Acceptance

Carrie, the Sheikh, John and Naila met again for dinner a month later. There was no sugarcoating it.

"I have decided to accept your offer, Sheikh." John didn't look particularly surprised. Naila had obviously been doing a good job of keeping him distracted. The Sheikh was visibly pleased. When he had courted Cathleen, she was an older woman. Now it was he who was older. And this American had plenty of breeding years left in her.

For Carrie, much of it was to help her family. And much of it was because you would go to support her. And part of it was the adventure. The yacht was an adventure. Exploring Greece and Italy was an adventure. Carrie felt that there were lots of adventures waiting for her on this path.

Layla showed up at her apartment in the morning with a female tattoo artist. She was there to give Carrie a permanent tattoo of the crescent and star on her ass.

"Isn't this um....blasphemy?" Carrie asked. Layla smiled. Oh, this American would do so many haram things in the name of Allah.