Iris Johansen - The Treasure

This was not good. She must force herself to think as well as feel. “I don’t see you anymore during the day. Where do you go?”

“Anywhere.” They began to climb the steps. “Away from you.”

“Why?”

“I find I cannot draw the line at the tower. I can think of little else except coupling. You have to have some rest.”

She lost her breath. “I do not think this… healthy. I’ve never-Is it Nasim or the hashish?”

He shook his head. “It is the two of us. I always knew it would be this way.”

“It’s madness,” she whispered. She added haltingly, “I can think of little else either. Body should not rule the mind. It must stop.”

“Tomorrow.” He opened the door of the tower room. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

Hashish.

Silk.

Mellow candlelight falling on the divan where they took pleasure.

“Yes.” She slowly moved into the chamber. “Tomorrow.”

He smiled. “After all, it’s only pleasure. What harm can-My God.”

Her gaze followed his to the divan. “What is it?”

“Nasim.”

A slender whip with leather thongs lay on the soft cushions.

Kadar walked slowly toward the divan.

“Why is it here?” she whispered.

He didn’t answer. He reached down and picked up the whip.

“Kadar.”

“Get out of here,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Why? What do you mean?”

He whirled toward the tapestry. “By God, no , Nasim.”

He hurled the whip at the tapestry.

The next moment he had grabbed her arm and pushed her toward the door. “Out.”

The door slammed behind them and he half-pulled, half-pushed her down the curving staircase. He was cursing softly, venomously.

“What’s happening?”

He paid no attention to her.

She stopped at the foot of the steps. “I’ll not go another step. Tell me.”

He drew a deep breath, struggling for control. “We weren’t proving amusing enough to Nasim. He wanted me to use the whip on you.”

“He wanted to punish me?”

“He didn’t-It’s a form of coupling.”

“What?”

“Sometimes pain increases the intensity.”

She stared at him, shocked. “For you?”

“I’ve never liked it. Even with a woman who did.”

“I cannot believe anyone would like it. As a child I felt the whip often and-”

“I know. Just believe me. Some women do like it.” He pushed her toward the door to her chamber. “Lock the door. I’m going to talk to Nasim.”

She remembered the rage with which he had hurled the whip. “He’ll be angry with you.”

“Yes.” He gave her a nudge. “Go on.”

An angry Nasim would be formidable, and Kadar would bear the brunt of his displeasure. “I’ll let you do it.”

“What?”

She tried to smile. “It won’t be the first time I’ve been beaten. It is nothing. I’ve enjoyed everything else you’ve done to me; perhaps this will not be so-”

“No.” He took a step closer and cupped her face in his hands. He looked down at her with a tenderness that took her breath away. He kissed her forehead. “Absolutely not.” He dusted a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Never.”

Before she could respond, he turned and walked away.

“You treated me with disrespect,” Nasim snapped as soon as Kadar walked into the hall. “I should have your throat cut from ear to ear.”

“But then you’d have no one to accomplish your task.”

“I wanted to see how she’d respond to the whip.”

“And I had no desire to use it on her.”

“I want it.”

“No.” He held Nasim’s gaze. “I’ve done everything else you’ve asked. I won’t do this.”

For a moment Kadar thought Nasim would persevere, but then Nasim shifted his glance and shrugged. “It is of no importance. I just thought it would be amusing. You’ve done everything else to her.”

“I don’t find it amusing.”

“But you find her amusing,” Nasim said. “She is… remarkable. You lied when you said she was of no interest.”

“Every woman is of interest in the tower room.”

“Hashish? I think not.” He smiled. “Do you think you’ve gotten her with child?”

“How should I know? It’s been only a fortnight, and she tells me it’s not time for her flux.” Kadar changed the subject. “And no word from your messenger Fadil?”

“Not yet.”

“Will he come by sea?”

“Yes.” He arched a brow. “You’re so eager to start your journey?”

“A man grows bored without a challenge.”

“Particularly you, Kadar. You always needed to find new ways to negotiate old paths. However, this challenge may prove too much for you.”

“But it will be worth it.” He smiled. “A treasure beyond price.”

Nasim frowned. “My treasure. Don’t forget. My treasure.”

“I’m sure you’ll find a way to remind me.” He turned to leave. “In the meantime, I’ll not return to the tower room. My mind must be clear and I need rest for the journey.”

“It’s true you’ve been very strenuously occupied.” Nasim chuckled. “Very well, I admit you’ve done everything possible to assure that she is with child. You may rest until we see if your seed has taken hold.”

“Many thanks,” Kadar said with irony.

“Impudence.” Nasim gestured a dismissal. “I’m astonished I permit it from you.”

Kadar started to leave.

“But I still think the whip would prove interesting. If she’s not with child, we will try it the next time you go to the tower.”

Kadar didn’t bother to argue. Nasim always had to win, but Kadar had bought a delay. By the time the issue emerged again, the messenger might have arrived.

Now he must consider what action to take when that occurred.

“What happened?” Selene asked as soon as she unlocked and threw open the door.

“Nothing of importance.” Kadar came into the chamber. “We no longer have to go to the tower. At least, not for a while.”

Shock and another emotion less identifiable surged through her. “Why not?”

He smiled crookedly. “I pleaded weariness. He doesn’t want me to be overtired when I start my journey.”

“Has the messenger arrived?”

“Not yet.” He pulled his mantle over his head and walked naked to the pallet. “Nasim said we will wait until we see if you’re with child. If you’re not, we must return to the tower room.”

“I see.” She moved slowly across the room toward the bed. It was the first time since they had started going to the tower that she had thought of the possibility of a child. The pleasure of the act itself had overwhelmed all else. “What if I am?”

“We must hope you aren’t. The tower room is the lesser danger.”

“We may not know for a while. My flux is often late.” She took off her gown, blew out the candle, and climbed into bed.

A child…

She lay staring into the darkness. She had thought only of the danger of refusal, not of the babe itself. A child born of Kadar and her. Perhaps a boy like Thea’s babe, Niall. Gurgling laughter, soft, and silken smooth as-

A baby Nasim would either take or kill.

Panic soared through her. A child born in this dark place and taken from her. Nasim would-

“For God’s sake, stop shaking.” Kadar was sitting on the bed beside her.

How had he known she was shaking from across the room? But Kadar always knew. She reached out and clutched his hands. “I won’t let him take my baby,” she said fiercely. “He can’t have it.”

“We don’t know that you-”

“I don’t care. I’ll kill him before I let him-”

“Shh.” He lifted the covers and slipped into bed beside her. “It will never happen.” He gathered her into his arms. “I promise you he’ll never touch any child of ours.”