Читать книгу Desert Sands - Barbara Jeffs - Страница 2

The lobby was as she remembered it, wide and spacious with its marble floor and luxurious furniture.

“Come on.” Kalim curled his fingers around her arm and strode across the highly polished floor.

“Will you slow down,” Shannon gasped breathlessly as they crossed the foyer. She was having trouble keeping up with his fast pace. “Your legs are longer than mine.”

Kalim halted at once and surprised her by laughing, his white teeth flashing against his brown skin. “I had forgotten how tiny you are.” His eyes drifted slowly down her legs and her mouth went dry. “Small and beautiful” His voice thickened. “I remember how they used to wrap around my body and hold me as we made love to each other.”

His words evoked half forgotten memories and she began to tremble as vivid images of their lovemaking rushed through her mind, their bodies entwined. His hands and lips moving over her body until she was mindless with desire. His thumb softly stroked her arm when he felt her reaction but she was unaware of it, lost in a cascade of emotions.

“Yes you remember what it was like and want it still as much as I do,” he whispered into her ear his voice so thick it was guttural. “We could not get enough of each other could we?” His breath feathering across her skin made her legs go weak and she knew if he released his hold on her arm she would collapse at his feet. “Why did you leave when we had all that?”

Several guests had stopped to watch and enjoy the spectacle of the young auburn haired woman and the tall intimidating man conducting a rather intimate conversation in a hotel lobby.

Neither Kalim nor Shannon was aware of this attention but Hassam was and recognized that he needed to break it up immediately. The thought of a reporter or worse a photographer getting a hold of this story was enough to give him nightmares.

“Will you two shut up and wait until you get upstairs to finish your conversation.” Both Kalim and Shannon took a step backward as he stepped between them. “You are attracting attention.”

It was at that moment that their different backgrounds became glaringly apparent.

Shannon glanced around the lobby and instantly wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. Heat ran up her throat and into her face and she knew she was blushing bright red.

Kalim lifted his chin in haughty disdain and completely ignored everyone. He stepped around Hassam clasped her hand in his and strode across to the lift.

A disjointed male voice floated across to them as they stepped into the lift. “Good luck mate I hope you win.”

Shannon was incensed when both Kalim and Hassam laughed.

“Why did you leave Shannon?” Kalim repeated his earlier question as the lift door swished silently closed. “You knew I would search for you.”

“Of course I knew.” She agreed. “That’s why I severed all ties with my old life and went into hiding.”

“Yes, you did an excellent job of disappearing.” His harsh laugh grated on her jumpy nerves. “For six months you have managed to evade a whole army of private detectives.” He gave a mocking bow. “I congratulate you.”

“You hired private detectives?” Shannon was surprised. While she had known that he would try to find her, she had never considered how he would do it.

“What did you expect me to do? Search for you personally?” He raked his hand through his wet hair. “You know that would have been impossible. That I had to return home.” His lips twisted into a bitter smile. “You should know. You were supposed to come with me.”

“I couldn’t.”

Contempt blazed in his eyes. “You are a coward, Shannon. You decided to end our relationship without any regard for what I wanted. You left. You disappeared and left me no choice but to hire strangers in an attempt to find you.” His hands clenched into tight fists. “Do you have any conception of how much I hated having to do that?”

Actually she could understand his resentment very easily. He was the Crown Prince of Bashram. She doubted if anyone had ever said no to him in his entire life - until now. She was unable to decide if that made her brainless or independent.

“Kalim, we come from opposite sides of the world, from different cultures.” She waved her hand in a helpless gesture. “You expected me to leave everything that was familiar to me and go with you to a strange country. A country I know nothing about, with unfamiliar customs and a lifestyle unlike any I have ever known before.”

“I remember what you wrote in your letter.” His jaw tightened into a thin, hard line. “I did not believe your reasons then, and I do not believe them now.” He paused and continued with mocking irony. “You forgot to mention Montoya. That reason was the most stupid one of all.”

“It isn’t stupid to me.” Shannon shuddered. Just the mention of that madman’s name caused the fear and nausea to rise up into her throat. “He terrifies me.”

“Montoya has been trying to overthrow my father for ten years.” He sucked down an exasperated breath. “I admit he is dangerous, but his followers are few and we take precautions. We are not stupid.”

Hassam was not too sure about that last part and when the doors slid open he stepped out pointedly ignoring the pair of them.

“I’ll be in my room if you need me,” he threw back over his shoulder as he strode along the carpeted corridor and unlocked the door to the suite. “Those two deserve each other,” he growled as he walked into his bedroom and closed the door grateful that the rooms were soundproof. He had a feeling there was going to be one hell of a slanging match between that pair of fools.

“After you.” Kalim gestured for her to precede him out of the lift. “You know the way.”

The mockery in his voice made her hand itch and she glared at him then whirled on her heel and walked into the door. The lift had been summoned to another floor and they had been unaware of the door sliding silently closed. She bounced off the door and into his waiting arms.

He took an involuntary step backward as she cannoned into him, his arms tightening around her and pulling her against him as he righted his balance.

“Are you all right?” he asked as he turned her to face him.

Shannon nodded her head. “Yes.”

Their eyes locked, both of them caught in the web of emotions flowing between them. Emotions that no amount of bitterness, no separation, no regrets could ever change. Emotions of a deep abiding love.

“Shannon,” he murmured huskily as he untied the cord from under her chin and pushed the hood off of her head. He inhaled sharply as long, silken auburn tresses cascaded around her face and shoulders. “It burns like fire.” His fingers threaded through the loose tresses. “I feared you would have it cut and change its color.”

Shannon blinked in surprise. The idea had never occurred to her. If it had----

His lips met hers cutting off her thoughts. Passion flared between them as he gathered her tightly against his spread apart legs, rotating his hips against her trembling body, his arousal throbbing against her thigh. She was burning with desire it swept through her like a flood, and an aching knot twisted her stomach into a tight ball.

The door slid silently open and an elderly couple prepared to enter the lift. They halted in surprise and stared at the entwined couple in astonishment.

Kalim reluctantly raised his head and flashed the couple a brilliant smile. “Good afternoon,” he greeted them pleasantly. “Lovely day isn’t it?”

“We’ll wait for the next lift,” the man stammered quickly.

Shannon tried to free herself from his arms but they tightened around her in a silent warning to stay where she was. An embarrassed heat flowed into her cheeks and she buried her face in his chest. When she heard his bland words she began to giggle. She knew Kalim was laughing also she could feel it rumbling in his chest.

This time when the door slid open at the correct floor Kalim curled his fingers around her arm and escorted her along the carpeted corridor.

Shannon came to a sudden halt all the hairs on the back of her neck standing on edge when she recognized her surroundings and all the blood drained from her face as she asked, “Are you in the same suite?”

“Of course.” His sardonic tone set her teeth on edge. “Where else would I stay when that room holds such lovely memories of you.” His fingers softly caressed her cheek and his voice deepened to a sensual murmur. “When I go to bed at night I see your naked body warm and begging for my loving. Every time I shower I recall your hands running over my body hot and soapy. He paused and when he continued his voice was thick with passion. “Remember how we washed the soap off each of our bodies?”

“No,” she denied, but she did. Fire licked along her veins until it consumed her totally and her mind replayed images of their lovemaking so vividly she could almost feel his hands caressing her wet body.

“Liar.” He drawled. “Your body betrays you.” His hands cupped her face and his thumbs stroked softly across her lips, and when she reacted to his touch he added cynically, “I believe that proves my point.”

At that moment Shannon did not know who she hated the most Kalim or herself. Try as she might she could not stop herself from responding to his touch and she groaned with despair.

He opened the door and stepped back to allow her to precede him into the sitting room then closed the door.

“Go and have a shower while I find you something to wear.” His drawl was mocking. “I would suggest we shower together but I doubt you would agree.”

Her eyes widened in amazement. “I’m not having a shower,” she stated firmly. “With or without you.”

“Oh for God’s sake act your age and don’t be so damn stupid.” His hand flicked out in an impatient gesture. “We are both wet and cold. It makes sense to get changed and dry before we catch pneumonia.”

Reluctantly, she agreed. “All right but I shower alone.” When she noticed his cynical smile she wanted to hit him.

He turned on his heel and went striding angrily into the bedroom. A few moments later he returned and handed her a terry cloth robe with the hotel’s emblem emblazoned on its pocket.

“Here.” He held the robe out to her. “I’ll order coffee while you are bathing. Do you want anything else?”

“No thank you.”

She took the robe from his outstretched hand and hurried into the bedroom and across to the adjoining bathroom, relieved to see that there was a solid lock on the door.

The warm water stung her chilled flesh as she stood under the hissing spray and she gasped in pain. It had been a mistake to come here, she realized that now. Kalim was different. He had changed from the warm, loving companion that she remembered into a cold cynical forbidding stranger. She had never seen him like this, angry, hurt, bitter and she suspected that she was to blame.

When she entered the sitting room fifteen minutes later Kalim rose to his feet with the lithe grace she remembered so well.

“I used your comb.” She ran her hand over her damp hair. “I hope you don’t mind.”

His eyes followed the movement of her hand and she quickly dropped it back to her side.

“Of course I don’t mind.” His voice throbbed with exasperation. “You know you are welcome to use anything you like.” He gestured to the tray on the occasional table near the sofa. “Drink your coffee while I shower and change, and then we will talk.” He turned on his heel and walked into the bedroom.

Shannon glanced at the tray and nostalgia tugged at her heart when she noticed the cream. Kalim drank his coffee black but he had obviously remembered that she preferred cream in her drink.

With a sigh she sank onto the sofa and curled her legs beneath her then leaned her head back against the soft velvet cushions lost in her memories. Memories of six months ago. Memories of the first time she had been in this suite.

It had been raining that day as well. The rain had been responsible for their meeting. The day she met Kalim she had been hurrying along the footpath with her head bent in a vain attempt to protect her face from the biting cold rain and she had literally walked into him.

She had not noticed him getting out of the car and their bodies collided rather forcefully. He had been knocked backward into the car and she had been knocked unconscious when her head had hit the corner of the front car door.

“Shannon.” Kalim snapped his fingers together under her nose and she jumped in surprise as she was brought abruptly back to the present. “Where were you? You looked so far away.”

For a moment she closed her eyes and concentrated fiercely on clearing her mind of her memories. Obviously she had been so lost in her thoughts she had not heard him enter the room and speak to her.

”I was thinking of the day we met and how I knocked myself out cold.”

Her senses deserted her completely as he sank onto the sofa beside her his thigh pressing against her trembling leg.

“You looked so tiny lying on the cold concrete in the rain.” He ran his hand up the inside of her arm under the wide sleeve of the robe. “I was so afraid you may have damaged yourself.”

Shannon laughed. “Well I did have a terrible headache for a few hours.” Her gaze drifted slowly over his large frame. He had changed into a blue T shirt and an old faded pair of jeans and it made her smile. “I see you still cling to those old jeans.”

He glanced down at his legs. “They are comfortable.”

“You’re incorrigible.” She waved her hand in the air in a dismissing gesture. “You could buy truckloads of new jeans but you refuse to buy even one pair and throw those tattered rags away.”

Soft warm lips pressed lightly against the side of her throat.

“If they offend you so badly you could always help me change into another pair.”

The thought of her hands touching his body sent a burning wave of desire sweeping through her like a flood and an aching knot twisted her stomach into a tight ball.

She leaned toward him and groaned in torment when she felt his arousal throbbing against her thigh. One part of her mind told her that this was wrong but another part never wanted it to end.

“This is wrong.”

“This is the only thing that is right.” His hand slid inside her robe and cupped her breast in his palm. “I ache to touch you.”

Half forgotten fires sprang into life as his hand stroked and caressed her quivering flesh. His thumb flicked over her nipple until it hardened into a firm point. Her fingers curled into his hair like talons and she threw her head back as his hot mouth replaced his fingers on her breast.

The feel of his mouth gently sucking on her nipple sent her senses spinning out of control and any modicum of rational thought was totally beyond her at that stage. A burning white heat raced through her veins until it exploded in a burst of sensation in every nerve ending.

With a sudden movement he pushed her backward on to the velvet cushions and parted her robe with his hands and her lips with his mouth. His body moved over her and he began rubbing his hips in a circular motion against her thighs. Her legs parted and his mouth hardened with passion.

Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck as her whole body began to tremble. She moaned low in her throat as she lifted her hips and thrust them against his arousal that was straining the denim to bursting point.

“Shannon you’re strangling me.”

“I don’t care.”

He chuckled. “I do.”

His fingers curled around her wrists and he forcefully pulled her arms from around his neck and held them above her head.

“Mine,” he groaned deep in his throat. “Always and forever mine.”

His hot impassioned words hit Shannon like a bucket of cold water bringing her down to earth with an almighty thud. Dear God what was she doing, she wondered dazedly. Another minute and they would have been making love. She had to stop this and she had to do it now.

“Kalim let me go I don’t want this.”

She was so breathless she was unsure if he heard her mumbled words. In desperation she freed her hands from his grasp then threaded her fingers through his hair and tugged on it until he raised his head.

For a moment he stared at her sightlessly then with an enormous effort of will power he pulled her hands from his hair and stood to his feet to stare down at her nakedness.

“Cover yourself up,” he ordered in a deeply accentuated voice.

Shannon was not sure her shaky legs would support her but she rose to her feet and pulled the robe tightly around her trembling body.

She sucked down deep breaths trying to slow her heart down from its rapid galloping. Every nerve end was pulsating with unfulfilled passion and she had to exert all her willpower not to reach out and touch him.

With an abrupt movement he spun on his heel and walked across the room to the window before turning and returning to her side, his eyes glittering like the brightest emerald with banked down passion.

“Why? You wanted it as much as I did.” He rubbed his hand around the back of his neck to ease the tension and knotted muscles. “Do you know what that does to a man to go that far and then say stop. It nearly emasculates him.” He paused and inhaled a deep breath then continued. “You are lucky I was able to let you go.”

Uncontrollable shivers raced through her body and she wrapped her arms tightly around herself in an attempt to stop them. She knew she had done the correct thing by stopping him but that did not make their shared frustration any easier to bear.

Guilt washed over her like a leaden weight and she acknowledged that she should not have come to him for his help. She wanted to say she was sorry but realized an apology would not change the situation.

“Why did you do it?” his brows drew into a puzzled frown. “Is that what you’ve become? A tease?”

“No!” Her eyes widened in horror mortified that he could think for even a second that she would do such a thing on purpose. “I came here to talk, nothing else just talk. I wouldn’t have come to you for help if I’d any other choice.”

His harsh laugh set her teeth on edge. “So I’m your last resort.” Anger flared in his eyes. “And you expect my help after that?”

“Yes I expect it.” Nervous tension was giving her a headache and she rubbed her hand against her throbbing forehead. “Whether I get it or not is your decision, and if you refuse to help me then at least I’ll know that I tried.”

“Up to and including making love with me to ensure my assistance.”

The biting scorn in his voice was an insult to her moral values and she cringed with shame that he could even contemplate she would do such a thing.

“Damn you.”

Her hand went flying toward his cheek. It never reached its target. His hand latched on to her wrist and he moved her arm away from his face.

“Don’t you ever raise your hand to me again,” he snarled.

His hand squeezed her wrist hard before he threw it away in disgust and she knew she would have bruises there in the morning.

“Well don’t you ever call me a whore again,” she cried. “I would never do that,” She was hurt that he could think so little of her scruples. Not even for Tom would she sell herself like a common prostitute. “Never. Never.”

Warm arms enfolded her and he pressed her against his chest rubbing his hands over her back in a soothing gesture.

“Hush, don’t upset yourself. I did not mean to imply you had turned into a common whore.” His finger under her chin tilted her head up and he gazed deeply into her eyes.“Why Shannon? Why did you pull back?”

“Let’s just say I changed my mind.” She suddenly realized he was no longer paying her any attention, that he had not heard her words. He was staring at nothing but he was thinking, she could actually see his mind replaying images of the past hour. “Leave it alone Kalim please.”

“Mine.” He blinked and his gaze focused on her pale face. “That’s it isn’t it?” He laughed and her temper climbed a notch. “Why am I asking when I know the answer?” He cupped her face in his hands. “Mine,” he repeated and the possessiveness in his voice made her grind her teeth together. “From the moment we met you have been mine and you always will be mine.”

Oh the sheer arrogance of the man, she seethed. “I’m not your possession.” She was tempted to stamp her foot. “I came here to get help for my---“ She broke off. An unknown instinct was telling her not to say the word brother and she continued, “---for my friend. He was working in your country and he’s in a spot of bother.”

“A man!” He released her so abruptly she stumbled. “You came to ask me for help for another man?” His tone suggested she had completely lost her common sense. “Who in the hell is this man?” Fury darkened his eyes until they were almost black. “My successor?”

For a moment Shannon thought she had gone too far with her mention of another man. Her eyes widened in shock and alarm when he half raised his hand as if to slap her face, and she quickly took a step backward aware that he had noticed her involuntary movement away from him.

“Damn you.” He cursed as his hand continued rising to rub the back of his neck. “I’ve never hit a woman in my life.”

“Well I’m glad you decided not to start with me,” she whispered in a shaky voice.

“Who is this man?” he demanded savagely.

Shannon sucked down a deep breath, sent up a silent prayer and told him why she had wanted to see him today.

“His name is Tom Bennett. He’s been arrested in Rentanof for stealing one of your horses.” She was unaware that her fingers curled around his arms as she pleaded. “He didn’t steal your horse Kalim. I know him. He’s not a thief. He really did find it like he said he did.”

“Bennett?” For several moments he stared off into space deep in thought then returned his gaze to her beseeching eyes. “The oil technician who worked for Amono Oil?”

“Yes.” Shannon nodded her head eagerly a tiny flicker of hope growing in her heart. “He found one of your stallions wandering near an oasis where he was working but when he tried to return it he was arrested and charged with stealing it.” Her hands tightened on his arms until her nails were biting into his flash but neither of them noticed it. “I know he didn’t steal it that he found it just like he said he did.”

A disbelieving laugh erupted from his throat. “That’s utter rubbish Shannon. It could not have escaped on its own. It would have had to jump a dutch door in the stable, open the stable door and then jump a twenty foot high brick wall, and do it all without being seen by dozens of people working in the area.”

“I don’t care if it had to fly out of there like Pegasus.” Her voice throbbed with frustration. “All I care about is the fact that it did escape and Tom found it.”

Kalim was watching her very closely with a wary caution. “Assuming what you say is true, what do you expect me to do about it? He’s had his day in court. It is nothing to do with me.”

A tiny flicker of hope fluttered into life in her heart, and she quickly dampened it down. “It’s everything to do with you. Can’t you use your influence to have him released?”

He sucked down a shocked breath. “I can’t interfere in the working of the courts.”

“Rubbish. You’re Kalim Ben Rachid you can do whatever you please in Bashram.” An idea suddenly occurred to her. “You can tell them you loaned him the horse.”

Deep contempt flared in his eyes. “You have it all worked out don’t you?”

“No.” Her head was pounding. “I just thought of that now.”

“Why are you concerned about Tom Bennett,” he asked suspiciously. “What is he to you?”

“My relationship to Tom isn’t important.” Her hands tightened on his arms her nails digging into his flash breaking the skin. “I tried to go through all the proper channels and got exactly nowhere. Then when I read in the newspaper that you were in town I knew I had one last chance to save his life.”

“Is he your lover?” There was so much malice in his tone, she released his arms and took a hurried step backward. His voice sank to a violent whisper. “Is he?”

‘No,” she answered honestly, incensed when she realized he did not believe her. He took a menacing step toward her and cupped her chin in his palm. “You’re hurting me.”

“I’d like to kill you.” With a savage thrust he flung her head away from him as if the touch of her flesh disgusted him and raked his hands through his hair. “You expect me to help your lover?”

“I expect you to help Tom,” she answered, aware that Kalim was ignorant of the subtle difference. She had told him honestly that Tom was not her lover, if he chose to believe otherwise then that was just too damn bad.

His green eyes glittered with a barely controlled rage. “He can rot in jail forever for all of mine.”

Tear sprang into her eyes. “Please Kalim for me.” She knew she was begging but she would get down on her knees to him if that was what it took to get his help. She would do anything to save her big brother.

He had only been sixteen years of age when their parents had been killed in a car accident and they had been sent to live with an aging maiden aunt who was incapable of raising two children. So Tom had quit school and found a menial job to look after his eleven year old sister. He had continued his education at night eventually obtaining three university degrees while providing her with a warm stable and loving home during the day.

Kalim turned on his heel and strode over to the window but his eyes did not see the view.

He stood there with his back to her for so long Shannon began to wonder if he had washed his hands of the whole affair and was waiting for her to leave and she did not know whether to leave or to stay.

After five minutes crawled slowly by without so much as a twitch from him she decided she would leave but as she turned toward the bedroom to fetch her clothes he swung around and walked across the room to halt in front of her.

He stared at her speculatively then asked. “Do you know what the penalty is for horse stealing in Bashram? Especially one of my horses?”

A violent shudder shook her slim frame and she nodded her head. “The people at foreign affairs told me. That’s why I have to save him. I can’t let him be hanged for something he didn’t do.”

“What are you prepared to do to secure his freedom?”

Her heart jumped into her throat. She sensed danger. His stance, his expression even his seemingly innocent question all reminded her of a big cat silently stalking its prey and she was most decidedly the prey.

“How important is he to you Shannon?” His silky tone screamed danger to her. “Will you do anything to save his life?”

Her heart began to race in her chest and nervous perspiration broke out on her brow. She knew an affirmative answer was a trap but she gave it anyway.

“Yes.”

His voice turned even more menacing and she shivered with fright. “Anything at all?”

“Damn you Kalim.” He was playing with her like a cat playing with a mouse before it gobbled it up. “Yes anything at all.”

“Very well.” His eyes blazed with cynical triumph. “Marriage.”

No her mind screamed. Not even for Tom could she do that. At that moment she fervently wished she could faint. She had expected him to offer her an affair or maybe a subtle form of revenge but never marriage, but wouldn’t marriage to him be the biggest torture of all.

Maybe if she told him the truth of her relationship to Tom. A shudder shook her frame. No that would give him even more power over her.

“Marriage.” Shock was running through her veins making her feel ill. “To you?”

“Of course to me. You don’t think I meant your lover do you?” He spat the word lover out making it sound dirty and sordid.

What was she going to do? To be married to Kalim. Her greatest wish come true but also her biggest nightmare. Nervous perspiration beaded her upper lip and neck and she began to tremble.

Her legs turned into spaghetti and she collapsed on to the sofa. The robe fell open exposing her creamy breasts. She did not notice but he did and he sucked in a sharp breath.

She raised her eyes to his forbidding features. “Please don’t do this.”

“Yes or no Shannon. One way or the other.” His voice sounded like the last trumpet of doom to her ears.

She sent up a silent prayer. “I have no choice. Yes.” As soon as she uttered the words her stomach plummeted and she felt as if she had jumped out of an airplane without a parachute.

Kalim relaxed. He had achieved his purpose. “Let us understand each other. Bennett is not released until after we reach Rentanof. Then he will be escorted over the border and told never to return or he will die. You will not see him or communicate with him in any way from this moment on. You will do what I tell you when I tell you and the first time you displease me I will have you sent to one of the houses in the city. Do we understand each other?”

Shannon was seething. She was barely restraining her impulse to jump up and scratch his eyes out. Yet she knew she would do nothing.

He meant every word he had said, she knew that. She had felt his anger and bitterness from the minute she had spoken to him on the footpath outside and now she had given him the weapon to vent his feelings of vengeance on her.

At the moment he held the upper hand and she would do exactly as she was told but she had no intention of making it easy for him. Let him think that Tom was her lover and maybe his pain would be as great as her heartache.

Mutinous eyes lifted and settled on his face. “Yes. Damn you yes. But I’ll never forgive you for this and if I get the slightest chance to escape I will take it, and I will make sure that you never find me again.”

“I would have been disappointed had you reacted any differently.” She almost fainted when he leaned down and kissed her gently on her gaping mouth. “But make no mistake my Shannon. This time you will not be given the chance to escape.”

Her limbs began to tremble as if she had a bad case of fever and the room whirled around her dizzy head. Nausea rose into her throat and threatened to choke her.

“I’m going to be sick.”

She jumped off the sofa and raced into the bathroom her hand clamped tightly over her mouth.

Kalim watched her back disappear and felt as guilty as hell because he had made her ill. The least he could do was to go in there and help her whether she wanted his help or not.

His lips twisted into a grimace as he followed her into the bathroom collecting a warm facecloth as he walked past the bathtub.

Shannon sat back on her heels waiting for the shudders to stop. A large brown hand came over her shoulder and gently wiped her face with the warm cloth. Her startled gaze flew to Kalim who was kneeling beside her with a look of tender concern on his face.

“What are you doing?” she asked her voice barely above a whisper.

He smiled ruefully. “Cleaning you up. Are you finished?”

She nodded her head. “Yes.”

“Can you stand?”

She glared at him with exasperation. “Of course I can stand I’m twenty-five not in my dotage.”

He chuckled and her heart missed a beat. “Well come on then.” He rose to his feet and held his hand out smiling down at her. After a slight hesitation she placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her to her feet. “Can you mange by yourself or do you want me to help you?”

“Such solicitude,” she mocked with biting sarcasm. “Must protect your investment mustn’t you? It wouldn’t do to have me ill. There would be no reas---“

“That’s enough!” His harsh voice interrupted her outburst, the smile disappearing from his face to be replaced with a haughty anger. “I may not be your favorite person at the moment but I demand you show me respect. I have never done anything to you to give you a reason not to respect me.”

Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “What do you call blackmail and kidnapping? Good deeds?”

“Who is kidnapping you?” He shook his head in a negative gesture. “Not me.”

“In a way you are. I wouldn’t be going with you if it wasn’t for Tom.”

His expression turned savage and his eyes darkened with rage. “You would be well advised not to mention your lover’s name in my presence. It was your decision to accept my offer I did not twist your arm.” He threw the facecloth savagely into the vanity sink and strode toward the door. He paused in the doorway but did not turn around. “I’m sorry I made you ill,” he murmured huskily and walked out of the room closing the door with a quiet click.

Shannon stared at the door with her mouth hanging open. For goodness sake he was an enigma. She would never understand him. Just how well did she really know him? She had thought she knew him very well indeed but now she was not so sure. During the two weeks they were engaged they had shared a lot of fun and laughter and endless sessions of love making but she was beginning to suspect that she had not known Kalim the person.

When she eventually walked back into the sitting room Hassam was speaking on the telephone in a language she did not understand and there was no sign of Kalim. A frown settled on her brow as she glanced around the room. Now where had he gone?

Hassam smiled warmly at her as she wandered across to the sofa and sat down beside him. She curled her legs underneath her and waited patiently for him to complete his call.

“Where’s Kalim?” she asked as soon as he replaced the receiver on its cradle.

He nodded his head toward his bedroom. “In there making a call to Rentanof. I was using this phone and he didn’t want to wait.”

She glanced across at the open door then turned back to face him her nerves jangling with uncertainty. “Rentanof?”

He nodded. “He’s making arrangements for Tom Bennett’s safety until we arrive home.” His brows knotted in a curious frown. “Would you care to tell me what the hell is going on? Kalim stormed into my room and ordered his plane to be readied and all his appointments to be cancelled. He wants to leave as soon as possible and if I needed to give a reason I was to say a family emergency.” His frown deepened as he continued. “Then he informs me he is getting Tom Bennett released and that you are coming home with us.”

“Plane.” Her eyes widened in shock. “He’s got his own plane?”

“Of course.” He gestured toward the telephone and grimaced. “For what it’s worth it is ready to take off now.”

“You have your own jet airliner?”

Hassam chuckled. “Don’t sound so surprised. How did you think he travelled around the world, on a broom?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Shannon muttered realizing Hassam had heard her remark when he burst out laughing, and she laughed with him.

Kalim abruptly broke off his conversation with the guard captain of Lilla jail in the middle of a sentence when he heard the sound of Shannon’s laughter. It was a sound he thought he would never hear again. He was suddenly brought out of his reverie by the squawking phone in his hand and he reluctantly placed the receiver against his ear and resumed his conversation.

“I assumed he used commercial flights like everyone else,” Shannon said as her laughter died away.

He was shaking his head as she was speaking. “That would not be safe or convenient.”

A shiver raced through her system. There was that word again Kalim’s safety, danger. The fear and terror started crawling in her stomach and she felt the nausea rise up again. How was she going to live with this gut wrenching sickness all the time?

“Is this a private conversation or can I join it?” Kalim asked as he walked into the room his eyes flickering between them.

“We were discussing your plane,” Hassam stated gravely then spoiled it by winking at Shannon. “Which is ready whenever you are as per your instructions.”

“My plane huh?” It was obvious he did not believe a word of it. “What about my appointments?” he asked as he walked across to the sofa.

Hassam rose to his feet. “I’ll get started on them straight away but you won’t be able to cancel Amono on Friday.”

“Do the best you can.”

Hassam nodded his head as he turned and walked into his bedroom to make a dozen phone calls. Do the best he could. Sure it would be no problem. He only had to perform a miracle or two. It appeared Shannon Leigh Brown was still causing him problems but this time they were nice problems.

“Move over.” Kalim pushed Shannon gently on the shoulder and she moved along the cushions. He sank down beside her and filled a coffee cup from the fresh tray Hassam had ordered earlier. “Do you want one?” He offered her the steaming cup.

“Thanks.” Her hand closed around the cup. Tingles shot up her arm as her fingers tangled with his and she hastily dropped her eyes to the hot black coffee. A large brown hand poured cream into the cup, and she swallowed hard.

She leaned back and watched him as he poured his own coffee loving the way he moved and the fresh clean smell of his tangy cologne. Desire curled in her stomach like a red hot fire and she hastily took a gulp of her drink and nearly burned her tongue off.

“When are we leaving?” she asked when she finally recovered her breath from the scalding drink and her senses from his nearness.

“Apparently Friday afternoon unless Hassam can get me out of that meeting with Amono.”

He lifted the cup to his lips and sipped the hot drink while he stretched his legs out before him crossing them at the ankles.

“Friday,” she gasped her eyes widening in shock. “That’s only two days away. I can’t be ready to leave by Friday. You’ll have to wait until Wednesday at least.”

He shook his head and the expression on his face was suddenly menacing. “You’ll be ready to leave whenever I say you will.” He stared at her with so much coldness in his eyes she shivered in fear. “Be careful Shannon your lover is not safe yet.”

“I can’t do everything by Friday,” she said desperately. “There’s the lease on my flat---“

His harsh bark of laughter interrupted her and she glanced at him warily her eyes asking a silent question.

“You haven’t been near your flat in six months it’s a little late to worry about it now.”

She blinked with surprise. “How do yo---“ she broke off sucked in a deep calming breath then asked. “You’ve had my flat under surveillance?”

His mouth tightened with disgust. “There was no need. For a small monthly retainer your landlady was more than happy to let me know if she heard from you.”

A sharp pang of hurt pierced her heart. Mrs Parr had always seemed such a nice person she never would have thought her name was Judas.

“You think your money can buy you anything don’t you?”

His lips curved in a cynical smile. “Everyone has their price.” He paused then added with a touch of malicious pleasure. “Even you.”

Everything that was good and tender swiveled up and died inside her at his harsh condemnation. He was quite right even she had her price, Tom’s freedom. She had sold her soul to the devil to save her brother’s life and she felt as much a Judas as Mrs Parr.

“All right Kalim,” she said as she rose to her feet and placed the cup on to the tray. “I’ll meet you back here on Friday, and until then I don’t want to see or hear from you in any way and those are my terms.”

“No!” He rose to his feet and his fingers curled around her arms digging painfully into her flesh. “You will remain here with me except to collect your belongings when I will accompany you.”

She shook her head determined to leave. All she wanted at that moment was for this nightmare day to end. “Friday lunch time or not at all.”

His grip on her arms tightened and she winced in pain, aware she would have bruises where he had touched her in the morning. “Aren’t you forgetting Bennett?”

“I’m forgetting nothing. I’m going to get dressed and then I’m leaving. Yes or no Kalim. One way or the other.” She threw his own words back into his face as she jerked her arms free, then spun on her heel and marched into the bedroom not waiting for his answer not caring if he answered or not.