Leila was on her back so suddenly that her head spun,his hand clamped over her mouth. She stared up at his face lowered to withininches of herown,his eyes all glitter and fire inthe moonlit darkness.
"Another word, Leila, and I . . ."
She gulped, wondering wildly at his unfinished warningand the humorless chuckle that broke from his throat as he removed his hand.Before she could blink, his mouth came down hard on hers.
Completely startled, Leila flailed her hands againsthis massive shoulders to push him away, but it was like trying to move amountain. His overpowering strength was as relentless as his tongue, whichthrust deeply inside her mouth. She cried out at his savage assault, but theirlips were so fused she heard only a whimper. Yet it became a husky moan when heexplored her mouth hungrily, his tongue forcing hers to partake in a wild,serpentine dance.
New and dizzying sensations poured through Leila'sbody, their intimate dueling overwhelming her. She felt as if she was spiralingback into thin air, her thoughts in chaos,herlimbstingling and weak. His mouth was hot and demanding. The taste of him wasincredibly exciting. Nothing in her harem training could have prepared her forthis. Nothing.
She had practiced kissing with a specially trainedeunuch underMajida'swatchful eye. There had been nofire, no passion, only technique. She would never have guessed the differencecould be so glaring, so unreal. So amazingly wonderful. Without thinking, shedelved her tongue into his mouth, seeking more of his seductive sweetness . . .
Reality suddenly came crashing in around her when sheheard Guy's ragged groan and felt his hand cover her breast. Realizing too latethe insane folly of her wanton action and wholly shocked at herself for evendoing such a thing, Leila tried futilely to twist away from him.
"No!" she cried hoarsely against his mouth,her heart hammering. "Stop!"
But he did not stop. As he deepened the kiss, hiscaresses grew rougher, more insistent, his thumb circling the rigid nipplestraining against her silk dress. Leila arched her back, stunned by theincredible pleasure she found in his touch. She knew it was wrong that sheshould feel this way—SweetJesu, he was not her husband!—yetshe could not help it. Then she heard a ripping sound, and her mounting desirebecame raw panic as the sheer silken barrier slipped from her body. His hand,huge and warm, slid over her bare flesh.
Terrified, Leila began to fight him in earnest, all thehorrible stories she had heard about crusaders running through her mind. He wasgoing to rape her!
She balled up her fists and beat upon his shoulders,but her frantic blows might have been those of a child for the little notice hegave them. It wasn't until he tore his mouth from hers and kissed a fiery traildown her throat that she was able to exclaim breathlessly, "No, you cannotdo this! I am not a whore to be taken when and wherever you choose! I am avirgin! I demand you stop at once! "
Guy's whole body tensed, her impassioned words ringingin his ears. Breathing hard, he uttered a low curse as he lifted his lips fromher silky skin.
What the hell was he doing? He had only wanted tosilence her poisonous barbs, to frighten her a little into behaving, not ravageher. But her kiss had astounded him, setting his blood on fire and his loinsablaze with need. When her tongue darted boldly into his mouth . . .
Guy cursed again. He knew she was no whore, but perhapsshe was no innocent either. Slowly he lifted his head and met her wide,frightened eyes.
"You don't kiss like a virgin, my lady . . .though that is what your mother claimed you to be. Is it possible your heathenbetrothed has already sampled your charms?"
Indignation swept away her fear. Leila was so outragedthat she could not stop the tumble of words that jumped to her tongue.
"How dare you even suggest such a thing?" shesnapped, swiping strands of hair from her flushed face. "In my culture,virginity is highly prized and to be saved for the wedding night! So, too, arethe sensual arts I have been taught to please my future husband, Jamal Al-Aziz.They are for him alone! It is a sin for a woman to use these arts on anyone buther husband—"
"Then you have just sinned, my lady," Guy cutin thickly, his desire only heightened by her astonishing revelation.
A virgin trained in erotic arts. No wonder her kiss hadbeen so experienced. Intensely fascinated, he let his imagination run wild, hisvow to protect her pushed to the recesses of his mind. What arts might shepractice upon him if he continued his carnal assault? What further sins, beyonda kiss, might she commit?
Leila gasped, wishing she could retract her outburstwhen his calloused palm moved over her bare breast. She had only made thesituation worse! Then he bent his head and captured an aroused nipple in hismouth, and she nearly cried out as forbidden pleasure rippled through her. Itwas not right that he was doing this to her! She had to stop him!
"Barbarian! Beast! I should have known you wouldn'tunderstand!" she shouted desperately, hot tears filling her eyes. "Thatyou would force yourself upon me proves you have no morals! No honor!"
At last her agonized protest cut through Guy's ragingdesire like a knife, and he raised his head from her breast.
Seeing her tears in the moonlight, he felt anger sweepthrough him, mixed with chagrin at his inability to control himself. By God,what was the matter with him? He was acting more like a barbarian than like herguardian knight. Steeling himself against the burning ache in his loins, he shiftedonto an elbow, although he kept his other arm firmly around her waist.
"You are wrong about my honor, Leila," hesought to explain, knowing how lame it sounded in light of his callousbehavior. "If I didn't possess any, I wouldn't stop now, no matter whatyou called me. But I am not a barbarian. In my culture, virginity is alsoprized. When I became a knight I pledged to protect all women, their honor,theirchastity—"
"Your actions belie your words!" she flung athim, and rightfully so, he realized.
"This is true," he admitted, almost tohimself. "Your beauty alone overwhelms me, but when combined with yourkiss . . ."
"I can imagine you've used that excuse on manyother unfortunate virgins before me," Leila replied sharply, unconvinced.She looked away, but he forced her chin back to face him.
"Do not provoke me, Leila. It was such a tone thatfirst drew my wrath. I strongly urge you to behave, or I might lose control ofmyself again. Now go to sleep."
Stunned, Leila felt she was choking on the starkemotion crawling up her throat, her chest rising and falling rapidly from thestrain. As Guy drew her closely against him, it was all she could do to liethere without shrieking at him.
His dark threat churned like bile in her heart. That hewould threaten to use his kiss, his touch, his body as punishment reinforcedthe opinion she had nurtured long before she had everbeheldhis face.
