Skye O'Malley

I?choose. I do not need your approval.”

“I only meant-“

“You are an insolent slave,” he said cuttingly. “I have rarely?found it necessary to use the whip, but you tempt me now, Yasmin.?You tempt me greatly.”

She had gone very white. Flinging herself to the floor, she im-?plored his forgiveness. “Get up,” came the cold reply. “You will?continue Skye’s lessons, Yasmin, and if I should ever hear of your?mistreating her in any way, I will sell you. Go now!”

The Circassian scrambled to her feet and fled the room. Her heart?was thundering. In all their years together he had never spoken to?her that way. Yasmin was deeply frightened. Was he in love? Allah?forbid! The worm of jealousy gnawed at her heart, and Yasmin?began to hate the woman called Skye with an impotent fury.

She dared not act openly against her yet, but once Khalid sent?Skye into the House of Felicity, she would be at Yasmin’s mercy.?Yasmin thought with pleasure of a Syrian merchant who visited them?twice yearly, and whose delight was in watching two women perform?before he took them both. Knowing Skye’s revulsion at another? woman’s touch, Yasmin intended to punish her by forcing her to?participate in such a show. For now, however, Yasmin would bide?her time.

She smiled at Skye as she entered her room and bid her good?day. “Today,” she said, “we will review yesterday’s lessons, and?go on to the study of anatomy, both male and female.”

Skye nodded. Annoyed by her poise, Yasmin sought to shock?her. ‘Tomorrow I will bring a girl from the House of Felicity with?me, and she and Ali will begin to demonstrate to you the various?positions of love.” She stared hard at the younger woman.

“That should be very interesting,” replied Skye with infuriating?calm. “I would learn quickly and well so I may please my lord?Khalid.”

Yasmin had to bite her lip to keep from shrieking. Skye’s lack?of emotion was totally unnerving. Would she be one of those cold?creatures who felt nothing at the height of passion? If that was the?case then she would have to be taught to simulate emotion, for?nothing frustrated or angered a man more than an unresponsive?female. Yasmin realized that it might be harder to train Skye than?she had previously thought. But train her she would, and when she?was through Skye would be the most magnificent creature ever to?grace the House of Felicity. Then Khalid would realize Yasmin’s?great value to him, and finally make her his first wife. She had?waited so long for an opportunity like this, doing his bidding unquestioningly all these years, seeing to his interests.

Catching herself, she ceased daydreaming, called for her eunuch,?Ali, and threw off her silken robe. “A thorough knowledge of both?the male and female body is essential, Skye,” said the naked Yasmin.?”With small- breasted women such as yourself, the breasts are usually?very sensitive, and most women are highly sensitive on the little?button that lies hidden beneath the Venus mound. Demonstrate,?Ali!”

Yasmin lay among the pillows, the young eunuch propped on his?side next to her. Fascinated, Skye watched as he caressed the soft?globes of Yasmin’s breasts, using both his hands and his mouth. He?worked slowly and as Yasmin’s breasts became harder and firmer,?a small moan escaped her. Ali shot Skye a small triumphant smile,? which his partner missed. One hand moved lower to Yasmin’s Venus?mound. A finger probed delicately, rubbing gently, and another soft?cry escaped the writhing woman.

Ali bent his head to touch with his tongue where his finger had?lately been. The woman beneath him cried aloud her passion, and?suddenly Skye closed her eyes and shuddered. In her mind’s eye she?saw a blond man and a blond woman intertwined together on a bed.?It was evil! Her mind strained to remember, but she could not quite?do so, and then a shriek of pleasure from Yasmin brought her back?to the scene before her.

The older woman lay panting, her lush body covered with a fine?sheen of perspiration. The eunuch lay on his back, his eyes closed.?Gradually Yasmin regained her composure. Finally she spoke. “You?have now seen one way in which a woman’s body can give pleasure?and be pleasured, though of course it is more important that you?give pleasure. I will demonstrate mat shortly, but first I want Ali?to caress you as he has just caressed me. It is necessary that I see?how you react in such a situation. Exchange places with me.”

For the second time Skye felt uncomfortable. When Khalid el?Bey had made love to her the other night it had been right, but she didn’t want the sly Ali with his obviously knowing hands and mouth?touching her, and with sudden defiance she said so. Startled at first,?Yasrhin was speechless, but she quickly regained her voice.

“I did not ask you whether you wished to do this thing. I have?commanded you to obey me. How dare you even contemplate dis-?obeying me? Our lord Khalid has put you in my charge, and if you?disobey me I shall have you beaten.”

“You do not dare to mark me,” shot back Skye. “You are a slave?as I am, and my lord Khalid would punish you greatly should you?destroy my value!”

Yasmin smiled nastily. “It will not destroy your beauty should?I have Ali beat the soles of your feet. The bastinado is an extremely?painful but effective punishment for fractious slaves.”

Skye paled, but said evenly, “I will not allow that creature of?yours to touch me, and if you hurt me I shall tell my lord Khalid?of your cruelty.”

“What cruelty do you speak of, my lovely Skye?” Khalid el Bey?stood in the door a moment before entering it. With inborn instinct?Skye flung herself into his arms. “I won’t do it, my lord! Please?don’t make me! Please!” His eyes softened, his arms tightened pro-?tectively about her, and he dropped a kiss on the top of her dark?head.

Yasmin made an exasperated noise. “You tell me to train her in?the arts of love, and when she will not obey me you condone it!”

“I will not allow Ali to touch me in that way!”

“I cannot gauge your sensuality if I cannot see it!”

Khalid el Bey hid a smile and said to Skye, “Will you allow me?to caress you so Yasmin may learn what she needs to know?”

“Yes.” It was said softly. Without another word he slid her caftan?from her body and drew her down amid the cushions. His hands?were incredibly gentle as they cupped and caressed her sweetly?rounded little breasts, and she sighed with delight as he teasingly?skimmed the soft, smooth skin with his skilled fingers. A warm hand? fondled her belly and slid downward to touch that most sensitive of?spots. She cried out her pleasure, and his mouth quickly covered?hers in a burning kiss. As the pleasure faded slowly away, she?opened her eyes to find him staring down at her, a strangely tender?expression lighting his amber eyes. Then he turned his head, and?she was struck by the hawklike beauty of his profile.

“Do you know now what you must, Yasmin?”

The older woman was very still, her green eyes huge and almost?black in her pale face.

“She responds well to a man’s touch, does she not, Yasmin?”

‘To your touch, my lord Khalid,” came the reply.

“From this moment on, Yasmin, you will not force Skye to any-?thing she chooses not to do. You will teach her all you know, and?she will practice her skills on me alone. Only I will correct or chastise?her. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my lord.” The woman shot Skye a look of pure hatred.

“Then that will be all for today.” Yasmin and Ali were dismissed.?Khalid stood up and, holding out his hand to Skye, said, “Dress?yourself, my sweet. In the garden there is a rose called ‘Love’s?Delight’ that has just come into bloom today. I would show it to?you.”

They were alone. Skye drew on her caftan slowly. She slipped?on her sandals. His deep voice cut the silence surrounding them.?”What was it about your lessons today that disturbed you, my Skye?”

“When I saw Ali making love to Yasmin,” she said, “I became?uncomfortable, my lord. It was as if I had seen… something like?that before, and it was evil. Yet I could not really remember. It?frightened me. The eunuch, despite his state, was so sure of his?power over Yasmin. He smiled at me in such an arrogant way, and?I knew then that I could not bear it if he touched me. Have I?displeased you, my lord Khalid?”

He put an arm about her. “No, Skye, you have not displeased?me. Whatever you may have been in your former life, you were?certainly not a wanton, and that pleases me. I think, perhaps, that?I shall have to change my plans for you. Come now, and see the?roses.”

“You will not send me away?” Her voice was frightened.

“No,” he held her by the shoulders and looked down into her?upturned face. “I shall not send you away, my little lost love.” And?again she was puzzled by the tender look in his eyes.

Alone in the night, Khalid el Bey paced the rooftop terrace of his?house. The sky above was black silk, relieved