Iris Johansen - The Treasure

She shook her head. “I don’t think Vaden could be fooled as was that guard at Sienbara, and I’m sure you’ll warn him to watch me.”

He sat down beside her and took her hand. “Of course. But Layla has already given him ample warning. She’s learned your temperament very well in such a short time.”

“We think a good deal alike. I thought she’d fight harder to keep us from using the grail.”

“It was Tarik’s decision. Since I had a weapon to use, I bent all my efforts on him.”

“What weapon?”

“Guilt.”

She frowned, puzzled. “It’s Nasim who was guilty, not Tarik. I wouldn’t think Tarik would feel any blame.”

“Tarik evidently is a man with a conscience.”

“That would still not be-” She studied his face. “You’re not telling me something.”

“Not because I’m trying to keep secrets from you, it’s just not the time. I have to make a decision first.”

“Is it about the grail?”

He nodded.

“You agreed to protect it for Tarik? Is that why he’s letting us use it? You should never have-”

“I promised him only that I’d protect it from Nasim while it was in my possession.” He lifted her hand and kissed the palm. “Don’t you think it’s time we went inside?”

She stared at him in wonder. “I think you’re beginning to believe Tarik. How can you? It’s impossible.”

“Sometimes one is forced to consider the possibility of the impossible.” He smiled. “But that shouldn’t trouble you. You’ve already told me that the goal Tarik and Layla worked so hard to accomplish is of no interest to you.”

She shivered. “It would be too lonely and strange.”

“Perhaps not so lonely. We could make it-” He drew a deep breath and his hand tightened with bruising force. “My God, it’s a temptation to try to persuade you. I could do it. I know I could do it.”

“You’re hurting me.” And frightening her. “Persuade me?”

His eyes glittered as they held her own. “You say you trust me now. Don’t trust me in this. It’s too important to me.”

“What are you talking about?” Her eyes widened. “Tarik promised you something. Don’t believe him. It’s madness. This Eshe is a dream.”

“What if it isn’t?”

“Then it could be a nightmare. Promise me you won’t let Tarik talk you into trying to create this Eshe from the directions on the grail.”

He was silent a moment. “I promise.”

Her relief was tempered by a nagging unease. She could still sense that tension just below the surface.

“And will you promise me that you’ll try to forget the nightmare and consider the dream? Because it could be such a-” He muttered an oath and jumped to his feet. “Come, let’s go back to the house. We’ve had enough talk. I can’t seem to stop myself from trying to-”

He was striding through the garden away from her, she realized in bewilderment.

She caught up with him as they reached the house. “I think I would rather talk of Nasim,” she said breathlessly. “He doesn’t arouse such a furor in you.”

“We will talk of neither.” In the short time it had taken to reach the house, Kadar had changed again. His smile was seductive as he took her hand. “We won’t talk at all. I’ve saved something very special to demonstrate for you from my years in the house of pleasure. I think tonight is just the time to show you.”

“That was very wicked.” Her breath was coming in short pants as she rolled over on her back. “I’m not sure that you should-”

“Did you enjoy it?” He kissed her shoulder. “Then I should have done it. Rest, and then I’ll show you another way.”

She had never dreamed of the intensity and sensual skill Kadar had demonstrated tonight. He was always a master, but tonight he had been spellbinding, driven. Her body was tingling, alive, and still wanting more.

“I’m dizzy. I feel as I did in the tower… hashish.”

“Pleasure can be as strong as hashish and as addictive.” He kissed her breast. “Your body can become so accustomed to it that you can’t do without it. I can make you want me like that. Your body will crave mine so much that you-”

“What’s wrong?”

He jerkily moved off her. “Nothing.” He lay down beside her and turned his back. “Go to sleep.”

Go to sleep when he had turned from sorcery to remoteness in the space of a heartbeat? “I will not.” Her hand grasped his and she turned him on his back. “What’s wrong?”

He drew her down and buried her head in his shoulder. “What’s wrong is that you can’t trust me even in this,” he whispered. “I didn’t even know I intended to do this to you. I was tempted, I reached out, and-”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I enjoyed it. It was a trifle unusual, but I liked-”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Oh, you think you can make a slave of me with your wicked ways?” She bit his shoulder. “You flatter yourself.”

“Do I?”

“And why should you want to? A slave would not suit you at all.”

“You suit me. And I find I’d want you any way I could get you.”

“But you have me already.”

“Do I?”

“If you don’t get yourself killed by Nasim.” She raised her head and smiled teasingly down at him. “And if you don’t deny me pleasure because you’re so vain as to think you have some sort of magical coupling powers.”

“Not magic, skill.” He smiled. “And I’m tempted to show you that it’s not vanity. You’ve seriously damaged my self-love.”

That almost desperate intensity was gone, she realized with relief. She cuddled closer and nestled her head in the hollow of his shoulder. “Later. I need to gather my strength. Besides, I like this too. Don’t you?”

His hand gently stroked the hair at her temple. “Oh, yes. I like everything I do with you, my love.”

He was asleep.

She wished she could join him in slumber, Selene thought, as she stared into the darkness. She didn’t want to lie here, thinking.

If she had imagined she would lie awake this night, she would have thought the cause would lay at Nasim’s feet. Surely Kadar’s meeting with Nasim should be more worrisome to her than his strange behavior tonight.

Eshe.

Impossible.

Yet Tarik and Layla were intelligent, reasonable people, and they believed it possible. Kadar was not a man to plunge foolishly to any conclusion, but he was beginning to believe it too.

And she could see how Kadar would be lured by the prospects it presented. It was his nature to question and explore.

What if he decided that he could not resist that ultimate challenge?

But he had promised her he’d not take that challenge.

But did she have the right to ask that promise?

Of course she did. She loved him. Dabbling in the unknown could be dangerous. She had to protect him from that risk.

He was not afraid of risk. But she was afraid for him.

Or was she afraid for herself? When Tarik had spoken of her not being ready, he had been talking about Eshe. He had seen what she knew to be true: She wasn’t ready to face the possibility of losing what she had to gain an uncertain future. She had grown up with uncertainty. Now she wanted everything secure and predictable.

Secure? Nothing could be less secure than their immediate future, and that danger was by her will and was her responsibility.

“You’re frowning.” Kadar’s eyes were open, but his voice was thick with drowsiness. “Stop worrying about Nasim and go to sleep.”

“I will.”

“It will be all right. Nothing will happen to me.”

“I know.” Because she had already made the decision that there was no chance of anything happening to Kadar. She closed her eyes. “Go back to sleep. You need to garner your strength. I intend to wake you in a few hours and have you pleasure me.”