“You’re insane,” she says, suddenly sounding sober.
“No. Just protective. You’ve been warned, Ingrid. Next time you even think about interfering in my brother’s engagement, remember how painful scorpion stings can be.”
I almost laugh when I see her practically sprinting away. I follow her, because now that I’ve fulfilled my guardian-friend duties, it’s time to have some fun.
When I reach the deck, Ingrid still hasn’t left. She seems to be arguing with Vicenzzo and another girl who I think came with her.
I watch as Kaled’s friend asks the security guards to escort the two off the yacht, probably so they can call a taxi.
Good. Now it’s time to show Europe that Jazmina has arrived.
I grab a glass of water from a passing waiter’s tray, only because I don’t want to stand out. Everyone has a drink in hand, and since I don’t know whether any are alcohol-free, better not to risk it.
I walk toward an area of the yacht where several tables are set up. Some girls are dancing on top of them, and I’m kind of hypnotized watching. They look so free. What must it feel like to do whatever you want without being judged by an entire nation?
I look around. Everyone is distracted, having fun, and I decide it’s time for me to try it too. Now that Kaled is going to be the new sheikh, I’m sure my spot at a university in the UK is guaranteed, and I don’t want to arrive there like some wild creature. I need to blend in.
I take off my twelve-centimeter heels and congratulate myself for choosing jeans instead of the dress I’d originally planned on wearing.
“Need help?”
I turn and see a drop-dead gorgeous guy, smiling like he’s in a toothpaste commercial. He offers his hand, but I hesitate. Touching a man in public without any familial or romantic ties is . . .not exactly culturally acceptable.
“No, thank you,” I say, realizing he intends to lift me into his arms and place me on top of the table. I step back. “Um . . . I can do this on my own.”
He shrugs but doesn’t move away, which makes me self-conscious.
I turn to the side because I want to experience this moment alone, and if I think someone is watching me, I won’t enjoy it properly.
The feeling of being up high, with the wind brushing against me, is so delicious that I close my eyes, savoring freedom for the first time. People around me don’t care that I’m a princess.
The music changes to a beat similar to the ones from my country.
Still with my eyes closed, I move into a few steps ofraq? bládi, what Westerners call belly dance. Adeela is amazing at it, and we’ve trained together since childhood, though we only ever performed publicly at my father’s birthday.
I’m lost in the rhythm, smiling, swaying my body, when someone calls my name. Startled, I open my eyes too fast and almost lose my balance. Only then do I notice several guys gathered around me, watching me dance, but it wasn’t one of them who called me.
It was the redhead. One of Kaled’s closest friends. The grumpiest of them, who didn’t even say hello when my brother introduced me earlier. I was far away, but I saw him ignore me completely. Now he looks ready to drag me off the table by force, judging by that scowl.
What he doesn’t know is that I survived Naim and all his chauvinism. He’s not intimidating me that easily.
“Hello, Rodrick,” I reply, as if we’re old acquaintances.
“Hello, princess. Are you coming down willingly, or is your loyal subject here going to have to throw you over his shoulder in front of everyone?”
Chapter 4
When I see that perfectly round, perky ass rolling in a damn sexy rhythm on top of the table, I know I’ve found my company for the night.
This week has been hell because of problems at my distillery. We have a new brand on the way, made from grain whisky, in an attempt to make the drink more accessible. I want people who aren’t so privileged to have access to it, considering eighty percent of my production is single malt, something only a very select few can afford.
With my mind spinning, as usual where I’m concerned, getting a call from Vicenzzo inviting us to a party on his yacht sounded like paradise. Nowadays, it’s rare to get all of us in the same place.
Especially Ricco, who only leaves San Bertaldo[14] for very special occasions, when he used to be the first to help organize our gatherings.
I was surprised when Kaled said he was bringing his girlfriend, since the concept of “girlfriend,” in the broad sense, is foreign to all of us.
We don’t do long-term relationships, though in my case, I know the clock is ticking. If I want to keep my duchy, I need to find a wife before I turn thirty-seven.