Breaking the Sheikh's Rules

by Abby Green

  He grimaced at the thought of a day of meetings ahead, and celebrations in his honour tonight, but even with aides clamouring for his attention Nadim didn’t move away until he saw that Iseult was safely off the horse.

  That evening Iseult could feel the aches and pains from her fall the day before making themselves known again. She’d been aware of Nadim at a distance all day, but he’d made no attempt to come and talk to her, staying deep in discussion with the group of men who followed him around. She felt a little bereft to think that he undoubtedly regretted bringing her and had no further use for her.

  Lina had served Iseult dinner in the tent, and had told her that she and some of the other women were due to perform a traditional Bedouin dance for Sheikh Nadim and his guests that night so she had to get ready. She was leaving now, and a sudden fear gripped Iseult that Nadim would materialise again and send her flimsy control to pieces. On an impulse she asked Lina if she could come and watch her get ready.

  Lina hesitated for a moment, and then with sparkling eyes nodded, taking Iseult by the hand and leading her out to another small tent nearby. Once inside, Iseult could see about a dozen women. She smiled shyly at them and watched as Lina took off her burka, revealing a luxurious fall of black hair to her waist and an extraordinarily pretty face.

  Lina giggled at Iseult’s reaction and got ready, revealing that under her long abeyya she had been wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Fascinated, Iseult sat down cross-legged in a corner and watched as the girls and women took turns to get each other ready. Lina had disappeared behind a screen, and when she emerged again Iseult was shocked after having seen so little flesh bared up till now. She was dressed in silk and chiffon harem pants with ornate ankle bracelets, and her hair was plaited in a shining rope of black against her back.

  A short-sleeved top exposed her belly and hips, and she had gold rings up her arms and a gold chain around her curvaceous waist. A veil was secured at the back of her head, which she pulled across her face above her nose, obscuring her features again.

  One of the other girls giggled and said something to Lina, who looked at Iseult with a mischievous expression. Iseult saw her advance and knew that look. She started to protest even as Lina reached down and pulled her up with both hands. Before Iseult knew what was happening she was being administered to by a dozen women, all intent on getting her dressed exactly as they were.

  Iseult protested again, but to no avail; they were determined, and as she had no idea what to expect she gave herself up to the experience, telling herself they were just having fun. Soon she was dressed exactly like the others, and Lina was fastening a gold chain around her waist. She felt all at once naked and exhilarated.

  Lina stood back and clapped her hands. ‘Miss Iseult, now you’re one of us!’

  Iseult smiled weakly, and mentally compared her own milk-bottle-white skin to the glorious olive of the girls around her. She felt completely exposed in the brief silk top. Her breasts were bigger than the other girls’, and she was all but spilling from the low neck line. But there was something decadently sensual about the trousers sitting on her hips and the gold chain around her waist. A long veil was attached to her own hair, which Lina had coiled down her back, and she showed her how to cover her face from view.

  For a brief moment she was transported back to the previous evening, when she’d caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. But there was no mirror or Nadim here to break the spell being woven around her as one of the other girls knelt at her feet and fastened ankle bracelets. She’d never experienced this girly camaraderie of dressing up and it was heady.

  Thinking that they were just having fun before they went to perform, she was completely unprepared when Lina took her hand again. Suddenly they were all on the move.

  ‘Wait, where are we going?’ she asked.

  Lina looked back. ‘We’re one dancer short… Just stay behind me and copy what I do—you’ll be fine!’

  Her cry of, ‘But I’ve never danced in my life!’ got lost as the girls flitted like exotically beautiful ghosts through the inky twilight between the tents. Iseult desperately covered her face with the veil, and sent up a silent prayer that Nadim wouldn’t recognise her. If he did…she shivered inwardly…he’d kill her for sure.

  They stood at the back of a huge tent, where lots of men sat on cushions in groups around low tables piled high with food and drinks. Iseult’s heart was thumping when she saw a long line of men at the top, with Nadim right in the centre, looking stern and austere in black robes. They made him look even more dark and gorgeous. And dangerous.

  The beat of a drum started nearby—a seductive beat of another world. Iseult watched as the other girls started to move out amongst the tables, lifting their arms high and moving their veils back and forth, alternately revealing and hiding themselves, hips moving in a primal rhythm to the drums.

  They went out two by two, and then Lina was moving and taking Iseult with her. Iseult had no choice but to follow, and concentrated desperately on copying Lina’s movements—the small steps she took, the way her hips swayed with such effortless sensuality. She knew she was nowhere near emulating her.

  They were dangerously close to the top of the room now, just feet away from Nadim, and Iseult had the veil clutched tight across her face above her nose. She could feel the warm evening air skate over her bared midriff, and knew it would take a miracle for him not to notice her pale skin.

  Even so, despite her fear of being caught, Iseult couldn’t help the way the beat of the drums seemed to ignite a fire in her blood, and following Lina was very mesmeric. As if determined to thwart her best efforts, though, she found herself darting a quick glance to the big dark presence just a few feet away.

  Nadim sat with one leg propped up and an arm resting on his knee. And he was looking right at her with a dark, blistering gaze that tore strips off her skin. Iseult nearly stumbled, but somehow managed to keep going, ripping her eyes away from Nadim.

  To her intense relief Lina was moving towards the back of the room, where the other girls were in a huddle, giggling. Iseult tried to reassure herself that Nadim hadn’t known it was her; he couldn’t really have noticed in the dimly lit tent. The drums were still beating, and with shock at what she’d just done setting in Iseult took a step outside to gulp in big breaths of air. She was shaking all over.

  Just then, out of nowhere, came a movement so quick and overpowering it took her completely by surprise. She was being lifted off her feet against a wall of steel, with one arm just below her breasts and a big hand over her mouth. As if she weighed no more than a bag of sugar her captor strode away with her into the shadows.

  CHAPTER NINE

  ISEULT kicked her legs uselessly into thin air and tried to scream—but of course she couldn’t get a sound out. The most terrifying thing was that she knew exactly who it was, because the wall of steel against her back felt incredibly familiar. She’d felt it that day in the dining room at home in Ireland. And suddenly it wasn’t terror she was feeling but a wild excitement.

  Iseult put her hands up to try and claw his hand down from her mouth but he was immovable. She saw that they were approaching a big tent, set apart from the others, with two tall lamps holding burning flames at its entrance. In scant seconds they were through the heavy drapes at the entrance and Iseult was summarily dropped to her feet.

  She whirled around to face her captor, breathing harshly. Her heart thumped violently to see Nadim so tall and dark and intimidating. Any angry words she’d articulated in her head disappeared as she realised that she was half naked. Her body felt as if it was on fire under Nadim’s still blistering gaze.

  He bit out caustically, ‘Were you born into this world with a mission in life to drive me completely insane?’

  Iseult was coping with too many things at once—not least of which was the fact that her heaving breasts felt as if they were about to pop out of her top—so she just said shakily, ‘You took me out of my world and into yours, so if I’m dr
iving you mad you only have yourself to blame.’

  He almost flinched, as if she’d hit a nerve. ‘I knew it was a mistake to bring you here.’

  Hurt and anger lanced Iseult at hearing his bitter words, seeing his undeniable reaction of regret. ‘Well, then, why don’t you just send me home and out of your hair once and for all?’

  Iseult made as if to move around him to leave, but Nadim caught her by her bare upper arm. She stopped, still breathing raggedly. She wouldn’t look up into that harsh, beautiful face.

  His voice sounded guttural, hoarse. ‘I can’t let you go because to send you away would drive my insanity to another level entirely. You’re in my blood now, Iseult.’

  Slowly her head lifted, and she looked up at Nadim and stopped breathing when she saw the heated intensity in his eyes. ‘Wh-what are you talking about?’

  He brought her round so she stood in front of him again, and with his free hand tore the turban off his head and threw it into a corner. He suddenly looked much younger, and unbearably rakish. ‘I want you. I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you.’

  Iseult’s legs turned to jelly. She fought not to let herself be swept away by a rising tide of desire. ‘I won’t let you kiss me again just because you feel like it, only to cast me aside as if I’ve done something wrong.’

  Nadim moved closer, both hands on her arms now. Iseult was finding it hard to breathe or stay clear-headed. He shook his head, eyes burning down into hers. ‘I’ve tried staying away from you but I can’t any more. It’s making me crazy. I’m not even going to ask how you ended up dancing with Lina. Every time I turn around you’re doing the unexpected… When I saw you appear before me in that excuse of an outfit any control I may have had disappeared… I need to know now—do you want this too?’

  Iseult looked up at Nadim. Just inches separated them from bodily contact. Their breaths were already mingling. Her breasts felt full and aching against the tight top, and she had the curious sensation of the real world slipping away. Here in this dim light, in the ornate and luxurious surroundings of Nadim’s tent, they could have been transported back one hundred years in time to another world.

  Nadim looked like a warrior king, his jaw tight, the planes of his face austerely gorgeous as he waited to hear her answer. Everything that had happened between them was crytallised in this moment. And Iseult knew what she was going to say with a bone-deep feeling of rightness.

  Yes.

  It rose from deep within her, with an inexorable flooding of heat into her body. She was no more capable of denying she wanted him, than she was of surviving another second without breathing.

  ‘Yes…’ she said faintly, huskily. ‘I want this too…’

  With a perceptible tremor in his hands that surprised Iseult, and comforted her on some very vulnerable level, Nadim pulled her closer until their bodies were touching. Suddenly Jamilah’s warning words came back to her: The al Saqr men can be ruthless in their pursuit, and equally ruthless when they’re finished with you.

  But in that moment Nadim’s head was lowering, that unbearably sensuous mouth was coming closer and closer, and it was very easy for Iseult to block the words out.

  When Nadim’s mouth settled over hers it felt as though time had slowed down to a drip-drip of sensual delight. He kissed her with such languorous intent, exploring softly, teasing, tasting, biting down gently on her full lower lip, before coming back to settle over her mouth again with a hint of barely leashed passion.

  That tipped Iseult over the precarious edge she’d been clinging onto even unbeknown to herself, and with a faint moan she leant closer into him, her arms climbing up to twine around his neck.

  And as if Nadim hadn’t entirely trusted her words, but had been waiting for a tacit signal, he drew her even closer, so that the space now between their beating hearts was non-existent. His tongue made a bold foray into Iseult’s mouth and she welcomed it, welcomed him, her tongue shyly touching and tasting.

  Passion quickly blazed up around them. Iseult was barely aware of Nadim flicking away the veil from the back of her head. His hands were on her bare hips, pulling her in even closer, where she was dimly aware of something hard digging into her belly. Belated realisation of what it must be had her pulling back for a moment to look down. Nadim followed her gaze to where his ornate dagger was still tucked into his rope belt.

  He quirked a sexy smile. ‘I don’t think we’ll need that.’

  Mouth dry, Iseult watched as he pulled it out. About to throw it aside, he seemed to reconsider. He pulled it from its scabard and with one hand turned Iseult so that her back faced him. She shivered slightly, but with anticipation, not fear. She felt him pull her hair aside, so that it hung over one shoulder, and then he pulled the back of her top taut. The cold edge of the blade touched against her skin for the tiniest moment, and then suddenly the tightness of her top was released and air whistled over her naked back.

  With a sucked-in breath of shock and excitement Iseult brought her hands to her breasts, holding the top in place. She heard the dull thud of the knife falling somewhere, and then Nadim’s big hands were smoothing the rent sides of the short top apart, and she felt his breath feathering before he started to press kisses from her neck down her spine.

  Iseult’s head fell forward, her heart thumping wildly as she felt Nadim’s hands settle on her hips, fingers curving around to her soft belly as his mouth travelled back up to her neck and shoulder, nudging the ripped side of her top down over one shoulder.

  She had no experience, but Iseult felt some deeply innate feminine instinct kick in at that moment. So when Nadim turned her around gently to face him again she looked up, straight into his eyes, and fell into two pools of dark sensual promise. Any hint of remaining doubt fled.

  Staring deep into her eyes, mesmerising her, he let his hands come to the shoulders of her top and tug softly. Iseult’s hands impeded the process, still welded as they were across her breasts.

  ‘Trust me…’ Nadim said, and with a slightly choked breath Iseult let her hands drop. The top gaped, and Nadim’s eyes left hers to look down as the stiff silk material was finally pulled away and down her arms, baring her to his hot gaze.

  Iseult trembled. Her breasts felt heavy and aching, her nipples tight and hard, prickling with sensation. The ruined top fell to the floor. Iseult saw Nadim’s face flush, his jaw tighten. He reached out a dark hand and cupped the heavy weight of her breast. She had to bite back a moan and couldn’t look down, knowing that she might collapse altogether if she saw the darkness of his skin against the paleness of hers.

  ‘You’re so beautiful…’ he breathed, and before Iseult’s inner demons had time to rise his thumb had found her nipple and brushed back and forth, teasing it to even further tingling tightness. This time she nearly did fall, and on a reflex put out her hands to his arms in an effort to stay standing.

  The movement caused her breast to press into his hand fully, and even holding onto him couldn’t keep Iseult upright any more. In an instant Nadim had bent and lifted her into his arms, and carried her over to a sumptuously clothed bed.

  He laid her down as reverentially as if she were made of china and then stood back. All Iseult could do was look up, dry-mouthed, as Nadim started to disrobe. The heavy outer robe fell to the ground, the rope belt came off, and in a split second the dark thobe had disappeared.

  Iseult’s gaze fell to take in the magnificence of his broad chest, leanly muscled and olive skinned, two blunt dark nipples standing amongst a fine sprinkling of dark hair.

  Her eyes dropped to the low slung waist of his under-trousers, loose, but not loose enough to disguise the prominent bulge. Cheeks flaming, Iseult lifted her eyes again and saw Nadim’s riveted on her. Feeling self-conscious, she brought up an arm over her breasts.

  And then he was there, beside her, one hand re moving her arm from her breasts, brushing against a sensitive nipple. He stretched her arm up, over her head, where his fingers interlaced with hers, holding her cap
tive.

  He bent his head and feathered a kiss to her mouth. ‘Don’t hide yourself from me…’

  A heated languor melted through Iseult’s veins, and yet at the same time she felt more energised than she’d ever felt, with a dull, throbbing ache setting up in her lower belly and between her legs.

  With a slowness she was sure was meant to drive her insane, Nadim traced his other hand and fingers around her breast, moulding the fleshy contour before cupping it and squeezing gently, so that the hard tip stood out like an enticement.

  With a wicked gleam in his eyes, still holding one hand captive, he bent again and pressed hot open-mouthed kisses all down her chest, between the valley of her breasts, and then after a screaming second of torture he licked around the aureole and dragged that hot, tingling tip into his mouth.

  Iseult’s back arched as if she’d been electrocuted. She’d never felt anything like it in her life, and she squeezed her legs together reflexively to stem the tide of liquid heat. Her fingers clasped Nadim’s in a death grip, and her other hand funnelled through his silky hair, keeping his head and that wicked mouth in place.

  He moved to the other breast, administering the same torture, making Iseult gasp out loud and suck in short breaths. He finally released her other hand and drew back slightly, but only to look his fill. Iseult felt wanton and uncontrollable. Her nipples were wet from his mouth and tongue, his cheeks flushed, eyes glittering.

  ‘Nadim…’ she husked, not even knowing what she was asking for.

  Nadim had to pause for a moment. For the first time in his life he felt out of control with a woman. Heat and lust had morphed together, clouding his brain in a searing heat haze, and all he wanted to do was bury himself so far and deep into Iseult’s slick body that he knew if he didn’t impose some control he’d hurt her.