Read Wild Desert Princess for Free Online Page A

circles under her eyes.
    “No, please.  I’ll be fine,” she insisted, barely managing to stand upright until he walked out.
    “I’ll be right back, Chia.  Yell if you need me.” He hurried out of her room and found Malek and Amanda heading towards him.  Malek had the look of a sexually satisfied male and Amanda’s face was flushed, her full lips swollen.  But her expression was resentful and angry.
    “You stayed with her all night?” Amanda asked, eyeing his rumpled clothing.
    “Yes, she’s in the bathroom.  Please give her a few minutes before you come in and I’ll have her settled back in the bed.” Gone was the arrogant cockiness, in its place a quieter, stronger inner determination. 
    “Very well, we’ll have a breakfast tray sent up and be back to see her in about thirty minutes.  Will that be enough time?” Malek stared at Jahan seeking a silent reassurance.
    Jahan nodded and hurried back to Chia’s room.  He stood outside the bathroom door, hearing her raw retching and entered and found her kneeling over the toilet.  Her face was pale, as the dry heaves shook her body.  He wet a wash cloth and gently wiped the beads of sweat off her forehead.
    Her eyes were dulled with pain and misery as she stared up at him.  Finally, the horrible spasms ended and he bent and picked her up. “I’m sorry, Jahan.  The morning sickness has gotten worse and my head is killing me.” She blinked quickly furious at the rush of tears.  She felt so helpless.
    “Chia, stop.  There is nothing to feel sorry for, I’m the one who is sorry.  I have treated you horribly.  I never meant to cause you such pain.” Deep remorse darkened his eyes.
    Seeing the pained sincerity on his face, Chia brushed a stray lock of ebony hair out of his eyes. “I know, Jahan.  You never meant to hurt me so badly.” She gave him a sad, wistful little smile and lay warily back against the pillows.
    Each time he saw the beat of her heart at the base of her neck, she winced and pressed her fingers to her temples.  He brought the cloth and laid it gently over her eyes, careful to keep it off her bandage.
    Chapter Eight
    Amanda could barely look at Malek.  She was furious at him and at her treacherous body.  All through the night Malek had taken her, forcing her body to respond.  He’d known she could not fight the incredible feelings he aroused in her and had used it shamelessly to force her response.  He erroneously thought things were back to normal, oblivious to her dark, resentful looks.
    Amanda’s body throbbed, a heady tenderness between her legs she had not felt since their early years of marriage.  Oh, he made sure she found her release each time they joined but even after she’d protested that she was sore, he’d taken her twice more, hard and deep.  The smug look on his face hurt her unbearably.  She loved him beyond belief, but she would not stay in a relationship where he used her physical responses to him to bring her back in line. She had thought he cared for her more than that.
    Once Chia was better and things had settled between her and Jahan, Amanda planned on taking that trip to Ireland.  She knew Malek and Jahan would be busy the next four to six months with the treaty negotiations with the mountain tribes and would be away from home quite a bit.  If things had not improved for Chia by then, she would take them both and disappear in the Highlands of Scotland for a while before she went to Ireland.
    Malek watched Amanda move stiffly towards the buffet in the dining room.  He frowned as he recalled her words early this morning that she was too sore.  He’d thought she was just trying to regain control and had ignored her protests.  Now, he feared he had caused her pain.
    Amanda felt sharp eyes on her and ignored him.  She moved stiffly and would not hide it from him.  In moments she had a tray full of tidbits and carried it up to Chia’s room.  Mara offered to take it, but Amanda wanted to do