Page 12 of Captive Bride

a??Yes, and my father captured my mother, just as I have captured you. He let her return to England later with my brother and myself. So I was raised in England until I came of age. Then I chose to come here and live with my father.a??

a??Your father is here?a??

a??Yes, you will meet him later.a??

a??Surely your father doesna??t approve of your kidnapping me?a?? she asked, hoping his father might help her.

a??I have done nothing to you yeta??but yes, my father approves,a?? he said, a smile playing on his lips.

a??You forget, Tina, this isna??t England.

Ita??s the way of my people to take what we want if we can.

And I made sure you were available for the taking.

You will understand better after you have been here awhile.a??

He escorted her back to his tent and left her there alone.

Would she ever understand Philip Caxton? Christina looked around the tent, wondering what she was supposed to do with herself. She suddenly felt quite lonely, and it annoyed her.

Without thinking, Christina raced out of the tent to see Philip mounting his horse along with four other riders. She ran to him and clutched his leg. a??Where are you going?a?? she demanded.

a??I will be back shortly.a??

a??But what am I supposed to do with myself while youa??re gone?a??

a??Thata??s an absurd question, Christina. Do whatever you women usually do when youa??re alone.a??

a??Why, of course, Mr. Caxton,a?? she said flippantly.

a??Why didna??t I think of that? I can make use of your sewing room, though ita??s not really necessarya??Ia??m used to wearing hand-me-downs.

Or perhaps I could take care of your correspondence.

Ia??m sure you must be a busy man and cana??t find time to do it yourself.

But if youa??d rather, I could just browse through your well-stocked library.

Ia??m sure I can find something interesting to read there.

I do have a mind as well as a body, Mr. Caxton! a??

a??Sarcasm doesna??t suit you, Christina,a?? Philip said angrily.

a??Of course, youa??re a better authority on what suits me than I am,a?? Christina retorted.

a??Christina, I will not tolerate this tirade of yours any longer. You may act as you please in our tent, but in public you will show me respect!a?? he replied, the muscles twitching dangerously in his jaw as he stared down at her.

a??Respect!a?? She stood back to look at him, slightly amused. a??You want respect after the way youa??ve treated me?a??

a??In this land when a woman shows disrespect to her husband she is beaten.a??

a??Youa??re not my husband,a?? she corrected.

a??No, but Ia??m the same as a husband to you.

Ia??m your master, and you belong to me.

If youa??d like me to find a whip and bare your back in public, Ia??ll be happy to oblige you.

Otherwise, return to my tent.a?? He said it so coldly that Christina didna??t wait to see if he would carry out his threat.

She scurried back into the tent and threw herself onto the bed to cry out her frustrations.

Must she now fear a beating as well as rape? That devil wanted respect after what hea??d done! But shea??d be damned if shea??d show him anything but hate and contempt.

She detested feeling sorry for herself, but what was she supposed to do whenever he left? For that matter, what was she going to do when Philip was around? She cried herself to sleep.

Christina was rudely awakened by a hearty whack on her behind. She turned quickly to see Philip standing by the side of the bed, hands on his hips and a taunting smile on his handsome face.

a??You spend a lot of time sleeping in that bed, my sweet. Would you like me to show you another way to use it?a??

Christina jumped off the bed. She was finding it easier to understand his crude meanings.

a??Ia??m quite sure I can do without that kind of knowledge, Mr. Caxton.a?? Christina faced him with her arms akimbo, feeling safe with the bed between them.

a??Well, youa??ll learn soon enough. And Ia??d prefer you to address me as Philip or Abu, as I am called here. I think ita??s time you dispensed with the formalities.a??

a??Well, Ia??d prefer to continue the formalities, Mr. Caxton. At least your people will know that Ia??m not here willingly,a?? she said flippantly.

Philip grinned devilishly. a??Oh, they know youa??re not here of your own free will, but they also know that Ia??m not a man to be kept waiting. They assume you were deflowered last night. Perhaps tonight you will be.a??

Christinaa??s eyes flew open and turned a darker shade of blue.

a??But youa??you promised! You gave me your word you wouldna??t rape me. Dona??t you have any scruples at all?a??

a??I always keep my word, Tina. I will not have to rape you. As I told you before, youa??ll want me as much as I want you.a??

a??You must be crazy. I will never want you! How could I want you when I detest you with all my being?a?? she stormed. a??Youa??ve taken me away from my brother and from everything I love. You keep me prisoner here with a guard at the door when you leave. I hate you!a??

Christina stalked from the room, silently cursing him with every horrible word she could think of. Suddenly she noticed two stacks of books and at least a dozen bolts of cloth lying on a couch. She forgot her anger and ran over to examine the goods.

There were silks, satins, velvets, and brocades in some of the most beautiful colors she had ever seen.

There was even a bolt of semitransparent cotton that she could use to make chemises.

Threads of every matching color, scissors, intricate trims, and everything she would possibly need to make beautiful dresses were lying before her.

She turned to the books, picking them up one by one. There were Shakespeare, Defoe, Homera?|. Some she had read before, and some were by authors shea??d never heard of. Lying beside the books was a beautifully carved ivory comb-and-brush set.

Christina was delighted. She felt like a small child on her birthday receiving an abundance of presents that would last until another birthday came.

Philip had been standing behind her, watching her joy at the surprise.

She swung around to face him now, her eyes a soft blue-green again surrounded by their dark ring.

a??Are these for me?a?? she inquired demurely, running her hand over a bolt of soft blue velvet that matched her eyes.

a??They were, but I dona??t know if I should give them to you after the way you have been acting,a?? he said.

His eyes gave no clue whether he was teasing her or not. She suddenly felt desperate.

a??Please, Philip! Ia??ll die without anything to occupy my time.a??

a??Perhaps you could give me something in return,a?? he replied huskily.

a??You know I cana??t. Why must you torture me so?a??

a??You jump to conclusions, my sweet. What I had in mind was a kissa??an honest kiss with some feeling in it.a??

Christina took one more look at the bounty of goods on the couch. What harm could one little kiss do, she thought, if it would get her what she wanted? She came to him and waited, eyes closed, but he did nothing. She opened her eyes and stared into his amused ones.

a??I asked you to give the kiss, my lady, with feeling.a?? He smiled down at her.

After a momenta??s hesitation, Christina put her arms around his neck and drew his lips down to hers.

She opened her mouth to his. The kiss began softly, then his tongue penetrated deeply.

The butterfly feeling came over her again, but this time she didna??t fight it.

His arms went around her, crushing her body to his.

She could feel the hardness between his legs as he lowered his lips to leave a trail of fire across her neck.

Philip picked her up and began to carry her into the bedroom. Christina started to struggle.

a??A kiss was all you asked for! Please put me down,a?? she begged.

a??Damn you, woman! The time will come when youa??ll gladly go with me. I promise you that.a??

He set her down and went outside. A smile crossed Christinaa??s lips when she saw that shea??d won again. But how long did she have before her luck ran out? Philipa??s kiss stirred something in her that she didna??t understand. It left her empty, wanting something more, but she didna??t know what.

After a few minutes, Philip came back into the room, followed by a girl who brought in the evening supper. When she left, Philip spoke harshly.

a??We will eat now, and afterward Ia??ll take you to meet my father. He has been expecting us.a??

They ate silently, but Christina was too nervous to enjoy the meal. She was a little afraid of meeting Philipa??s father. If he was anything like his son, then she had much to fear.

a??Couldna??t this meeting be put off for a few days until I can make something more presentable to wear than this?a?? she asked.

Philip frowned at her. a??My father has lived his whole life here. Hea??s not used to fancy gowns and dresses on women. What youa??re wearing will be quite suitable for the occasion.a??

a??And whose clothes am I wearing? Did they belong to your last mistress?a?? Christina asked distastefully.

a??You have a sharp tongue, Tina. The clothes belong to Amine, the girl who brought in the food. Amine is the wife of Syed, one of my distant cousins.a??

Christina felt ashamed, but she wasna??t about to admit it.

a??Shall we go? My father is eager to meet you.a?? Philip took her hand and led her to a smaller tent to the right of his. They entered, and she saw an old man sitting on the floor in the middle of the tent.

a??Come in, my children. I have been looking forward to this meeting.a?? The old man beckoned them to enter.

Philip led her across the room and sat down on a sheepskin across from his father, pulling her down beside him.

a??I would like you to meet Christina Wakefield,a?? Philip said to his father, then looked to her. a??My father, Sheik Yasir Alhamar.a??