job so much more interesting.
'If it's true,' Robert began in threatening tones, 'just wait till I get my hands on her again!'
'You're tired and upset. Don't come to a hasty decision until you know for sure what's happened,' Feyadin tried to calm him. 'I have a room here. Why don't you come up and rest, and perhaps I can make some discreet inquiries among the hired help.'
Robert felt his shoulders drooping from fatigue and worry, and, not knowing what else to do, he gave in to the light pull she gave his arm and followed her into the hallway. At least I won't be alone for a little while, he consoled himself. He couldn't help but think as he watched her seductively swaying hips in front of him that she seemed more interested in him than just to help find his wife. He hoped so – he would love to get his hands on her appealing young body.
She led him through complicated winding corridors until finally they entered an older part of the hotel. Eventually she stopped outside a door and fumbled for the key hanging from a thin gold chain around her neck. She unlocked the heavy oak door, and Robert followed her inside. He was amazed at the opulent luxury of what seemed to be a large private apartment.
'You like it?' Feyadin asked him, watching his face with interested amusement. It was obvious he had never seen such plushness except in movies. The floor was covered with thick Persian rugs, and all the furniture was upholstered with highly ornate Moroccan leather. The low tables were covered with objects of chased brass and gold left over from wealthier days when sultans ruled the country.
'This is what I call living in style,' Robert managed to blurt out. 'Are all the rooms here this luxurious?'
Feyadin laughed deep in her throat, a husky sensual sound that made his loins ache with desire. Here was a woman he could really get to like if he were given half a chance.
'No, this is my own special apartment,' she answered with pride. 'It used to be for a rich man's favorite mistress, but I have lived here nearly five years now.'
Robert wondered how a young Turkish girl could afford such an expensive-looking place, but he didn't ask any questions. It was possible that she, too, was able to stay there only because she was the kept woman of a wealthy man, and she might be sensitive about it.
'Make yourself at home,' she told him. 'I'll be back in a minute.' Then she disappeared into another part of the apartment and Robert amused himself by looking over the room. A large water-pipe was near the low-lying couch, and he wondered briefly what, if anything, Feyadin smoked in it. He finally decided it was probably just a decoration. He ran his fingertips over the thick animal skins scattered around on the furniture, enjoying the sensuous quality of the furs.
Before long he began to wonder what was taking her so long and sat down on one of the divans. He suddenly realized just how tired he was and leaned back to rest his eyes. For a moment he lay there letting his mind go blank, but then again he found himself wondering about his lovely young bride. He hoped that she was all right and wished vaguely that he had been able to catch up with her before this. Then he was suddenly annoyed with her again for disappearing like that, and after deciding that he had done as much as he could for now, he relaxed and dropped off into a light sleep.
In another part of the huge hotel, Penny was slowly recovering from the effects of the drugs Osman had put into her drink earlier. Nisli had turned her unconscious form over to an old woman-servant who was plying the dazed young wife with thick black coffee while she lay soaking in a sunken marble bath filled with hot water and perfumed oils. She felt completely drained and utterly exhausted. However, the groggy blonde was slowly beginning to return from the hazy dream world, where she had been lost for what seemed an eternity, back to the world of reality. The hot coffee and the warm water were helping to revive her, and now that she was regaining consciousness she was becoming more and more aware of her surroundings and beginning to wonder where she was.
The old woman held up a hammered copper coffee pot, but the confused young wife made a sign to show that she had had enough and the servant bowed and silently left the room.
Penny took the opportunity to crane her neck and look around. She was trying to figure out how she had gotten there. The last thing she remembered was getting into bed back at the motel, and after that it seemed she had been dreaming and dreaming for ages. She couldn't help but recall the previous events that had led to her running away from Robert and the hotel bridal suite, and she wondered about her husband – she felt a little sorry for him. He was probably worried sick. Well, she thought, let him worry. Tomorrow, she would return to their hotel and maybe by then Robert would have learned a lesson. She had decided the whole thing was silly. If only he would try as hard as she would, surely they could work the whole thing out.
She peered curiously from the tub out through the open arched doorway. The building looked like a palace from where she was sitting, and for a split second she considered the possibility that she was still dreaming. Otherwise, how could she explain her presence here? But she could feel the warm wetness of the water on her skin and still taste the cloying sweetness of the coffee in her mouth.
No, she definitely was not dreaming. Then what had happened? Could it be that Robert had found her at the motel, and somehow, without waking her, had moved her to this luxurious palatial apartment? She was suddenly sure that was it, and she was about to call his name, when she heard softly padded footsteps in the other room. That's probably him now, she thought, coming to surprise me with his cleverness at finding me after I ran away without leaving even a note. She smiled to herself and expectantly watched the doorway.
'Hello, my dear. Are you feeling better?' Nisli asked.
Penny gasped and shielded her exposed breasts with her hands, sinking down into the bubble bath as far as she could.
Standing in the doorway was a man in a flowing robe she had never seen before. He was smiling at her in a relaxed familiar manner, and for a moment she wondered if she should know him. Had she had too much to drink and somehow allowed herself to go off with a perfect stranger? She stared in fascinated horror at his unusually handsome face, taking in his deep-set dark eyes, full sensual-looking lips trimmed with a thin mustache, and noticing the single gold tooth flashing in his mouth. No, she was certain, she had never to her knowledge seen him before this moment.
'W-who are you,' she stammered, her voice trembling as he gazed knowingly down at her as though she had belonged to him forever.
'Nisli Bey,' he answered, bowing slightly. 'Your new master.'
The abducted bride's mouth gaped open at his words. It had to be some kind of weird joke – she had never heard of such a thing in her life.
'You seem a little taken aback, my dear,' Nisli said in a tone of superiority. 'You mean to tell me your husband Robert said nothing at all to you about our arrangement?' He watched her face with an inner chuckle as her mouth fell open in undisguised fear, eyes widening in disbelief at his meaning.
'B-but he couldn't do such a thing!' she sputtered. 'It-it's illegal! And besides, Robert loves me,' she added as an after thought. Immediately after her words had left her lips, she wondered if it were not possible after all. This part of the world might have totally different laws from other countries for all she knew, or this could be happening without the knowledge of the authorities. And there was no doubt that Robert had been highly displeased with her when he had left the hotel.
'Are you sure?' Nisli goaded her teasingly. 'He certainly seemed happy enough to accept my offer, and the price was not too steep, either.' He was enjoying playing with the confused young woman like a cat with a mouse. He knew how proud and independent these American women were, and nothing pleased him more than to make them feel like helpless slaves who could be bought and sold on a mere whim. They usually changed their attitudes once they understood that they would be treated with the respect that normally fell only to royal concubines. All they had to do was admit that they were at the mercy of his will, and life could be extremely good for them – at least as long as he wasn't bored.
Penny stared at his grinning face for a long time, shaken by his calm, secure manner. Finally she had had enough.
'Please leave the room,' she said curtly. 'I'm getting dressed and I'm leaving.' She jerked her head around and stared blankly at the tiles on the wall, waiting for him to obey her command. But he only laughed softly and
