Page 56 of Kismet

She ached for him in a way she’d never ached for any man, and her body was hungry for more. It was a hunger she’d never expected to feel for a lover, and it was unsettling. She was in way over her head where he was concerned, but she didn’t care. That in itself was alarming.

Heaving a sigh, she turned her head as she heard children laughing and shouting near her tent. The sight of Millie walking toward her as the children dashed past the older woman tugged a smile to her lips. Even despite living in the desert for a month, her friend still dressed as if she were going to the market for the evening’s meal. The woman traversed her way around the children and low-burning campfires as she headed toward her. Behind her Jamal carried a large trunk on his shoulders. As they reached her tent, Millie directed the Bedouin to set the trunk down under the peaked roof of the dwelling.

The trunk safely settled in its new home, Millie nodded her gratitude to the Bedouin as she brushed past him to open the luggage. An odd look crossed Jamal’s face as he remained where he was and watched Millie. For a moment, she was almost certain the Amazigh’s features were filled with lust as he studied the maid. Suddenly aware that he was being observed, he jerked his head toward Allegra. Even beneath his dark skin, she could see a flush of color rising up in his face. Muttering something under his breath, he gave her a swift bow and hurried out from underneath the tent and quickly disappeared. Amused by the man’s behavior, she wondered if Millie might find the Bedouin attractive. The two of them were about the same age, and the Amazigh was quite handsome. The maid pulled out a dress and turned to face her.

“Here we are, Miss Allegra. I’m certain you’ve missed wearing your own clothes,” Millie said as she held up a day gown. “I think you’ll find this much more to your liking than those native clothes you’re wearing.”

Laughing, she shook her head. “I don’t think so, Millie.”

“But miss, you can’t possibly want to continue wearing those pants and that shirt,” Millie exclaimed in horror.

“I do indeed.” She smiled at her friend. “They’re comfortable, and I’m not so eager to give them up. You should try them.”

“That Jamal suggested the same thing.” Millie sniffed with disdain.

“He likes you,” Allegra said with a smile.

“Who? Jamal?” The woman jerked with surprise and her cheeks flared with color.

“Yes. I saw the way he looked at you a few minutes ago.”

“Harrumph. I think your imagination is running amok.” Millie waved a hand in dismissal. She turned quickly back to the trunk, rummaging through it. When she didn’t find what she was looking for, she lifted her head. “I must have left your brushes in my trunk. I’ll go get them.”

Cheeks still tinged with heightened color, Millie darted out of the tent just as Laila was arriving. Delighted to see her friend, Allegra crossed the shelter’s carpeted floor and greeted the younger woman with a warm hug.

“Laila, how wonderful to see you again.”

“I am delighted to see you are safe.” The young Bedouin woman said as she hugged Allegra tightly. As Laila stepped back, her gaze flew to Allegra’s short, curly hair. The dismay in the young woman’s expression made Allegra reach out to squeeze her hand.

“It looks much better than it did. Actually, I’ve grown accustomed to it, and it has its advantages. It’s much cooler, and Shaheen has nothing to grab hold of when he gets angry with me.” She grinned mischievously at the younger woman.

“I imagine that’s quite frustrating for him.” Laila laughed then grew sober. “Still, if I’d just been more observant—”

“Stop,” Allegra said sternly. “What happened was beyond our control.”

“Perhaps, but it still doesn’t make me feel any better,” Laila said with a sigh. “And now there’s the threat of war again.”

“War?” she exclaimed.

“My uncle has negotiated an alliance with Sheikh Cadi to challenge my father. It’s why he’s so far north of his territory.” Laila’s voice was filled with bitterness. “Not content with killing my mother, he must now try to take my father from me as well.”

“Surely it won’t come to that,” she said in a soothing voice as her heart skipped a beat.

What would happen to Shaheen if there was fighting? Would he fight alongside the Sheikh? She already knew the answer, and it terrified her. Laila spread her hands in a gesture of troubled concern.

“I wish I could believe that. Unless Father can negotiate a treaty with Abd al Jabbar, then there will be fighting.”

“This man your father went to see; do you think he’ll sign a treaty?”

“I’m not sure. I think Jabbar will agree only if it’s in his best interest, but Father can be quite persuasive. Almost as much as Shaheen.” Laila sent her a sly look and Allegra’s cheeks grew hot under the other woman’s scrutiny.

“You forgot autocratic and demanding,” she responded in a wry tone.

“And what is this to thejahīm anasi?” Laila scoffed as she reached out to touch Allegra’s tattoo. “You are fire, and fire molds steel, I should have known that when Fatima painted these marks on your hand. You are the woman of fire. Even our own seer foretold your coming.”

A dark shadow fell across the carpet, and she looked up to see Shaheen standing behind Laila with a scowl on his face. “You listen to Halah’s old wives’ tales too much.”

It was impossible not to smile her pleasure at seeing him. It had been hours since he’d kissed her good-bye this morning, and her body was alive with sensation just being near him. Laila looked up at him and laughed.