Ziyad.
They'd eaten and fallen asleep the night before, too tired to do much more. Amani hadn't complained. Falling asleep in the Spider's arms was one luxury she thought she'd never have. But he'd kept her warm all night long, wrapping around her like a blanket.
Now, he was behind her, and his hand was slowly making its way up to her breasts.
"Good morning, minx," he whispered. Ziyad lowered his head and kissed her neck with an open mouth. His tongue tasted her skin, sending pulses of desire straight to her clit.
"Good morning," she answered, twisting to give him free reign with her nipples.
Ziyad didn't wait to take advantage. His fingers rolled and pinched her while he thrust his stiff cock against her ass. "Do you know how often I've dreamt of taking you in the morning?"
Amani grinned and tucked her head on his bent elbow. "About as often as I have, my prince?"
"Mmm." He growled, puffing his hot breath across her cheek. "Amani, tell me," Ziyad whispered. "Where did he touch you?"
She sucked in her breath and bit her lip. "I do not wish to speak of it."
"Tell me," he said again.
"Ziyad…"
"I wish to erase it from your mind, Amani." His voice was as smooth as silk, raising bumps on her arms and legs. "I am the only one I want you to think of when I touch you."
His heartfelt words melted her. Amani's body began to tremble, but she turned to face him, trusting him with her shame. "He…he put his m-mouth on my breast."
"Which one?"
Amani looked down at her right breast. Ziyad pulled away and leaned over her, latching himself onto her nipple and suckling. His tongue was magic, gently licking her, bringing her nipple to a hardened nub within his mouth. His teeth worked gently, tugging her, eliciting gasps from deep within her.
She held his head to her and tossed her leg across his thighs. She wanted him on top of her, claiming her. Gods, but she loved this man, the Spider Prince—Ziyad, her beautiful husband.
"Where else?" he breathed.
Amani cleared her throat. "H-his fingers touched my…my clit. I thought he was you. I never would have…never…"
Ziyad's face hovered above hers. "Shh," he responded. "I know."
For the next few minutes, Amani could think of nothing more than his mouth as he kissed her, deeply exploring every nook and cranny. She caressed his tongue in kind, and tugged on his hair to keep him above her when he would have risen off her.
"I need you inside me," she whispered in his ear.
"I need to erase Jaden's touch first."
"Ziyad…"
"Did he touch you anywhere else?"
His dark eyes held her captive. Their depths told her much more than his words. He wanted her to be his, completely. He wanted her to think only of him when they made love, and it scared him that she might think of the Cobra when they did.
"Nowhere else, my love," she replied.
"Then close your eyes, minx," he said, giving her a wicked grin. "Because I'm about to take you to the moons."
She obeyed him and shivered at the sudden loss of his body heat. Ziyad lifted off her, and within mere seconds, his mouth was feasting on her pussy. Amani cried out and arched toward him, clutching onto the pillows and gasping for breath.
In and out his tongue plunged while his nose rubbed her clit. She was already wet for him, but now, her cream must have coated his face. Amani wasn't shy about following his rhythm, up and down, thrusting against him and feeling the hair on his chin add to the pleasure.
Ziyad entered her with one finger, then two, then three, pumping in time with her hips and lapping at her clit like a thirsty man.
Up, up, up she flew until total and complete rapture exploded within her, shooting down her arms and legs as she pressed closer to his face, demanding more of his mouth.
Amani hadn't realized she'd screamed until she opened her eyes and saw Ziyad crawling over her, grinning from ear to ear.
"You are so lovely, Amani," he said, stopping only to kiss and lick his way up her skin. She tried her hardest to rub her sensitive clit against his belly. "I love watching you come against me. I love when your pussy squeezes my fingers."
"I love your tongue," she told him. "I love everything about you."
Ziyad chuckled, but seemed more than pleased by her confession.
"Do you love my cock?" He slicked himself between her lower lips, making her jump at the sensation.
"Yes!" she cried, rubbing every inch of his skin she could reach. "No more teasing, Ziyad. Please sink into me."
He leaned his forehead on hers and gazed deep into her eyes. When he hesitated, she somehow knew what he wanted to hear.
"I love you," she whispered. "All of my thoughts are of you. All of my dreams, my fantasies… I have always loved you, my Spider, my lover, my husband. You are the most magnificent man I have ever known, and I am so very blessed to be your princess."
He shuddered and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, moisture shown in them.
"And you, minx," he said, his voice breaking. "You are the most magnificent woman I have ever known. I am blessed to be your husband."
Amani knew Ziyad would always have a place in his heart for Karis. But right here, right now, he was telling her that under no uncertain terms he belonged to her, with everything inside of him.
She didn't say another word. Opening her legs wider, she allowed him to rest there while leaning up to kiss his lips. Amani took it slow, asking for entrance with her tongue, and mewling in triumph when he opened to her.
She delved. She tasted. She plundered him, making love to him with her mouth alone. Ziyad didn't break their kiss, but his cock slowly advanced, burying itself between her thighs, making his body one with hers.
Amani arched into him, silently asking him for more.
With slow, unhurried thrusts, Ziyad made love to her, telling her again and again just how much he cherished her— without saying a word.
Amani followed his dance, caressing his thighs and ass before clawing her fingers up his back, making small valleys on his skin. Ziyad pulled back just enough to tease her lips with his, taking her breath into his lungs.
She leaned up to kiss him, but he shook his head.
"I want to watch you come," he whispered.
His words alone brought her to the brink. She grinned at him, suddenly remembering that now, while they made love, he was her servant.
"Then stroke me, Spider," she commanded boldly. "And we will come together."
His hand disappeared between them a moment before his thumb rubbed her clit. Within seconds, she came, tossing her head back and crying out his name.
Ziyad pushed forward forcefully, grinding against her hips until his own pleasure burst forth, spilling into her pussy.
"Gods!" he exclaimed before resting his head on her shoulder.
Amani smiled dreamily while stroking his damp skin. "Do not move," she said when he would have rolled away.
"Yes, my princess," he replied submissively, staying
exactly where he was.
He was happy. She knew so before she even saw the smile on his face. Amani's heart soared, and she wondered if the Spider armband Zara had made for her gave her certain insights into Ziyad's moods. She suspected it did, since every piece Zara made had some touch of her magic.
"We must begin every morning like this," she said, trailing her fingers through his hair.
Ziyad lifted up on his elbows and grinned, giving her a small thrust for good measure. She gasped when he pressed deep, sending a bolt of pleasure throughout her body.
"What else can I do but obey?" he said playfully before dipping his head and kissing her senseless.
~ * ~
The Jackal Prince stood on the dunes and looked up and down his caravan line. Just like the others, he was taking two of Jaden's old water caravs with him, to provide more water to the people in the Cobra Prince's absence.
Miraculously, once the princes ha
d agreed to take the extra carriages, the dead Sentinels came back to life. Siraj had never seen the hand of the gods so at work in his life. He'd never doubt the power of the god of Jackals, or any other god of the desert for that matter.
His thoughts drifted back to the girl who'd helped him in the desert and he closed his eyes. Breathing deep, Siraj couldn't help but think of her pretty face and her amazing eyes, the color of which he hadn't seen before, and most likely wouldn't see again. He had to find her, if only to know who she was.
He'd never known anyone who could change their shape into an animal. Despite her age, the girl knew very powerful magics, perhaps the ancient magics, the kind the gods wielded. The witch known as Mother was a testament of what those magics could do to a person if someone dabbled in their might. Such magic was not meant to be wielded by mere mortals.
But this young girl… If she dabbled in the ancient magics, she surely had a teacher. No little child could study the magic on their own.
Siraj shivered at the thought, regardless of the sweat rolling down his back.
Yasmin, as she'd called herself, had seemed such a sweet girl. Siraj didn't want her fate to be the same as that horrid witch. She was still young. There was time to save her.
And it had nothing to do with how mesmerized he'd been by her amazing eyes.
"Fall asleep on us, Siraj?"
The Scarab smacked him so hard on the shoulder, Siraj almost fell face-down in the sand. His cheeks reddened as he glared at the older prince.
"No," he said, adjusting his golden robes.
"Ah, daydreaming then?" Qadir winked. "About a woman?"
"Of sorts."
"You're thinking of that girl again, aren't you?" Qadir's brow rose.
"I wasn't seeing things out there," Siraj told him. "She was real. You saw the Cobra's bloody sword for yourself. You saw my scar. She healed me."
"And somehow she turned herself into a bird and conveniently flew away?"
The Jackal scowled. Qadir laughed and squeezed his shoulder this time. "Listen, I've lived long enough to know never to take anything for granted. Some of the things I've seen I don't believe myself. But if you believe this Yasmin is out there somewhere, your god will guide you to her."
Siraj sighed. "I just don't want her to become like…like…"
"Mother?" the Scarab finished for him.
Siraj nodded. "Only the ancient magics could be so powerful to allow her to change her body and heal me."
Qadir rubbed his short-cropped goatee. "Perhaps she is a messenger of the gods. Perhaps the god of Jackals sent her to heal you. If that is the case, you will never find her."
Shielding his eyes, Siraj looked to the sky. "I don't believe so," he said. "She told me she was summoned, but that Khalil hadn't sent her. I think Khalil's call to his falcons got her attention. But even Khalil doesn't know who she is."
"It is possible," Qadir answered. "But she is young. So are you. Give yourself a few years before you truly search for her, if you so choose. If this girl is as exotic as you say she
is, perhaps you will meet again as adults."
"It might be too late by then," Siraj said. "She could already be twisted by her power, or…" He shrugged.
"Married?" Qadir said, giving his peer a lopsided grin. "You are far too young to be thinking of such things. You have years yet to meet your princess."
Siraj kicked the dirt at his feet, annoyed his friend could read him so well.
"Besides," Qadir continued. "Finding her now will do neither of you any good. She is still a child! By the gods, so are you."
The Scarab was right. Siraj was the youngest prince to reign in over two hundred cycles.
"If you want my advice," Qadir said, "then here it is. You don't know who this girl is, other than her name. But from your story, it is obvious she knows who you are—she called you the Jackal. Therefore, I say if your god wishes you to find her again, then let her find you. She should know when you are scheduled to arrive in Suridesh if she cares enough to meet you again. Until that day arrives, all you can do is pray."
Siraj sighed. He didn't like being so helpless. And he definitely didn't like being infatuated with a child. Straightening his shoulders, he said, "You're right, Scarab. Nothing can be done about her now. Don't we have work to do?"
Qadir laughed and smacked him again. "That we do, boy!"
Twenty Eight
Amani watched Ziyad from the shadows and admired the way he was with his people. With their people. It was odd, thinking of herself as the Spider Princess. But she was, well and truly, royalty.
They'd left Suridesh that morning, taking two of Jaden's water caravs with them, intent on returning to their oasis to retrieve the caravs Ziyad had left behind. With a fresh supply of water, they'd be off to Parradh, to replenish the tent city to the north.
They'd taken on a few of the Cobra's servants and distant family, people who'd wished to ride the Spider's caravan now that theirs had been destroyed. Ziyad had taken Jaden's physician, as well as his caravan driver, if only to give old Brand a rest every now and again. And each and every one of the Spider's newest members had been given black robes to wear, instead of the old, drab brown of the Cobra.
Right now, Ziyad spoke with those servants about Jaden's water barrels, and how they were indeed filled with mud. There wasn't much to be done with them, other than to empty them, cleanse them, and restack them until they reached his oasis.
The sun had disappeared beyond the horizon when Ziyad had finished giving orders. He stood there, gazing out upon the empty dunes with his hands on his hips. Amani strode quietly behind him and embraced him.
He ran his palms over the back of her hands and threaded their fingers without saying a word.
"I need your help, Spider," she said, giving him a
squeeze.
"Oh?" he asked, turning in her embrace.
Amani gazed up at him and nodded. "I need to watch the stars this evening. And I need to do it with you."
He arched a brow. "Do you?"
"I was thinking on top of your—our carav?"
Ziyad grinned and cupped her cheeks. "I have a better idea."
"What's that?"
"Let me take you beyond the caravan where we can gaze at the sky—alone."
A thrill shot through her. She couldn't help but remember that he'd once suggested the very same thing— the night he'd found her on top of her carav. Now, he was giving her that choice again.
"I would love to. Can you manage to break away from your daunting duties, my prince? Or will I have to rely on Brand, or perhaps Hyram to take me stargazing?"
Ziyad growled and shook his head. "One of these days, minx, I will bend you over my knee and you will feel my wrath."
She grinned wickedly and stood on her toes to whisper in his ear. "Maybe I'll bend you over mine."
Amani walked away, glancing coyly over her shoulder. Ziyad followed her like a devoted dog. Within seconds, he caught her, taking her hand and marching away from the caravan.
"Don't we need to tell someone where we're going?" she asked, trotting along behind him just to keep up with his long strides.
"I believe one and all saw you hugging me just now and whispering in my ear," he said, his voice light. "They are a smart lot. They will figure it out."
Amani giggled, but no longer questioned her husband as he took her beyond a very large dune. The caravan was far behind them, and she took in the beautiful desolation of the desert.
"The moons have risen," Ziyad said, pointing to the horizon. He was right. Pamos had caught Thiadra. They were making love, as they had countless times before.
Amani stared at her husband and watched in awe as a
light breeze ruffled his hair. He was so intense and amazing that he took her breath away. When he turned back to her, she could barely see more than his silhouette, but that was enough to make her heart thunder against her ribs.
"I need your help with something else," she whispered, barely
able to get her words out past the lump in her throat.
Ziyad took a step closer and the concern in his voice was obvious. "Are you all right?"
Amani nodded, but trembled nonetheless. Perhaps it was the deafening silence or the dark of the night. But she knew otherwise. She trembled at being one of the most powerful women in the Golden Desert, the one who had wormed her way into the heart of the untouchable Spider Prince. He loved her—she knew it beyond the shadow of a doubt. And the realization of his love finally struck her.
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