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

Zara shuddered, aroused by Jamal's seductive words and the tone of his voice. They were more arousing than the most intimate of caresses. If she didn't put a stop to it soon, she'd be begging him to show her all the delights of which he spoke.

"Save them for your concubines," Zara countered freeing herself from his grasp. "I am extremely happy where I am. You can take those little silver balls andтАФ"

"Enough! You are a willful vixen with the heart and soul of a Berber warrior. I will leave you for now, Zara, but mark my words, you will be mine, in every way possible for a man to have a woman. When I place those silver balls inside you, you will beg for release that only I can give you. Good night, sweet vixen. Pleasant dreams." Her shocked expression amused him. He hoped her dreams tonight were erotic ones.

"Cur! Camel dung!" Zara flung at him. No man had ever spoken to her of such things. Were there really erotic toys such as silver balls? Just thinking about them moving against one another inside her made her feminine parts tingle and weep.

"Why? Why do you want me when there are willing women within your household?" Zara wanted to know.

Suddenly he grew serious, his expression grim. "I wish I knew. Perhaps Allah in his wisdom will reveal the answer to me one day." He turned on his heel and left.

Sleep that night was a long time coming for Zara.

Jamal was having even greater difficulty finding sleep. He summoned Leila to his bed and then dismissed her when he found she did not appeal to him. He considered calling Amar or Saha but realized it wasn't his concubines he wanted. Only Zara would satisfy him, and he had no stomach for forcing a woman to his bed. The Berber vixen had turned him into a cursed eunuch!

Having finally found sleep, Zara wasn't prepared to be awakened a short time later. A hand came down over her mouth, and she felt a warm breath next to her ear.

"Awaken, Princess. I bring a message from your father."

Full awareness came swiftly at the mention of her father.

"I will remove my hand if you promise not to cry out."

Zara nodded vigorously and the hand came away. "Who are you?"

His words were a mere whisper of sound against her ear. "I am Rachid the camel trader, one of your father's spies. I heard a rumor that you were a stable slave but didn't want to believe it. The sheik is a fiend to force you to perform such menial work."

"From whom did you hear the rumor?"

"The sheik's concubines spoke of you when they visited the souk yesterday. But I heard it from other sources, too. I promptly relayed the news to Youssef. He is camped in the mountains just beyond the oasis. His reply came today. He wants you to be prepared for a rescue attempt tomorrow night. The Blue Men will come in the darkest hours before dawn."

"How will it be accomplished?" Zara wanted to know. She was literally shaking with excitement.

"Youssef and his men will scale the walls. Be prepared."

"What can I do to help? They must be careful; guards are everywhere."

Her words were met with silence. The messenger was gone.





The next day passed far too slowly for Zara's liking. She tried to keep busy but found herself staring at the high walls surrounding Paradise far too often. Where was her father now? she wondered. Her heart leaped into her throat when Jamal appeared and asked to have his horse saddled. He and Haroun were going hunting in the mountains.

Zara's first thought was that they would find her father. Then she chided herself for thinking such a thing possible. Youssef was too smart to be caught. He knew the mountains well and was as wily as a fox. Jamal would never find him.

Tonight she would be with her people and never have to see Jamal again. Somehow that thought was not as comforting as she'd expected.