Bertrice Small - Zuleika and the Barbarian

But she would not be just a sultana. She knew everything that there was to know about Dariyabar, and its history. Amir Khan had to listen to her, and at least consider her advice. She would not be an ornament, or a creature to be appreciated only for the pleasure she could give him. She was far more intelligent than her brothers had been, and she was equal in intelligence to the khan. Why were men so stubborn? Sabola wasn't that difficult. He had departed the banqueting hall with Bahira early. But Sabola is not to be the next sultan , a small voice murmured in her head. "The Gods!" Zuleika swore. She hated that little voice, especially when it was right.

"May I join you?"

Zuleika turned her head in the direction of her husband's voice. "Have you concluded your business, my lord?" she said, half-angrily.

"I have," he calmly replied. He went about washing himself in an efficient manner, rinsed, and then dove into the bathing pool, surfacing next to her. "I am surprised that you do not understand the importance of what I was doing tonight," he began.

Zuleika's feet hit the marble bottom of the bathing pool, and she whirled about to face the khan. "I understand everything, my lord! Given the brief time we have for you to soothe the citizens of my city before my father dies, you must make the most of your time. But this is our wedding night ! Could you not have waited until tomorrow?"

"Now, my princess," he began, almost laughing at the look of pure outrage on her beautiful face, "the opportunity was there to show the merchants and ship owners of Dariyabar that I am not a barbarian, though you have all called me thus. They needed to know that I understand the various elements that make up their great trade. That my main goal in attacking the city was merely to gain an entry to the sea and that trade. They needed to understand that I am not a monster, that I love and adore their princess," he finished with a mischievous smile.

"Do not try to wheedle me, Amir!" she grumbled at him.

"But, my princess, who else is there for me to wheedle?" he teased her, and reaching out, he pulled her resisting form against his.

"I hate you," she said, half-heartedly.

"No, you don't," he replied.

"So you love me?" she said, and began to melt at the pressure of his thighs and his belly on her thighs and belly.

"From the first moment I saw you," he confessed.

"Indeed?" she replied.

"I am an impulsive man," he told her. "You do not yet love me, my princess, but in time you will. You are a careful woman who must consider the entire issue before you will commit yourself, or in this particular case, your heart."

It startled her that he should know her so well after only three days. "You are arrogant, and you presume far too much," she responded, and pulling away from him swam to the steps of the pool and stood up, looking back at him a moment. Slowly she ascended the marble steps, the droplets of water gleaming like diamonds on her beautiful lithe body. "It is possible that I just might forgive your behavior tonight," she told him, drying herself off. "You have pleased me in the past. It is possible you may do so again, my lord."

He chuckled. "Now, my princess, who is being naughty?"

Zuleika ignored his remark, and picked up a crystal flask containing a thick pale green cream. "You will rub me with this lotion," she said, and turning, moved slowly back into her bedchamber.

He quickly dried himself with a length of toweling, and then followed her. She was already lying upon her belly. A warm breeze, scented with damask roses and lilies, blew through the silk gauze draperies that hung between the marble pillars through which he viewed a walled garden. There was the song of a nightingale coming from that garden. Straddling her, he used her delightful and provocative bottom as a seat. Uncorking the crystal vial, he watched as the pale green cream coated its sides, finally pouring itself out into his palm. He set the container aside on the ebony table. Then rubbing his two hands together to distribute the fragrant cream, he began to massage her with slow strokes of his big hands.

"Ummm, that is quite satisfactory," she murmured as those hands swept up the long line of her back and over her shoulders.

"Just satisfactory?" he mocked her. Then he continued to massage her until all the cream in his hands had been worked into her pale skin. Now he reversed his position, and poured more cream into his hand. Distributing the lotion between his hands a second time, he began to massage her round buttocks with an expertise that frankly surprised her. His supple fingers dug into her flesh.

"Ohhh, yes!" Zuleika said. She could feel her desires beginning to rouse themselves. "You have obviously done this before, my lord?"

He smiled, but said nothing, instead going on to massage each of her long legs in its turn with the spicy liquid. Now he turned about once more, pushing her wet hair from her graceful neck and pressing little kisses upon the damp skin. He poured more cream, and rubbed each of her arms, her hands and long fingers.

"Amir?"

"Yes, my princess?" he answered in dulcet tones.

"I think you can cease now," she said. Her voice was almost a squeak, and she could not prevent herself from wriggling about though she tried. When she had started this she had not anticipated how exciting it would be. She was quivering with her desire.

"You want me to cease now, my princess?" he replied in innocent tones. His hands slipped beneath her to seize her perfect round breasts. Then he pinched the nipples hard, enjoying her gasp of surprise as he did so. Now he stretched his length to cover her body with his own. Tenderly he nipped at the nape of her neck. "You are a wicked little tease, Zuleika," he told her.

"If you think to discourage me with your anger, you have but succeeded in arousing me." He nipped softly at her neck again.

Zuleika shuddered as tiny flames of desire began to lick at her. This wasn't turning out the way she had planned it. " Amir !"

For all her schooling in the erotic arts, she had no real experience other than that he and Sabola had given her. The lovely vessel that was her body was filling to overflowing with lust for him. He had heard the plea in her voice although he suspected that she had not meant it as one. He rolled off her, and then reaching out, turned her over onto her back. Her exquisitely perfect breasts rose and fell with her emotion. He gazed down at her, smiling at her closed eyes. Then his dark head bent to capture a pert nipple. He caressed it with his tongue, encircling it over and over and over again until she was moaning softly with her open longing. He moved to her other breast now while a hand fondled the breast he had just left.

Zuleika was astounded to find how sensitive her breasts were. She would not yield easily to him, however. Reaching out, she tangled her slim fingers into his thick black hair, and yanked him from her breast. "You must kiss me!" she demanded of him, and her now open violet eyes met his gaze.

He laughed softly. "With pleasure, little princess," he said, and his lips took fierce possession of hers. Their tongues fought a battle to fill each other's mouths. Hers battled his with skill and newfound cunning. She could not be subdued, and she brought quick hot fire into his loins.

She sank her teeth into his shoulder, laughing when he swore softly. She moved provocatively, whispering wickedly in his ear, " Now, my lord, Amir! Now !"

" No !" he said. She was the princess of Dariyabar, and key to her kingdom, but by the gods, he was the khan of khans, and he would rule her in their bed.

She thrust her pelvis up at him.

" No !" he repeated, and turning her over swiftly, he gave her several spanks on her buttocks before rolling her back to face him. "Passion should be savored, Zuleika, and not hurried." He shifted his body in order to put his head between her milky thighs. His fingers pushed the tender pinkish flesh apart, and his mouth fastened on the delicate bud of her womanhood. Then he began to suckle upon it.