"Yes?" Rana almost winced as Mohammed's hands threatened to crush her slim bones.
"Who was she?" he asked hoarsely.
"The girl, the foreigner, she was the one they rescued. The one Majeed wants, the one who has escaped, with golden hair and eyes like the Arabian Sea," Rana said, confused at Mohammed's fierce reaction.
"No. No!" he whispered to himself. Mohammed almost cried aloud, but managed to hold himself still. Oh Allah! No! he thought.
***
Katharine breathed in the sea air as the ship's journey continued and the weeks passed. It was as uneventful as her previous journey had been fraught with chaos and gloom.
Perhaps it was due to the money she had promised Adib, but he was intent to see her safe and free from harm.
The sailors were a suspicious lot and, as usual, thought a woman aboard to be bad luck, but they treated her and Dunya respectfully.
Dunya was kind to Katharine and helped her bathe and tried to deliver edible meals. When Katharine was alone at night, she dreamed of Mohammed. She often awoke to his face, and many times pushed her slim fingers inside her pussy to relieve the tension that had built.
She wanted him, and only he would do. But she knew she would have to forget about him if she was to ever have a life filled with a husband and children, which she wanted. She would try to find a man in England who would treat her well, and then she would marry, but she would always dream of Mohammed.
She dreaded seeing her family again. What would they think of her? She wouldn’t tell them of her time spent in his bed. She would say she had been a servant and leave it at that. She would never mention that she had craved his touch and ached for him.
***
"Come to me," he whispered in the dark room. The familiar scent of incense hung in the air as she walked toward him and he commanded her to disrobe.
"Princess," he spoke to her as he reclined on the pillows before her.
She watched with horror as Yasmeen settled herself between his legs, her naked body glistening in the dark light. They both had the same honey-colored bodies with dark smoldering looks. He smiled as he fed Yasmeen his thick cock. His hand guided her dark head as she made slurping noises in the room.
Yasmeen was crouched like a dog, with her ass in the air, as she worked on Mohammed's cock.
Katharine watched the scene and Mohammed nodded at her. She knelt behind Yasmeen. She felt pulled into the threesome by his dark eyes and the need to please him. She was, after all, his mistress; it was her duty to please.
Yasmeen's small ass was in the air as she bobbed up and down on Mohammed's thick meat. Katharine moved her hands over Yasmeen's ass and was fascinated and sickened at the thought. She looked at Mohammed's dark eyes over Yasmeen's body and he smiled.
"Take it all," he softly told his wife as she gagged slightly at his thick length.
He looked over at his mistress as she knelt behind his wife's ass. Yasmeen moaned deep in her throat as his cock expanded inside it.
Katharine slapped Yasmeen's ass hard and Mohammed smiled as she gagged on his cock.
"Shhhhhh," he told Yasmeen sharply, as he watched Katharine touch herself and realized she needed to be pleasured.
He moved Yasmeen away and motioned for Katharine to approach him.
"You need to be fucked, princess," he told her as he grabbed her hips and positioned her over his cock's length.
"No, I'm not ready," she said, shaking her head. She didn't want Yasmeen in the same room with them. It was wrong.
"You're sopping wet," he said as his fingers pushed into her slick cunt and he pulled her down over his length, impaling her with Yasmeen's saliva still on him.
"Ahh," she cried out in pleasure and pain.
He nodded to Yasmeen, who was crouching next to them. She immediately came over and twisted one rose-colored nipple between her fingers and moved her hands over the slender white back.
"No," Katharine cried softly at the other woman's intrusion.
"Shhh," Mohammed told her softly. "You are here to please me."
"No," Katharine begged as she bounced on his cock and Yasmeen tongued her nipples into hard points.
Yasmeen grabbed Kat's golden hair and twisted it around her hand.
"Bounce, whore," she told Katharine, and she slapped her bottom until it was red.
Katharine tried to slow the climax as Yasmeen's hands and mouth tormented her.
"You're a whore here, to please the sheik," Yasmeen told her coldly as she slapped her ass again.
The sheik’s hands were on her hips and his cock was buried deep within her as he came. His white seed spilled out onto the pillow as he moved away from her.
Katharine was horrified and disgusted as the sheik said, "Send in the next girl."
***
Katharine awoke to the sound of a fist pounding on her cabin door. She shivered in the cool air, remembering the degrading dream.
"Yes?" she asked. She looked disheveled as she answered her door in a long, white shift.
"The coast of England has been spotted, Lady," Dunya told her in Arabic.
”Thank you, Dunya,” Katharine said, smiling widely. Then, she closed the door and sank upon her bed. Home! she thought. She was home.
Chapter 10
Katharine’s homecoming had been bittersweet. Her father was patient with her, and no one had pressed her for details of what had happened when she was taken away to Arabia. There were so many questions that remained unanswered, and her pride and honor were the reasons she could not answer them. She could never tell her father what had happened between herself and Mohammed, and her mother smirked at her as if she already knew the truth.
She watched idly in the mirror as the young maid pinned up her hair. Unlike in Arabia, where her hair had been long and flowing, in England, she pinned her hair up. She thought she hated Arabia, with its sun, heat, food, women, and miles of nothing but sand! More and more, though, she found herself thinking of that place and dreaming of him. The dreams were always the same. He would summon her and she would obey him. In her dreams, she was always satisfied.
In the mornings, she awoke from the hot desert sand to the cool, crisp English air, rolling green hills, light rain, and loneliness without him.
She had been in England for a month, hardly speaking of her time away, when Francie asked her one evening about it. It was then that she realized the truth. She had fallen in love.
No one asked about him or his name, and he remained the large shadow in the room. Her father thought she had been returned home safely and ever the same, but he was wrong; her time spent far away from home had altered her. She tried to look away from her reflection in the mirror. She had lost weight since coming home, and her manners were barely recognizable to her family. Once outgoing, free, and happy, she now spoke very little and interacted even less.
Her mother had made no mention of a suitor for marriage, but Katharine had resigned herself to marry. She would never see Mohammed again, and the time had come to marry.
"Are you pleased, my lady?" asked the timid Irish maid after her hair had been dressed.
"Thank you. You are very gifted," Katharine replied. The maid smiled shyly.
"Will you be wanting to dress for dinner?" asked the maid. Her Irish accent was lilting and pleasing to the ear.
"The pink frock is fine," Katharine said, gesturing to the pastel dress lying across her bed.
"Begging your pardon ma'am, but the color washes you out. Perhaps the purple or salmon colored gown would do."
"No. The pink is fine," Katharine said. She had no desire to look charming or alluring. Everything in England seemed cold and serious, and her heart yearned for the warmth and burn of Arabia. And for him, a small voice said.
***
Lady Anne sipped her soup delicately as Edward watched his daughter from across the mahogany table. She barely touched her food and said very little.
"Daughter, I won't have you wasting away before my very eyes," Edwar
d spoke to her as she looked away.
"I'm not hungry, Father, that's all," she said, shrugging her slim shoulders.
"Come, come," he said to her. He pushed his empty soup bowl away as he eyed his beautiful girl.
"Perhaps we should tell her about our plans, Edward.” Katharine’s mother said. “That should put a bloom in her cheeks." Lady Anne smiled encouragingly.
"Indeed. Your mother and I are planning a large ball in two months’ time. A grand affair to welcome you back and perhaps announce a betrothal, too," he said unsurely. Edward looked across to his wife, Anne, and both looked over at Katharine.
Katharine's head jerked up.
"You have a husband in mind for me?" she asked.
Edward took his time in replying. He knew Baron Adams had treated his daughter abominably, and that the Earl had been too old for her. This time, he would choose better.
"Well, several, my dear. But you will have the final say," Edward assured her.
"Who are they?" Katharine asked absently.
Edward rattled off several names; most were silly dandies and older men, but one name caught her attention.
"Did I hear you say James Clifton?" she asked. Katharine caught his eyes.
"Yes, you knew Jamie well enough when his family lived nearby. The two of you grew up together, I dare say," Edward said as his glass of wine was refilled.
"Well, he's older than me by ten years, but I remember him to be a good man," Katharine admitted.
Lady Anne smiled in relief at her interest.
"Could you arrange a meeting with him here?" Katharine asked her father.
"Of course, of course. Capital idea, splendid," Edward said, smiling broadly.
Katharine stared absently at her crystal wine goblet. If she married and conceived a child, maybe her heart wouldn't ache so much. Maybe she could live half-alive in England knowing that she had lived too much in Arabia.
"Thank you, Father. I’ll excuse myself," Katharine said, moving quietly away from the table.
***
Katharine settled herself on the window seat in her room, overlooking the vast gardens. Her forehead rested against the cool glass. Why was she cursed to dream about him at night? she wondered.
In her dreams, he was masculine, intelligent, strong-willed, and sensual. Could he have at least one flaw that I could focus on permanently? she thought. Her dreams were too vivid in detail, and he was always relentless.
In the latest dream, she held a beautiful little boy in her arms, with honey-colored skin, dark, curly hair, and blue eyes. She hated sleeping and she hated being awake without him. But, she knew she had done the right thing. They were too different and their lives together would never have worked. Her future was in England, and his was in Arabia.
Her father had arranged a meeting with James Clifton; they would enjoy the gardens and take a light supper. Her father was beside himself with joy and only wanted her settled and happy. She was the only remaining child of his not married.
She dressed in a sky-blue gown that accented her slim curves and eyes, but the color was too pale for her. It washed her out. She chose the gown on purpose. She did not want to shine.
She had not seen James in several years and wondered if they would have anything in common.
***
Her mother and father introduced James to Katharine in the large sitting room decorated in gold and cream colors.
"Lady Katharine, I'm glad to see you well," James said. He bowed over her hand, kissing it lightly. He was a quiet man, with thinning blonde hair and sky-blue eyes. James was taller than her by only a few inches.
"I remember you and your family when I was a little girl,” she replied. “We played together as monkeys in the trees," she said, recalling a childhood game.
The adults laughed at the image and the two began to reminisce. Edward withdrew to his study and Anne settled herself in the far corner with her embroidery, to give them privacy yet still play chaperone.
"I remember you too. A delightful, lovely little girl, turned into a beautiful woman," he complimented her easily.
"You're very kind," Katharine said. She smiled lightly as her blue eyes flashed up to his.
Later, Katharine and James walked along the garden path, where ornamental pears, hydrangeas, roses, and lavender grew in abundance.
She asked solicitously, "How is your father, Jamie? Well?"
"Yes, and my mother as well. They are anxious to renew acquaintances with you and your family."
"As am I," she said. Katharine remembered the good-natured older man named Henry and his mother, Lizbeth.
"Jamie, I have not spoken much about what happened in Arabia," she told him as they both stood still.
"Katharine, what's past is past. We all have secrets and things we prefer kept in the dark,” he took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “I ask for your friendship, companionship, and loyalty. If you agree, I would like to pursue this and eventually marry. But I will make no demands on you. Ours will be no grand romance, but I will treat you as a husband would a wife. And I would like to have a family."
Katharine's lashes swept down to hide her tears. He would leave her with her memories of Arabia and she would lock them inside her heart forever. I must close this book and never reopen it, she thought.
"We could announce our betrothal at the ball if that pleases you?" she asked, squeezing his hand in return.
"Yes, very much," he agreed.
***
"Oh my dear, such news, such news!" Katharine’s mother exclaimed. Lady Anne dabbed at her eyes as Edward smiled broadly at the couple.
Anne had known that her daughter’s moment would come, and now it had. She would no longer have to be ashamed of her unmarried daughter.
Katharine smiled lightly but wanted to escape to her room. She felt a headache coming on.
***
She helped plan the expensive ball with her mother. They made certain that the different meats had been ordered and helped the cook bring in additional kitchen servants from the village. Katharine knew the ball would be a great burden on the servants, and she tried to be a kind mistress, to remember them.
She spent almost every day with Jamie, except when he had to journey to London on business.
She enjoyed his company, and neither of them made demands on the other. It was an unspoken pledge that their marriage would be one of friendship, family desires, and little else. She knew several marriages that survived in exactly the same manner.
He knew she enjoyed spending time reading and riding and he left her to her own company. She, in turn, knew he had obligations in London and allowed him his freedom.
***
Frances Rose Maxwell hugged her friend tightly as they sat down to tea in the blue and rose-colored upstairs sitting room.
"I've missed you so," Francie told her as they settled across the small table laden with sandwiches and tea.
Katharine thought instantly of Bashasha's kindness and almost choked on her sandwich. She had to learn to conceal her thoughts better. She could only think of Arabia was when she was alone and knew it would be better for her piece of mind if she never thought of it at all.
"I've missed you, Francie. Missed you terribly," Kat said with tears in her eyes.
"I've heard the stories and I don't care about anything. You are safe, well, and loved," Francie said as she poured the tea.
"Thank you," Kat said as she reached out a hand to her friend and squeezed. Katharine was worried that her neighbors would point and whisper about her, though none would dare openly confront her.
"So what is the theme of this ball that everyone is talking about?" Francie asked.
"I don't know," Kat said, laughing. "It changes daily. Greek mythology, famous royalty, savages!"
Francie laughed, and her brown eyes danced.
"You should have the final say. ‘Tis your party," Francie teased.
"I would prefer a simply ball with no theme but lots of good frien
ds. And you, my dearest friend, must arrive early to serve as hostess with me."
"Your wish is my command," Francie told her.
***
Edward read the letter quickly and beamed. He rubbed his hands together over the fire and smiled. His darling daughter would have a present fit for a queen. He had procured her a most beautiful horse and was quite pleased with himself. He went in search of Anne to tell her the good news.
"She will be pleased, Edward. You are too generous," Anne said as she embroidered in an upper room facing the gardens. She often thought her husband was too giving to their daughter.
"Nonsense. She deserves this bit of happiness. She's been complaining for years that she has to ride her brother's castoff horse."
"True," Anne said, nodding.
"Now she will have a horse bred for a queen," Edward said proudly, leaving the room and whistling as he walked down the hall.
***
Katharine stood still so that the silk dress could be pinned for alterations. She was eating very little and sleeping poorly, so her jewel-toned ruby dress was being taken in again.
The silk dress was a low-necked gown worn over the petticoat, with an opening in front to show a splash of the petticoat. The stomacher was decorated with glittering red gems and pearls and was pinned to the gown; underneath, her corset was heavily boned. The close-fitting sleeves ran just past the elbow and were trimmed with ruffles.
The neckline scooped low across her breasts and ended almost at the edge of her shoulders. It created a lovely display of her delicate collarbone, neck and breasts, so much so that she felt naked. Her ivory-colored shoes were decorated with delicate pearls.
"Must it be so low?" Kat asked the French seamstress, who had been brought in to sew their dresses.
"Oui mademoiselle.” the woman replied. “It is all the rage in Paris. Indeed, it is much more elaborate there,” she continued.
Kat glared at her mother, who sat watching the spectacle. "But this isn't Paris," Kat hissed at the seamstress.
The Sheik and the Slave Page 12