Read Beloved Protector (Heartsong Presents) for Free Online Page A

demonstrated that same kind of peace after embracing this Christian religion.
    Her dark hair was matted after having not seen a comb in days, its dullness, he felt sure, due to a lack of sustenance. Before her hair had hung long and glistening down her back and he had often had to stifle the urge to touch it. Even with it lank and tangled, he found himself still stifling that same urge.
    He wondered, not for the first time, what she would look like in a colored toga, her hair intertwined with ropes of pearls. Realizing that his breathing was becoming constricted, he shook off such fantasies and touched her gently on the shoulder.
    She awoke with a start, clutching the pillow more tightly to her chest. As awareness dawned, wariness crept into her eyes once again. She slowly sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
    “Are you hungry?”
    Her wide, blinking brown eyes reminded him of the roe deer that roamed the region.
    “I am, a little.”
    His lips twitched. That had to be the greatest understatement of all time. After several days without food, she had to be more than a little hungry. Her body was thin to the point of emaciation.
    He continued to study her until he saw the color blooming in her cheeks at his close scrutiny. He got swiftly to his feet and held out his hand.
    “Come with me. I know of a small wadi where you can wash up if you wish. There’s not much water in it now, but there should be enough, and it’s somewhat private.”
    She gave him a look of relief and placed her hand in his. He pulled her to her feet, not releasing her immediately. They stood holding hands, each searching the other’s eyes for something neither was fully aware of.
    His own growling stomach reminded him that it had been some time since he had eaten, as well. He smiled wryly.
    “We had best hurry. Daylight is fading fast.”
    As they navigated the circuitous route of the camp, soldiers stopped what they were doing to stare. It was not uncommon for women to follow the soldiers, but they were prostitutes looking for easy money. Even in the outermost reaches of the empire, the emperor always managed to pay his troops. Wise, since that was what the security of Rome depended upon.
    Whenever a man studied Tapat too long, Andronicus gave him a glare that soon sent his look elsewhere. He knew that the men must be thinking that Tapat was his personal concubine, but it was better that than that they try to approach Tapat whenever he wasn’t around.
    He bit back a smile at their obvious surprise. He was known for choosing his women from those who were of the highest caliber of cleanliness. They must surely think he was desperate, but he could stand the slight to his reputation as long as it protected Tapat.
    He led them onto a path that took them away from the nearest campfires. When they reached the edge of the wadi, Andronicus stopped Tapat with a hand on her arm.
    “Wait here until I clear a path.”
    He moved forward with caution, using his spear to stir the brush around the flowing water in case a snake or some other miscreant might be lingering in the vicinity. When he was satisfied, he motioned Tapat forward. He met her look, his eyes holding a warning.
    “Be careful. I will be farther back to give you some privacy, but I will be close enough. Call if you need me.”
    Nodding, she moved past him and knelt by the water. He watched her a moment and then moved away.

Chapter 4
    T apat knelt at the edge of the wadi and plunged her hands into the cool, running water. Crickets sang their cadences around her, mingled with the faint voices of the soldiers coming from the camp in the distance.
    Because of the intense heat of the sharav, few wadis still had running water. She wondered how this one had been spared. Thanking Elohim for this extra blessing, she began rubbing the water over her arms and face.
    Oh, how she longed for the warm baths of her former mistress’s villa. That time seemed so long ago now that it was more like a dream than