Desert Prince: Modern and Erotic Version of The Arabian Nights: New Fairy Tales Series - Book One

by Jones, Sarah

  DESERT PRINCE

  SARAH JONES

  Copyright © Sarah 2017 Jones

  Desert Prince

  Cover: Mary Ash

  Review: Sophie Hunter

  Digital Design: John Jones

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events described are products of the imagination of the author. Any similarities to real names, dates and events are purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  It is prohibited to storage and/or reproduction of any part of these work, through any means — tangible or intangible — without the written consent of the author.

  Created in United Kingdom.

  Note from author

  Before you start reading the book, I'd like you to read this little message I have for you.

  Possibly, in the course of the story, you do not find much resemblance to the original tale of The Thousand and One Nights and there is a reason for it. Everything was perfectly planned, and I had a script to follow, but as the chapters went by, things were somehow getting out of hand. It may seem strange to hear this, but the characters have been changing, their attitudes too, taking the story the other way. In the original story, Sherazade fights for her life, telling stories to King Shariar, night after night, ensuring another day in her life. In Desert Prince, Louise decides the same, but instead of stories, chooses another method, which, unfortunately, at one point, becomes flawed. I needed to adapt some details throughout the story and, in the end, I was sure it was the most difficult book of all series, but also the most rewarding.

  Louise took on a life of her own, blossomed, became strong, and I had to make changes to the script in what I had planned for her. With Said it was no different; he went out of my control, becoming the most intense character of all I have ever created.

  I am proud of Louise, for her courage, for being a woman ahead of her time. You will notice this in reading. Proud also of Said, who you will surely hate until sometime. But I guarantee that will change!

  To build this story, it took a lot of research, hours and more hours reading about Arab culture, seeking more knowledge, especially about the role of women in Arab culture at that time. I would like to make it clear that I repudiate any kind of abuse, not only to the woman, but to any living being. However I ask you to consider the context in which the story goes, that was another, years and years ago and very different from contemporary reality, which, if not justified, at least backs the actions of the characters, especially Said.

  Lastly, I want to wish you a good trip. Once you start reading, you will be transported to 1860, for an unusual desert. You will find great adventures, you will fight for your life against the robbers and you must adapt to extreme heat. But you will also meet Hamed's powerful Sheikh, a possessive, prejudiced and difficult man to live with, but who hides someone special behind his rancor. I wish you to live a great love story. Be kissed, illuminated by the stars of the desert, fight with all your might against the man you love, make him better, and, above all, do not give up.

  Welcome to the desert.

  May Allah guide your ways.

  Glossary of words:

  Abaya: A type of clothing that covers every body. Like a dress.

  Agarwood: It is the most expensive wood in the world. It is used in the production of oils and fragrances.

  Aljibe: Bathroom.

  Babaganuche: Arabic paste with eggplant and tahini.

  Cahue: Coffee.

  Chancliche: Type of Arabian cheese topped with a blend of herbs.

  Hijab: Veil worn by Islamic women.

  Khol: Dark colored pigment used by women in the painting of the eye

  Stars can not shine without darkness.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter twenty-one

  Chapter twenty-two

  Chapter twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapeter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  Louise stared at the blue sky above her head and thought for a moment of how much she wanted to be in her room in England, immersed in a bath of aromatic water. But instead she was there, under the scorching sun of Arabia, in her dress and shoes covered by the same fine sand that clung to all her belongings.

  She took the bag of skin she wore tied around herwaist and drank a small sip of water, which at that time was already almost evaporating in the heat of the desert. She wiped the layer of sweat on her forehead and sighed, feeling how much she really wanted a bath and a comfortable bed, luxury that she obviously would not have for at least a couple of months while her work in that place did not end.

  She had arrived at Harif Harbor about three weeks ago, along with her small excavation team, Joshua, Will, Christopher, and two other Arab guides she had hired to help them reach the desert region they wished to explore. The journey to the point where they had been one of the greatest tortures that Louise had ever had the immense sadness of passing. There were more than five days of torment, which she had been forced to pass over the back of that huge, strange, single-humped beast the Arabs called dromedary. A species that, if compared to others she knew was at an extreme disadvantage.

  "Miss, I think we'll need to get back to town." Will, wearing a red handkerchief moistened with a little water to refresh his face, appeared in front of Louise.

  - Something happened? She asked worriedly. If they really had to go back to the city, it would take them about ten days to make the round trip, which meant that the excavations would be long overdue, forcing them to postpone what Louise wanted most: the return to England.

  The short man took off his hat and tapped it against his thigh, removing the tiny grains of sand lodged there. He looked at Louise with an expression she thought was fearful.

  "Amed and Omar are reluctant to stay here. They have just said that the place where we are is cursed by Allah and that if we stay here, we will be in danger. Will swallowed, arranging the frame of his round glasses.

  Louise stared at him for a moment and, after absorbing the information, smirked.

  "I did not think you believed such curses, Will." I thought you were a man of science, "she said, raising her eyebrows in an explicit act of provocation.

  He blinked uncomfortably, clearing his throat and replacing his hat. He braced his chest and looked over Louise's shoulder, portraying an attitude she considered typical of him whenever he tried to demonstrate his masculinity. It was rather curious.

  She had met Will in one of the secret meetings about the possible discovery of a lost city in the Arabian desert, specifically in Burayhe, so it was known, a place inhabited by nomadic people, which would not be a big problem for the team to explore the region. At the time, as s
he wore her gentlemanly disguise and sipped bitter tea, she was sure she was ready for such an adventure. It was exactly what she needed to change her life and prove to everyone, including her father, who was far more than just a twenty-five-year-old spinster abandoned by two unhappy bridegrooms. On this, Louise was sure that the problem was certainly not with her. What could have gone wrong in a woman's interest in archeology, in failing to attend dances and serenades to infiltrate her father's secret meetings? She really believed there was nothing wrong with it, though the groom did not think so.

  First it was Nathan, who courted her all season long six years ago. He had been sweet and gentle, treating her even with great esteem and always showing how much he appreciated her company. Louise liked him so much that she had often failed to study her stones and artifacts to walk in with her, or to have tea and read some poems. In the third year of engagement - which stretched more than Nathan would - he was invited by his eccentric mother to do the Grand Tour and meet every corner of the world. It was an unexpected and seductive invitation, more than the charms of Lady Louise. But he agreed it would be a good time, in which the two would mature. However, when a year went by and Nathan returned, he was no longer the same and it was enough for the engagement to come to an end. Louise had definitely been devastated when he had asked to break the engagement by falling in love with a young woman in India.

  The second suitor Louise longed to forget was a complete idiot. He intended to marry her only for the goods that would be available after his father's death. The groom was a middle-aged archaeologist, looking for a young woman with a fortune available and who gave birth to her children, that is: a fortune-hunter. This time it was Louise who, with her shrewdness and patience, had managed to scare off the groom. He had told something about some Egyptian curse that his father had received on one of his exploits, which would fall upon his entire lineage, and that was enough.

  Here it was proved how wise Lady Louise's skepticism was about curses, served only to frighten the ignorant.

  She turned back to Will, and with a more encouraging smile now touched his shoulders, giving her comfort.

  "Do not worry about it, Will. I assure you that curses do not exist. All Amed and Omar want is to deceive us, but know that will not happen, "he soothed, tapping his back.

  He took a long breath and looked around, still visibly annoyed.

  "I do not know, miss, the men sounded very sincere when they said something bad would happen. Maybe they're leaving right now. He reached into his coat pocket for a watch and checked the time, then looked at the sun. "It will be dark soon, and I fear it will not be pleasant to be alone without their protection."

  Louise used her hand as a visor, blocking out the bright sunlight, and looked toward the camp ahead, where the two robed men were moving in a hurry, carrying their dromedaries and uttering orders in their native tongue.

  She sighed, irritated by the fact that Will was right.

  "I'll talk to them," she said as she passed her friend, heading toward the tent where the men were.

  "If you need me, I'll be refreshing in my tent, miss." Will yelled behind her, standing on tiptoe and waving.

  Louise walked until she reached the beginning of the camp and came across the guides setting their animals, ready to leave. She hurried to ask what was really going on.

  "Allah wants us alive, foreigner. We must leave this place, and if you want to keep stepping on this earth, you must do the same. "The taller, darker man spoke slowly to Louise to understand his words. She had learned Arabic from her father and, despite having a little difficulty, was able to communicate with the natives.

  "You can not leave us!" They were paid to guide us and help with the digs! He said, swinging his arms exaggeratedly.

  The men looked at each other for a second, then one of them turned to Louise.

  "All your money is with the man with the blond hair, a foreigner. We do not want what is yours. We just need to get out of this place before death comes. He pressed his heels against the animal's belly and started to walk.

  Annoyed, Louise stepped in front of the dromedary, forcing him to stop.

  "You can not go!" He shouted, startling the animal. She took a step backwards, somewhat awkwardly, stepping on the edge of her dress, but then she balanced and regained her posture. - I forbid them!

  - Louise, listen. There's nothing you can do to keep them here. "It was Christopher's voice that came up beside her. He had just come out of one of the tents and walked towards her, imposing himself with his enormous size. "You will not be able to seduce them with money, much less threaten them." The men believe they are in some kind of danger and will not stay in this camp at all. Let them go, Louise. Said the reliever.

  The woman licked her lips, realizing that Christopher was right and that she could do absolutely nothing. With a quick gesture, he instructed the guides to set out from the camp. They made a quick salute and urged the animals to advance into the desert.

  - What are we going to do now? She asked his friend, looking up, searching for the answer she needed to hear. But he just shrugged and sighed. "I suppose we'll continue to explore even without the guides," he said. "We can do this, can not we?"

  Christopher looked down and met her eyes. He took her hand and kissed it lightly, the intimate contact being avoided by the glove she wore.

  "I think so, my dear.”

  ***

  Late in the afternoon, as the sun began to set, Louise ordered everyone to stop their duties and prepare for dinner. As she was the only woman in the group, she took over the meals, which in recent weeks had been summed up in dates and a kind of unknown cheese they had bought in the town, which had been stored in one of those horrible animal skin bags.

  In spite of the unappetizing food, they usually sat together around a campfire, which served to talk about the day's events. As the cold began to grow unbearable, Louise would retreat to her tent, while the other men would stay awake later, and then rest, too, under the protection of the Arab guides. However, that night there would be no protection from the guides, and therefore the men would have to take turns to ensure the safety of the camp.

  "Are you all right, miss?" - Joshua asked as he watched as Louise was concentrating on the flames of the fire, barely blinking.

  She looked away and stared at him.

  "I was thinking how much society would be shocked to know that I'm alone in a desert with three men," she said in a strangled voice.

  Joshua took a sip of the dark, bitter liquid that the Arabs said was coffee and thought for a moment before answering.

  "You must know that you are like a man to us," he said thoughtfully, then grinned widely. Of course we are not stupid about your beauty, but we also know how important this expedition is to us and to you."

  Louise tightened the blanket she wore on her shoulders and flinched, thinking of what he had said.

  "My father must hate me," she whispered, looking up at the sky, now red-orange. He will never forgive me. ”

  Christopher got up from where he was and went to her, sitting down beside her and comforting her with a light touch on her back.

  "He will, when he finds the brilliant archeologist you are." And about the scandal, what is a society without it? He asked, raising his eyebrows.

  Lady Louise moved subtly away from her friend's touch and threw a piece of dry twig into the fire.

  "In the end, it will not be any different than when I was engaged." She shrugged, realizing that she really did not care what the others would say, since she was probably living the great adventure of her life. That's exactly what she was after, right?! "I'm going to bed," she said, standing up, looking at the men for the last time. "I want everyone to be up early in the morning." If we want to find the ruins, we must work without rest.

  Everyone agreed, and she was sure they would meet her demand. She trusted those men and knew they were loyal to her. She studied each of them during the months in which she was infiltrated in the meeting
s of the archeology group, defining the character of each one, knowing of their possible crimes and also of the work and contribution of each to science. Only then, when she knew how they behaved, she made an appointment with the three of them and revealed her gentlemanly disguise, telling of her plans to travel to Arabia, convincing them that she needed their help. Of course, it had not been so easy, for she had to prove how much she knew about the ruins of the lost city of Al-Delíh and how she wanted to discover them, and to assure them that they would also have their place in the Society of Archeology of England.

  Louise lay on the two layers of blankets in her tent and covered herself with what was left. Although she knew a great deal about the desert, she did not imagine that the cold, which she was certain she would find, would be as terrible as he was showing himself.

  "I'll imagine I'm in a comfortable bed, and everything will be fine," she murmured as she settled down.

  It only took a few minutes for her to fall into a deep sleep caused by the tiredness of the workday. Not even the uncomfortable accommodation was able to stop her from sighing relieved over the blankets.

  ***

  Lady Louise dreamed of an oasis full of water and trees. Some produced fruit, and she could even see herself eating one of the pink peaches that were within reach. It looked like one of the dreams she had when she was a child and spent the summers in the country with her mother while her father traveled on his expeditions. Despite the peaceful dream, however, Louise awoke with a shrill scream, which made her sit down quickly, opening her eyes suddenly, trying to orient herself. An instant later another loud cry was heard, followed by another and another.