Chapter Sixty
I direct him to the beach, using words with economy. I don’t ask about his car—a Range Rover—don’t ask him where he’s staying and refuse to look at him. I daren’t turn my head in the close confines of the car, and breathe through my mouth to avoid his masculine scent.
As he parks, I can’t escape quickly enough, almost stumbling from the door.
Kai half jogs to catch up with me as I hurry towards the beach. Lowering myself onto the cold, damp sand, I fix my gaze on the ocean. The surf is like glass, sun sparking electrically from its surface, as surfers idle on their boards, observing time and tide.
Kai lowers himself beside me, mirroring my position and curling his hands around his knees. ‘Why did you leave? Why you didn’t wait to speak to me? Ask me if it’s true?’
I shrug with a detachment I don’t feel. ‘I could’ve asked Sofia, but she had her mouth full.’
‘What?’ he asks, playing confused.
‘It’s impolite to speak with your mouth full, didn’t you know? And at that point, it seemed like only one half of my heartbreak. You were right about your dad, though, if it’s any consolation. Turned out he was the least of my problems, because not only do you have a douchey dad but you’re also getting marriedandyou fuck around. I don’t know where you find the time. Or the strength.’
‘I’m what?’
‘Getting married.’ I place my head on my knees. ‘Fucking Sofia—’
His hand grasps my arm as he turns. ‘Wait just a minute—I know he told you about Riyadh, but what are you talking about, fucking around? You clearly know nothing about these kinds of marriages.’
‘Don’t Riyadh girls put out?’ I ask savagely, now facing him. ‘Hearing about your marriage was bad enough. I didn’t need toseethe blow by blow account.’
‘What the—’
‘Do me a favour, there’s no point lying now. You can’t hurt me anymore than you have.’
‘What are you talking about? I’m not—’
‘Fucking? The beast with two backs? Come on, you with your liking for ancient literature. You should get that. Isawyou. It’s no good pretending, and even if the images weren’t burned onto my retinas, there’s still the tiny matter of your impending nuptials that I knew nothing about.’ My chest rises and falls rapidly as I force my next words out on the breath of a laugh. ‘It’s a bit like the chicken and the egg thing, really, isn’t it.’
‘One at a time,’ he growls, grabbing my arm. ‘Let’s deal with this one issue at a time. Firstly, I’m not getting married. I told you very early on, Faris has control issues. I’ve been going to Riyadh on business for quite some time—’
‘Really? It wasn’t just from Faris’ mouth, though, was it?’ I retort, pulling my arm free. ‘Essam’s been throwing out hints. And that was before he tried to ram his tongue down my throat.’
His hands grasp my shoulders, forcibly turning me to face him again. ‘Tell me succinctly. What. The. Fuck. Did he do?’
‘Your cousin seemed to think I was up for it, and with the wrong man. But, hey, that’s the way with you greedy Khalfan men, seems one woman is never enough.’ I try hard to pull from his grasp.
‘I’m not getting married!’ he yells, his fingers tightening as he shakes me by my arms, releasing me just as quickly. His hands go to his head, raking through the strands before he plants his forehead against his knees, his words a sort of pained plea. ‘Tell me, please. What did he do to you? I need to know.’
‘He didn’t...’ My hand grasps my neck unconsciously. ‘They pulled him off. Niamh wanted to call the police.’
Kai’s head rises slowly, eyes burning bright as he takes in the bruise. ‘I’ll fucking kill him. I had no idea... I don’t know what to say.’
‘You think you hurt me less than he did? In the grand scheme of things—’
‘In the grand scheme of things, you don’t understand. I haven’t deceived you. At least, not like you think.’ I open my mouth, obscenities on the tip of my tongue. ‘Because there is no marriage contract. I extricated myself.’
I shake my head staccato, drawing my knees to my chest. ‘Last minute cold feet? I don’t think I want to hear.’
‘Long before you, I made it clear to him I wasn’t interested. He just affects not to notice, but he’s known all along this wouldn’t work. He was just trying to frighten you off, Kate.’
‘One deception’s as damning as another,’ I mumble, not sure if I believe him, of what to think.
‘What the fuck’s that supposed to mean? Can you stop talking in riddles and tell me what I’m supposed to have done?’
‘Come off it.’ I laugh bitterly. ‘I know what went on, I was there. I came. I saw. I just didn’t stick around to watch you come.’ Suppressed fury rises so quickly, I practically burn. My hands ball in the sand, gripping handfuls so tightly, I wouldn’t be surprised if the grains turn to glass.
