around him, moving fiercely with his rhythm, claw-?ing at his back in her passion as he emptied himself into her.
Rolling off her, he saw that she was in a semiconscious state. He?gathered her into his arms gently so that her return would be a warm?and safe one. He was delighted with this marvelous, passionate creature to whom he was wed. It was almost too good to be true,?and yet it was true. He had found the perfect mate, the woman from? whose loins the next generation of Burkes would spring. Constanza?stirred faintly in his arms. “Good-bye, Skye, my dear true love,”?Niall whispered softly, and turned to face his new young wife.
Chapter 12
The wife of Khalid el Bey was the most famous woman in?the city of Algiers. Three nights each week she presided,?unveiled, over her husband’s banquet table. The all-male?guests were shocked at first, but they quickly recovered, for?he lady Skye was charming, witty, and gently spoken. It was said?hat she knew as much about running her husband’s businesses as?he did, but no man gave that rumor serious consideration, for it was?too absurd. Allah had fashioned women for man’s pleasure, and for?birth, but nothing else.
All envied Khalid el Bey his beautiful wife, but none envied him?more than Jamil, the captain of the Casbah fort. The Turkish soldier?had quite a respectable harem, for be was known to be sexually?insatiable. Favors from Captain Jamil were easily bought simply by?›resenting him with a beautiful, skilled slave. Still, Jamil lusted?after Skye, desperate to possess her. She had intrigued him greatly?by refusing his overtures. He bribed the women of Skye’s household?to smuggle in gifts of jewels, flowers, and comfits. All were returned, their wrapping not even opened. Furious, he managed to?separate her from her guests on two occasions, only to be rebuffed,?even insulted. Never in his life had Jamil been refused so strongly,?and the insult rankled. He was determined to possess Skye.
Tonight he lay sprawled on a couch in the House of Felicity,?watching with Yasmin through a two-way mirror. On the other side?of the mirror was one of the city’s most respected merchants, who?lay naked and tied while two lovely young girls serviced him. One?crouched over his head, her plump little pussy rubbing against his?open mouth, while the other sucked frantically on the merchant’s?mall, flaccid manhood. Finally, as their simultaneous efforts resulted in success, the girl at the lower end mounted the man and?ode him to glory.?Jamil laughed heartily. “Poor darlings, he’s not worth their effort.
Send them both to me later and I’ll reward them with a real workout.”
“I thought you intended spending the night with me,” she pouted.?”I do not give my favors to just anyone.”
“Would you deny me an appetizer before a gourmet meal?” he ‘?flattered her.
Yasmin almost purred. She enjoyed Jamil. He was the best lover?she’d ever had-next to Khalid. Khalid, damn him, had ceased his?visits since falling in love with Skye. A look of anger flashed across?her beautiful face. Jamil caught it instantly.
“What is it, my pet?” he queried. “You have been increasingly?irritable of late. Tell Jamil, and he will make it better.”
She hesitated before admitting. “It is my lord Khalid. He is so?changed. I do not know him anymore, and it is all the fault of his?wife.”
“She is quite beautiful,” he said wickedly. “But of course, I do?not know her.”
“I wish to Allah she were dead! Then my lord Khalid would come?to me again.”
“Perhaps,” he mused, “it could be arranged, my dear.” He con-?tinued smoothly despite her startled look. “Of course, I should expect?certain remunerations from you for my help. But what difference?should the death of one woman make to anyone? Especially a woman?with no memory, no powerful connections.”
Yasmin was fascinated in spite of herself. “But, how?” she asked.
“If I wanted someone dead I should chose the time and place?carefully, and then I should wield the blade myself. The fewer people?involved the better, would you not say? Who would suspect you if?we were seen to enter your chambers together on the night in ques-?tion?”
“When, Jamil? When?”
He smiled. Tomorrow night, my dear Yasmin. The sooner the?better. I shall send a message to Khalid el Bey asking that he meet?me at the Casbah fort. Afterward I shall simply deny that I sent any?message. You and I shall be seen entering your rooms. I shall stay?the night. You will slip out and walk to Khalid el Bey’s house. Enter? through the garden. The lady Skye should be alone, possibly even?sleeping. Strike quickly, check to be sure you have succeeded, then?leave.”
“Why are you so willing to help me?” she asked, suddenly sus-?picious.
“We are friends, Yasmin. Khalid’s woman means nothing to me,?but you do. If my plan seems harsh, my dear, you need not act on?it. The choice is yours.”
“No! You are, as always, Jamil, direct and to the point. I will?do it!”
The captain smiled toothily as Yasmin rose. She said, “I will?send the two girls you desire to the baths and then to you. From this?night on, anything you want in the House of Felicity is yours.”
Jamil could not believe either his luck or Yasmin’s gullibility.?He’would have to work quickly now. The slave-spy he had placed?in Khalid el Bey’s house would have to be informed and instructed?in two tasks. The first would be to give the bey a sleeping draught?in his wine so that he would retire early. Then the slave would tell?Skye that a man claiming to know something of her past was at the?front gate asking to see her. This would keep Skye out of the house?while Yasmin entered the darkened sleeping chamber. She would?kill the bey believing it was Skye.
He chuckled wickedly, well pleased with himself. His spy would?be a tongueless mute soon after the murder and could not implicate?him. In fact, he would see the hapless creature sold off. As to?Yasmin… well, the penalty for murder was rather severe. A killer?was tortured first and then thrown from the city walls onto the iron?spikes that studded the walls. Sometimes a prisoner could linger for?several days… Strangely, the women were the longest-lived. It would?be interesting to see how long Yasmin would last.
Naturally, Jamil would offer his strong arm and protection to the?grieving widow. The grieving rich and beautiful young widow, he?amended his thoughts. An idea struck him. Perhaps he would marry?Skye. He need not remain the Sultan’s captain-governor of the Casbah fort forever. He could as easily retire here in Algiers as anywhere?else. Besides, Skye would need someone to run Khalid el Bey’s?various business interests. Jamil had never had a wife, but with the?bey’s wealth in his pocket he could afford four wives as well as a?fine harem. With unlimited money a man might have anything he?desired. Jamil sighed, musing on the pleasure and wealth Khalid el?Bey’s death would bring him. To be sure, he would be losing a good?and interesting friend, but that could not be helped.
His thoughts were interrupted by the entry of the two girls who?had earlier entertained the merchant. Giggling nervously, for they?knew his reputation, they knelt submissively at his feet.
“How may we serve you, lord?” they chorused.
He viewed them through cruelly narrowed eyes. “Let us begin?with the same exercise you performed earlier on your merchant?client,” he said. “We will progress slowly and inventively from?there.”
And across the city, Skye lay awake hugging her happy secret to herself. There was no doubt now. She was with child, and oh!?how happy Khalid would be when she cold him! They had entertained?earlier, and then he had gone off on his customary nighttime rounds?of his houses. When he came back she would surprise him with the? news. Smiling, she imagined the look on his face. She folded her?hands protectively across her belly. It was much too early to feel?any life, but she tried to imagine what the son of Khalid el Bey?would look like.
Hearing his step, she rose and ran to greet him. His strong arms?wrapped about her, and he kissed her very thoroughly. His mouth?inflamed her, and when his hands slipped beneath her gauze gown?to caress her trembling body she almost forgot what she had waited?to tell him.
“Khalid! Stop! I have news.”
“Yes, my love,” he murmured, pulling her robe open to nuzzle?at her pretty breasts. His mouth closed over a pointed nipple; he?sucked hard on it, and she almost fainted. It was no use. She wanted?him as much as he wanted her. Her news would wait. She swayed?against him and he picked her up and carried her to the bed. Some-?where along the way their garments were shed.
He put her down on the middle of the mattress, positioning her?body carefully. Then he straddled her just as
