Sheik by Mason Connie

Author:Mason, Connie [Mason, Connie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Ten Talents Press
Published: 2012-05-06T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Zara glanced around her opulent surroundings with a sinking heart. She was one of several women being held in Kadeem el Haka’s harem, awaiting the slave auction, which was to be held on the next market day. Haroun had wasted little time in delivering her and the other prisoners to the slave master in Fez. A deal was quickly struck, and Haroun accepted the money in Jamal’s name and hastened to Paradise to await Jamal’s return.

Zara and other women in the harem had been fed, bathed, pampered and dressed in rich silks and brocades. Obviously these women were intended for their masters’ beds, to be indulged and spoiled and treated like possessions. Was that the fate Jamal intended for her? Zara wondered. Allah help her should another man lay hands on her. She would fight tooth and nail and gladly suffer the consequences.

With nothing to do but eat and sleep, Zara had too much time to think. She recalled Jamal’s anger when he’d sent her away with Haroun. His smile had been cold and dangerous and did not reach his dark, glittering eyes. And it broke her heart. He had made love to her with such overwhelming tenderness, such caring, she hadn’t wanted to believe that his intention all along had been to sell her.

Zara listened to snippets of conversation around her and was amused at how her thoughts differed from those of her lovely companions. While she longed for open spaces and mountains, they dreamed of pleasing a rich master, one who would indulge their every whim and shower them with gifts. They aspired no higher than to become a love slave, but she abhorred being treated as an object, letting men rule her life.

Blondes, brunettes, redheads. Plump, thin, fat. The women prattled on while Zara closed her mind to all but her own misery. Had Jamal found her father? she wondered. Somehow she doubted it. Youssef was a wily desert fighter who knew how to avoid capture.

Suddenly the curtains to the harem parted and Kadeem stepped through. The chattering women fell silent, staring at the man who held their fate in his hands. Kadeem was short, obese and richly dressed in colorful robes of silk and satin. He wore a ring on each thick finger and several gold chains around his fat neck. His dense black beard covered a weak chin, and his eyes looked too small for his round face. He smiled with pleasure and rubbed his palms together as he surveyed his harem of lovelies.

“I hope you’re enjoying your stay, ladies,” he said obsequiously. “Soon you will all have new masters.” His words were met with titters. “My customers are all rich and powerful men, so you can be assured of masters who will keep you in luxury.”

Zara gave an unladylike snort. Camel driver or potentate, all men were vile pigs interested in their own pleasure. She had thought Jamal was different, but ultimately he’d proved her wrong. He’d used her and then discarded her with careless disregard.

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