She started asSinjartookher gently by the shoulders and raised her up beside him. She opened her large,violet eyes and regarded him through spiky lashes, tears tumbling down hercheeks. With infinite tenderness he cradled her face in his hands, his thumbscaressing away the warm wetness.
"You weep for William, yes?"
She stared into the smoldering, mahogany depths thatseemed to know her soul, and nodded.
"I weep for William . . . for what is lost,"she said truthfully, for strangely withSinjarshehad never thought to lie. "And I weep at the remorse which is like adagger twisting in my heart—"
Sinjarsilenced her with afinger to her lips, his gaze burning intently into hers. "Say no more, mybeloved. I understand," he said quietly, enfolding her in his arms. "Butknow this. Kismet has brought you to me, and there is nothing that will alterwhat has gone before. Nothing. You must accept your kismet, Eve. Your fate."
Eve said nothing as she buried her damp face againsthis shoulder. His familiar masculine scent, tinged with musk and sandalwood,was a compelling comfort. Her arms crept around him, and she returned hisembrace.
"I am a patient man, but I am also a jealous man,"Sinjarcontinued, his arms tightening possessively. "Youlost your William ten months ago. I know you have yet to mourn, but I will notlive forever with his spirit between us, Eve. In time, I hope you will leavehim to his eternal rest and return my love."
Eve silently cried out her anguish asSinjarbent his head and kissed her, the demanding warmthof his lips driving William's image from her mind. She clung to him as adrowning creature would cling to a rock, unconsciously making her choice, theliving over the dead.
She knew that in time, just asSinjarhad said, her guilt wouldeaseand she would be ableto voice her love. And she knew, deep in her heart, that William would wish herhappiness in the new life fate had brought her.
"Come with me, my beloved,"Sinjarsaid softly, his breath stirring her gossamer veiland the lustrous black hair curled at the base of her throat. He took her arm,and together they walked from the jasmine- and rose-scented courtyard, passingthrough the archway into Eve's luxurious apartments, which were set apart fromthe rest of the harem as befitted a favored concubine.
Now Eve led the way, taking his hand as she drew himinto the salon across velvet carpets embroidered in gold and crimson.
The room was dark and cool, a welcome relief from thedry summer heat. Two window grilles looking out onto the courtyard providedsoft,diffused light through elegantly carved lattices.Beautiful gilded hangings with intricate mosaic designs graced the four walls,while on three sides of the room the floor was raised several feet, forming adivan furnished with inviting brocade cushions.
Eve was pleased to see thatMajidahad done her job well. The low tortoiseshell table in the center of the roomwas set with gleaming silver plates with cream silk napkins wrapped inmother-of-pearl rings, and in the middle sat a large platter covered with plumpfigs, bowls of caviar, salty olives, and feta cheeses. Next to the platter wasa basket of bread, the crusty, flat loaves still steaming from the haremovens.It was a simple repast. The heavier meal would comelater that evening.
WhileSinjarsettledhimselfon the tasseled pillows strewn beside the table, Evepicked up a carved crystal pitcher and poured them each a goblet of cool,citron-flavored water.
"That is work for a slave,"Sinjarobjected mildly, as he had done since Eve had firstentered his harem. "A woman in your exalted position should have amultitude of slaves, yet you accept only one,Majida,and she is forever doting on the child instead of you."
Eve knelt on a cushion, smiling as she handed him thegoblet. "I have simple needs, my lord. Simple wants. And I enjoy doingthese things myself. More slaves would only disturb my privacy, which Itreasure more highly than ease of living." She gave a small laugh. "AsforMajida, she does dote overmuch on Leila, but sheis a great help to me, and Leila adores her. It is enough."
Sinjarchuckled, shaking histurbannedhead. He drank deeply from his goblet, then setit down and leaned toward her. "You, my beloved Eve, are truly a wonder,"he whispered, his gaze moving slowly over her face as if memorizing its shapelycontours. "My two other wives grow fat and lazy because they do not lift afinger for themselves except to bring food to their mouths, while you"—hereached out and tenderly stroked her cheek— "insist upon serving me withyour own hands."
Eve closed her eyes and inclined her head, her skintingling from his touch. She felt his smooth fingertips stray ever so slowlyalong the high curve of her cheekbone and down her throat, lingering at thehollow pulse point, then drift still lower. She drew in a sharp breath when hetraced the firm swell of her breasts through her silken clothing.
"My touch excites you, yes?"Sinjarasked huskily, circling his palm over her tautnipples. "Your pulse betrays you, my beloved. It pants for love as a wildbeast pants for water beneath the desert sun. As I pant and bum for thesoftness of your body. Our meal must wait."
Sinjarraised himself upsuddenly and sucked hungrily at her breast despite the silken barrier, a wetand frustrating sensation that caused Eve to moan deep in her throat. How shelonged to be free from her clothing and feel his lips, his flicking tongue uponher skin!
As if in answer to her wish, Eve opened her eyes tofindSinjarkneeling in front of her. She watched,fascinated, as he reached around her narrow waist and deftly unfastened theembroidered belt securing herqumbaz,thenpushed the outer garment from her shoulders. And stillhe suckled her. His movements were abrupt and impatient, his breathing becomingas rapidas her own. Wherever he touched her, shecould feel him trembling
It was alwayslike this when he had not seen her for three days. Sometimes his hunger was sogreat he would rip the clothes from her body in his haste to possess her.
Sinjarpulled the filmythobover her head and tossed the dress to the floor. Eveshivered as the cooler air in the salon found her naked torso. He bade herstand as he tore wildly at the silktikkeh, thedrawstring gathering together the waistline of her voluminoussirwal. It was all she could do not tocollapse,her knees were so weak with desire. She leaned on his broad shoulders while hedragged the shimmering pants from her hips, his nails lightly raking her skin,and she laughed giddily when he pulled her into his lap with an exultant cry.
His need for her was so overpowering he did not botherto remove his robes. With a quick adjustment of hissirwalhe freed himself and entered her, supporting the weight of their bodies on hisheels.
Eve's cries of passion were silenced by his kiss. Hislong fingers ripped off her veil and threaded through her hair as he movedpowerfully within her. Their fusion was swift and furious, their release as wildas a sudden thunderstorm breaking over the distant mountains of Lebanon. Andwhen it was over,Sinjardrew her down beside him onthe pillows, their flesh still joined.
"How you please me!" he whispered raggedlyinto her ear, wiping long, midnight strands from her shoulder and nuzzling herearlobe.
Eve shifted her weight, draping a slim leg over his hipand winding an arm around his neck. She played languidly with his turban, whichamazingly was still atop his head. The thought made her giggle, and she huggedhim impulsively. "How you please me, my lord!" she said brazenly, hereyes shining into his.
They lay entwined together until their breathing hadslowed, and then for a long time afterward, simply basking in the warmth andnearness of the other.
At last,Sinjardrew himselfreluctantly from her, retying his pants, and Eve covered herself with herwrinkledthob, pulling it over her head. Yet theyremained close together on the pillows, sitting side by side and claspinghands.
Thinking he might be hungry, Eve picked the choicestfig from the platter and offered it to him, holding it to his lips.Sinjarsmiled playfully and took the fig between his evenwhite teeth, but he did not bite into it. He bent his head to her in a funny,familiar game, and she bit the plump fig in half, the sweet juice dripping downtheir chins. Sticky kisses followed, and muchlaughter,and they both sank back down on the pillows, embracing.
