Bertrice Small - Zuleika and the Barbarian

Zuleika gasped with surprise, but she was not displeased by his actions. He was unleashing delights within her body that sent her gasping for air. The waves of heat came quickly in explosions of rapture that caused her to consider she might be dying. "Amir! Oh, Amir! It is too sweet. Too sweet !"

There was a tone in her voice that alerted him that he might be driving her too far. She was not really that experienced in passion. He stopped, and pulling himself up again, covered her body with his own. "Zuleika, my love! My own true heart!" He murmured the soft words of low passion into her little ear even as he plunged deeply into her burning flesh. He thrust hard, slowly, slowly until she was almost weeping in his embrace. "Tell me you love me," he murmured to her. " Tell me !"

Her arms went about him, holding him tightly. Her breasts flattened against his smooth chest. She pretended that she had not heard him, and he was wise enough not to press her further.

Then together they found a perfect rhythm. Their passions drove them higher and higher until together they finally found a nirvana far above that of the gods. They clung to each other in that perfect little world of exquisite rapture. And then, since paradise is not permitted humankind, they descended in a rush that left them both half-conscious and breathless. When they came to themselves once again, Zuleika found herself wrapped in Amir's arms, her cheek against his chest. Beneath the flesh she could hear the strong beat of his great heart.

"I do love you, princess of Dariyabar," he told her.

"But you do not understand me," Zuleika said. "You love my body, and the pleasure that we can give each other, but do you respect me as an intellect, Amir? Can you listen to my judgment, and weigh it carefully before making a decision? I do not know if I can be satisfied just to be a trophy for you."

"What would you be, then?" he asked quietly.

"If you are to rule Dariyabar successfully, Amir, then we must be equal partners. I need no public acclaim, but what do you really know of my country but that you wanted it because it provided Khanistan with a window to the sea, and beyond? You have no great cities in your land, Amir. Your people live a different life than mine live. You cannot make decisions for Dariyabar based simply on your own experience. You need mine as well."

"We are herdsmen and warriors, it is true," he agreed, "but does not common sense apply equally on the steppes as well as in the city, Zuleika?"

"If you are dealing with cattle, perhaps," she said with a smile, "but you cannot treat the merchants of Dariyabar as you would your cattle, Amir. I will gladly teach you the language of diplomacy that you will need to be a good sultan. My father rarely made a decision that he did not consider in private first. I have learned much from him."

"Yet he favored his sons over his daughter," the khan said shrewdly.

"Yes," she admitted, "he did, but it did not keep him from despairing over Cyrus, Asad and Jahi. Like you, they were warriors. My father has in the past year come to rely upon me, and upon Abd al Hakim, Bahira's father. You must do the same, Amir."

"I had thought to make Sabola my vizier," he said.

She shook her head at him. "Nay, keep Bahira's father as your vizier. You need Sabola to lead the armies. You will not be content to sit here in Dariyabar. You will go forth, this time across the sea, to find and conquer new lands. You need Sabola by your side. Besides, he has no real administrative experience in the government of any country."

He nodded. "You are indeed clever, my wife," he told her.

"And I will come to love you, Amir," she said softly.

He smiled down into her violet eyes. "I think you probably will," he replied.

"So arrogant," she laughed up at him.

"So haughty," he chuckled down at her.

"You spanked me before," she said, remembering.

"I did," he answered her with a grin. "You were being most recalcitrant, and I must be master in our bed, princess of Dariyabar."

Suddenly she was astride his chest, and laughing at the look of surprise upon his face. "And I shall be mistress!" she told him.

His look grew serious, and then he said, "Yes, Zuleika, my princess of Dariyabar, you shall, for I can love no other."

"It is a grave vow you make, my lord," she answered him.

"I know," he responded. "Trust me always, Zuleika, and I swear that I shall never fail you. Believe in me, my darling, and I will trust in your judgment though it be difficult for me to accept the council of a woman. I shall, nonetheless, for I adore you!"

Her look was equally sober. "Do not say these things to me, Amir, if you cannot keep your promises. I will forgive much in you, but never will I forgive betrayal. As I will be loyal to you, so must you be loyal to me."

He drew her down into his embrace. "Then we are agreed, my darling princess of Dariyabar. I shall love you always, and be ever faithful." His lips brushed hers softly. "What vow will you make me?"

She smiled now into his dark eyes. "That I will always be faithful to you, my lord. And that I will love you too ." Then she kissed him passionately, and Amir Khan knew in that instant that he had found a treasure beyond all price.

For centuries Kansbar, the genie who protected Dariyabar, had considered who his enemy might be. An enemy who worked subtly and skillfully to destroy all that his first master, Prince Sinbad, had built. Now he knew. Keket, his own niece. She had been but an infant when his brother had entrapped Kansbar in his bottle and thrown it into the sea. Unfortunately, like her father, Keket believed what she chose to believe, neglecting the truth that stared her directly in the face. And Golnar was her daughter . Keket would not take lightly that chosen child's betrayal.

Poor Golnar. Her heritage was as much magic as it was human, but other than love potions, elixirs, and creams to preserve her great beauty, she knew nothing, nor did she understand. Her human heritage would eventually take over entirely. Golnar wanted power. Knowing she could gain it by using her body, she was fully prepared to do so. Not to destroy Dariyabar, but to have it for herself. She was quite a simple creature. He had long ago sworn to protect this kingdom. They were bound together as one entity. He would not fail in his duty even if it meant using this foolish child of his vengeful niece to gain the victory. But, he would protect Golnar from her mother's wrath. The girl was more to be pitied than scorned.

Kansbar had the ability to appear outside of his bowl, and now he did so, almost filling the bedchamber where the princess and her husband lay sleeping, their arms about each other. For a brief moment he allowed himself to be touched by the sight of them, but then his voice boomed out, "Awake, Zuleika and Amir! Awake!"

His voice fiercely penetrated their dreams. The couple awoke, sitting up against the pillows and staring surprised at him.

"Kansbar, I do not believe I have never seen you outside of your bowl," Zuleika remarked. "You are a most impressive genie."

"You have grown too used to thinking of me as small, my princess. The time has come for you to see that my power, as well as my great size, are related. What you see is but half the size I can attain, for your chamber constricts me. My lord Amir, are you quite awake now?"

"Will you always disturb us at our slumbers, Kansbar?" the khan asked, half-amused.

"Only in moments of danger, my lord khan," the genie replied respectfully, "and danger is near, in the presence of Golnar."

"Do you see?" Zuleika demanded of her husband. "Did I not warn you that the bitch would be a thorn in our heel?"

Kansbar actually laughed, and the sound shook the very rafters of the chamber. "You are jealous, my princess. You should be. The wicked wench means to seduce the khan, and bear his heir, thus supplanting you and any child you would have. I have discovered this night that Golnar has a magical heritage which might help her in her nefarious plot, had I not learned of it."