Johanna Lindsey - Captive Bride

"I'll be sure to heed your warning and be more careful in the future," Christina replied, smoothing imaginary wrinkles from her skirt. "If you'll excuse me now, I have some sewing that needs to be done."

She picked up a bolt of material and disappeared into the bedroom. Philip shook his head. She certainly could compose herself quickly, he thought: frightened dismay to cool disdain.

After he had eaten his fill, Philip sauntered over to the bedroom and pulled back the heavy curtains. "By the way, my sweet, don't waste your time making nightdresses to sleep in, for you'll have no use for them here."

Philip ducked as a pillow came flying at him. He laughed deeply as he turned and left the tent. He would start breaking the wild horses today: they might prove more tamable than Christina!

That evening after dinner, Philip reclined on the couch lazily watching Christina. She sat across from him sewing on a piece of light-green material and ignoring him completely. Her neglect irritated him, but he decided not to give her the satisfaction of knowing it.

Closing his eyes, Philip let his mind wander. He'd spent the latter part of the afternoon with his father telling Yasir abut Paul and his new wife. Although his father hadn't seen Paul for many years, he was still close to his heart. Philip hoped Paul would come at least once to visit his father. The old man didn't have much time left People died before their time in this land.

When Yasir had decided to move his tribe into the foothills, Philip had been delighted. He had never liked the nomadic desert life, constantly roaming from one oasis to the next. The tribe had lived in the hills for eight years now. Philip might not have stayed so long with his father if they had not moved permanently to these hills. The climate was considerably cooler. There was enough water even for regular bathing. And their camp was situated so they could hold off an attack if necessary.

Philip didn't know if he would stay in Egypt after his father died. But now that he had Christina, he'd probably decide to stay. He couldn't take her back to England, because she'd be able to escape him there.

Stretching languidly, Philip opened his eyes to find Christina dozing on the couch. He arose and quietly walked around the table to stand above her. His eyes caressed her unbraided hair; its glowing mass covered the pillow and rippled to the floor behind her. She was curled in a ball like a little girl dreaming innocently. She hardly seemed the sensuous woman of the night before.

Philip bent to scoop Christina into his arms. But she jumped up and scurried to the other end of the tent. She turned to see if he were pursuing her.

"So—you were only feigning sleep." He straightened, giving her an amused glance. "It's rather late for games, my pet."

"I can assure you, I do not play games," she retorted stiffly, pushing back the hair that had fallen all around her.

"I was only going to carry you to bed. But now that you're awake—I can think of better things to do," Philip teased as he slowly came toward her.

"No!" she snapped, backing away from him. "And I won't sleep in that bed with you. It's indecent! I'd rather sleep on the floor!"

He chuckled softly as he cornered Christina at the end of the tent.

"You wouldn't like sleeping on the floor, Tina. It can get very cold here at night, and you'd better have the warmth of my body next to you. Winter is coming soon!"

"Better to suffer with the cold than with your advances," she replied tartly. She tried to run past him.

"You didn't feel that way last night, Tina," he said. He caught her in his arms and threw her roughly over his shoulder.

She struggled fiercely as Philip swiftly crossed the tent and tossed her onto the bed.

"I think it's time I taught you a lesson, Tina. You're a very passionate woman, even though you refuse to admit it!"

Christina fought him furiously while he tried to remove her clothing. Amid her kicking and useless struggles, she spat curses at him that he had never dreamed a lady would know. He finally managed to pull her blouse over her head, and the skirt followed easily. He quickly dropped his own clothing to the floor and pinned her to the bed with his body.

"Your language certainly doesn't befit a lady, my sweet," he laughed. "You must tell me sometime how you acquired such an outlandish vocabulary."

Christina made one last effort to push him from her, then changed her tactics and lay perfectly still beneath him.

Opening her mouth with his, Philip kissed her intensely, but felt no response from her. So—she was playing at a new game, he mused. But she wouldn't be able to hold out for long.

Moving to her side, Philip brought his lips down to her full breasts, sucking and teasing each one in turn. He moved his hand down over her belly until it rested between her legs. Gently his fingers moved back and forth across her soft flesh until she moaned with passion.

"Oh, Philip," she breathed. "Take me."

Philip mounted her. Her arms encircled his neck, and she met his kisses eagerly. He entered her slowly, then rode her fast and hard until their passions exploded, sending them soaring into ecstasy.

THE dawn came slowly for Christina. She had slept fitfully through the night, awakening fully with the tent still in darkness. Now, as the daylight slowly illuminated the bedroom, Christina stared boldly at the man who had robbed her of her will last night.

Christina had fought desperately to quell the urgings sweeping through her body as Philip caressed her, but she couldn't resist his touch. She had surrendered to him completely. She had begged him to take her.

What has he turned me into? Christina thought angrily. I was like a bitch in heat the way I wanted him.

She let her eyes roam over the length of his naked body. He was perfectly formed: lean, muscular, and powerful. She studied his face: so rugged and handsome when he was awake; boyish and charming when he slept. His black hair curled softly at the nape of his neck, disheveled by the night's sleep. Philip looked like the Prince Charming she bad childishly dreamed of, but his character was that of the devil!

Suddenly Christina was startled by a deep voice.

"Abu," the man said. "I only just learned of your return. Wake up!"

A tall man of slight build that Christina had never seen before entered the bedroom, but he broke off when he saw her.

The man looked at Philip, who was just coming awake, and back at Christina. A wide grin slowly spread across his dark features as Christina jerked the covers over her, ashamed at being seen in bed with Philip.

"A thousand pardons, brother. I did not know you had married," he said innocently. "When did the happy event take place?"

Philip sat up on the side of the bed and glowered at the man.

"There has been no wedding, as I am sure you already know. Now if your curiosity has been adequately appeased, will you kindly leave my bedroom?"

"As you wish, Abu. I will wait and have the morning meal with you," he replied. He grinned as he swung around and left the room.

Cautiously Christina came out from under the covers and turned to Philip.

"Who was that man?" she demanded angrily. "How dare he enter your bedroom like that? Am I to have no privacy here?"

Philip stood up and stretched lazily. He donned his tunic and trousers and sat down on the bed to pull on his boots.

"Will you answer me, damn it?" she flung at him.

Philip turned around to face Christina and chuckled at her anger.

"This won't happen again, my pet. That was my half-brother, Rashid, and this was just one of the games he plays to annoy me. My bedroom is the one place you may be assured of privacy—except from me. Now get dressed," he said, picking up her clothes and handing them to her. "He's waiting to meet you."

As he walked from the room, Philip didn't see the tongue Christina childishly stuck out at him. Brother indeed, she thought while she dressed hurriedly. How many more surprises am I expected to endure? Now I have his brother to contend with—another barbarian, no doubt.

She brushed the tangles from her hair and tied it back with a piece of lace she'd cut from some Philip had given her. Christina wished she had a mirror but was not about to ask Philip for one.

Both brothers were seated on the couch eating the morning meal when Christina opened the curtains. They're so uncivilized that they can't even stand up when a lady enters the room, Christina thought. She crossed the tent to stand before them.

"I am Rashid Alhamar," Philip's brother said, his eyes roving over her body from head to foot. "And you must be Christina Wakefield."

She nodded, picked up a piece of bread, and sat down on the opposite couch.

Except for his height, Rashid didn't look anything like Philip. He was much darker in complexion, with black hair and brown eyes. His face was boyish, almost effeminate, with smooth, soft skin, where Philip's was rugged and heavily bearded. Philip was broad and muscular, but Rashid was actually skinny.

"Your brother has posted a very large reward for your safe return, Christina," said Rashid. "I have heard that he and his men search for you among all the caravans and desert tribes."

"And pray tell, do you wish to collect that reward, Mr. Alhamar?" Christina inquired icily.

The question brought a scowl from Philip.

"There will be no more talk of a reward," Philip said to Rashid, his voice heavy with malice. "I will tell you once only. Christina is here to stay because I wish it. As head of this tribe, no one will question me about her. She is my woman and shall be treated as such. And you are never to enter my bedroom again."

Rashid laughed. "Nura said you were being overly protective of this one. I can see she was right. Nura is jealous of your new woman, you know. She always hoped to become your wife herself."

"Ah, women," Philip shrugged. "I never gave Nura any reason to hope for marriage."

"But she is just like all the other young women of the tribe. They all want your attentions." Christina thought she heard envy in his voice.

"Enough talk of women," Philip replied sourly. "Where have you been, Rashid? And why weren't you here when I returned to camp?"

"I was in El Balyana, where I heard of a large caravan stopping. It was there that I learned of Christina's disappearance. The caravan was two days late in arriving or I would have been here to welcome you back."

Taking a small sack from the inside of his robe, Rashid opened it and poured the contents on the table.

"This is the reason I waited so long. I knew where they would be hidden, so it was quite easy to steal them."

Christina's eyes opened wide as she saw the magnificent jewels roll onto the table. There were huge diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and other precious stones that she didn't recognize. But the most beautiful stone was a huge ruby shining with many blood-red facets. The ruby alone was truly worth a king's ransom.

"Of course, since you are head of the tribe, they are yours," Rashid said reluctantly.

"What would I do with a sack full of jewels?" Philip laughed. "I have no need for wealth here, nor do I wish it. You may keep the jewels, since you went to the trouble of stealing them."

"I hoped you would feel that way, Abu." Rashid scooped the jewels back into the sack and hid them in his robe.

"I just hope you use the gems wisely," Philip said. "Have you been to see our father yet?"

"I will go see him now. He became very ill a few months ago. Maidi pulled him through, but he has not been strong since. I fear he will not live long," Rashid said flatly.

Philip saw his brother out and stayed at the entrance staring into the camp. What kind of man was he, Christina wondered, that he could so casually hear that his father was dying? What kind of man could turn away a fortune in jewels as if they were ordinary stones? Would she ever understand this man who had made her his mistress? Did she want to understand him?

Slowly Philip turned around, raising both hands to brush back the hair that had fallen into his face. Christina could read the sadness in his dark-green eyes.

So—he did feel pain after all. Suddenly she wanted to go to him and put her arms around him. She wanted to wipe away his sadness. What was the matter with her? She hated him. Besides, he would only laugh at her.