Desert Prince: Modern and Erotic Version of The Arabian Nights: New Fairy Tales Series - Book One

by Jones, Sarah

  Louise's father said nothing, staring at the light from the lamp, possibly trying to absorb everything his daughter had said. She knew he would not immediately understand, but at least she hoped things would not get any harder.

  "You'll come back with me, Louise. Home." The Lord's voice came again, ruder, without emotion.

  "I'm sorry, Father, but I will not," she assured him.

  Lord Neville stood, leaning on his cane, walking through the tent.

  - This is my fault. He must have suspected what she was doing and her unscrupulous plan to come to this land. How dare you to betray me that way, my daughter? I know you spent months lying to me, sneaking into meetings of the Society of Archeology, and dressed like a man! Can you imagine how ridiculed I was when you escape came to the surface? He growled, turning his back on her.

  - I know, Dad. And I feel terrible. But I needed to do this, I was sure I would find something and prove that...

  "Prove what?" He made her shut up as she faced her. "You risked the lives of important men to search for something that never existed!"

  Listening left Louise in shock.

  - What? She asked, raising hervoice. "Are you telling me you knew everything was just a legend?"

  "There was never even a proof that the lost city really existed. Everything was based on theories, mostly based on accounts of people who grew up on these lands.”

  Louise put her hands to her eyes, almost succumbing to tears.

  Said was right, anyway.

  And now the blame for Will and Joshua's death grew larger, more real on her shoulders. Louise leaned on one of the cushions and knelt, feeling her head spin.

  "There's still time to fix things, daughter. The Society of Archeology wants to hear it, they're giving it a chance.

  Louise looked up at him.

  "I was always sure I would find it." It seemed as sure as breathing. Why did I fool myself, Father? I led them to death! He exclaimed, accepting that tears would fall on his face.

  Lady's father struggled to get to his knees beside his daughter.

  "Come back with me, child. Everything will be as before, I promise.

  - I love Said, Dad. I can not leave him. My life is here, next to him.

  Lord Neville took her hand gently.

  "Does he know you love him?"

  She hesitated.

  "I have not told him yet.”

  "Does he love you, too?"

  "I don’t know" she confessed.

  The man sighed heavily.

  "You can not stand by a man who does not love you, my daughter. You will always be just an object to him. I know that, within your heart, you dream of getting married and having children. But in this place you will not find it, not with him. Sheik does not love you, Louise. I’m already grown enough to know that a man like him is moved only by desire, not love.”

  Louise turned her face to the side.

  "We'll leave tomorrow morning, and I expect to have you by my side on the return trip."

  She did not answer.

  She left the tent in silence.

  Her father was wrong.

  She was sure of it.

  ***

  Louise was awakened with kisses, which burned her body like fire. She opened her eyes slowly, finding under the faint light of a candle the shadow of a stout man at her side.

  "Sit down," Said whispered, helping her.

  She kissed her furiously, holding her by the shoulders, his hands exerting pressure on her sensitive skin. Louise clung to his arms, noticing her complete nakedness. She wondered what had taken him there, in the middle of the night, searching for her.

  Said pushed aside the covers and knelt between Louise's legs, tearing the thin piece of fabric she wore, leaving her naked. She opened her mouth to protest, but fell silent as she felt him lick her down there, with a frightening hunger. The lady fell back against the pillow, holding Sheik's head, guiding him to the right spot.

  She moaned shamelessly, not caring if anyone could hear. She pinched her own breasts and wriggled her hip, waiting for the moment of relief. But, cruelly, Said stopped kissing her there and started to stimulate his own limb, moving his hand up and down.

  She made him stop, put herself in his place, circling the warm flesh with her thumb, pulling out loud groans from the Sheik.

  Unable to bear it, Said pulled her legs apart and positioned herself at her entrance. She let out a small scream as she felt him inside and had to cling to the sides of the bed to keep her firm.

  "Mine" Said growled, pushing inside her, his head drooping between her breasts. He alternated the rhythm of the movements and used his thumb to stimulate her between her legs. - Only mine.

  "I love you, Said," she whispered, arching her hips at him.

  The Sheikh felt his skin quiver as he heard it and felt the anger building inside him. He forced his hands on her hip and set a hallucinatory rhythm, the sound of crashing bodies echoing through the room. It was pleasure on the edge of pain, just as he needed it.

  When the stream of pleasure ripped through his cock and ran through every part of her body, Said left Louise's inside, breathing heavily.

  - Gazelle ...

  She reached for his hand and pulled him to her side.

  "Stay with me tonight, Said. Please" she whispered.

  Not knowing what to say, the Sheikh did as she asked, circling her waist and pulling her against his body. So he could feel her scent and her warmth.

  She fell asleep quickly in his arms, which soon fell asleep too.

  ***

  Said was in the throne room next to the vizier when one of the guards reported that Lord Neville wanted to see him. The man appeared shortly after, with the queer dandy, who gave him furtive glances.

  - We're leaving.

  The Sheik agreed, glad he did not have to worry about having them there anymore.

  But his joy broke suddenly when he saw Louise enter the room carrying a small leather bag next to her body. She had red eyes and seemed to have cried a lot.

  - Louise...

  "I will go with my father, Said," she said, her voice unemotional.

  He strode toward her.

  - You can not go. He tried to take the bag from her hands, but Louise stopped him.

  - I chose that. I want to go home.

  What was happening? Said wanted to scream and shake her, so she would confess what had changed.

  "No, no, you will not" he declared.

  "Why, you ignorant ..." was Christopher trying to interfere with the situation.

  Said ignored him. He would not smear his scimitar by killing that man of little value.

  He concentrated on Louise and his heart pounding desperately in his chest, the terrible sense of loss.

  - What has changed? I thought you'd stay by my side.

  She wiped the tears away with her fingertips and looked at him.

  "My place is in England, Said, next to my father. She touched his face, caressing him" I will never forget you, my prince.

  Said closed his eyes, swallowing.

  "Is that what you want, gazelle?"

  Louise glanced at her father, then at Said again.

  "Yes," she murmured.

  The Sheik took a deep breath, barely managing to look at her. That was the truth. He could not force her to stay because, despite his threats, his possession and his desire, he did not have the courage to force her to stay. It was different from all other times, because there was something that would not let him even picture her there as his prisoner again. If it was her desire to leave, he would understand, even if his chest was that way, squeezing so tight that he could die at any moment.

  Said took her face in his hands and leaned in to kiss her one last time, feeling the salt of her tears mingling with the already well-known kiss. The same kiss that had been able to make him mad the first time, so long ago. Louise did not care for her father's presence in the living room and kissed him with all her love, feeling for the last time the demanding li
ps that tame her with such passion.

  At last she turned away, looking at her father, who indicated the exit. Christopher and Lord Neville led Louise out of the room as Said stared at her.

  Their eyes met for the last time, and Louise vowed to remember, for all the days she lived, the blue tempestuous eyes that made her so happy.

  When Louise was out of sight, fading down the hall, Said crawled to his throne, sitting down with a thud. He leaned his head against the wood and stared at the ceiling, still unable to believe it.

  Louise had left him.

  He was alone again.

  And this time it would be forever.

  Chapter Thirty

  I love you, Said.

  That phrase echoed in Said's mind every day since she'd left a few months ago. He was still trying to disperse, without success, the image of her pulling away, leaving him, but this became more and more difficult, because the sight of her face was the last memory he kept from her.

  That day, when he had finally understood what had happened there, in front of him, when he realized that Louise was no longer his, Said had walked out of the palace, still hoping to find her coming back to him. The days that had gone without her were certainly the most torturous of the entire Sheikh’s life. Nothing compared to loss, abandonment. The silence in the palace frightened him, when before there was Louise's voice to remind him at every moment that she was there. When he heard a female voice or a laugh, he imagined, anxiously, that it was her. But the truth was that his lady was far away.

  As the weeks passed, Said got used to the bad feeling that surrounded him everywhere. He thought that in time everything would return to normal and that he would no longer remember the lady, leaving her in the past as only a memory of happy times. But each morning when he woke up and every night he lay down to sleep, she would come back to torment him, often surprising him during the day, at important times, when he was meeting with some allied ruler or talking to the vizier. And the memories were of happy moments, in which Louise held herself in his arms, indulging in a passion that had often frightened him.

  The Sheik put the dish aside with the rest of the food and stood up, walking out of the dining room, determined to finally get a good night's sleep. It was rare that he could sleep soundly without having any dream of it. He ignored the voices coming from the kitchen and down the hall, heading for her room. That night Said was feeling something different. He'd spent most of the day in the camp, and even trying, he had not been able to relieve the discomfort in his chest or the immense sadness he felt.

  As he had done every other night, he passed Louise's room, still locked since her departure. She had always ignored him, and at his command the maids were forbidden to touch anything inside the room. Curious, the Sheikh decided that he could go in there that night, because maybe then the bad feeling would pass.

  He entered the room slowly, left the lamp on the table beside the bed, and then felt the perfume impregnated in every corner. He took a deep breath, inhaling Louise's scent. A shiver ran through his body, making him remember in detail the moments he'd been there, in that room, next to her. He touched the blankets and bed sheets, then took the pillow she wore to his face, feeling the scent of spices, just as Louise's body was when she bathed in the night.

  Said lay on the bed, the feeling of emptiness echoing through the dimly lit room. He had never noticed how sad his palace was without Louise there. Was it that way before she showed up? He believed so. In fact, many years ago, his life was that way. Empty and silent. He had sought in so many women, in their bodies, the relief he needed, but everything had been momentary. At dawn, he was alone again, and every day it seemed that his loneliness increased.

  Damn the heavens for putting Louise on his way!

  He took a deep breath, throwing the pillow against the wall, rising quickly. He walked to the window and leaned against the cold desert air.

  Louise was guilty of everything! Guilty of having him put in that situation.

  The Sheik turned his back and slid down the wall, sitting down. He put his head in his hands and sighed, feeling his chest burning, it was almost impossible to breathe. He pressed his hands to his forehead and let out a cry, which echoed through the room. What was wrong with him?

  "You cursed me, woman" he murmured, unable to stand. He leaned against the wall and looked at the bed, seeing perfectly the scenes of when Louise had been there by hisside. He remembered the last night they had spent together, when he had come to her during the night, and had possessed her with despair.

  At that moment, she had said that she loved him.

  By Allah! Said uttered a curse in Arabic, staring in astonishment at the bed, finally realizing the motive that had caused Louise to leave. The perception of reality also made him think about a much more important question. Did he love her?

  Was everything he felt, the desperation, the anguish, the intense desire to see the signs that he loved that woman?

  It frightened him, and he had to stand, staggering to the bed. He lay down anyway, no matter what clothes and sandals. He needed to stay there more than ever, feeling the Louise’s scent.

  On waking the next morning, before the sun rose on the desert sands, the Sheik was sure to need a long trip. There was something that needed to be said to Louise.

  ***

  "Tea is ready to be served, miss.”

  Louise looked up from the book she was reading and stared at the red-haired girl in front of her, with a shy smile. Looking out the window at the blazing sun outside, she wondered if it would even be a good idea to have tea at that hour. Her feet and hands were swollen, it was hard to breathe in all the heat. The air was muffled, which made her sweat under all those layers of clothing.

  "I'll tell you when you can bring it, Nelly," she said quietly, not wanting to wake her father, who was dozing off the other side of the library a few minutes after reading for hours.

  The maid quietly withdrew, closing the door carefully, and Louise set the book aside, rising slowly. She went to the window and looked at the green meadows that bordered a small dirt road leading to the house. She had been there three months, at the insistence of his father, who had assured her that it would be better to take refuge in the country until all the rumors about her had passed in London. The lady also agreed, believing that in this way she would forget the past more quickly. But, it seemed, nothing was so easy. Her days were sad, filled with memories of Said, and no matter how hard she tried to stop thinking about him, she often saw herself remembering the moments she had lived by his side. Her love for the Sheik was still there, more alive than ever in her heart.

  She slid her hand to her belly, smiling.

  After all, she still carried something with her.

  During the voyage by the sea, Louise had spent most of the time locked in her cabin, having terrible seasickness and feeling that she could not bear to arrive at England. But she put up with it, and when she arrived in London with a few pounds less, her father had made her talk to a doctor, who confirmed her pregnancy, probably a few weeks, in view of the nausea she had felt.

  Desperate, she had managed to keep the secret for a while, until her belly began to grow, revealing her condition. His father, offended, had told Louise of his plans to take her to the country, where she would be hidden from everyone.

  At least he had not tried to take the baby away from her. This, she would never allow.

  It was her son, Said's, the fruit of something wonderful she had lived through the happiest moments of her life and no one would separate her from him.

  A movement caught Louise's attention, and she narrowed her eyes, trying to see the rider approaching down the stone road, sighing at the recognition that it was Christopher. She had completely forgotten that he would visit her that day.

  She held on to her long skirts and walked over to her father, shaking him by the shoulder, trying to wake him peacefully.

  The old man suddenly opened his eyes and settled into his chair, clea
ring his throat as he set his sunglasses down. He looked at Louise and her belly protruding, closing his face, looking away.

  It was visible how he was still angry at Louise for everything that had happened.

  - It's Christopher. He's coming" she informed him, giving his father room.

  Lord Neville set about arranging his cloak and tousled hair as he appraised his daughter's appearance.

  Seeing her father's expression of disapproval, Louise looked at herself, wondering if the fact that her belly was so large was so damaging to her appearance. Was it that bad?

  It was not long before the maid returned, now announcing that Lord Westdiff had arrived and that he was waiting to see Lady Louise.

  “Send him in, Nelly" Lord Neville ordered, going to the table near the books to pour him brandy.

  Louise remained standing where she was, staring at the door, until it was opened and Christopher came in smiling, ever so relaxed and excited. Seeing Louise on the other side of the library, the man frowned, casting a curious glance into her belly.

  Louise's father cleared his throat, catching his attention, and he composed himself quickly.

  "Lord Neviile, it's a pleasure to see you again." He approached the lady and bowed before her, then kissed her hand." Louise, my dear, you look lovely.

  The lady smiled, thanking the gentle gesture. She saw his father's satisfied smile and disguised the discomfort he was feeling.

  "We thought he'd abandoned us, boy. I was uncertain if you were trying to break the engagement with my daughter" Lord Neville commented, offering the man a glass of drink.

  Louise deigned to sit back in her chair, sighing with the weight of her body. She put her hands on her belly and caressed her, thinking how much he would have liked Said to receive his caresses.

  Christopher laughed, sitting down in front of the lady, still with that strange smile on his lips.

  "You could not be more wrong about that, Lord Neville. I have no intention of breaking my engagement to Lady Louise. He took a sip of the brandy and placed the glass on the table beside it." The truth is, I was stuck in some trouble in London and I could not visit her before. But I'm glad to see you in such good shape, my dear" he said, looking once more at her belly.