Page 9 of Captive Bride

Christina stumbled and fell headlong. She looked up and saw two feet straddled in front of her.

She threw herself on the hard earth and started to cry.

She couldna??t help her tears, but hated to show this man her weakness.

He had won a victory by making her cry. He pulled her roughly to her feet and dragged her back into camp.

Christina was taken into the largest of the tents and deposited unceremoniously on a backless couch with low, rounded arms at each end. She immediately tried to compose herself, pushing her tangled hair away from her face and wiping the tears from her cheeks.

The tent was quite large inside and was curtained on three sides with a sheer material through which the fire outside brightly illuminated the room.

Multicolored rugs covered the floor, and the fourth side of the tent was of a heavy material.

Christina could see another room where the material was drawn aside.

The main room was sparsely furnished. Another light-blue-velvet couch faced the one she was sitting on near the back of the tent, with a long, low table between them.

A small cabinet stood in one corner at the back of the tent, with a single jeweled goblet and a goatskin bag on top.

Many small pillows in bright colors were scattered on the two couches and on the floor beside them.

Christina watched her captor. The tall man had his back to her as he removed his kufiyah and robe. He laid them on top of the cabinet and poured something from the goatskin into the goblet. He wore knee-length suede boots, a short tunic, and loose-fitting trousers tucked inside his boots.

Christina was startled when the man spoke to her in perfect English.

a??I can see that youa??re going to be very difficult to manage, Tina. But now youa??re here and you know that you belong to me, perhaps you will not try to run away so often.a??

Christina couldna??t believe what she heard. The man turned around to face her. Her eyes widened in shock, and her mouth fell open.

He burst out laughing. a??Ia??ve waited a very long time to see that expression on your face, Tina, ever since you left me that night in London.a??

What was he talking about? He must be crazy!

Her cheeks flushed red with anger, and her body shook with rage. a??You!a?? she screamed. a??What are you doing here, and how dare you kidnap me and bring me to this God-forsaken place? My brother will kill you, Philip Caxton!a??

He laughed again. a??So youa??re no longer afraid of me, Tina. Thata??s good. I dona??t think I would care to hear you begging and pleading with me for mercy.a??

a??I would never give you that satisfaction, Mr. Caxton.a?? Christina stood up and faced him, her hair flowing to her hips.

a??Now would you kindly tell me why youa??ve brought me here?

If ita??s ransom youa??re after, my brother will give you anything you want.

Only Ia??d like the matter handled quickly, so I may leave this place and your company.a??

He smiled at her. His unusual eyes held her hypnotized. Why did he have to be so damned handsome, she thought irrelevantly.

a??I suppose I should enlighten you about why Ia??ve brought you here.a?? Philip sat down on the couch across from her and motioned for her to do the same. He drained his goblet, and studied her intently before continuing.

a??I dona??t usually explain myself to anyone, but I suppose I can make an exception in your case.a?? He paused, as if to find the words he wanted to use.

a??Christina, the first time I laid eyes on you at the ball in London, I knew I wanted you.

So I tried it your way. I declared my feelings to you and offered you marriage.

When you refused, I decided to have you my own way, and quickly.

I arranged for your brother to be sent to this country the night you refused me.a??

a??So it was you who had my brother sent here!a?? she gasped.

a??You will not interrupt again until I am finished. Is that clear?a?? Philip asked brusquely.

Christina nodded her head, only because her curiosity demanded she hear him out.

a??As I said, I arranged for your brother to be sent here.

It was only a question of knowing the right people.

If you had decided to stay in England, I wouldna??t have had too much trouble taking you away to my home with your brother gone.

You would have found it easier to escape me there, but I could have had you sooner.

Here you will have less chance to get away from me.

Ita??s the way of the land here to take captives, so dona??t expect any help from the people of my camp.a?? Philip smiled wickedly at her.

a??Youa??re mine now, Tina. The sooner you realize that, the better it will be for you.a??

Flying off the couch, Christina paced the floor in fury. a??I cannot believe what youa??ve told me! How could you possibly imagine that Ia??d marry you after what youa??ve done to me?a??

a??Marry!a?? he laughed. a??I offered you marriage once, I will not again. I dona??t have to marry you to have you in this land!a?? He came to her and took her in his arms. a??You may call yourself my slave, but not my wife.a??

a??I will be no mana??s slave! Ia??ll kill myself before Ia??ll submit to you!a?? Christina screamed, and fought to escape his embrace.

a??Do you think that Ia??d let you kill yourself, after Ia??ve waited so long for you?a?? Philip murmured huskily. He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her passionately, holding her head with one hand and both of her arms with the other.

Christina felt a strange sensation creeping through her body again. Did she enjoy his kiss? But that was impossible. She hated him!

She went limp in his arms, but before she could manage to kick out, Philip picked her up, and his laughter rang through the tent.

a??That little trick of yours wona??t work again, Tina.a??

Philip carried Christina through the heavy curtains to his bed. When she saw his intent, she began to fight in earnest, but he dropped her onto the bed and lay down beside her. She beat at his chest with her fists until he pulled both of her arms above her head and held them there with one hand.

a??I think Ia??ll see now if your body matches your beautiful face.a??

Philip untied the robe she was wearing. He threw his leg over her to still her kicking and, with one rending tear, ripped her nightdress apart.

Christina screamed, only to find his lips on hers and his tongue probing deeply in her mouth. But this time his kiss was soft and gentle, making her head spin with mixed feelings. He moved his lips to her neck and with his free hand boldly caressed her full, ripe breasts.

Searching her eyes for a response, Philip smiled down into her face. a??Youa??re even more beautiful than I had dreamed possible. Your body was made for love. I want you, Tina,a?? he whispered huskily. Then he lowered his lips to her breasts, kissing each one in turn. Christina felt on fire.

She had to say something to make him stop. She was no match for his strength. a??Youa??re no gentleman, Mr. Caxton. Must you rape me against my will,a?? she asked coldly, a??knowing that I hate you?a??

Philip looked at her then, and she could see the desire fade from his dark green eyes. He released her and stood up beside the bed. He gazed down at her, and his mouth was hard, matching the cold glint in his eyes.

a??Ia??ve never claimed to be a gentleman, but I will not rape you. When I make love to you, it will be because you want it as much as I. And you will want me, Tina. I promise you that.a??

a??Never!a?? she hissed, pulling her clothes across her body. a??I will never want you. I hate you with all my being.a??

a??We shall see, Tina,a?? Philip answered, and turned away.

a??And would you stop calling me Tina? It is not my name!a?? she yelled at him, but he had already left the tent.

Christina tied the robe across her torn nightdress and glanced about the room. But there was nothing to see, only a single chest beside the huge bed with its heavy sheepskin cover.

Sliding under the cover, Christina mused over what he had said. Soa??he would not rape her. If he was a man of his word, she would be quite safe, for she knew she could never want him. Why should she ever want any man? Desire was a mana??s emotion, not a womana??s.

But what if he didna??t keep his word? She hadna??t the strength to stop him if he decided to take her by force.

What then? And what the devil was he doing in Egypt, anyway?

He acted like a native, and the tribe seemed to accept him as one of them.

She couldna??t understand it, and the question kept going through her mind without answers.

When she thought of the lengths Philip Caxton had gone to, to get her here, she became furious again.

To think that she had come all the way across the ocean only to be abducted by a madman!

Well, she wouldna??t be here long if she could help it.

With thoughts of escape running through her mind, Christina finally went to sleep.