Strong, Hot Winds

by Iris Johansen

  “A damn good mother. Bettina loves Michael as much as she does her own little girl. I have a career that demands I spend time out of the country. Should I have put Michael in a nursery?”

  “You should have given him to me to raise.” Damon’s eyes were glittering. “He’s my son.”

  She shook her head. “No way. If there was one thing I learned about you four years ago, it was that you steam-rollered over everyone around you. I’m not about to have Michael flattened by you.”

  “I never rolled over you.”

  She laughed incredulously. “You never let me have a say in anything. Whenever you wanted me, you had me. It was like being swept away by a tornado. I had no will of my own. Why do you think I tipped my hat and flitted off to Rome when I found out I was pregnant? I wasn’t about to let you rob me of my child any more than I let you rob me of my independence.”

  “So you decided to rob me instead?” Damon’s voice had lowered to a tone of soft menace. “Why did you think I’d let you do that?”

  “You weren’t supposed to know about Michael. How could you be robbed of something you didn’t know existed?”

  “So simple.” Damon’s lips twisted. “But life isn’t so simple and neither are the consequences of deception, Cory.”

  “You can’t have Michael,” she said fiercely. “If you try to take him, I’ll fight you all the way to the Supreme Court.”

  “Who said I’d go through the courts? Does that sound like something I’d do, Cory?”

  No, the courts would be too slow for Damon, Cory thought with rising panic. Too slow and too tame for a man who was totally untamed. “Then what do you intend to do?”

  “It’s already done.”

  Cory tensed. “Are you trying to frighten me?”

  He shook his head. “Michael is on his way to Sedikhan.”

  “No! You’re lying. You have to be—” She turned and tore from the room, taking the steps two at a time to the second floor. She threw open the door to Michael’s room and switched on the overhead light.

  Michael’s bed was empty, his covers thrown helter-skelter, the closet door ajar. She stood there staring at the empty bed while terror turned her sick with cold.

  “He’s quite safe,” Damon said from behind her. “And very excited to meet his father.” He paused, and when he spoke again, there was a hint of huskiness in his voice. “Almost as excited as I was to meet my son. Damn you for keeping us apart, Cory.”

  She whirled to face him. “He belongs to me. You can’t do this. It’s kidnapping, Damon. There are laws in this country.”

  “So I’ve heard. But I’m the law in Kasmara, and that’s where Michael will be living from now on.”

  “You can’t …” Her hands clenched helplessly into fists at her sides. “He’s only a little boy. You can’t take him from everything that’s familiar, everyone he knows and loves.”

  “But I’m not,” Damon said calmly. “Of course, the surroundings will be new, but I’m making sure there will be a familiar anchor for him to cling to until he becomes accustomed to me. Your friends that you place so much confidence in accompanied him.”

  “Carter and Bettina?” She shook her head dazedly. “You kidnapped them too? This is getting wilder by the minute.”

  “Not kidnapped.” Damon smiled faintly. “I merely offered Carter a very lucrative position as manager of my new power plant in Kasmara. I stressed how urgent it was he take over the job at once and that naturally you wanted such good friends to be nearby when you took your place at my side. He seemed very grateful that our differences had been resolved and everything was working out so nicely. He’s a proud man and he didn’t like to have to accept money from you to keep the household going.”

  Cory knew Carter had chafed at accepting help, but she hadn’t realized that because of his pride, he would blind himself to the truth. “You lied to him.”

  “As you lied to me.”

  “I never lied to you.”

  “Silence can be deceptive too.”

  “Bettina …” She was wildly grasping at straws. “Bettina wouldn’t have let you take Michael without first checking with me.”

  “You’re right. She tried to call you both at the network and at home, but you couldn’t be reached last night. I assume you were with Koenig?” She nodded numbly and a savage expression crossed Damon’s face before he could subdue it. “How fortunate for me.”

  “I can’t believe she’d let you take him.”

  “Perhaps her action was colored by the fact that she was very grateful her husband was going to be his own man again. And then, too, a kidnapper doesn’t usually abduct an entire household.”

  “Only if he’s Damon El Karim,” she said bitterly.

  He bowed slightly. “True. They didn’t realize what a barbarian I am.” He paused. “Any more than you do.”

  “I realize,” she said grimly. Her nails bit into her palms as her hands clenched tighter. “You can’t get away with it, Damon. I’ll get Michael back from you.”

  “Sedikhan is a monarchy and Alex Ben Raschid has refused to sign any extradition treaties.” He paused. “And since Alex and I are cousins, I somehow doubt if he could be coerced by your government.”

  She felt a surge of wild despair. “I’d like to strangle you.”

  “How very barbaric of you, Cory. Are we reversing roles now?” The mockery in his face was suddenly replaced by grimness. “However, I must admit that’s exactly how I felt about you when I found out about Michael. The only thing that kept me going was the thought I’d soon be able to punish you for keeping my son from me.”

  “By victimizing a little boy?”

  “Michael won’t be victimized. Do you think I’d hurt my own son?” He shook his head. “Oh, no, it’s you I want to punish. I thought long and hard on the plane trip here how I was going to go about that. Do you know what I decided?”

  “Splinters beneath my nails?” she asked flippantly. “I wouldn’t put it past you.”

  “Then perhaps you know me better than I thought you did. The idea has a certain appeal.” He shook his head. “But I think I’ve found a way to hurt you more. Something that will hurt you unbearably because it will strike at the independence you hold so dear. I’ve decided to make you my kiran.”

  “You won’t make me anything. I’m the one who decides what I’ll do or not do.”

  “Aren’t you even going to ask what a kiran is?” Damon asked mockingly. “I’ll tell you anyway. In my country there are three types of women of pleasure. The prostitute who gives herself to all who can pay. The kadin, who is also for sale but is respected much as the Japanese geisha, and the kiran, who falls somewhere between them. A kiran belongs to only one man and gives pleasure anytime, anywhere, and in any way her master decrees. Her body, her conversation, her mind are always at his disposal.”

  “Master?” Cory asked in disbelief. “You’re talking about sexual slavery? That sort of thing doesn’t even exist anymore.”

  “It doesn’t in Kasmara any longer. I published an edict banning unwilling servitude of any nature.” He smiled. “But I’ve decided to make an exception in your case.”

  He meant it, she realized incredulously. He meant every word he had said. His anger and bitterness radiated across the room to envelop her in searing bands of emotion. “You’re crazy. I’d never let myself be used like that.”

  “I think you will. Think of the alternatives. You can stay here and bloody your fists trying to beat through the walls of diplomatic red tape to try to get Michael back. You may even succeed in twenty or thirty years. Or you can come to Kasmara as my kiran. If you please me, I may even give you a house nearby where you can visit with Michael.” He nodded as he saw the flare of rage in her eyes. “I take it the idea doesn’t please you. Yet I’m at least giving you the opportunity to see your son. You didn’t give me the same option.”

  “You arrogant bastard.”

  “Yes, I am. But that’s beside the point. There’s one
more thing you might consider. If you come to Kasmara, you might have the opportunity of spiriting Michael away and out of Sedikhan. I’d think that aspect would appeal to you.”

  It did appeal to her. It was the only light of hope in this entire nightmare Damon had spun.

  “I can see that it does.” Damon’s gaze was searching her face. “It’s only fair to tell you the chances are extremely slim of such a thing happening. My people are loyal to me and I have no intentions of permitting you to leave until I’m ready. Once there, you’ll be as much a prisoner as I—” He broke off and shrugged. “I thought you should know.”

  She felt an instant of surprise at his honesty. He’d had no need to spell out the pitfalls when he held all the cards. Then surprise was submerged once again by anger. “How kind of you to warn me,” she said caustically. “Or did you want only to make me feel more helpless?”

  “I do want you to feel helpless, but there are more pleasant ways to accomplish that.” His gaze moved over her lingeringly. “Perhaps you remember a few of them.”

  Cory experienced a sudden mindless surge of heat stirring within her as memories she had suppressed came tumbling to the forefront. Dear heaven, no, she thought desperately. What she was feeling couldn’t be desire. That had ended a long time ago. “I don’t remember anything.”

  “You do.” His gaze was on her face. “You wouldn’t let me possess any other part of you, but you did give me your body. Totally. Completely. As I gave mine to you.”

  “You never gave me anything. I was the one who was subjugated. I was no more to you than one of those stupid kirans.”

  “That’s not the way I remember it.” Damon made an impatient gesture. “No matter. If you think I treated you as a kiran, perhaps it’s just as well that you’ll now have the title. You may even learn to enjoy the role. You still want me.”

  “I don’t want you. I think I may even hate you.”

  “Your mind may hate me but that doesn’t prevent your body from sending out signals to you.” He smiled. “And to me. There’s been too much between us not to have developed certain automatic responses.” His gaze went to her breasts outlined against the tan trench coat. “I wonder what I’d find if I took off that trench coat and whatever you’re wearing beneath it? Are your breasts swelling, Cory? Are your nipples becoming hard and poi—”

  “No!” Her hand went defensively to the throat of her trench coat and she took a hurried step back. She knew color was staining her cheeks and she hated that betrayal as much as the other hidden one he had guessed was taking place. As much as she hated him.

  Yet, if she hated him, why couldn’t she cut off this damnable physical response? She had always been a rational, thinking human being.

  Except where Damon was concerned.

  Her reaction to him had never even approached rationality until she had managed to gather her strength to leave him. And only the shock of finding she was pregnant had enabled her to do so. “That was a long time ago. I don’t feel anything for you now.”

  “I think you’re lying.” Damon’s eyes were suddenly blazing. “But I’m not afraid to tell the truth. I still want you. I’m looking at you and all I want is to take off your clothes and come into you.” His lips twisted. “I’m ready right now. You remember how I could never wait to have you. The minute you unlocked the door and came into the suite I’d rush you into the bedroom.”

  Sometimes he hadn’t even waited to get to the bedroom, she recalled with a hot shiver. They’d made love on the floor of the foyer or the couch in the sitting room—

  “You once told me you thought about coming back to me all day as you went about your job, knowing what was waiting for you as you walked through the door. You were always ready. Always as wild as I was.”

  She took a deep breath. “Maybe I was wild as you then, but I’ve grown up a little and look for more than sex in my relationships now.”

  “It was more than sex. It was—” He stopped and was silent a moment before shrugging his shoulders. “It was obsession.”

  “It could have become an obsession. That’s why I put an end to it.”

  “Your decision. Your choice. Your child. None of it mine,” he said harshly. “I think it’s time I took an active part in this relationship.”

  “There is no relationship.”

  “You’re the mother of my child. That constitutes a fairly intimate bond among the El Zabor, if not in this society.”

  “I don’t know anything about the El Zabor, but I can—”

  “You’ll learn,” he interrupted. “You’ll learn all about me. No one knows a man like his kiran.” His smile was suddenly bittersweet. “You were never interested before in anything but the pleasure I gave you. Perhaps you’ll find it to your advantage to study me more closely this time.”

  He was determined to go through with this madness, she realized in hopeless despair. She had to try to reason with him one more time. “Damon, maybe I should have told you about Michael, but you have to admit there was no mention of commitment in our relationship. How would I know you’d even want a child?”

  “You knew.”

  Yes, she had known, Cory thought. She had known how possessive Damon could be and how he would react at the possibility of a son. He would have swept him away from her at birth just as he was doing now. “He’s my son, Damon,” she whispered. “I love him. Give him back to me.”

  A multitude of emotions crossed Damon’s face as he gazed at her. “I know you love him. I saw your face …” He shook his head as if to clear it. “You didn’t give me a chance to love him, even to get to know him. I’m taking that chance now. Michael stays in Kasmara and, if you want to go to Kasmara to be with him, it will be only on my terms.”

  “Kiran,” Cory said bitterly.

  He nodded. “Kiran.”

  She stood there looking at him, anger and frustration flooding through her in a hot tide. “I’ll never forgive you for this.”

  “I don’t ask for forgiveness. What’s your decision?”

  “There is no decision. What else can I do?” Her voice was trembling with anger. “But you listen to me, Damon. I’ll be your little toy, I’ll do whatever you say. But it won’t last long. I’m going to take my son away from you, and when I do, I’ll make sure you can never do this again. Do you understand?”

  To her surprise there was no anger in his expression, only respect and admiration. “It’s what I expected of you. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He glanced at his watch. “I sent Michael and the Langstroms to Sedikhan in my jet, so I’ve chartered another plane to leave from a private airport on Long Island. I told them I’d be ready to leave at ten. That should give you plenty of time to call the network and tell them you’re going away.”

  “You know, of course, that going off like this may do serious damage to my career. They may even tell me never to come back.”

  “You’re far too valuable for them to write you off,” Damon said. “And you should have thought of that when you decided to rob me of my son.”

  “Rob? I didn’t rob—” She stopped and whirled on her heel. “You may have to postpone your plans. I have to make other calls if I’m going to be away for a while.”

  “Koenig?” Damon’s voice chopped like a machete.

  “Among other people.” She frowned. “You mentioned Gary before. How did you know that I—”

  “That doesn’t matter,” he broke in impatiently with an imperious wave of his hand. “Go ahead and make your calls. I’ll wait.”

  “Thank you.” Her tone dripped irony. “I would have done it anyway.”

  “I’ll allow you your independence.” He paused before continuing silkily. “But only until you board the plane. After that you become kiran. And make no mistake, Cory, the minute you forget to play the role is the minute I’ll have you escorted over the Sedikhan border.” He added softly, “without Michael.”

  She could feel the muscles along her spine tense and ripple with instinctive rejection l
ike a cat arching with anger or fear. That must not happen. Under no circumstances must she be separated from Michael until she could get them both out of Sedikhan. “I understand.” She glanced defiantly over her shoulder. “You said I don’t know you, Damon. Well, you don’t know me either. I have the strength to play your erotic fantasy games and still stay my own person. I’ve fought a hell of a lot tougher battles than this.”

  “Have you?” His expression became arrested. “I wonder what battles you’re talking about. You’re right, I don’t really know you. You never let me get close enough. Perhaps there will be some interesting revelations for both of us.”

  “Not for me. I don’t want to know you, Damon.”

  His smile held an odd sadness. “You never did.” He turned away. “Go make your calls. I had Bettina Langstrom pack a bag for you before they left. I didn’t think you’d want one of my men handling your possessions.”

  Again surprise poured through her, dissipating a minute portion of her resentment. How could Damon be so exquisitely sensitive to a woman’s feelings of violation and still be so ruthlessly demanding? “I’ll need more than one bag if you’re going to insist on this insanity.”

  He shook his head, and the expression on his face was suddenly blatantly sensual. “As my kiran it will be my pleasure to dress you.” He smiled with an intimacy that caused her to catch her breath. “And undress you.”

  Heat rippled through her, and she felt the muscles of her stomach clench with a response as familiar as it was intense. No, she mustn’t want him. It was insane to want an enemy, to hunger for his touch.… She mustn’t give him more than acquiescence. She turned her face away and started again down the corridor. “I’ll be down when I’ve made my arrangements and not before.”

  “Take all the time you like. Do anything you like.” He added softly from behind her, “Until you board that plane.”

  Her pace quickened until it held an element of flight as she hurried down the corridor to her room.

  The two brawny young men standing on either side of the door of the plane were dressed in well-tailored business suits but their vigilance betrayed their occupation. Cory had seen their like hovering over power figures in every corner of the world.