismissively on the screen.

I was distracted when Roman went out of the bathroom fresh from his shower. He was wearing nothing but a white towel wrapped low around his waist.

"...Ruby?"

"Uh...yes..." I shook my head, glaring at the man in question while he merely raised an eyebrow in my direction. He just got back from his four-day trip to Spain. "...as Amethyst had been saying Granddad is using an unorthodox move with our dear sister."

"You mean he is using Ryker to push Emerald and Khalil together?" Sapphire stated while shaking her head. "Granddad is getting ruthless when it comes to Emerald. Poor Em."

"She doesn't stand a chance with Granddad when it comes to cunning nature," I informed them grimly. "But I love to see Emerald put up a good fight with the master manipulator."

"Whose side are you, Ru?" Amethyst surprised me with her question.

I grinned at my iPad screen. "No one. I play double agent for fun. I'd like to see how they outwit each other."

"Still," Sapphire had been saying with a smile on her face. "A sovereign king for a grandson-in-law? Only Granddad."

I scoffed at them. "That's Daniel for you. Besides, what's so surprising about that when he already acquired a prince for a grandson-in-law."

"But that's different. Franco's title is on name only he doesn't need to run a country like Khalil." Amethyst sighed deeply. "I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the thought of Emerald as a queen. I mean, she's the drama queen of the family but became a royal...?"

"Oh, shit..." I mumbled under my breath when I saw the towel wrapped on my husband's waist fall on the floor. He unhurriedly picked it up making sure I got a full view of his nakedness. Damn this man!

"Are you okay?" My sisters said in unison. The concern was palpable in their faces.

"Yes." I managed to reply. "Cramps. I am having cramps." I lied smoothly.

I glared at him darkly. Why the hell he is not getting dressed yet? Then it occurred to me, that he doesn't have any plan of getting dressed anytime soon because he intends us to have a sleepless night. I silently groaned. I am pretty sure that I will be late for work tomorrow from the look I see on his face.

He leaned on the dresser, folding his arms in the middle of his chest. Why does he need to be so damn gorgeous without even trying? I saw him draw his index finger horizontally on his neck silently telling me to cut the video conference short.

I scowled at him while he frowned in my direction. This man is getting horny.

Tell them you're already sleepy. He mouthed at me.

I glared at him but after a moment of talking to my sisters, I informed them that I was already sleepy. Once the video conference ended I locked my iPad and placed it on the nightstand.

Before I had the chance to say something Roman was already on top of me. "You made me wait for so long now you shall pay the consequence." He muttered darkly, looking into my eyes. "I miss you, Red."

He already captured my lips with his before I had the chance to formulate my reply.