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“Shush. The doctor is here and will soon know what is wrong with you.”
“Your Majesty, may I examine her?” the physician requested.
Kamal backed away from the bed, coming to stand at the foot of the bed. When the doctor helped Erin to a sitting position and proceeded to unbutton her shirt, she grasped the sides together and looked at Kam, blushing furiously.
“Make him leave,” she implored the physician. She knew she was being ridiculous, after all, she and Kam had created a baby together. But having him see her like this was not setting well with her sense of modesty.
Before the physician could answer, Kam spoke up, “Erin. You will allow the physician to examine you. I am not leaving so don’t even bother putting up a fight. That is my child you are carrying and I will be part of everything to do with his or her safety, as well as your own.”
Erin looked at him as the extent of his dominating personality began to make itself known. He had been controlling before, but now he would be impossible. Too tired and sick to continue fighting him, she dropped her eyes and her hands.
The physician eyed his ruler once before continuing to unbutton her top and then helped her lay back down. After a thorough examination, the physician packed his instruments back into his bag and gently pulled a sheet over the young woman lying in the bed. She had refused to meet his gaze during the exam, or look at the Sheik. She had answered his questions in a soft voice, in single words whenever possible.
Gesturing for Kamal to follow him out of the room, he gave him his diagnosis, “Your Majesty. She is indeed pregnant, most likely only five or six weeks at this point. I have taken a blood sample and will have it analyzed. Hopefully the nausea she is suffering from will dissipate over the next several weeks. I will have the prescriptions her physician in the states ordered filled and delivered immediately.”
“Is her condition normal?” Kamal asked, having never spent much time around pregnant females.
“Well, she does seem to be suffering more than usual. It could be stress, however, I would like to monitor her closely for the next several weeks to see if her condition improves.”
“Of course. Schedule weekly checkups with my secretary. Miss Malone will be staying in Jawhara.”
The physician looked at his ruler and then asked, “Forgive me, Your Majesty, but this is your child?”
“Yes. And before you ask, Miss Malone will be marrying me as soon as the ceremony can be arranged.”
The physician nodded, smiling in response, “That is good. She is a strong young woman from what I can tell and will make an excellent bride for you.”
Kamal nodded, “If there’s nothing else?”
“No, Your Majesty. I will let you know the results of her blood work as soon as it becomes available.”
Kamal nodded and headed back into his bedroom.
Erin was still lying in the bed, but had rolled to her side, facing away from the doorway. He approached her slowly, noticing that her shoulders were shaking with silent tears. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he placed a hand upon her shoulder only to have her shrug his touch off.
Erin didn’t want to talk to Kam right now. Maybe never. So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours, and she hadn’t had time to process any of it. When he gripped her shoulder again, turning her back to face him, she reluctantly let him. Looking up at him, she was surprised to see the look of concern on his face.
“Habibti, I am so sorry the child is making you ill. The physician assures me that this too shall pass. I am so glad you are here, I have missed you.”
Erin looked into his dark gaze, once again amazed at the physical response her body was having to his nearness. “Kam…,” she began, not sure what to say. He already knew about the baby.
“Erin, everything will be fine. You’ll see. We will be married within the month, and then….”
“What?!” Erin almost screamed, pushing herself up to sit in the bed. “Kam, you can’t just order people to marry! Especially me! We hardly know each other!”
“That will soon be remedied, hence the month wait. We will get to know each other and then you will marry me, have my child, and become the perfect Sheika for my people.” Kam saw no problem with his declaration and was confused as to why she was upset.
Erin shook her head, “I don’t know that I want to marry you. Just because I’m having your baby….”
“…definitely means that you will be marrying me. The future ruler of Jawhara will not be born a bastard. That is non-negotiable. My child will also not be raised in another country. He will be raised by both of his parents, here in Jawhara.”
Erin tried to think of a suitable response, but finding none, turned her back on him, “Go away! I’m tired and the physician did say I should get plenty of rest.”
Kam looked at her back for a moment before rising to his feet, “Fine. I will leave now, but be warned. We will be getting married within the month. You will learn to be obedient and stop arguing
with my every decree. That might have worked somewhat while you were still in America, but here, you will obey me.”
Erin shut her eyes, closing out his voice and his words. He wanted a biddable wife who would do what she was told. That was so not her! She was an intelligent, confident woman who wanted to help people. She might end up having to stay in Jawhara until the baby was born, but she was not going to become a lapdog. She had her own opinions and he would just have to deal with it!
