Shadow of the Sheikh (15 page)

“I'm not too worried,” another said with a coy slant of her eyes. “No woman has ever held your attention for more than a precious few nights.”

“It's true,” he admitted, though not for the reasons she believed. He leaned in and murmured to her in a
stage whisper, “It is difficult to find a woman who can match my appetites.”

Although last night came damn close. Tonight should prove even better.

“Perhaps you need more than one woman at a time,” a third suggested saucily, putting her arms around the first two and posturing. A wave of unconcealed female invitation washed over him, brimming with promise.

He laughed. “An intriguing thought,” he allowed.
If only they knew.
But he wasn't interested in these women. There was only one woman he wanted in his bed tonight or for the foreseeable future, despite his warning to her of boredom. He was already aroused thinking of what would transpire after the feast.

He kept walking, slowly making his way to his accustomed place on the dais at the front of the room. He had just taken his seat when Seth-Aziz entered the room and ascended the elaborate silver throne in its place of honor at the high table. Tonight, Nephtys occupied the other, smaller throne.

The crowd rose and paid their respects to the demigod, chanting a song of greeting to their revered high priest. The melody was beautiful and dissonant at the same time, and the words carried an undertone of excitement and pleasure. Seth was a firm and commanding leader, but he was respected and well loved by his people. He beamed back at
them and accepted their greeting, making a short speech conveying his happiness over Gemma becoming one of the
shemsu
, and urging them to make her welcome. His rare smile was genuine, but Shahin couldn't help notice how very tired Seth's eyes looked. He really needed to feed on mortal blood soon. It was a good thing they were sharing magic tonight. Until Josslyn was fetched to Khepesh, Gemma was the only one within reach who could give him the boost he needed.

Shahin had a brief stab of worry. Would the vampire be able to stop once he'd tasted Gemma's blood? Or would the hunger take over…? If so, what would happen? How much blood could he take before she—

No.

Shahin shook off the disturbing thought and refocused on the ceremony at hand.

The sweet chords of a lyre and the rattle of a drum sounded from the other side of the room, and a luminescent moon welled up above the entry portal and shone a beam down on the center aisle. The two temple
shemats
stepped side-by-side into the beam of light and began a stately procession toward the dais.

They were followed by Gemma.

Shahin's woman.

His breath caught. Clad in a shimmering, body-
hugging ancient-style gown of diaphanous silver and violet, she looked utterly gorgeous.

And more than a little overwhelmed. Her wide eyes lifted, skittering about the hall. He willed her to pick him out of the crowd. She did. Their gazes caught and held for several long, breathless heartbeats.

His chest squeezed.

And that was the moment he knew.

It didn't matter that he didn't trust her completely.

It didn't matter how much the idea of giving his heart to her terrified him.

And it didn't matter if the magic tonight did not bind her to him as he hoped.

He suddenly knew with every fiber of his being that she was the one he wanted by his side.

For all time.

She was
his
.

And he would never let her go.

Never.

G
emma walked toward the front of the banquet hall, transfixed by her lover's gaze. In a matter of seconds, she saw his expression go from lazy arrogance to proud admiration to primitive possessiveness.

He wanted her.
It was written in his posture, in the set of his mouth, in the way he gripped his goblet. His desire was nothing new. But she sensed something different now, a kind of prowling masculine energy emanating from every inch of him that went deeper, beyond lust. The look in his black eyes was harder, the tight line of his sculpted lips far more determined than she'd ever seen before.
His laser-like regard was like a bird of prey focusing in on the unfortunate animal he was planning to devour. Or on the fortunate female he had decided to take as his mate.

Did hawks mate for life?

A shivering thrill danced down Gemma's body.

Heavens, she hoped so!

Which was when a blinding insight hit her head-on, like a freight train from hell.

Omigod.

She
was
in love with him!

The notorious Sheikh Shahin, captain of the death warriors.

Immortal shape-shifter.

She loved him.
And there was nothing she wanted more than to spend an eternity with him.

Once again, she felt her whole world turn upside down. Fantasizing about the man was one thing, even emotional connection and lust for him. But
love?

Her knees turned to noodles and she started to stumble. Invisible hands grasped her and she knew instinctively that Shahin had reached out with his magic to catch her when she would have fallen. Would he catch her heart as willingly?

A chaos of thoughts and feelings rushed through her as she continued the endless walk
down the center aisle to the raised platform where he awaited her.

The man she loved.

Lord!
How had this
happened?

He was still watching her intently. He didn't smile. In fact, he looked like a thundercloud about to burst. Obviously, he wasn't pleased. But why? Because the love in her eyes had betrayed her true feelings for him? Or because he'd seen her shock and dismay over the terrifying truth she'd finally admitted to herself?

No doubt the former. Shahin had told her in no uncertain terms he didn't need or want a woman in his life other than a temporary bed partner. That her very presence here at Khepesh—and in his bed—was just a by-product of Seth's quest for Josslyn.

That
hurt more than was rational. After all, what did it matter that the
per netjer
hadn't sought her out for her own sake, not as an extension of their desire for her sister? Gemma knew they'd eventually come to like and respect her on her own merit. People always did.
Eventually.
Nevertheless, it stung. A lot.

Story of her life.

She took a deep breath and shook off Shahin's invisible grip. She could do this on her own. She
would
do this on her own. She'd chosen this path and she would make the best of it. Alone, if she
had to—regardless of her feelings for him. And regardless of how he felt about her—or didn't.

She lifted her chin and halted at the foot of the low stairs ascending the dais, avoiding Shahin's steely looks.

Seth-Aziz gazed beneficently down at her as Nephtys made a formal, ritualistic introduction. Seth then greeted her warmly and bid her ascend the stairs. When she reached the top he kissed her cheeks and smiled.

“Turn, Gemma,” he said, gesturing to the gathering of immortals below them, “and be welcomed by your new brethren.”

As she turned, a haunting chant began, sung in a strange, hypnotic harmony by the swaying crowd. A delicate swirl of positive energy wrapped around her, enveloping her in a gossamer quilt of goodwill and pleasurable physical sensation. As they sang, she could feel their curiosity…and their anticipation. A thrum of excitement began within their bodies, blossoming and spreading from person to person, erotic, contagious.

It was an incredible feeling. Surreal. Magical. Unbelievably arousing.

Nephtys had told her celebrations at Khepesh were filled with sensual indulgences of all kinds. Food, drink. Sex. It was expected that she would choose one of the
shemsu
to spend the night with.
Naturally, everyone presumed it would be Shahin. But it was her choice.

She looked out over the sea of handsome men before her, and felt the physical caress of sexual suggestion, as if each one of them was reaching out to entice her, tempting her to pick him as her lover for the night. She wished to hell that any of them attracted her even half as much as Shahin. Life would be so much easier.

“Gemma.” She heard the rumble of her lover's deep voice in her ear, as though he stood right next to her. “You are mine,
kalila
. Come to me.”

She glanced back at him. Saw the command written in the stark shadows of his face and the tautness of his muscles. Her body gave an involuntary shiver. There was no denying he was a powerful man. Very powerful. It was nearly impossible to refuse him anything he asked of her.

This time she didn't even try.

She followed her heart. And went to the man she loved.

 

The celebration lasted for hours. There were speeches and formal toasts of greeting by dozens of the
shemsu
, women as well as men. After the first few, Gemma was glowing with happiness, imbued with an overwhelming feeling of welcome and acceptance.

Perhaps they really
did
want her here.

But did Shahin?

When she'd come to him, his expression had been impossible to decipher, but then he'd wrapped his hand behind her neck and kissed her long and hard. Thoroughly enough that the crowd below had started to stir. She'd felt a thick wave of sultry energy purl through the room as he kissed her, making her flesh heat and her skin tingle with arousal. It was the kind of kiss that could conquer a woman's will to be cautious. A claiming kiss.

But was it a claim just for tonight…or for always? He gave her no clue as he handed her into her seat at the high table.

As the feast was brought in on huge platters, ethereal music began to play in the background, soft and evocative. Shahin sat next to her, Seth on his throne on her other side, Nephtys next to Seth on the smaller throne. The food and the wine were sublime, each dish more delicious than the last. Throughout the long meal, the four of them shared the bounty with each other, passing their most succulent bits for the others to taste. They laughed and chatted, and Gemma found she genuinely liked the high priest and his beautiful sister. Shahin was quieter, always watching her like a hawk, but even he managed to smile and have a good time.

Even without all the wine, Gemma was dizzy enough from the flow of sensual energy that swirled
and eddied through the grand hall that she tried not to drink too much. But with each new vintage that arrived at the table, the men offered her sips from their goblets, and soon she was feeling warm and alive, and buzzing with a kind of whole-body pleasure.

It was the weirdest thing, but a real sense of homecoming settled about her like an old, favorite quilt. Like this was exactly where she belonged. In this place. With these people. And especially this man.

Now if she could just convince
him
of that.

After everyone had finished eating, the tables below magically disappeared and there was dancing. It was a kind of partner dancing she'd never seen before. Sensual and beautiful, the bodies of the immortals blended and swayed to the music, forming the most extraordinary patterns, like a living kaleidoscope, and making soft brushing sounds with their feet on the floor. They touched and kissed as part of the dances, and clothes were shed as the hours grew later and later. It was the sexiest celebration she'd ever witnessed.

Shahin asked her more than once if she'd like to join in the dancing, but she demurred. “I'll wait until I can learn the steps,” she told him, nevertheless wishing she already did. She would love to be
floating in his bare arms, part of the sensual flow of bodies.

“I'll teach you,” he said with a languorous smile, and leaned over to give her a soft kiss.

“I'd like that,” she said, her body giving a shiver of pleasure at the taste of him on her tongue. Perhaps later they would indulge in a different kind of dance all on their own.

Sensing her pleasure, he deepened the kiss. She opened to him and desire swept through her in a warm flood. She loved it when he kissed her. Loved when he touched her. She yearned for him to sweep her against his hard body and make love to her all night long.

Reading her mind, he lifted his mouth from hers and murmured, “I want you under me. Let's go to my rooms.”

At his bold declaration, her nipples pebbled and a surge of stark want raced through her. She nodded and they rose to leave.

He took her hand and guided her down the steps of the dais and through the crowded room. The dancing people smiled and twirled about them as they walked, blowing kisses and making her blush with their sultry, knowing looks. Erotic energy spilled from them like heat from an oven, filling her body with an overwhelming need for Shahin's intimate touch.

She had no memory of how they reached his rooms, but suddenly they were inside an elegant apartment, standing in his salon, still kissing.

“You are so incredibly beautiful tonight,” he murmured, running his hand over the silken fabric of her form-fitting gown. “This is the perfect color for you.”

She flushed with pleasure at his compliment and smiled up at him. “You're not so bad yourself. I love the no-shirt look.” She brushed her fingers over the smooth skin of his chest, feeling the hard discs of his male nipples.

He gave a low, half-lidded hum and let his robe slide off his shoulders. He tossed it aside in a move that should have looked feminine but just made him even more commanding.

He touched a strap of her gown with a curve of his lips. “Now you.”

“Hardly fair,” she said, fingering the waistband of his pants. “I've got nothing on under mine.”

The curve broadened. “So much the better.”

“You first.”

“You know it's not real, yes?”

She blinked. “What isn't?”

“Your dress. It's just an illusion conjured by Nephtys for the occasion. A real gown of such exquisite fabric would have been too troublesome to come up with on this short notice.”

She looked down at her dress, which seemed completely solid and genuine to her. “Really?”

“I could simply make it disappear.” He grinned.

She pretended to be aghast. But before she could form a proper comeback, a masculine voice behind her said, “What a delightful prospect.”

She whirled to see Seth standing between her and the closed entry door. His power rolled over her like a cool, spicy fragrance. “Seth-Aziz! How did you get in here?”

He gave her an indulgent smile. “I am a demigod, my dear. Doors and walls are no obstacle for me.” He shrugged eloquently. “Besides, I was invited.”

She turned back to Shahin uncertainly. “What's going on, Shahin? Why is he here?” But she had a nervous feeling she knew exactly why. Nervous and…just a little aroused. Seth-Aziz was a very attractive man and had been utterly charming and charismatic at the banquet.

Shahin took her hands. “We talked about this,
kalila
. Seth has come to share magic with us.”

She licked her lips, her heartbeat kicking up, remembering Shahin's explanation of what that entailed. “I'm pretty sure I said no.”

“We thought you might reconsider,” Seth said, suddenly standing right behind her. She could feel the intensity of his power rub against the bare skin
of her back like a big, sleek cat. A quiver shimmered up her spine. And her denial froze in her throat.

What they were suggesting was outrageous. Two men in bed with her, one making love with her, the other drinking her blood! Earlier, the prospect had scared her witless. After getting to know him better, she had to admit she was no longer terrified of the vampire. But could she really do it?

“We felt your sense of happiness and acceptance during the feast,” Shahin said, putting his arms around her waist.

Seth touched her shoulders lightly from behind. “We felt your desire to become one of us.”

“One
with
us,” Shahin murmured low in her ear, pulling her closer.

“We want you to tell Josslyn what it's like to be here in Khepesh. What it's like to be with me,” Seth said.

She was tempted.
Lord,
was she tempted! The stories she'd heard of a vampire's kiss were enough to spark any woman's longing to sample such incredible pleasures. But… She swallowed and turned back to face Seth. “If my sister truly is meant to become your consort, how can you ask me to do this? Touching you would be—” several words came to mind, but she settled on “—disloyal.”

He smiled. “And I would never betray Shahin by allowing his woman to do so. Not in the way you
mean. The pleasure you feel will be all about the man you are making love with—Shahin, not me. Despite the nearness of our bodies, I will simply be taking blood. Nothing sexual—other than the magic.”

The overwhelming male power that saturated the room intensified, feeling like flames of passion licking at her most intimate places. Her willpower wavered precariously.

Shahin turned her in his arms and tightened his hold on her. “I'm glad you don't want him that way, Gemma,” he murmured, and lowered his lips to hers. “It pleases me.”

She didn't have the strength to resist his kiss. Or the rest of it either. The temptation of the pleasures being offered was too great. After a heartbeat's hesitation, she opened for him and leaned into his body. She could feel Seth hovering at her back, barely touching, but enough to feel the arousing caress of his otherworldly energy.