Captive Bride

Chapter Nine

THE sun was just clearing the mountains, taking away the sharp chill of the night past, when Philip awoke from a pleasant sleep. He looked to see if his captive still lay beside him. He frowned when he saw Christina lying on the far side of the bed and wearing his robe. He would have to speak to her, for he would allow no clothes between them in bed.

Remembering his victory of the night before, Philip smiled and played with the loose ends of Christina's braid. He noticed the deep red stain of blood on the sheet and felt the scratches on his back.

What a woman he had found! She had abandoned herself completely to him last night after admitting defeat. She had matched his own wild passion. Perhaps he should make her his wife to make sure she would never leave him. But she had refused him once, and there was no way he could force her to marry him.

Getting out of bed, Philip opened the chest that contained his clothes and donned a pair of light-tan trousers and a white, long-sleeved tunic. He left the tent and, seeing Amine by the fire, asked her to bring in the morning meal. Philip checked on his horse, Victory, and on two recently captured horses in the corral. He enjoyed working with horses, and breaking in the new ones would give him something to do besides raiding the passing caravans.

Philip remembered the incredulous look on the fat old merchant's face during yesterday's raid when he had asked if there were any books in the caravan. Philip had taken only the things he wanted for Christina, and had ordered bis men to take only foodstuffs and other necessities.

Philip had no need of the riches that could be accumulated by raiding caravans, for he had all the wealth he could ever need in England. His mother left him a very rich estate, and a title as well.

His half-brother Rashid took everything when he raided, and didn't care very much if anyone died in the process. Rashid was a hard and bitter man. Philip was glad he had not been in camp since his return.

Giving Victory a last rub on his velvety gray nose, Philip went back to the tent. He found Christina sitting on the couch eating breakfast. She had removed his robe and had on the skirt and blouse she had worn yesterday. As he approached, she shot him a look of hatred that would have frozen any other man.

"I was hoping that your disposition might have improved after last night, but I can see it hasn't," Philip remarked casually.

"And I was hoping that you'd have the decency not to mention last night. But you throw it in my face, like the cad you are! I promise I'll never let it happen again!"

Philip grinned wickedly as he calmly sat down beside her. "Don't make promises you won't be able to keep, Tina."

Christina swung viciously at his leering face, but he swiftly grabbed her wrist.

"This is hardly the time for a quarrel, my sweet. I suggest you put your energy to a better use and finish your meal. Afterward, I'll take you to bathe."

"No, thank you. I bathed last night," she said haughtily.

Philip's eyes narrowed dangerously. Christina winced when he seized her shoulders and turned her to face him.

"So that's why you were wearing my robe this morning!" he stormed, shaking her violently. "You little idiot! Do you think we're the only tribe in these hills? There are at least a dozen others, and we share our water and our bathing hole with Yamaid Alhabbal. His tribe doesn't speak English as mine does. Do you know where you'd be this morning, had one of his tribesmen discovered you? You'd be at a slave auction—bringing a healthy price. After Yamaid Alhabbal and all his men had sampled your charms, that is."

Philip pushed her away and stood before her, his eyes cold and unrelenting. "Never will you leave this camp unescorted again. Do you hear me?"

"Yes," she whispered meekly.

Seeing how frightened she looked, Philip calmed down. "I'm sorry, Tina. It's just that if you were sold, I probably wouldn't be able to find you. The fat old buzzard who could pay the most for you would hide you away for fear of losing you. I wouldn't want that to happen any more than you would."

"I'll be sure to heed your warning and be more careful in the future," Christina replied, smoothing imaginary wrinkles from her skirt. "If you'll excuse me now, I have some sewing that needs to be done."

She picked up a bolt of material and disappeared into the bedroom. Philip shook his head. She certainly could compose herself quickly, he thought: frightened dismay to cool disdain.

After he had eaten his fill, Philip sauntered over to the bedroom and pulled back the heavy curtains. "By the way, my sweet, don't waste your time making nightdresses to sleep in, for you'll have no use for them here."

Philip ducked as a pillow came flying at him. He laughed deeply as he turned and left the tent. He would start breaking the wild horses today: they might prove more tamable than Christina!

That evening after dinner, Philip reclined on the couch lazily watching Christina. She sat across from him sewing on a piece of light-green material and ignoring him completely. Her neglect irritated him, but he decided not to give her the satisfaction of knowing it.

Closing his eyes, Philip let his mind wander. He'd spent the latter part of the afternoon with his father telling Yasir abut Paul and his new wife. Although his father hadn't seen Paul for many years, he was still close to his heart. Philip hoped Paul would come at least once to visit his father. The old man didn't have much time left People died before their time in this land.

When Yasir had decided to move his tribe into the foothills, Philip had been delighted. He had never liked the nomadic desert life, constantly roaming from one oasis to the next. The tribe had lived in the hills for eight years now. Philip might not have stayed so long with his father if they had not moved permanently to these hills. The climate was considerably cooler. There was enough water even for regular bathing. And their camp was situated so they could hold off an attack if necessary.

Philip didn't know if he would stay in Egypt after his father died. But now that he had Christina, he'd probably decide to stay. He couldn't take her back to England, because she'd be able to escape him there.

Stretching languidly, Philip opened his eyes to find Christina dozing on the couch. He arose and quietly walked around the table to stand above her. His eyes caressed her unbraided hair; its glowing mass covered the pillow and rippled to the floor behind her. She was curled in a ball like a little girl dreaming innocently. She hardly seemed the sensuous woman of the night before.

Philip bent to scoop Christina into his arms. But she jumped up and scurried to the other end of the tent. She turned to see if he were pursuing her.

"So—you were only feigning sleep." He straightened, giving her an amused glance. "It's rather late for games, my pet."

"I can assure you, I do not play games," she retorted stiffly, pushing back the hair that had fallen all around her.

"I was only going to carry you to bed. But now that you're awake—I can think of better things to do," Philip teased as he slowly came toward her.

"No!" she snapped, backing away from him. "And I won't sleep in that bed with you. It's indecent! I'd rather sleep on the floor!"

He chuckled softly as he cornered Christina at the end of the tent.

"You wouldn't like sleeping on the floor, Tina. It can get very cold here at night, and you'd better have the warmth of my body next to you. Winter is coming soon!"

"Better to suffer with the cold than with your advances," she replied tartly. She tried to run past him.

"You didn't feel that way last night, Tina," he said. He caught her in his arms and threw her roughly over his shoulder.

She struggled fiercely as Philip swiftly crossed the tent and tossed her onto the bed.

"I think it's time I taught you a lesson, Tina. You're a very passionate woman, even though you refuse to admit it!"

Christina fought him furiously while he tried to remove her clothing. Amid her kicking and useless struggles, she spat curses at him that he had never dreamed a lady would know. He finally managed to pull her blouse over her head, and the skirt followed easily. He quickly dropped his own clothing to the floor and pinned her to the bed with his body.

"Your language certainly doesn't befit a lady, my sweet," he laughed. "You must tell me sometime how you acquired such an outlandish vocabulary."

Christina made one last effort to push him from her, then changed her tactics and lay perfectly still beneath him.

Opening her mouth with his, Philip kissed her intensely, but felt no response from her. So—she was playing at a new game, he mused. But she wouldn't be able to hold out for long.

Moving to her side, Philip brought his lips down to her full breasts, sucking and teasing each one in turn. He moved his hand down over her belly until it rested between her legs. Gently his fingers moved back and forth across her soft flesh until she moaned with passion.

"Oh, Philip," she breathed. "Take me."

Philip mounted her. Her arms encircled his neck, and she met his kisses eagerly. He entered her slowly, then rode her fast and hard until their passions exploded, sending them soaring into ecstasy.