Devil's Daughter (Devil 2)

“I wish to feel your flesh against mine.”

He felt a surge of lust at her words, but remnants of reason warred in his mind. “Why have you changed toward me?”

“I desir

e you. Do you not want me?”

“Yes,” he said, and quickly untied the leather sash at his waist. His white shirt quickly followed, and he faced her, naked to the waist.

Arabella probed at the small buttons on her jacket. She felt his hands on her breasts, caressing her through the cloth. Her hand slipped slowly to the band of her harem trousers. Slowly, very slowly, forcing herself to lean against him, she grasped the slender dagger.

“Savage! Animal!” She raised the dagger, and struck at him. He jerked away so quickly that the sharp point sliced across his shoulder and did not plunge deeply into his flesh. Arabella gazed a moment at the long jagged cut, oozing blood, furious with herself that she had not thrust it deep into his heart.

Kamal lurched back and stared at her. He was tempted to laugh at himself, for he had been naught but a fool, a gullible fool. He felt his blood streaking down his chest. He had no further time for thought, for she lunged at him again. He struck her outstretched arm and she staggered backward.

“I’ll kill you, you bastard.” She was crouched forward, moving closer toward him, the dagger held tightly in her hand. “I’ll kill you.”

She rushed him and he quickly sidestepped. He caught her wrist, feeling the delicate bones crunching beneath his fingers. She was crying, and screaming at him in frustration. He tightened his grip until the dagger flew from her hand to the floor.

They faced each other, panting.

Tears of rage streamed down Arabella’s face. She threw herself at him, pounding her fists against his chest, kicking out at his legs.

He pulled her tightly against him and she felt his blood seep through her jacket to her skin. He grabbed a handful of hair and pulled her head back.

He stared down into her distraught face and laughed.

“I hope your blood is poisoned. Next time my aim will be true.”

He tightened his hold on her, knowing that he was crushing her ribs, but she made no sound, no plea.

“There will be no next time, my lady.” He considered taking her now, ripping off her clothes and throwing her to the floor. He saw his blood smeared over her breast, and laughed again at his own stupidity. He grasped her arm and dragged her into his bedchamber. He looked only briefly at her bruised wrists before binding them. She struggled wildly, cursing him, but he finished tying her. He stood over her, staring down at her.

“Sleep well, little flower,” he said, and turned to walk away. Her yells of rage followed him.

Arabella’s breathing slowly calmed. She had not harmed him greatly, and for a moment she wondered if, in her heart, she had wanted her aim to be true. Was she so weak that she was unwilling to sacrifice herself to save her parents? Had she killed him, her death would have been assured. She lowered her head against her arms and cried. Would Raj be punished since it was his dagger she had taken? She did not want the big eunuch to suffer for her.

The time stretched endlessly, and the lone candle guttered. Still she stared toward the doorway, wondering what Kamal was doing. She shivered. Would he return and rape her, and perhaps, after he had finished with her, give her to his soldiers? Suddenly she laughed. So very foolish she had been, so full of vain bravado. She could have remained safe, even in Naples, if she hadn’t been such a silly fool, certain of her own ability to take care of herself.

She saw Kamal silhouetted in the doorway. There were no soldiers with him.

“I know you are not asleep, Arabella,” he said. He strode over to her and sat on the edge of his bed, staring down at her.

She said nothing.

“Are you so afraid of me that you pretend sleep?”

“I am not afraid of such as you.”

“No, I do not think you are.” She saw him flex his white-bandaged shoulder. “But perhaps you should be.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she said, raising her face to his. “I hope your pain is so great you weep and moan with it.”

To her surprise, he laughed. He leaned toward her and grasped her chin in his hand. Before she could jerk away from him, he kissed her hard on her mouth, then released her.

“Now you are afraid, are you not?”

“No,” she said, but her voice shook. She was completely helpless, and she knew it. To her unutterable relief, he stretched out on his bed and turned on his side, away from her.