Desert Sands. Barbara Jeffs

yes your letter.” Sarcasm deepened his voice to a low growl. “You did not even have the courage to face me with your decision. You stole away like a thief in the night.”

      “I had to do it that way,” she cried. “If I’d told you in person you would have talked me out of leaving.”

      Tears sprang into her eyes as she recalled the heartache and pain she had felt as she left the hotel for the last time.

      For a moment something threatening flared in his eyes before he quickly masked it.

      “You would do well to remember that fact,” he drawled, and Shannon knew that somehow she had committed a grave error. There was something in what he said but she was unable to put her finger on it. She might not know what it was but she sensed danger. What was it she had said?

      Nervous tension was giving her a headache and she rubbed her hand across her pounding forehead as she recalled their conversation. ‘you would have talked me out of leaving’ her words echoed in her mind. Surely he did not mean ---

      “Are you threatening me?” she asked, unsure of what he meant by his ambiguous statement.

      “That was not a threat.” His eyes glittered. “That was a promise.” For some indefinable reason his silky tone made her uneasy. “You know what a promise is don’t you Shannon. “It is what you broke when you ended our brothel.” Suddenly, his eyes were blazing with anger. “You did well to hide from me, Shannon. Had you been found in the first few weeks after you disappeared I think I would have killed you.”

      And she believed him. She had always known he would never accept her walking out of his life. He was a very possessive man. His culture had taught him that his woman was his possession. That she belonged exclusively to him body and soul. Kalim had been given a western education and his views were more liberal than most of his countrymen, but he was not so liberated that he would not try to discover her whereabouts.

      “Engagements are broken every day,” she stated more confidently than she was feeling. “They’re a testing period for two people who think they want to spend the rest of their lives together.”

      “Not in my country,” he declared. “In my country a betrothal is as binding as a marriage. There is no changing your mind, no divorce. Once a commitment is made it is kept.” He paused then added. “You made me a promise Shannon and I intend to see you honor the pledge you made to me when you accepted my betrothal ring.”

      The underlying threat behind his words was not lost on Shannon and an icy finger of fear shivered down her spine. She had known it was a risk to come here today but it was a risk she had willingly taken, and if mister high and mighty wanted a fight then he would find she was no shrinking violet.

      “Go to hell.”

      His harsh bark of laughter startled her and her eyes flew to his face. For a moment she glimpsed a flash of anguish in his green eyes.

      “Oh I’ve already been there Shannon. You made sure of that.”

      Later, Shannon was at a loss to explain why she did what she did at that moment. She impulsively pulled her hand out of her pocket, reached out and gently laid her palm against his cheek. A pulse throbbed beneath her hand and a tic beat along his jaw, and she suddenly realized he was also affected by the closeness of their bodies.

      He raised his hand and gently removed her hand from his cheek, and for a moment she thought he was rejecting her touch.

      His burning gaze locked with her cloudy blue eyes as he pressed her hand against his warm mouth and slowly ran his tongue along her palm.

      Suddenly, Kalim thrust her away from him and stared at her hand. “Shannon you are bleeding.”

      At that moment, Shannon was having difficulty gathering her scattered wits together, unsure of exactly what was happening. In a daze she looked at her bloody palm then returned her bewildered gaze to his face.

      There was a smear of blood on his bottom lip and the ache in the pit of her stomach almost became a physical pain as his tongue flicked out and wiped it off.

      “I really wish you wouldn’t do that,” she groaned. She was not sure her libido could take much more strain. It was jumping around like a Mexican jumping bean.

      Kalim reached out and pulled her other hand out of its pocket. It too was covered in blood where she had been digging her nails into her palms. For a moment he held her hands in his staring at their wounds before he lifted them to his lips and placed a kiss in each palm, his eyes asking a silent question.

      “Nerves,” she quipped, and he frowned.

      “You have no need to be nervous of me, Shannon.” His solemn tone was meant to reassure her but it failed totally. “I would never harm you.”

      Shannon snatched her hands free and quickly put some distance between them. She couldn’t think straight when he was near. Again and again she sucked down deep breaths until her heart had returned to a normal pace.

      It was not him she was nervous of, she admitted honestly to herself it was her own traitorous body. He only had to touch her and she melted into a quivering mass.

      It had been a mistake to come here today, she realized that now. The trouble was she doubted she would be allowed to leave as easily as she had arrived.

      “Do you two think you could continue your conversation inside where it is warm and dry?” asked a deep male voice from behind Kalim. “I am cold and wet and you are on a public street.”

      “Hassam,” Shannon cried with surprise and delight, her eyes flying to the tall man standing beside the front door of the car. “It’s good to see you.” She took a step around Kalim and held out her hands in a friendly gesture. “How are you?”

      She had forgotten that wherever Kalim was Hassam was also. Like Kalim, he was also dressed in a dark business suit. However, she knew that his suit had been specially tailored to conceal the fact that he was wearing a gun under his coat.

      He was Kalim’s friend, confidante, bodyguard and the head of the palace guards. A select band of soldiers specially trained and trusted completely by the royal family. They stood between their ruling family and all who would harm them, and would give their lives to protect them. He was in his middle to late thirties, his thick black hair lightly sprinkled with grey at his temples, and his fierce looking face wearing a welcoming smile.

      Kalim turned to face them, his eyes flashing with mockery. “At least she cares enough to inquire after your health.”

      “I am fine,” Hassam answered, pointedly ignoring Kalim’s remark. His fingers closed around hers and squeezed gently. “It is a pleasure to meet you again.” His smile broadened. “Although I should spank you for all the trouble you have caused me over the past few months.”

      “Trouble?” A puzzled frown creased her brow. “What trouble could I possibly cause you?”

      “Never mind,” Kalim growled. His fingers curled around her arm in a firm grip. “Come on. We can talk in my suite.”

      When she hesitated his fingers tightened in a warning gesture. “Well,” he demanded. “Are you coming or not? You instigated this meeting, Shannon not me. We either talk in my suite or we do not talk at all,” he warned. “It is your choice.”

      Shannon knew that she had no choice but to accompany him if she was to help Tom so she reluctantly nodded her head in acceptance. Her hands clenched into tight fists when she saw his self satisfied smile, and she dearly wanted to smack the arrogant look off of his face.

      “Then come on and stop pussy footing around,” he growled but made no attempt to move and when she glanced up at him curiously he continued. “The first time you entered this hotel I was carrying you. You looked so delicate and tiny lying in my arms.” His mouth curved in a cynical smile. “Shall I carry you over the threshold this time as well?”

      The double meaning of his words was not lost