Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [101]
“You’ll not upset me.” Thea was walking toward him.
At Thea’s voice Ware stopped walking and watched as she approached him. She was garbed in an exquisitely embroidered silk gown the color of the twilight sky. She did not look older, only bolder, more confident. And beautiful—my God, how beautiful.
She glows, Kadar had said.
She did glow, but not with a soft sheen. She reminded him of a sword heated white-hot over a campfire. Her gaze meeting his was just as sharp and full of challenge as the last time they had met. What else could he expect?
“You don’t upset me. I would not permit it.” She stopped directly before him. “But I don’t want you here.”
Christ, he wished he hadn’t been forced to come here. “I’ll leave soon.”
“I want you to go now.”
She was not as composed as she had first appeared. He could see the pulse pounding rapidly in her throat. He had touched that hollow with his lips, felt the life pounding through her.
She tore her gaze away from his face and looked at Kemal. “It would please me to have him leave.”
Kemal frowned uneasily. “I cannot—He is your master. Perhaps you could go to your quarters so that you don’t have to see him. He will leave in the morning.”
“See that he does.” She whirled on her heel and walked away from them.
“I told you that you would upset her.” Kemal stared at him reproachfully. “She has no liking for you.”
“Since when have you cared if a slave liked or disliked you?”
“You must know she is different. One must treat her with consideration.” He smiled slyly. “It didn’t take me long to see why you wanted to make sure this treasure was not stolen from you. You were wise to come to me.”
“Yes, I had to be sure the man who held her was honorable.” He paused before deliberately adding, “Did I choose well, Kemal?”
Kemal flushed. “Do you doubt my honor? I’ve kept faith even though I found I had no need of you. I could have banished my enemies myself.”
“You needed me. I’ve heard you’ve had great success, but even Saladin cannot triumph without help. Why else would he call on you?”
Kemal’s irritation disappeared. “Yes, he does need me. Only I can bring him victory during this dark time.” He turned on his heel. “I have no time for you. I must prepare for my journey.”
Ware watched him cross the courtyard. Merciful God, the pompous cock actually believed his own words, and Ware hadn’t a doubt Thea had been the one to reinforce that belief. A surge of rage and frustration tore through him.
“I’d say Kemal’s loyalty is beginning to waver,” Kadar said. “What are you going to do?”
“Wait. Watch. What would you have me do?” He started across the courtyard toward the women’s quarters. “I have no safe place to take her.”
“You’re going to give her warning?”
“I may strangle her.”
“Oh, you mustn’t do that.” Kadar’s mocking words followed him. “It might ‘upset’ the gentle damsel.”
Thea’s fingers clenched the window fretting as she watched Ware cross the courtyard. He would be here soon, in this room with her. She had known he would pay no attention to her rejection. He always did what he wanted to do.
He looked the same and yet different. He cast the same long shadow on the stones, but there appeared to be less bulk. He was leaner and harder than she had ever seen him, his cheeks hollowed, the bones higher, sharper. But his mouth was the same, with that full, sensuous underlip, and his eyes were the icy blue she remembered glittering beneath straight black brows.
Dear God, she was staring at him with a kind of hunger, she realized with shock. Not desire, but a deep need, as if she were starved for the sight of him. It made no sense when she only wanted him gone.
“You’re shaking,” Selene said from behind her. “Are you afraid of him?”
“No, of course not.” She tore her gaze away. “We’re safe here. Kemal won’t let him harm us.” She forced a smile. “But he’ll probably be unpleasant. Why don’t you go to the garden? I’ll call you when he’s gone.”
“I’ll stay if you like.”
She shook her head. Ware would only send Selene away, and she could