"Shiek" - читать интересную книгу автора (Connie Mason)

"Have you eaten?" Jamal asked as he sampled the succulent melon.

"I have eaten, thank you. May I leave now?"

"Nay, you may not. Sit here." He patted the cushion beside him.

She eyed him warily. "Why?"

"I do not like to eat alone." When Zara made no move to join him, Jamal grasped her wrist and pulled her down beside him. "There, that's better.

"Saha would love to join you. So would Leila or Amar."

"Perhaps later. It's you I want now. Is your room satisfactory?" he asked conversationally. "It will do."

Suddenly he pushed the food away and leaned over to kiss her shoulder. "I find I'm no longer hungry."

"Shall I return the dishes to the kitchen?"

"I had no idea you'd be such an obedient slave, princess. What do you have up your sleeve?"

"Nothing, my lord," she said sweetly. "I'm not even wearing sleeves."

His black eyes glittered wickedly. "So I noticed." His hand traveled the length of her bare arm and back, sending ripples skittering over her sensitive flesh. Two tiny pearl buttons held the edges of her abbreviated vest together, and before Zara could protest, Jamal had released them. Her breasts literally popped into his hands. His sudden intake of breath told her how much he enjoyed the view.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to seduce you, what else?" He pushed her back against the cushions and lowered his head to lick at her nipples. "You know I want you."

"Take me against my will and you lose the wager," she challenged, gritting her teeth against the sudden jolt of pleasure he had caused with his tongue.

"I never should have made that wager," Jamal muttered sourly. He raised his head to stare at her mouth. It was adorably lush and red and he wanted to kiss her senseless. But most of all he wanted to sheath himself inside her, to feel her heat contract around him, to taste her passion, to give her pleasure.

"Feel how much I want you," Jamal said, grasping her small hand and placing it upon his erection.

Zara inhaled sharply. His caftan provided a scant barrier between her hand and the hot, pulsating length of him. Her fingers tightened involuntarily and she heard him groan. In seconds he had removed her hand and stretched out full length on top of her.

"You want me," he said triumphantly.

"Nay, I do not."

Her answer seemed to amuse him and he chuckled. "Open to me, Zara. Take me inside you. I promise you won't be sorry."

She sighed raggedly. "Nay, I cannot."

His eyes turned dark with desire as his mouth crushed down on hers, kissing her fiercely, willing her to respond as he molded her breasts with his palms. His lips left her mouth and followed the graceful line of her throat to her breasts. He kissed and licked the perfumed flesh, the scent of jasmine heightening his desire for her. His mouth closed over an erect nipple, sucking hard on it, then biting down lightly, and she cried out softly.

"Yield to me, sweet houri," Jamal whispered hoarsely.

"I cannot lose the wager," Zara replied in a strangled voice. She was aroused, painfully so, but losing the wager and remaining Jamal's slave was abhorrent to her.