Heaven in the Desert

A/N: You all rock! Thank you for the amazing feedback. I have read all the emails and just set up a new email account so I can get your messages faster and respond. Keep it coming. I have considered all of your suggestions, exclamations and frustration. Remember if you send something anonymous there is no way I can reply via email. Thank you for continuing to read heaven and for all my loyal readers and followers, xoxox. Enjoy!

*******

As Ariana walked toward the outside of the palace flanked by Kadshah, Ghita, and her shadows, she was in high spirits.

After meeting Aaryan yesterday she had gotten the best nights rest of her life. Something about him just made her feel at peace.

Nothing like meeting a handsome man to lift a girl's spirits, Ariana thought as she began to daydream.

She was startled when she abruptly ran into something solid. She put her arms out to prevent her fall but it never came.

Warm hands braced her upper arms and set her a few feet apart.

"I'm sorry Mr. Razam," Ariana said looking up into Aaryan's smiling eyes. "I didn't see you there."

"No worry at all." Aaryan said still holding her close. "Where are you off to this morning?"

"Your mother has informed me that I will be staying indefinitely until the master returns. So she has ordered me to get more clothes. Would you like to join?" Ariana asked hopefully.

"I don't know, women's clothing isn't really my expertise." Aaryan said.

"Nonsense. I'm sure with all of the women you've dated you have a lot of experience with women's clothes." Ariana joked.

Both Kadshah and Rafiq laughed.

Becoming serious, Ariana leaned in closer and whispered, "No offense but Ghita and Kadshah are too old to tell me what's stylish and suitable."

"I would not want to offend the sultan with my dress." Ariana said innocently with pleading eyes.

"Well when you put it that way, how can I refuse?" Aaryan said.

Good, Ariana thought with an outward smile as she bounced up and down in glee. He had played right into her hands.

"Rafiq, have Bashir bring another car around." Aaryan said as he escorted Ariana outside.

When Ariana noticed the two cars being brought around she couldn't hide her distaste quickly enough.

"Does the modest American woman not like Mercedes?" Aaryan asked with a smile.

"I always said if I ever had a ton of money I would buy myself a V12 Zagato, a V8 Vantage SP10 or a Rapide S Aston Martin." Ariana said. "If you have the money to spend, why not got for style, class and speed."

"Expensive cars for a college student." Aaryan commented thoughtfully.

"A girl can dream can't she?" Ariana said stepping into the GL63 AMG Mercedes SUV.

All of the women rode together while the men followed closely behind in their own suv.

When they arrived at the marketplace. Everyone stopped and stared at Aaryan.

Women, men and children all came up to him and grasped his hands.

They were talking to him in Omashi so Ariana could not understand what they were saying. When she asked Ghita, she told her that they were thanking him and his family for their generosity.

Aaryan accepted the appraisal modestly as he smiled at all of the people and spoke to them.

Ariana looked on in awe. Aaryan had a commanding presence but it was not domineering. He was commanding when needed but very approachable.

I see why his people like him, Ariana thought, as she continued walking with Ghita.

Instead of the previous clothing shop, Aaryan took Ariana to a boutique that the younger women of Omash frequented.

Ariana was instantly in love with the selection. The clothing was still modest but trendier. In addition to the embroidery, the clothing had jewels, flowers, beads and chains. The clothing also fit more to Ariana's curves and she liked that.

Ariana tried on many dresses for Aaryan's approval. Some dresses he liked while others he nixed before she even tried on.

He could tell that Ariana was having a good time and enjoyed the smile that she readily displayed.

In addition to clothing there were also under clothes, shoes and accessories. Ghita directed Ariana over to these with express instructions from Ghaniyah.

Ariana was in 7th heaven. She was not wealthy by any means but her one indulgence to herself was expensive lingerie. She loved it. She loved the feeling of having on sexy lace panties under her grungy work clothes and no one being the wiser. It made her feel womanly and pretty.

She perused the section of under garments and picked out many selections to Aaryan's secret approval.

Why not have a little fun while I'm here, Ariana thought as she picked out lingerie in her favorite colors.

After picking out more shoes the group decided to bring their shopping trip to a close. It was now close to sundown.

Instead of going back to Aaryan's palace, Aaryan decided to take Ariana to see one of his offices.

Ariana was amazed at the sights of the city along the way. Although it wasn't like the major cities of the west it definitely left an impression.

On the outskirts of the city, in a rural area, there were modest houses, children playing, women hanging clothes on clothing lines and community fountains.

This was an extreme contrast to the inner city that was highly industrialized. The closer they got to the inner city the more buildings and people Ariana saw. It was almost like arriving in New York City but much more reminiscent of Dubai.

The city was an architectural dream, it seemed like every architect tried to out due the next with a bigger and better architectural feat. It was beautiful.

Tall glass buildings cast a beautiful glow on the blue green waters that now appeared almost black.

The group arrived outside of an enormous glass office building that was shaped like a tidal wave. Aaryan got out of his car followed by Rafiq and Rakshan.

"I will only be a minute." He said as he passed by Ariana's window.

After 10 minutes of waiting Ariana decided to explore the building for herself.

"Miss Ariana! Miss Ariana! The master would not like it if you took off alone." Kadshah said racing after Ariana.

After arriving inside and stepping across the decorative marble tile she arrived at a front desk that proudly displayed Aaban in gold letters.

"I don't think he will mind me taking an interest in his brother's business." Ariana said to Kadshah with a smile over her shoulder.

Stepping toward the elevator she looked at the directory of floors.

She noticed that there were 35 floors labeled but when she stepped into the elevator it went up to 42 floors.

She decided to stop by the research department on the 22nd floor and see the chemistry lab.

As soon as they arrived on the 22nd floor and she saw all the lab equipment, Ariana bounced around in glee.

She grabbed a nearby lab coat and goggles and entered into the lab.

Kadshah wrinkled her nose at the chemical smell and said that she would wait for Ariana outside.

Meanwhile, Aaryan, Rafiq and Rakshan had reached his office on the 41st floor, his penthouse was on the 42nd.

Aaryan headed straight for his office. Once inside he retrieved the folder he came to get and returned to elevator.

"So what do you think of your future wife?" Rafiq asked.

After chuckling Aaryan answered, "She is beautiful, but I can tell she will be a handful."

"You don't know the half of it." Rakshan said as he showed Aaryan surveillance footage on a smartphone.

In the footage Ariana and Kadshah were on the elevator in the building.

"It looks like they got off on the 22nd floor." Rakshan said hitting the button on the elevator.

********Meanwhile on the 22nd floor.

"Oh my god he has a GC-MS...Oh and MALDI." Ariana said touching the machines in awe.

She continued to go around the room checking the various instruments and equipment until she settled on a photo on one lab technician's desk.

It was a man standing next to Aaryan. The photo had a hand written message. Ariana could not make out most of the message but one thing stood clear. The message clearly said Aaryan.

"I knew it!" Ariana said with a glint in her eye.

"I don't know what he is playing at, but I will get him before he gets me." Ariana said as she continued to peruse the lab.

Outside Aaryan flanked by Rafiq and Rakshan had arrived on the 22nd floor.

"Sir, I tried to stop her from coming in..." Kadshah began but was stopped by Aaryan's hand.

"Think nothing of it Kadshah. Return to the car with Rafiq and Rakshan." He said in dismissal.

After they had all gotten on the elevator he entered into the lab to see what his future bride was up to.

He watched her touch the instruments with a smile on her face for a few minutes before he interrupted her.

"Were you always a little chemist at heart or did you take after your father?" Aaryan asked.

"Chemistry has always run through my veins so to speak." Ariana answered stroking the tops of some test tubes.

She smiled at Aaryan as she turned more toward him.

"Why study chemistry, why not business or something more interesting?" Aaryan said teasingly as he stepped closer to her.

"Chemistry has always piqued my interest. It is life." She said with a hint of awe.

"It is the air you breathe and the water you drink. It explains nearly everything you encounter." Ariana said hatching a plan.

"Chemistry makes the world go round." She said stepping closer to Aaryan. "Especially the chemistry between two people."

"How so?" He asked allowing her to invade his personal space and his senses.

"Chemistry is electricity." She said stepping closer and trailing a finger up his arm.

"Hmmm." Aaryan breathed.

"That tingling sensation, that warmth that you feel as I step closer..." Ariana said breathily as she placed her palm on his chest, "That's chemistry".

"Your body's energy is reaching out and responding to the energy of mine and deciding if you should try to...mate."

Being this close to Aaryan it was hard not to act affected although she tried her best to put up a good front.

She went to pull away but he stopped her, holding her lightly at her elbow.

"So this feeling right here..." He said as he gently kissed her neck. "Is that chemistry?" He continued to kiss up and down her neck.

All Ariana could do in answer was moan.

Aaryan continued to kiss her as he moved his hands to her waist. They didn't stay there for long. Soon he began sucking her neck and he moved his hands higher reaching for her succulent breasts.

Before she knew it Ariana was seated on a lab bench with Aaryan's hands moving up and down her body. Squeezing her most tender spots.

"Razam." Ariana moaned softly as Aaryan licked and sucked her neck. Hearing his middle name moaned from her lips was the sweetest delicacy.

I have to get a hold of myself she thought. She could barely think straight with all of the sensations he was stirring inside of her.

She had never let a man touch her like this before. She had never felt this. What is he doing to me? I have to stop this before it goes too far, she thought.

"Razam...Razam...(moan)...Razam stop!" Ariana said sharply.

When Aaryan looked at her there was a fire in his eyes that almost melted her resolve. She was sure hers smoldered with the same.

Why not just give in now? A little voice in her head said.

Ariana turned away and pushed herself off the lab bench. Her face was flush and her body still tingled with sensation.

"You are playing with fire." Ariana said to him after she righted her clothes.

"What do you mean?" Aaryan said in a huskier tone.

"I am promised to your brother. The sultan would not like it if someone else touched something that is his." Ariana said over her shoulder with a look of defiance.

Turning her around with his hand under her chin Aaryan said, "Well maybe I will have you to myself."

"Good luck with that." Ariana said with a smile as she walked away.

She was grateful that Aaryan did not immediately follow her onto the elevator. She needed some alone time to compose herself and cool off before she saw the others.

Aaryan smiled as Ariana got into the Mercedes. Now he knew that he affected the little minx just as much as she affected him.

"This will be easy." He thought.

*************************

The next day, Ariana arrived down for breakfast with a skip in her step and a smile. Last night she had hatched a plan to get away. Although lately she was beginning to think staying for a while would not be such a bad idea. Would being with Aaryan really be that bad? Did she really want to go back to her life in the states?

She arrived to the kitchen to find Aaryan eating breakfast and drinking a cup of coffee.

"Kadshah told me this morning that the sultan will be returning tomorrow and that we will be having a dinner party upon his arrival." Ariana said as she dished out a plate of food for herself.

"Do you think your brother would allow me to work in the lab at his company?" Ariana said innocently as she sat down.

"As a sultan's wife you will have other duties to attend and it is not very proper for a sultan's wife to work." Aaryan said with a peculiar look wondering what she was up too.

"Technically, I have a degree now and although it may be frowned upon, I demand some independence from my husband. It is no longer the dark ages." Ariana said.

"I do not think my brother will be so easily convinced. Besides, there will be plenty of things at the palace to keep you busy." Aaryan said taking a big sip of his coffee.

"Like what exactly?" Ariana asked skeptically, folding her arms.

"That is more of my mother's expertise, not mine. I'm sure she will tell you soon enough what your duties will be as a sultan's wife, that is if you agree to marry my brother." Aaryan said glancing at Ariana with a mischievous grin.

"I'm sure I can convince your brother to agree with me. It will make Ghani happy if I put my seduction classes to use." Ariana said as she rose from the table with her plate and orange juice.

"I'm sure." Aaryan said as he watched Ariana sway her hips as she walked away.

**********

"This is the sweetest torture." Aaryan thought as he watched Ariana from across the room. His mother was hosting a party for the Sultan's return.

Aaryan had asked his brother to act as a stand in sultan for him for the time being.

He now stood on the far side of the grand ballroom and watched as his youngest brother Fadil conversed with Ariana.

Ariana looked ravishing in a dark silk green floor length dress. The long sleeve dress kept her completely covered but clung to her like a second skin. Her hair was wrapped in a bun and loosely covered by a gold colored headband. She wore five gold bangles on each wrist and had a gold necklace that fell in between her covered cleavage.

He couldn't keep his eyes off it and neither could his brother Fadil to his chagrin.

"Why ask for the charade if you cannot handle it brother?" Haaziq said to his left intruding on his solitude.

"I honestly don't know what you are doing. Tell her the truth and claim her." Haaziq continued.

"It's not that simple." Aaryan answered.

"Or is it." Haaziq answered rhetorically.

Aaryan gave him an evil glare in answer and took a sip of his drink.

For all appearances Ariana looked completely enraptured by what Fadil was saying. Inside she felt as if her head would explode.

She had to admit she was affected by Aaryan and as charming as Fadil was, she would much rather be by Aaryan's side.

She was upset with him however.

She wondered how much longer he would keep up the ruse. He did not seem like a passive man.

Thinking of Aaryan made her think more about her current predicament.

She had decided after their chat yesterday that she was going to stay. The possibility of working in the state of the art lab was too good to pass up.

She also felt like she owed it to herself to have an adventure for once in her life and she had always thought the idea of working abroad intriguing and exciting.

As far as the marriage was concerned, she hadn't worked that part out yet. She liked Aaryan but marriage was a serious commitment.

She knew she was developing a strong attraction to him and chucked it up to lust, he was a handsome man after all.

She decided to stay and figure out what exactly it was about him that was so enrapturing and why he made her feel so safe. She had never encountered a man like him before. He made her feel so protected.

"But how can I stay? Agree to marry Fadil? But how long will Aaryan let that last? Would it be so wrong to give herself to him?" She thought.

"I'm so confused." She thought.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Aaryan looking her way. She reached over and grasped Fadil's arm as she laughed at something he said. She saw Aaryan clench his glass and almost spilled hers in laughter.

She enjoyed teasing him. At least she had that to look forward to in the meantime, she thought with a smirk.

Fadil smiled at her attention. He thought foolishly for a second that maybe he should compete with his brother for Ariana's hand. As soon as he saw the icy daggers Aaryan was shooting him from across the room, he gave up the notion for fear of losing his head.

Ariana then stood to check on the refreshments and make sure that the other guests were satisfied. She left the room for the kitchen to ask for more drinks to be delivered.

On her way back, she decided to step outside of the ballroom doors and stare out at the moonlight on the waters.

This had become one of her favorite pastimes. She loved nature and the beauty of Omash held a special allure.

Time ticked by as she sat outside on a bench with her feet in the sand and a serene smile plastered on her face and she closed her eyes and faced the sky.

"Enjoying yourself?" Aaryan asked approaching slowly.

"Immensely." Ariana said as she continued to face the sky.

She shivered.

Aaryan took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"I think I will say yes to your brother's proposal." Ariana said opening one eye lid.

"Really?" Aaryan said, sitting next to her.

"Although I don't like how I was brought here, the sultan is a good man. He has agreed to all of the things that I asked him, so I think he will make a good husband."

"What are these things?" Aaryan asked raising and eyebrow

"Your brother has agreed to allow me to work in the lab at his office." Ariana said.

"Did he now?" Aaryan said with a slight chuckle.

"Yes, it took little convincing." Ariana said with a smile. "I think it was love at first sight."

"His or yours?" Aaryan asked with a smirk.

"Do you want to see how I convinced him?" She said, ignoring his question and standing up.

She looked at Aaryan expectantly.

She stood closer to him and began to sing a soft tune as they began to dance.

She chuckled and raised her arms to sit around Aaryan's neck as he made a joke about how it must have been her singing that won his brother over.

When their eyes connected she became so lost in them that she stopped singing.

She would have stopped moving if not for Aaryan's warm hands at her hips guiding her and continuing to move her.

"You are so beautiful." Aaryan said raising a hand to stroke her face.

Before Ariana knew what she was doing, she was standing on the tips of her toes and pulling Aaryan's face closer to hers.

He took control and pulled her in closer for the kiss.

Their lips connected and their tongues dueled. Ariana moaned in submission as Aaryan groaned in agony.

"I'm tired of this game." She said breaking the kiss for a brief moment.

She pulled Aaryan further away from the noise of the ballroom to a private alcove.

She sat down on a bench, shrugged off his jacket, and moved back into Aaryan's embrace.