Johanna Lindsey - Captive Bride

"I called you twice. You have a strange way of showing that you're interested in what I do."

"I'm sorry," Christina smiled back at him. "I was just thinking of my horse, Dax, and how I would love to be out riding."

"Did you ride often at your home?"

"Oh yes! Every day, for long hours at a time," she said enthusiastically.

They walked back to the tent, where steaming dishes of porridge, rice, and sweetmeats were on the table for their midday meal. There was a pot of tea for Christina and a fresh skin of wine for Philip.

"I'll be leaving the camp this afternoon for a while," Philip mentioned as they sat down to eat. "I'll leave Ahmad to guard the tent while I'm gone. It is for your protection that you're guarded, nothing else."

"But where are you going?"

"On a ghazw," he said irritably.

She had obviously hit on something Philip didn't want to talk about. But her woman's curiosity wouldn't let her stop.

"A ghazw? What's that?"

"Christina, must you always ask so many questions of me?" Philip's voice was edged with anger, making her shiver despite the warmth. "It's a raid, if you must know. Syed spotted a caravan this morning. Since our food supply is getting low, we'll take what we need to hold us over for a while. Does that answer your question, or is there something else you'd like to know?"

"You can't be serious!" Christina was appalled. She stopped eating and looked into his cold green eyes. "Why can't you buy what you need? Rashid had all those jewels you turned down. You must have wealth of your own. Why must you steal from other people?"

Philip stood and faced her, the yellow flecks in his green eyes disappearing as he looked at her wrathfully,

"I will not stand for your questioning my actions anymore, Christina. I will tell you once, and once only. Raiding is the way of my people. We rob to survive as we have always done. We take only what we need. I have no wealth here, because I have no need of it. Rashid has a grievance against me that I understand, so I don't curb his greed for riches. What he steals, I let him keep. Do not question me about it again!"

He turned on his heel and stormed from the tent. Christina was shaken. She felt as if she were hopelessly falling into a bottomless pit.

Philip was an outlaw! No doubt he killed men mercilessly when he went on raids. He probably enjoyed killing! And she—Christina Wakefield—was at his mercy.

Christina shivered uncontrollably, thinking of the rage he had just shown. Would he kill her if she pushed him too far? He was an outlaw, and she knew where his camp was. Would Philip ever let her go with that kind of knowledge?

She heard horses galloping out of the camp. He was off to pillage and plunder and only God knew what else, Christina thought. She couldn't live with this new fear. She had to know what he intended to do with her. If she was to die, then she wanted to know it.

Walking quickly to the entrance of the tent, she found Ahmad sitting on the ground outside the entrance. He was meticulously cleaning a long silver sword with a curved handle.

"Ahmad," she ventured slowly, "may I ask you a question?"

He loooked at her strangely.

"It is not right. Women do not ask questions. It is not their place."

This was too much. These people were barbaric!

"But Ahmad, I was not raised as your women are. I was brought up to be equal to men, can't you understand that? I just wanted to know if Abu ever brought another woman here before me," she said, hoping he would just think her jealous.

Ahmad grinned. "No, you are the first woman Sheik Abu has ever brought to camp."

'Thank you, Ahmad," she smiled back at him.

Going back into the tent, Christina paced the floor. That was no help at all. If there had been another woman, Christina might have discovered what had happened to her after Philip tired of her. Now she would have to face Philip with the question that was tormenting her. She prayed he would be in a better mood when he returned.

THE sun was still above the horizon when they reached the foot of the mountains. They rode hard now, for the caravan was many miles away. Philip hoped this wasn't a slaver's caravan, for they usually carried little food.

Damn that woman and her curiosity! How could she so easily make him lose control? He had always prided himself on his cool reactions toward women—until he'd met Christina!

She'd angered him the night before by refusing to tell him why she was crying. He couldn't understand it. She had never cried before after making love.

Would he ever understand her? Christina continued to fight him each night, but he knew she enjoyed his love-making. Why did she fight what was so pleasurable?

When she came to the corral this morning, he knew her feigned interest was only an excuse to leave the tent. But could he blame her? He'd have done the same thing. He was positive she wouldn't try to escape again, she feared him too much. Perhaps he could trust her enough to give her the freedom of the camp.

Philip recalled the look of horror on Christina's face when he told her he was going raiding. He hadn't intended to tell her about that part of his life. He didn't enjoy it himself, and he knew it would appall her. But he was so angered by her inquisitiveness that he wanted to shock her.

He wasn't used to so many questions about his life, especially from a woman. Ah, but what a woman! Philip thoroughly enjoyed having her around. He found pleasure in just gazing at her uncommon beauty. He looked forward to entering his tent knowing she would be there— willing or not. Before, his tent had been a lonely place that he avoided as much as possible.

As they approached the caravan, which had camped at an oasis for the night, Philip saw five camels, their packs piled on the ground, and six men gathered around a small fire. Philip and his men galloped up to surround the camp, brandishing their guns, and Syed fired off two shots to see if the caravan intended to fight or surrender its goods.

Slowly, one by one, the caravan guards threw down their rifles. Philip dismounted and walked forward cautiously flanked by his men, but the six guards put up no resistance. They would rather stay alive than fight and die for another man's property.

Syed guarded the prisoners while the rest of them opened and ransacked the packs. They soon made themselves comfortable for the night, and broke open some wine and dried meat for supper.

The next morning, they loaded the foodstuffs and other goods they wanted on one of the camels, sent the rest of the caravan on its way, and set off for the mountains. They rode into camp about midafternoon amid the cheers of the rest of the tribe. They led the horses into the corral, unloaded the camel, and sent it off into the hills to graze. Philip left the men to divide the spoils among themselves, and carried one large chest to his tent.

He hoped he'd find Christina in a gentler mood than she'd been in the afternoon before. He found her sitting demurely on the couch with her towel and new clothes lying across her lap. She didn't say a word as he went into the bedroom to dispose of the chest

"We can go bathe in just a minute, my pet," he said cheerfully. He came back into the main room and removed a small bundle from the corner cabinet. "Is something the matter, my sweet?" Philip inquired, hoping her silence didn't mean she was still angry with him.

But she just turned away from him and shook her head. Well, he wouldn't press her to answer him. Without another word, Philip pulled her to her feet and took her up the hillside to bathe.

Christina had not yet lost her shyness at disrobing in his presence. She turned her back to Philip and slowly removed her blouse and skirt. He controlled his desire with great effort as he watched her wade into the water.

But turning his attentions to the bundle he had brought with him, Philip unwrapped a finely honed razor and proceeded to shave his week's growth of beard.

After he was satisfied with the results, he took a new bar of soap from the bundle and joined Christina in the water.

It was dark when they finally returned to camp. The newly kindled fire illuminated the tent brightly, making dancing shadows in the corners.

Philip pondered Christina's sullenness as they finished the evening meal. This attitude of hers couldn't continue, for he was aching to take her to bed. But she would succumb to his advances after her usual resistance, he knew.

Reclining on the couch behind her, Philip played with the loose curls dangling at the nape of Christina's neck. He leaned forward and grazed the soft flesh behind her ear with his lips, and watched the gooseflesh run down her arms.

Downing the rest of his wine, Philip stood up and took Christina's hand in his.

"Come, Tina," he murmured, and led her into the bedroom, surprised that she didn't resist him.

While taking off his clothes, he watched Christina move to the opposite side of the bed and unbind her hair. It fell gloriously about her body. He was astonished as she slowly, seductively removed her garments. She sat naked on the bed, as if inviting him to join her. But as he came to her, she put up her hands to stop him.

"Philip, I must talk to you," Christina said, searching his eyes with her dark, sapphire ones.

"Later, my pet," Philip replied huskily and silenced her words with his kiss. But, with an effort, she pushed him away.

"Please, Philip! There's something I must know."

He looked down at her and saw her trembling lips and deepening blue eyes.

"What is it, Tina?"

"What do you intend to do with me?"

"I'm going to make love to you. Did you think otherwise?" He smiled beguilingly and toyed with the curls dangling over her breasts.

"I mean in the future—when you no longer want me, What will you do with me then?"

"I haven't really thought about it," he lied, for there was nothing to think about. He'd never let her go.

"Would you let me return to my brother?" she ventured timidly.

Philip knew now what was troubling Christina. Did she actually think he would do away with her? Of course she did, for she thought the worst of him.

"When I tire of you, Tina—then, yes, you may go back to your brother."

"Will you give me your word, Philip?"

"You have my word. I swear it."

He could see relief flood her features as she relaxed into the pillow. She smiled up at him invitingly.

"Are all your fears forgotten now, my sweet?" he whispered, branding her throat with his fiery lips.

"Most of them," she breathed. She pulled his face to hers and accepted his passionate kiss willingly.

Philip wondered fleetingly what else could cause Christina to fear him. But she wasn't fighting him right now, and it both puzzled and excited him. He didn't ponder long, for he was not about to waste this moment on trivial questions.

As dawn crept over the horizon, Christina slowly awakened to the sweet song of a nightingale. A grimace crossed her pretty features when she remembered the night past and the lengths she had gone to.

She didn't have to play the whore. She had already made Philip promise to return her to her brother. But she had struck a bargain with him, and she had given herself willingly to seal the pact. It was a small thing to do—he would have taken her, anyway.

Christina smiled as she recalled how her caresses had driven Philip wild with desire. His fervid passions had carried them higher than ever before. And she had been caught in the same whirlpool of desire until the tide swept them both into a sea of mutual bliss.

Well, the evening was behind her now. She had given herself to Philip for a reason. But with her worst fears put to rest, Philip wouldn't find her so willing in the future. Indeed, she would be more obstinate than ever.

It's going to be a glorious day, Christina thought as she slipped from the bed and donned her new mauve velvet skirt and her green blouse. I should be disgusted with myself, but I'm not. I actually feel happy.

She went into the main room to put the last trims on her mauve blouse before Philip awoke, for she wouldn't let him see her in clashing colors.

Awhile later, Philip called her name from the bedroom. She knew he thought her gone, and was about to answer when she heard him swear.