Desert Sands. Barbara Jeffs

and he forcefully pulled her arms from around his neck and held them above her head.

      “Mine,” he groaned deep in his throat. “Always and forever mine.”

      His hot impassioned words hit Shannon like a bucket of cold water bringing her down to earth with an almighty thud. Dear God what was she doing, she wondered dazedly. Another minute and they would have been making love. She had to stop this and she had to do it now.

      “Kalim let me go I don’t want this.”

      She was so breathless she was unsure if he heard her mumbled words. In desperation she freed her hands from his grasp then threaded her fingers through his hair and tugged on it until he raised his head.

      For a moment he stared at her sightlessly then with an enormous effort of will power he pulled her hands from his hair and stood to his feet to stare down at her nakedness.

      “Cover yourself up,” he ordered in a deeply accentuated voice.

      Shannon was not sure her shaky legs would support her but she rose to her feet and pulled the robe tightly around her trembling body.

      She sucked down deep breaths trying to slow her heart down from its rapid galloping. Every nerve end was pulsating with unfulfilled passion and she had to exert all her willpower not to reach out and touch him.

      With an abrupt movement he spun on his heel and walked across the room to the window before turning and returning to her side, his eyes glittering like the brightest emerald with banked down passion.

      “Why? You wanted it as much as I did.” He rubbed his hand around the back of his neck to ease the tension and knotted muscles. “Do you know what that does to a man to go that far and then say stop. It nearly emasculates him.” He paused and inhaled a deep breath then continued. “You are lucky I was able to let you go.”

      Uncontrollable shivers raced through her body and she wrapped her arms tightly around herself in an attempt to stop them. She knew she had done the correct thing by stopping him but that did not make their shared frustration any easier to bear.

      Guilt washed over her like a leaden weight and she acknowledged that she should not have come to him for his help. She wanted to say she was sorry but realized an apology would not change the situation.

      “Why did you do it?” his brows drew into a puzzled frown. “Is that what you’ve become? A tease?”

      “No!” Her eyes widened in horror mortified that he could think for even a second that she would do such a thing on purpose. “I came here to talk, nothing else just talk. I wouldn’t have come to you for help if I’d any other choice.”

      His harsh laugh set her teeth on edge. “So I’m your last resort.” Anger flared in his eyes. “And you expect my help after that?”

      “Yes I expect it.” Nervous tension was giving her a headache and she rubbed her hand against her throbbing forehead. “Whether I get it or not is your decision, and if you refuse to help me then at least I’ll know that I tried.”

      “Up to and including making love with me to ensure my assistance.”

      The biting scorn in his voice was an insult to her moral values and she cringed with shame that he could even contemplate she would do such a thing.

      “Damn you.”

      Her hand went flying toward his cheek. It never reached its target. His hand latched on to her wrist and he moved her arm away from his face.

      “Don’t you ever raise your hand to me again,” he snarled.

      His hand squeezed her wrist hard before he threw it away in disgust and she knew she would have bruises there in the morning.

      “Well don’t you ever call me a whore again,” she cried. “I would never do that,” She was hurt that he could think so little of her scruples. Not even for Tom would she sell herself like a common prostitute. “Never. Never.”

      Warm arms enfolded her and he pressed her against his chest rubbing his hands over her back in a soothing gesture.

      “Hush, don’t upset yourself. I did not mean to imply you had turned into a common whore.” His finger under her chin tilted her head up and he gazed deeply into her eyes.“Why Shannon? Why did you pull back?”

      “Let’s just say I changed my mind.” She suddenly realized he was no longer paying her any attention, that he had not heard her words. He was staring at nothing but he was thinking, she could actually see his mind replaying images of the past hour. “Leave it alone Kalim please.”

      “Mine.” He blinked and his gaze focused on her pale face. “That’s it isn’t it?” He laughed and her temper climbed a notch. “Why am I asking when I know the answer?” He cupped her face in his hands. “Mine,” he repeated and the possessiveness in his voice made her grind her teeth together. “From the moment we met you have been mine and you always will be mine.”

      Oh the sheer arrogance of the man, she seethed. “I’m not your possession.” She was tempted to stamp her foot. “I came here to get help for my---“ She broke off. An unknown instinct was telling her not to say the word brother and she continued, “---for my friend. He was working in your country and he’s in a spot of bother.”

      “A man!” He released her so abruptly she stumbled. “You came to ask me for help for another man?” His tone suggested she had completely lost her common sense. “Who in the hell is this man?” Fury darkened his eyes until they were almost black. “My successor?”

      For a moment Shannon thought she had gone too far with her mention of another man. Her eyes widened in shock and alarm when he half raised his hand as if to slap her face, and she quickly took a step backward aware that he had noticed her involuntary movement away from him.

      “Damn you.” He cursed as his hand continued rising to rub the back of his neck. “I’ve never hit a woman in my life.”

      “Well I’m glad you decided not to start with me,” she whispered in a shaky voice.

      “Who is this man?” he demanded savagely.

      Shannon sucked down a deep breath, sent up a silent prayer and told him why she had wanted to see him today.

      “His name is Tom Bennett. He’s been arrested in Rentanof for stealing one of your horses.” She was unaware that her fingers curled around his arms as she pleaded. “He didn’t steal your horse Kalim. I know him. He’s not a thief. He really did find it like he said he did.”

      “Bennett?” For several moments he stared off into space deep in thought then returned his gaze to her beseeching eyes. “The oil technician who worked for Amono Oil?”

      “Yes.” Shannon nodded her head eagerly a tiny flicker of hope growing in her heart. “He found one of your stallions wandering near an oasis where he was working but when he tried to return it he was arrested and charged with stealing it.” Her hands tightened on his arms until her nails were biting into his flash but neither of them noticed it. “I know he didn’t steal it that he found it just like he said he did.”

      A disbelieving laugh erupted from his throat. “That’s utter rubbish Shannon. It could not have escaped on its own. It would have had to jump a dutch door in the stable, open the stable door and then jump a twenty foot high brick wall, and do it all without being seen by dozens of people working in the area.”

      “I don’t care if it had to fly out of there like Pegasus.” Her voice throbbed with frustration. “All I care about is the fact that it did escape and Tom found it.”

      Kalim was watching her very closely with a wary caution. “Assuming what you say is true, what do you expect me to do about it? He’s had his day in court. It is nothing to do with me.”

      A tiny flicker of hope fluttered into life in her heart, and she quickly dampened it down. “It’s everything to do with you. Can’t you use your influence to have him released?”