"Please don't say things like that."
"Like what?" he challenged. "That I've always believed you to be a beauty? That I know you wish I'd married you instead of her?"
Amani's temper burned hot. She yanked away from Ziyad and gave him a scalding glare. "Yes, Spider, I do wish it. Only because it would be me in that grave. Then you would be with Karis right now, and you wouldn't have to be in so much pain!"
With one stride, he stepped close and wrapped his arm around her waist. The other hand buried itself in her hair. He didn't say a word, nor did he hesitate. His lips were on hers before she could form another thought. Amani whimpered and he took advantage of her shock, forcing her mouth open with his tongue.
She couldn't think much beyond his assault. Every one of her senses was filled with him. She couldn't escape, all she could do was hold onto his robes and hope she didn't crumple at his feet.
So many times she'd dreamt of kissing the Spider, but she never knew how much the reality would rock her, lost in his arms while his mouth claimed hers. It was difficult, keeping up with him. But the taste of him was unlike anything she'd ever imagined—sweet, yet succulent at the same time. The Spider's mouth scorched her, burning her from the inside out.
Ziyad pulled away just enough to whisper, "Say my name, Amani."
"No."
He kissed her again, brutally this time, bringing her down to press her into the hot sand. Amani squealed with surprise, but didn't try to stop him. She could no longer see his caravs, but that didn't mean they weren't over the next dune.
"Say it," he commanded again, this time leaving a trail of wet fire down her neck.
"I will not. I cannot!"
He bit her. Gods, but she cried out at the sensation of his teeth where her neck met her shoulder. Her clit throbbed and her pussy was wet. Ziyad's use of sensual force had her heart racing and her body willing for his cock.
"We must…we must return…to your caravan. Spider!"
"Not until you say my name. Have no fear, woman, I will make you say it."
"Why?" she said, fully aware she was whining.
"Because I am your husband."
"You are the Spider Prince." Her voice cracked.
"I am your husband," he repeated, gently this time. "I no longer have Karis. I have you. And I wish to hear you call me by my name."
His pleading eyes undid her. Amani's own eyes burned. She sniffled while she caressed his cheek. It was the first intimate touch she'd ever given him. Ziyad allowed her to touch him, up his cheek and into his hair, exploring him.
"You are the most beautiful man I have ever known," she whispered. His eyes widened. "Ziyad, my husband."
A long, low blast of a horn echoed throughout the desert. Ziyad groaned and lowered his head to Amani's shoulder. "I had hoped it would take them longer to realize we were missing."
"We should return."
"I will come to you tonight," Ziyad promised. "Be ready for me."
Amani bit her lip but nodded.
He must have seen the fear in her eyes. "It won't hurt this time. I will make sure of it."
He stood and offered his hand to help her up as well. She took it, somewhat shocked that he didn't seem inclined to let her go. He led her back to his caravan with her hand firmly in his.
Six
Amani spent the rest of the day in her carav. When she and Ziyad had returned, his people had been in an uproar, one that he'd calmed with grace and dignity. She'd gotten a glimpse of why her husband was royalty. The man had a firm command over the hearts of his people, and it was clear to her why they loved him.
He merely explained they had lost track of time together. Most everyone who'd gathered to hear his words had chuckled and poked each other in the ribs, clearly understanding what they'd done beyond the caravs.
She shouldn't feel ashamed—she was the Spider's wife after all. But Karis had been their princess. Amani didn't want Ziyad's people to resent her. Then again, there was no hope of her ever claiming the Spider's heart, so the memory of their princess was safe.
But saying his name was something she hadn't been prepared for. He'd made her do it, by dropping her to the sand and biting her into submission. Her neck was still sore, and she had no doubt his teeth marks were evident. But one thing was for sure. Amani had no complaints about what Ziyad had done. If anything, she was more than ready to take him as her husband, into her arms.
And bear him a son.
Now that the caravs had stopped for the evening, she knew it would only be a matter of time before Ziyad would come to her. She'd been delivered dinner, the one and only time since she'd become a part of his caravan. He must have ordered it. But her insides roiled. She couldn't eat, even if she wanted to.
While she paced the carav forward and back, the food had gone cold. Amani worried her bottom lip with indecision. Should she meet Ziyad with her robes on or off? Should she douse the lamps completely or leave them lit? Should she greet him with conversation or lie provocatively on the pillows?
The door to the carav ripped open and there was Ziyad, bounding into her quarters, taking the decisions off her hands. He closed the door behind him, but never took his eyes off of her.
"You have not eaten." His words confused her, until she realized he must have seen her full tray of food still where the servant had left it on the floor.
Amani shook her head. "I cannot eat."
"You will need your strength."
Her knees went weak at the look he gave her. He wanted her, there was no doubt about it. His eyes were dark and his mouth was set in a determined line. The man was going to take her again, and this time, he'd promised she would enjoy it.
Amani's stomach was suddenly lodged in her throat. "When will we arrive at your oasis?" she asked, walking backwards.
"Tomorrow evening," he answered, advancing.
"I don't want your people to resent me."
"They do not resent you. Why would they?"
"I know they loved Karis." Her foot hit a pillow and she stumbled, but regained her footing.
Ziyad's mouth turned up into a half-grin. "They will soon love you."
"Did you eat?" Her back came up to the far side of the carav. She had nowhere else to go. Instead, she clutched the black fabric that draped the wall behind her.
"I have eaten," he answered. "But for some strange reason, my mouth is still watering."
"Gods." Amani closed her eyes and groaned, unable to deny the fact that her fingers itched to touch him.
"Open your eyes." Ziyad's breath puffed on her lips and her pussy was instantly wet. If her heart beat any faster, it would explode.
She obeyed him, only to find he'd caught her, with both his hands against the wall on either side of her head. The Spider filled her carav, every corner. She swallowed hard.
"Say my name."
She closed her eyes again. "Why?"
"Because I will not touch you unless you say it. Unless you beg me. Unless you want me."
"You know that I want you."
"Then there is no reason for delay."
Amani looked at him once more. He did nothing other than to cock his brow in his infuriating way. After a long, uncomfortable silence, he changed his tactics.
"Do you want me to feast on your nipples? Would you like me to lick your pussy with my tongue? Do you wish to touch my body with your hands, anywhere you like?"
"By the gods, Spider…"
"Then say…my…name."
There was no hope for her. He'd won and he knew it. Nothing could stop her from spiraling down into falling in love with her husband. Her marriage would be a sham, but she'd enjoy every damn minute spent in his arms.
"Ziyad!" she cried, as if the word had been ripped from her heart. "Ziyad, Zi—"
His mouth attacked hers, cutting off her air in a most delicious way. Instantly, his tongue was inside her, plunging in and out, playing with her own. Just as he had on the dunes, he pulled her to the carpet, yet this time, he tugged
frantically on her belt-wrap.
Amani was forced to open her legs wide to allow him to lie on her. In that position, she could feel every hard inch of his cock. Instead of scaring her as she thought it might, it excited her, and a fresh wetness coated her clit.
Once Ziyad had opened her robes, he didn't bother taking off her undergarments. Instead, his hand disappeared within, opening her pussy with his fingers. The instant his skin glided against hers, she gasped and pulled away from his mouth, opening her legs wider to feel more of his delight.
Ziyad worked his mouth down her chest until he found her erect nipple. Never had Amani thought having it in his mouth would cause her such wicked pleasure, but she couldn't help but buck underneath him and hold his head
down, urging him on.
The silk of his tongue was replaced by the sharp bite of his teeth, and Amani moaned at the arc of fire that bridged from her nipple to her clit.
Something was building inside her. She strained toward it, needing it, wanting it. Ziyad's finger disappeared into her pussy, just as his cock had once before. He was right, it didn't hurt. It felt good. So very good.
With her feet on the floor, she silently asked him to do it again. And again. And again.
With one more swirl of his tongue on her nipple, Amani cried out as a rush of sensation crashed over her. Ziyad didn't stop and his fingers took her higher, demanding more of her, making her come for him.
She could barely think when Ziyad tugged her undergarments down her legs and threw them somewhere in the carav. Her eyes were hooded when he dipped between her thighs. But once his tongue lapped at her sensitized clit, Amani clutched the pillows and threw her head back.
She tried to scoot away from him, the pressure inside her was too intense. But he held her hips steady and continued, making her experience every single bolt of pleasure rippling through her.
Just when she thought she couldn't take any more, Amani came again, screaming this time and thrusting her hips into his face. Her orgasm was so powerful, she continued to come for as long as Ziyad licked her—which seemed like an eternity. He still held her hips, he still refused to let her come down from the sky until he was good and satisfied she had given him every shred of her passion.
"Mmm," he growled, kissing his way back up her body. "Gods, but I've missed the taste of a woman."
Amani had no idea how his words could flare her lust, but her clit pulsed again without his mouth touching her this time.
In her stupor, she hadn't noticed him undress, but Ziyad held his weight above her, without his robes. Amani gasped again, this time with awe. Her husband's muscles bulged beneath his skin, which was peppered with a light dusting of dark hair. She finally understood what he'd meant about his mouth watering, for hers was watering as well.
"Touch me," he demanded. "I need you to touch me."
Her hands were on him at a turn of the winds, rubbing his chest. She reveled in the shudders he gave her as her fingers explored him, lower and lower, until her hands found his cock.
"Gods!"
Ziyad's shout startled her, but he didn't order her to stop. Therefore she continued to stroke him until he took her hands in his.
"I must be inside you." His eyes caught hers and Amani nodded. Slowly, Ziyad slicked himself on her pussy, bringing forth cries of ecstasy from her lips.
Bending low, Ziyad kissed her furiously, and Amani could taste herself on his tongue. It only served to make her hotter, and her hand rounded his ass, urging him forward.
Ziyad needed no further encouragement. His cock sank deep within her channel, spreading her wide, opening her. It was still a strange, foreign feeling, but it did not hurt, just as he'd said.
"Are you in pain?" he asked, nuzzling her neck.
"No," she replied, breathless.
"Thank the gods," he said.
She heard the chuckle in his tone, but didn't have time to laugh with him before his mouth returned to hers. For the next few moments, Amani was shown just how tender the Spider Prince could be as he rocked within her, being careful not to jostle her in any way. His warm palms spread on her thighs and she offered herself up, finding her rhythm against him.
Amani watched as Ziyad's body trembled. He closed his eyes and growled loudly, forcing his cock inside her so deeply, she thought she might come again from the feeling. With a few more sharp plunges, he was spent, and panted his breath into her hair.
When he kissed her this time, his kisses were soft, gentle. As if he had all the time in the world to spend soothing her from their lovemaking.
"Do you ache now?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered, deciding to tease him. He gave her a look of surprise. "But now, in a much different way."
"Minx," he murmured under his breath.
She giggled and kissed her way to his ear. "I think I will very much enjoy being married to you, Spider."
Ziyad grinned down on her and rubbed his nose with hers. "That makes two of us."
Amani's heart soared.
~ * ~
Ziyad smiled at the tender scene Amani presented. She'd fallen asleep against him, snuggled on his chest. Her soft breaths tickled his skin, but he didn't want to move her. Not yet.
Having a woman in his arms again felt too damn good. And having her so responsive to his touch had heated his blood to boiling. This time, Amani had found her pleasure. Many times, in fact. Ziyad couldn't have stopped his grin of satisfaction, even if he wanted to.
But the longer he lay there, the more his mind was taken back to what Amani had told him earlier. She didn't believe she was a beautiful woman. The rejections she'd received for her hand had obviously taken their toll on the dear girl. However Ziyad was more than thankful. If she'd been accepted by any one of them, she would have been the wife of a merchant or a goat herder.
Or the Scarab Princess.
She could have belonged to Qadir and not to him. Ziyad thanked the gods for Qadir's obsession with Trianna. Amani would have been well treated in the Scarab's caravan, but then he wouldn't have had the chance to experience her trusting soul.
Ziyad's wife confused him. With practically the same breath she told him she fancied him then acknowledged his love for Karis. Never once had she shied away from talking about his first wife, and even spoke of her with respect. What other woman would accept her position in the Spider's life than Amani? She'd never asked him to forget Karis, never asked him to move on or think only of her, now that they were married.
She respected his love for Karis, and that meant something to him. It made her even more glorious in Ziyad's eyes, with her hair spread out upon her grey satin pillow.
But her indignation earlier had taken him aback. She admitted that she wished to have been his first wife—if only to trade places with Karis. Then he could still be with her. Amani didn't want him to be in pain. That had shocked him more than anything else. Knowing she cared for his sanity had led him to kiss her thoroughly in the sand.
With a sigh, Ziyad was reluctant to leave. But this was her carav. He'd need to retire to his own before morning. If he entertained the idea of staying the entire night, Amani might get used to it. And she deserved more from him than false hope.
With a light kiss on her forehead, Ziyad slipped from her arms and stood. He found his robes and silently dressed, watching her stomach as it rose and fell. His cock stirred and he had to turn away. It wouldn't do to succumb to his lust again. If he woke her to make love once more, he would end up staying with her all night.
But the walk to her door seemed so very long, and returning to his carav seemed so very lonely. He was slipping. He couldn't allow Amani's gentle ways to conquer him. He needed to be stronger. For Karis—the woman he loved.
Seven
Amani stared at the empty pillows next to her and tried not to fall apart. She'd woken some time ago, probably when the caravs had lurched forward on their final push to Ziyad's oasis. But she hadn't risen. What was the point?
She'd just spent the mo
st magical night of her life with the man she adored, and he'd left her cold and alone. Her heart ached that he hadn't wanted to stay, that he'd slipped out of her carav in the middle of the night. But her head chastised her for her romantic thoughts.
Of course he'd left her. She wasn't his princess. He didn't even love her. Ziyad had enjoyed what they'd done, but he'd never spend the night with her. It was for the better that she learned it now, instead of trying to come to grips with his feelings for her after they'd been married a few years. She had to realize she wasn't the first woman in his life.
The Spider Prince Page 4
