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

How angry was Jamal? Zara wondered as she followed him to his chambers. Angry enough to use the bastinado on her? She shuddered. Would she be able to withstand the excruciating pain of being beaten upon the soles of her feet? Allah help her.

Once inside his chamber, Jamal rounded on her. Zara's fear escalated when she noted the fierce expression on Jamal's face.

"What are you going to do?"

"The bastinado seems an appropriate punishment for your insolent behavior toward my women, don't you agree?"

Zara swallowed visibly. She had seen the damage done by a bastinado and it wasn't pretty. "No, I do not agree. 'Tis much too harsh for my minor offense. Your women are a lazy lot whose brains are situated between their legs."

Jamal couldn't help it. He burst into laughter. Zara's canny assessment of his women was accurate. His new slave was truthful to a fault. Unfortunately, she must be punished for her disobedience. He couldn't have her upsetting his household with her disruptive behavior.

"Perhaps you're right," Jamal agreed, "but 'tis not your place to judge my women. I did not acquire them for their intelligence."

"That's obvious, my lord," she said sweetly. "You think on the same level as they do, only your brains are in that appendage between your legs."

Jamal's expression turned from amusement to anger in the blink of an eye. "You go too far, slave! If you do not curb your tongue I will have it cut out. 'Tis back to the stables with you. Obviously, you would rather wallow in dung than take your ease in comfortable quarters."

Through some kind of silent communication, Hammet appeared at Jamal's elbow.

"Fetch Zara clothing that is more appropriate for work in the stables, Hammet. She is to resume her chores there until she has learned humility. Take her away; she offends me."

Back to the stables, Zara thought dismally as Hammet escorted her from Jamal's chambers. She supposed she deserved it. Her sharp tongue had pricked Jamal's anger and she must pay the consequences. But at least she'd been spared the bastinado. She tried to convince herself that the stables were better suited to her tastes than the harem, but it didn't work.

Hammet plucked a set of rough clothing from a nail just inside the stables and thrust it at her. "You can change in an empty horse stall while I find Ahmed and tell him you're back. Be quick about it."

Zara stumbled into an empty stall and quickly donned the shirt, baggy pantaloons and djellaba, feeling more at ease in the familiar robes that all but obscured her figure than in the fancy harem clothing that displayed far too much skin. She had just pulled the djellaba over her head when Hammet pulled open the stall door.

"I have spoken with Ahmed. Your duties will begin immediately. They are the same as before." He handed her a rake. "I personally don't think this is woman's work, but the master isn't a man to be crossed. You have a vicious tongue, Zara. Learn to curb it and you can become our sheik's favorite. You have more brains than Saha, Leila and Amar put together."

Having had his say, Hammet turned on his heel and left her to contemplate her dismal future as a stable slave.

None of the stable slaves bothered Zara that night. Or the next. Or the night after that. Zara assumed they feared reprisal from Jamal and was grateful for that much at least. But stable work was backbreaking toil, and as each day passed, Zara had cause to regret her disrespect toward Jamal's concubines. When would she learn to curb her sharp tongue? she wondered grumpily. Never, she supposed. Though she missed her soft bed in the harem, she was too proud to ask for it back.

Zara had claimed an empty stall for herself and forked fresh straw in it for her bed. It provided the only bit of privacy she had enjoyed since being assigned to the stables three days before. She had just eaten her supper, washed her hands and face, hung a lantern from a hook and was preparing to bed down for the night when she sensed someone staring at her over the low wall of the stall.

"Are you ready yet to admit defeat and act like a lady?" Jamal asked. His eyes glowed like polished ebony in the lamplight.

Zara glared disdainfully at Jamal. "Youssef's daughter will never admit to defeat. As long as I do my work, you have nothing to complain about. Two weeks have already elapsed since we struck our bargain. Soon you will be forced to free me."

Jamal spit out an oath. That cursed wager again! He'd never encountered a more provoking female. He didn't want Zara sleeping on a bed of straw in the stables. He wanted her in his bed, in his arms, her body sated with his loving.

Jamal unlatched the gate and stepped into the stall. "Yield to me, vixen. I will swathe you in fine silks and brocades and give you jewels that match your green eyes."

He pulled her against him so that she could feel the hard ridge of his need against her soft belly. "Can you not feel how much I want you?"

"I suggest that you visit your harem," Zara countered. She hated the way her body betrayed her each time Jamal touched her, and she tried to pull away from him. He would not allow it.

"'Tis you I want, Zara. I have already tried to assuage my need for you with my concubines, but they failed to quench the fire inside me." His arm curved around her waist. "Come, I will teach you delights beyond those you achieved with your bandit lover." His piercing gaze held her suspended. "Have you ever had tiny silver balls slipped inside you? When you move, or even breathe, they hit against one another, creating an erotic clamor that will bring you sublime rapture beyond anything you have ever known."