Under a Desert Moon

by Laura Martin

  She couldn’t help but giggle. It had taken being captured by bandits for Emma to realise she trusted Sebastian. And more than that—that she loved him. She only hoped they both survived this ordeal so she could tell him her feelings and declare her love.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Seb started to whistle. The action got him a clip around the ear from one of the bandits, but it was worth it. He was feeling optimistic.

  He’d been in many a scrape over the years and he was a little ashamed to admit this wasn’t even the most dangerous situation he’d got himself into, but it was the worst. It was the worst because this time it wasn’t just his life on the line, but Emma’s, too. Seb quite cheerfully risked life and limb on almost a monthly basis, but never had he been responsible for someone else’s well-being.

  He glanced back at Emma again. She was looking at him strangely, studying him quite intently, probably watching for a further signal. When Seb had winked earlier he’d hoped she would understand the meaning. He’d just wanted to tell her he had a plan and everything would work out all right.

  Surreptitiously Seb began working on his escape whilst making sure not to change his facial expression. The bandits might only look at him occasionally, but one glance at the wrong moment and their only chance to survive would be gone.

  He kept checking the position of the sun in the sky and was relieved to see they still had a couple of hours until sunset. That gave him a couple of hours before they made camp and he’d have to make his move. Seb hoped Emma survived the trek through the desert until then. The bandits hadn’t offered them any water in the few hours they’d been walking, and even though the pace was slow the heat was draining. He shook his head. Emma would be fine—she was a resilient woman, more resilient than he’d given her credit for. She had survived without a single grumble for nearly two weeks in the desert with him, and when he’d disappeared she’d tracked him down. Not many women were capable of that.

  An hour later the bandits slowed so they were lined up beside each other. Seb focussed on what they were saying in rapid Arabic and realised to his dismay they were thinking about stopping for the night. He needed just one more hour, maybe even forty-five minutes, but if they stopped now he wouldn’t be ready for his escape plan.

  Thankfully one of the bandits shook his head and gestured to a point on the horizon, somewhere he felt would make a better camp, so slowly they started to move again. For a few steps Seb was beside Emma.

  ‘Are you well?’ he asked quietly.

  She nodded, her eyes wide. Seb could see her lips were dry and on the point of cracking and he cursed the bandits for not giving her even a sip of water.

  Before he could say any more Seb felt his rope being tugged forward at quite a pace and he had to run to keep up.

  ‘You know our rules on talking, Mr Oakfield,’ the chief bandit said.

  Seb didn’t bother to reply.

  ‘I think my horse needs some exercise.’

  Immediately Seb tensed. He knew exactly what was going to happen; he just hoped the bandits limited their fun to him and not Emma.

  After a few seconds Seb saw the bandit kick his horse forward and the rope went tight. At first they were travelling at a light trot, which Seb easily kept up with, but he knew things were only going to get worse. Beside him he saw the other bandits’ horses pick up the pace and a quick glance over his shoulder confirmed his fear: Emma was now being pulled along behind. She was still on her feet, but one misstep and she would have her delicate, beautiful skin ripped from her by the desert.

  The chief bandit called out in Arabic and Seb felt himself relax a little. He’d just instructed his companion not to spoil the woman, otherwise they wouldn’t enjoy her as much later on. Although it was a chilling command, Seb wasn’t planning on letting Emma be around later on, and knowing they wouldn’t drag her through the desert now meant he could focus on staying on his own feet rather than worrying about her.

  The bandit threw him a glance and smiled, then urged his horse onwards. Immediately Seb’s legs started to protest and his heart began hammering in his chest. He was running now, the movement clumsy with his arms tied in front of him, and he felt his chest heave as he tried to suck in the hot desert air to sustain him. Seb focussed his eyes on the ground, knowing one trip, one misstep and he was going to be skinned alive.

  Just when Seb thought he couldn’t take much more he saw the bandit push the horse to go even faster. Seb knew his limits, he knew at this sprinting pace he could only keep up for a minute, at the most two, then his legs would give out and turn to jelly underneath him.

  Just as the fatigue was setting in and Seb waited for the inevitable he felt the pace slow slightly. His lungs were screaming out for oxygen and his muscles felt as though he’d just climbed a mountain, but he was still on his feet.

  Thankfully the bandit was slowing to a stop and Seb took the opportunity to glance around him. This must be where they were going to set up camp for the night. The soft undulations of the desert had made this spot into a high point, giving it a good view of the surrounding area. The bandits would be well set up to keep watch for anyone approaching their camp, or indeed see the path of any escapees very easily.

  Seb was just getting his breath back when he heard a high-pitched scream. His heart leapt into his throat as he spun around. Emma was still a hundred feet away, the bandit pulling her along had slowed to a trot, but she’d somehow lost her footing and was now on her knees. The momentum of the horse kept pulling her forward even as the bandit urged the beast to stop and it was a good ten seconds before she was still.

  Seb wanted to run to her, to scoop her into his arms and check she wasn’t seriously injured, but he knew that would be disastrous. He’d spent most of the walk across the desert that afternoon chipping away at the ropes that bound his hands with a sharp stone he’d picked up when he had feigned his fall. Now he was sure he could slip out of his bonds but it would give away every advantage he had. So instead he stood, waiting for Emma to move, hoping she hadn’t sustained any serious injuries.

  The bandit scooped her up onto his horse, laying her across his lap, and a minute later they arrived. Seb strained to see whether Emma’s eyes were open. She could have easily hit her head as she fell and he felt his whole body tense with anticipation. He couldn’t lose her, he just couldn’t.

  As they came nearer Seb saw Emma’s eyes flutter open. Immediately she grimaced and her whole body tensed. He wished he could take away the pain she must be feeling, wished it were him with the skin ripped from his legs and not her.

  The bandit lowered her to the ground and dismounted, looking sheepishly at the leader. He received a cuff round the head for his carelessness, but Seb wanted to do so much more to him. He felt the rage simmer inside him, but as Emma glanced his way he managed to suppress it. He had to control himself or they would lose their one opportunity to escape and these men would make Emma suffer in unimaginable ways.

  Seeing that Emma was still conscious and more or less in one piece, the chief bandit picked her up, carried her a few steps and deposited her beside Sebastian. Then, without even really looking at Seb, he tied Emma to the same horse Seb was secured to and ensured all four horses were tied together. The chief bandit turned away and quickly shouted instructions for his men to set up camp.

  ‘Emma?’ Seb whispered quietly.

  He could hear her crying beside him, but her head was hanging forward and he couldn’t see her face.

  Slowly she lifted her chin and looked at him. Her skin was ashen underneath the dust and her tears ran in rivulets down her cheeks. She had a small scrape just above her eyebrow. Seb felt his breath catch in his throat. Even like this she was beautiful.

  ‘Where are you hurt?’

  ‘My...my legs,’ she stuttered.

  Seb looked down but all he could see in the fading l
ight were torn trousers, some of the fabric stained with blood.

  He lifted his eyes once again to her face and leaned in closer.

  ‘I’m going to get you out of here,’ he promised.

  Emma looked into his eyes for a long few seconds before finally nodding.

  Seb leant forward and caught her lips with his, kissing her ever so gently.

  ‘I’m going to get you out of here then I’ll never let anything bad happen to you again.’

  A shout from the bandits made them spring apart and Seb watched warily as the chief bandit made his way over to them.

  ‘I didn’t have you down for a selfish man, Mr Oakfield,’ he said, his voice mocking.

  Seb stayed quiet, knowing if he put any of his thoughts into words it would only antagonise the bandit.

  ‘You have a beautiful thing here—’ he gestured at Emma ‘—but you aren’t prepared to share with the rest of us.’

  Seb felt his body stiffen.

  ‘Leave Miss Knight alone,’ he said, his voice hard and cold.

  ‘I don’t think you’re in a position to make threats, Mr Oakfield.’

  He pulled Emma to her feet and Seb watched as she bit her lip to try and hide the pain she was in.

  ‘I can see the appeal,’ the bandit said. ‘I normally prefer my women less dusty, but I’m prepared to make an exception.’

  ‘We had a deal,’ Emma said, her voice shaky.

  Seb wanted to fling his arms around her. She was petrified and hurting, but still she managed to sound so sure of herself, so defiant.

  ‘Unfortunately I’m not a man of my word,’ the bandit said, smiling to reveal yellowed teeth.

  Seb was ready to pounce, but something held him back. He knew he only had one opportunity and right now wasn’t the time to make his move. He needed all the bandits together, otherwise he wouldn’t have a chance. With the anger mounting inside him he forced himself to sit still.

  The chief bandit pulled Emma a couple of steps closer to the rest of his men.

  ‘I think you owe us some entertainment for all the trouble you’ve caused us,’ the bandit said.

  Emma stood completely still and Seb could see she was shaking.

  ‘Come on, Miss Knight, we haven’t got long before the light fades and I’d like to see what I’m getting before the night draws in.’

  The other bandits crowded in closer around her and Seb felt his rage almost boil over. Just a few more minutes, he told himself. Whilst they were preoccupied with Emma he started to free himself from his bonds, ignoring the pain as the rope rubbed the skin from his wrists and focussing on getting completely free of the ropes. He knew it would take him a minute or two to escape; he just hoped the bandits wouldn’t do much more before he was in a position to pounce.

  He glanced up and what he saw made his blood boil in his veins. One of the bandits had grabbed Emma’s shirt and was pulling it over her head. Emma was struggling valiantly against him, but this just seemed to amuse her attackers more. Finally they managed to pull the shirt from her head and Emma was left standing with just her chemise covering her top half.

  ‘Such beautiful skin,’ the chief bandit said, running a finger across the skin of her shoulders.

  Seb watched as Emma tried to squirm away from him, but it was to no avail.

  ‘Now let’s see the rest of you.’

  With those words Seb felt a red curtain of rage descend over him. No one treated Emma like that. She was precious, to be loved and cherished, not used and discarded by the likes of these filthy bandits. With a strength he didn’t know he possessed Seb ripped the remaining ropes from his wrists and sprang forward.

  The bandits never had a chance. Seb lashed out with the fury of a goaded lion and the strength of a bear. He punched left and right, catching two of the bandits on the side of the head, but not waiting to watch them fall. The third stared at him with open eyes, his lips moving as if in prayer. Seb prowled forward, then sprang. He pummelled the man again and again, feeling the blood splatter him from the man’s split lip and not stopping until the bandit fell in a crumpled heap on the ground.

  Seb looked behind him, checking the three men were incapacitated before he dealt with the leader.

  The red curtain had settled over his eyes and Seb felt as though molten lava were flowing through his veins rather than blood. The chief bandit looked at his accomplices so easily taken out by Seb and started to back away. Seb prowled forward. Suddenly the bandit reached out an arm and grabbed Emma by the neck, pulling her in close to him. From the folds of his robes he produced a knife, the blade glinting in light from the setting sun.

  Seb paused as the bandit pressed the knife against the unblemished skin of Emma’s throat.

  ‘Don’t come any closer,’ he warned. For the first time in their acquaintance, his voice was shaking.

  Seb coldly weighed up his options. He heard Emma’s breathing, heavy and panicking, but tried to put her from his mind for a minute. He needed to focus on this bandit; he needed to neutralise him as a threat and punish him for what he had done to Emma.

  Suddenly Seb sprang. He leapt through the air and pushed Emma to the ground before grabbing the bandit by the throat. The two men sank to the desert floor, Seb’s hands firmly around the bandit’s neck. As he squeezed Seb saw the images of Emma tumbling to the ground behind the moving horse and he saw the bandits stripping her of her shirt, and his fingers tightened their grip.

  The bandit’s eyes were bulging now, his face the colour of a lobster. Seb knew he should release the man, but he couldn’t seem to let go. This man had hurt Emma, and he had planned to do so much more.

  Just a few more seconds and Seb knew all the life would be gone from him, but still he couldn’t release his grip.

  ‘Sebastian.’ Emma laid a hand gently on Seb’s arm. ‘Let go.’

  The words were soft but firm and Seb felt the red haze of rage slowly dissipating. His fingers loosened their grip and as he lay the bandit down on the ground he noted the man was still breathing.

  He took a few deep breaths to steady himself, wondering what would have happened if Emma hadn’t intervened, then he turned to face her.

  She was in his arms immediately, pressing her lips against his and burrowing her body into him as if she never wanted to let go. Seb heard her start to sob and he gently stroked her hair, trying to soothe her.

  After a minute or so she pulled away and looked at the four bandits lying incapacitated on the ground.

  ‘What should we do with them?’ she asked.

  Without saying a word Seb went and fetched the rope from the horses and started to tie the four bandits together. He spent a good ten minutes securing them, knowing if any of the men got free he and Emma would be in the same position as before.

  As he returned to Emma’s side Seb felt a need for intimacy he’d never experienced before. He wanted to hold her, to inhale her scent, to trace his fingers over her soft skin, to memorise every inch of her body. She anchored him, made him feel in control.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Emma’s body was still shaking as Sebastian scooped her up into his arms. Just a few minutes earlier she had been convinced she was about to be raped by the four bandits. Now they were lying trussed together and she was back in the arms of the man she loved.

  Sebastian carried her gently away from the bandits, picking up a blanket as he went. When they were far enough away from the bandits, who were still within his line of sight, he laid her onto the blanket.

  ‘I’d better see to them,’ he said, his voice gruff.

  Emma nodded, trying to hide her disappointment. She knew he was right, he had to deal with the four men who lay trussed together, but she just wanted him to stay by her side, to wrap his arms around her and never let go.

  Sebastian must h
ave sensed her longing and after a glance at the four men who still lay incapacitated he lowered himself to the ground so he sat beside her.

  ‘You’re safe now,’ he said gently as he wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her against his chest.

  Emma felt the tears building in her eyes and began sobbing into the dusty material of his shirt. Sebastian let her cry. He stroked her hair and gently kissed her forehead, but he didn’t try to stop her from crying.

  After a few minutes Emma felt the tears begin to dry up. She’d been petrified when the men had grabbed hold of her and started to strip her. She had wished herself dead rather than endure their molestation, but she had seen no way out of the situation. Then Sebastian had come charging in like a man possessed. Somehow he had freed himself of his constraints and he had raced to her rescue. The first three men had fallen to the ground in such a blur Emma had no idea what had happened. And then the chief bandit had grabbed her.

  She realised her hand was stroking the point on her throat where he had held the blade. He hadn’t broken the skin, but she could still feel the cold metal pressed up against her throat and the panic that had gone with it.

  Emma had looked into Sebastian’s eyes at that moment, but it was as if he had hardly seen her. All his energy and focus had been directed towards the man who threatened her life.

  ‘I will never, ever, let anything bad happen to you again,’ Sebastian murmured quietly into her ear.

  Emma felt some of the tension melt from her body as she sat cradled in the arms of the man she loved. The idea of a lifetime of protection from Sebastian made her feel secure and safe. Slowly Emma lifted her head from where it was cradled against his chest and looked up into his eyes. Sebastian looked troubled and she knew he was concerned about her, but she sensed there was more to it than that.