by Jones, Sarah
They stopped a few times during the day, in which Louise thought she would melt or, at worst, die cooked. When she was told in town that she should wear lighter, looser clothes like the native ones, she was emphatic in saying that she would not wear such obscene clothing on her body. There was nothing wrong with her dresses, and even knowing the heat, she swore she could bear it, because the summers of England were borne by the ladies with little discomfort. Of course it was all a stupid denial on Louise's part. She knew exactly what she would find in Arabia, but she was so stubborn and willful that she did not give up. The result was there. Almost dying in the heat and the sun always glowing annoyingly over her head.
She had the good sense to at least not wear socks and petticoats, only a light combination, and her linen dress, but now she was too keen to tear her own clothes, no matter how modest.
The two meals they had were again the damn dates and the rest of the water.
Of the pains, Louise would say that her body was nothing more than a heap of limbs which she could barely move. Her face, it seemed, was still swollen, and her eyes were tearing through the dryness of the desert, so she ended up accepting it when the man offered her a thin handkerchief to cover her face.
Late that afternoon, Lady Louise noticed how the landscape around her was beginning to change, and a few rustic-looking floor plans stood in the way. She could see, in the distance, several tall, long-stemmed trees-they must be approaching the man's house.
Did he live in a camp?
More than an hour later, Louise noticed that she had been terribly wrong. The man did not live in a camp, but in a palace!
Gradually they were entering a path surrounded by more trees and shrubs, which stretched across the north. There were several tents, built like the ones Louise had seen in the town she had been in. Children played alongside some women, who looked with interest at the scene of the man supporting the woman in strange clothes.
The white marble palace with an interesting design, based on the oval-shaped religious halls that you saw in some of the figures in your parents' books, was incredible. As they approached the magnificent building, some men in long tunics helped them get off the dromedary.
The man kept Louise in his lap as he walked into the palace, but little looked at her, busy distributing orders, uttered in a language she did not know, to the maids who appeared before him.
When they reached a small enclosed room, where there were dozens of pillows scattered on the floor and a large bed set in the center, the man accommodated Louise on the soft mattress.
"Soon the women will come to take care of you, stranger," he said, looking at her intently.
- My name is Louise Manning. She smiled faintly, almost giving in to exhaustion.
He pulled the handkerchief from her face and bowed briefly in front of her.
"Said Abdul-Hadi, Sheikh Hamed, at your service, my lady." He smiled.
Louise had to blink several times to get out of the trance she was in after the shock at the revelation of the man's appearance.
"I ... I thought only the elderly were in this position," she reflected aloud.
Said raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Well, I assure you I'm no old man," he answered suddenly.
Louise's cheeks turned red, and she looked away.
"I need to take care of some things." Let me know if you need anything. Said hurried to the exit. "I hope your stay is good, Louise Mannig," and with a rustle of his clothes, he left the room.
Two women went to Louise and took care of her, passing some oil and bandages, removing the dress, leaving her naked, covered only by a thin sheet. Everything was very pleasant, and she was grateful when they finally let her sleep.
Chapter Three
Said wore his tunic without the help of his attendant that morning. He waited, for he needed privacy, and on that day, unlike all the others, he felt anxious about the decision in his hands.
He closed the gold buttons that hung on his clothes and wore the elegant turban adorned with precious stones and silver threads, fulfilling the religious criterion that followed every day. He got up before the sun appeared under the sands of the desert and used part of his morning time to organize himself on the affairs of the palace and questions of the Bedouin under his command. The reality was that Hamed's Sheik also suffered from sleeping sickness, and even if no one in the kingdom knew this, for him misfortune was recurrent, and part of his problem solved through carnal pleasure.
He thought about how much he needed sexual relief and wondered about which woman he should look for the next night, since the women in her kingdom were becoming extinct, and certainly he did not feel like seeking a concubine in another camp. Some local misunderstanding. Said suffered from his vigorous sexual desire, which needed to be satiated several times, so that he could finally concentrate on his duties. Three years ago, when his personal hell began, it was not difficult to find an available and voluptuous woman who was in full agreement to satisfy him for one night and to follow in the morning without even questioning his orders. Every night Said was presented with a new woman totally available for his pleasure, and at daybreak she was simply gone, with no promises or involvements. The seemingly strange ritual was a way for the Sheik to find what he was looking for without compromising himself. The problem was that, now, in the current situation, there were no more options for women willing to do so. Said did not force any of them either, but he seduced them with promises of jewelry, benefits, and, of course, pleasure.
Exactly two months ago, Said was agonizing in desire, barely restrained, hoping to be sated by some woman who understood his physical needs. But when his choice of women became null and void, he repressed his impulses because he was convinced that he would never, under any circumstances, ever have to take advantage of the body of the same woman. In all those years, he had encountered lovers of all kinds, some shy, some euphoric and wild, but obviously there were also some cunning ones, who planned to use his trumps to seduce him. None succeeded though.
The only rule that kept Said from taking a woman to her bed was that she was a virgin. He had imputed such a law to himself, refuting any kind of relationship with young people who could easily fall in love with their pleasures. That's why I chose women who were experienced and knew what they were doing.
At that moment, what the Sheik most wanted was to be able to calm that whirlwind that swirled inside him.
Said left his room and crossed the narrow, carpeted hallway, until he reached the anteroom that was his chamber. He found the assistant at the entrance of the two rooms, holding a perfectly polished silver tray, which supported the unmistakable scimitar of Hamed's Sheik, whose cord was encrusted with tiny blue stones and the blade glowed deathly, revealing that it had been freshly cleaned.
As the vizier greeted him with respect, Said sheathed his sword by the tunic, fastening it to the thick cloth belt he carried with his body. Still listening to the announcements that the deputy dictated, he walked to the center of the main room, passing distractedly by some emissaries who bent to greet him, waiting patiently for a small meeting with the powerful Sheikh.
As soon as he settled down on his imposing throne adorned with mahogany and gold, Said ordered the first emissary to approach and inform him of what had happened. The nervous man began to talk about the disagreements created a few days ago, between two small tribes close to each other, about a well they shared, but which eventually became a motive for fighting, when one accused the other of enjoying more water than it should.
It was a commonplace situation that annoyed Said. Even so, he paid full attention, working hard to get the impasse resolved. At the end of the hearing, he announced that he was expecting the leaders of the two tribes in a few days at the palace to talk about it and come to some agreement.
The other two men brought common subjects and were from the local daily. The demarcation of a place suitable for the hunting of gazelles and the purchase of some new dromedaries for the d
omestic use of the members of the camp. On this, Said only ordered them to go to the vizier, who would pass on the values.
The last emissary revealed a subject that worried Said. It was the news of an assault on a camp almost two days' journey from the palace. A group of foreigners had been killed by a caravan of desert robbers. These had covered the sand with the red of the blood of the victims, but, in the end, they were slaughtered by a mysterious warrior, who had crossed their bowels with his scimitar.
"Any news of any survivors?" Asked the Sheikh.
The man shrugged.
"Some say they spotted one of the robbers at the city fair. But he was alone, "he said in his native tongue.
Said nodded and withdrew the man.
He imagined that soon everyone would know about the attack on the foreigner's camp and how he had saved her.
The only survivor had been captured and he could presume by now that he was already dead too, which resulted in the fact that the woman was completely alone.
One thing bothered Said. He wanted to know what a woman like that did, without female company, lost in the desert, with only men, which seemed normal to her. Was it some sort of concubine who traveled with men to satisfy them? The idea seemed strange in Said's mind, but from the facts he had witnessed, especially when the woman had referred to dead men as friends, he began to believe that her judgment was right. It was a foreign concubine.
Suddenly, the realization of what she was pleased Said.
He remembered how he had enjoyed her body, and the perception, despite the horrible robes, of the sinuous curves she seemed to have made for the pleasure of a man. He leaned back on the cushioned chair and smiled darkly, thinking he'd like to take pleasure in her. Even more he knew I could make her pleasure, too. That was what mattered and what he wanted.
Before long the Sheik had already decided that he would use Louise's body for his pleasure, that he would take her to his quarters, relieving his torment at last, and Allah was just, he would like that very much.
"Tell the foreigner that I'm applying." Now, "he ordered the vizier, barely bothering to hide the excitement in his voice, which was now descending to his body.
***
When she woke up, a little lost and not knowing exactly where she was, Louise searched for her dress, realizing that she was naked, covered only by a transparent sheet. She sat down on the enormous bed and surveyed the room filled with rugs and cushions, realizing that she was in the Sheikh's palace that saved her the day before, when she was about to be killed.
She swallowed hard as she remembered the deaths of his friends, and strove not to allow the tears to flow again. She knew that crying was no good any more and that the only solution was to conform and move on. But how to do it knowing that she was responsible by the deaths of her friends? It was she who had brought them to that desert, who had persuaded them to accompany her on this dangerous adventure. What would she say to her father? And to the archeology society of England? Oh, God, the situation was terrible. But for now, she needed to get out of that room and look for Sheikh, thank him for help and ask for help to get to the city. She needed to get back to England urgently.
When she did not find her dress, Louise wrapped herself in the sheet and got off the bed, tiptoeing to the door, looking for someone who could help her. She felt her whole body protesting from the pains that insisted on burning her skin. I remembered a certain moment the night before when some women massaged their wounds with perfumed oil. To her surprise, the same woman who had met her the day before was outside the room, smiling, waiting to enter.
The young Englishwoman signaled her to come in and followed her into the bedroom, while the woman left an ivory dress of transparent cloth on the bed.
"My lord ordered you to use it to appear before him," the woman said gently as she turned to Louise. The latter raised her eyebrows, surprised at the command.
- What is your name?
"Karida, miss." The woman, still very young, lowered her head, feeling ashamed.
Louise took the dress in her hands and analyzed it, shocked when she realized how indecent the play was. Could it be that there was no dress in that place that left nothing to be seen?
"I will not wear this," she said, returning the dress to the bed. - I want my dress, please.
The woman's eyes widened and grew very red, probably frightened to see someone defying the powerful Sheik.
"Your dress was burned, miss." She clasped her hands in front of her and began to shake, unable to look up.
Louise was surprised at the woman's behavior. Was she afraid?
"Do not worry, Karida. You were just following your lord's orders. Am I right? She asked complacently.
The woman looked up at her with complicity.
- Yes ma'am.
Lady Louise controlled the wave of nausea she felt. What was this Sheikh supposed to order to burn her dress? Who did he think he was? Well, I would speak to him immediately.
Without another choice, Louise held the dress in her hands and, with great courage, went to the fabric screen in the back of the room. She came back a little later, feeling as if she were completely naked. The trim of the dress was unlike any that she had ever worn. The fabric was thin and, after hugging her breasts a little too large and clinging to her waist, emphasizing the sinuous curves of her body, fell lightly across her thighs, revealing more than necessary, to her bare feet.
"Miss, please, my lord." Karida caught Louise's attention, still ashamed.
"Take me to him, Karida. Louise puffed out her chest and straightened her shoulders, searching for all her composure.
Accompanied by the woman, she left the room and followed several aisles, receiving curious glances from other women she encountered on the way. Did that Sheikh have a harem? Was that the reason for so many women in that palace?
- This way. Karida pointed to a large door, where two guards stood, holding large swords, looking like two statues ready to attack anyone. He waited for her, and before Louise could say anything, she found herself being pushed by the woman into the chamber, where she staggered in, almost sprawled on the marble floor.
She straightened up quickly and looked up, meeting the look of Said, who was looking at her curiously. She blinked, tormented by the sight of the man sitting on her throne as if she were a king, boasting all her glory and beauty, making Louise remember an Egyptian god who had studied so much.
"Come in, stranger," the man said without patience, and the young woman walked quickly to him, stopping before the steps leading to where he was sitting. - I see you're better.
She nodded.
"Much better, thank you." Instinctively she crossed her arms over her chest, trying to avoid the staring look that the man was driving her body, making her uncomfortable. "If you'll excuse me, I'd like to say how offended I was when I woke up and learned that my only dress had been burned." How you must understand ... - Shut up.
- Pardon? Louise leaned forward, confused by what she had just heard.
Said was losing his temper with the foreigner. First, when he saw her entering his chamber dressed like that, with its curves appearing subtly, it had been dazzled, which caused him an insinuating erection, leaving him thirsty to touch her. He knew that if he were another type of man he could simply throw himself over her and possess her without her uttering a single word, but he was different, and he really believed that it would be worth more to seduce her and to have her desirous and lay in her arms. But when she opened her mouth and began to speak in that angry way, Said realized that the woman was not as submissive as he wished.
"Your voice makes my ears ache, stranger. He waved his hand in mock disdain.
Louise's face grew warm, ashamed of Sheik's rudeness.
- As you wish, sir. I will use a gentle tone of voice so as not to offend your precious ears. She grinned cynically. "Could you please lend me a ride to the city?" You must realize that I need to return urgently to my country.
Said stared at her f
or a moment, and Louise thought she was confronting the devil himself. His gaze ... was ... terrifying and, in addition to his voice, made him shiver, as well as something in his stomach...
"I'm sorry to inform you that I can not help you, Miss," he said without moving a muscle from his face.
Louise frowned, not understanding the man's arrogant attitude.
- I understand. So could you recommend someone who can give me a mount? I'm in a hurry to get to the port” - she insisted.
Said rested her chin in her hand and studied the girl from top to bottom, proving how much he was really attracted to her. Dozens of images of her naked, writhing with pleasure, raced through his mind, and he found himself almost moaning at the torture of his hardened cock inside his pants.
He saw that she was waiting for an answer, and since he wanted to get it over with, he proposed to answer:
"Your friends are dead, and you're only alive." I saved your life and brought you to my palace and now you are under my protection. I opened the doors of my palace to you, "he said honorably.
Louise agreed, shaking her head.
"And perhaps the foreigner does not know, but it is the custom of our people to offer shelter to those who need it, and as I told you, I am Hamed's Sheik, and it is up to me to watch over my guests," he continued.
She did not know where he wanted to go, but the truth was she did not like anything she was hearing.
"I can not understand what you're wanting from me, sir," Louise said wary.
Said smiled slowly, his teeth perfectly white, which contrasted with his dark skin and blue eyes. She took a step back, frightened by what was to follow.
