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

Stunned by her boldness, Jamal stared at her. Arab women never went out in public unveiled, or spoke to a man with such daring. But then, Berber women followed none of the rules that Arab men demanded that their wives, daughters and concubines obey. Finding his tongue, he said, "I am Sheik Jamal, loyal subject of Allah and the sultan. And you, Princess, are my captive."

Grasping her hand, he hauled her to her feet, surprised to find her so tall and lissome. Though he was much taller, she reached his chin. By contrast, Arab women were small and inclined to plumpness. Arab men liked their women round, curvaceous and submissive. This feisty barb-tongued Berber princess possessed none of those qualities; she probably didn't know how to be submissive. Nevertheless, there was no mistaking her femininity. His questing hand had discovered a soft woman beneath her concealing blue robes.

Once on her feet, Zara swayed dizzily. Her head felt like a large melon about to explode. Recognizing her distress, Jamal swung her up into his arms.

Despite her injury, Zara resisted wildly. "No! You can't leave Sayed for the wild animals to devour! I won't let you."

Zara hated to display weakness before the arrogant sheik but she couldn't help herself. Tears welled in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She felt the wetness upon her face and blinked in dismay.

Handsome and brave, Sayed had been her best friend and protector for as long as she could remember. They would have already been married had she not delayed the wedding so that she might ride with her father a while longer. She had known that once she married, Sayed would have insisted that she remain in the village with the other women. And once she conceived his child, there would be no more riding with the men.

Tears were the last thing Jamal expected from this haughty princess. Then he recalled that the dead man was her betrothed and surprised himself by relenting.

"I will see that the dead are buried in a common grave."

Zara wanted time to grieve for Sayed, time to sit beside him and whisper her good-byes, but she would not beg favors from this arrogant Arab sheik. Once her people were in power again, she would make sure that Sheik Jamal received just punishment.

Zara's thoughts were interrupted when Captain Hasdai appeared to report on the fleeing Berbers. Since Zara saw no prisoners, she assumed her father had escaped. Hasdai's report confirmed her belief.

Hasdai spoke to Jamal but his gaze was on Zara, who still rested in Jamais arms. "They all escaped, my lord, including Youssef."

"We haven't lost the day, Captain. The sultan's caravan is intact and his daughter is my captive."

"His daughter!" Hasdai's gaze swept over Zara with profound interest. Then he smiled. "The sultan will be pleased. Do we return now?"

"Aye, we return to Meknes. Leave enough men behind to bury the dead and collect the wounded."

"Let me remain behind with Sayed!" Zara begged, forgetting her pride. "I wish to mourn him."

Jamal had shown all the mercy he was capable of. After Hasdai hurried off to convey the sheik's orders, Jamal flung Zara atop his horse and mounted behind her. With one hand on the reins and the other pressing her tightly against him, he guided the prancing Kacem toward Meknes.

The warmth of Zara's slim body, the curve of her supple waist beneath his hand, and the imprint of her slim hips against his groin, made Jamal blatantly aware of her soft femininity. His arm tightened around her, bringing her even closer against him.

Zara held herself stiffly away from the arrogant sheik, the angle of her body and tilt of her head a clear indication of her utter contempt for him.

Could she be broken? Jamal wondered, amused by her defiance. He sincerely doubted it, but he would like to try. Zara was too proud and insolent for a woman. She needed to learn obedience, to be taught to submit to her master. Jamal frowned, recalling that the pleasure of using Zara's sweet body belonged to the sultan. With no small amount of envy, Jamal wished him joy of it.

When Zara finally went slack against him, Jamal realized she had either fallen asleep or lost consciousness. She had taken a nasty blow on the head and could have been more seriously injured than he'd realized. The stubborn female would never give him the satisfaction of knowing how badly she was hurt. Holding her upright against him, he put his spurs to Kacem.





Zara awoke some time later to the rolling gait of Jamal's mount, still an unwilling captive of his superior strength. Allah forgive her, but she could kill him without a qualm for what he'd done this day. She glared at him over her shoulder and said, "You're holding me too tightly!"

He merely smiled and splayed his hand over her stomach so that the pad of his thumb rubbed back and forth against the soft underside of her breast.

"Son of a goat! Braying ass! You have no right to touch me."