Chapter 6
Rose knew they had ridden all night and through the morning. She could feel the heat of the sun begin to beat upon her face and she hoped they reached some destination soon for she was growing completely exhausted. It wasn't so much the heat that was causing her discomfort, but rather the memory of the ordeal from the night before and the pounding of her head. The constant rhythm of the horse's stride was reverberating in her skull and giving new life to pain from the bump on her head.
It wasn't long after those thoughts entered her mind that the horses halted. She felt herself losing her balance atop the animal and if she could see, she was certain her vision would be slightly blurred. She had been forced to ride too long for her current condition and she was feeling weaker than she had in two days.
The man she rode with must have sensed she was losing her balance and about ready to fall, for his arm tightened around her waist and he hauled her against his body. At that moment she was thankful for his strength, but knew she would fear it later when she was confronted with the reality of what this warrior group had planned for her and Yasmeen.
And just where was Yasmeen? Rose had heard no other feminine voices during the ride and she hoped the Medjai had brought Yasmeen with them instead of leaving her for Victor's group. Though Rose and Yasmeen had started off at odds with each other, it didn't mean Rose wished Victor upon the woman. Rose wouldn't wish that upon any woman for Victor was not a kind man. Rose had admired him with the eyes of a child and it wasn't until she had won his attention and affection that she realized too late the kind of evil, hateful man he was.
The man holding her conversed with someone else and she sensed a bit of worry and perplexion in his tone. Then the horse beneath her walked slowly forward and five minutes later she was being hoisted off the horse with gentle care. That gentleness surprised her, for she was certain she was a hostage and nothing the men would care for. Yet she was being treated quite well so far by the hands that were guiding her and when she was set upon her feet on the ground and felt her legs unable to support her, those same hands steadied her and lifted her to be carried.
Rose must have blacked out for a while after being lifted into strong arms, for when she again assessed her situation, she was no longer in the sun, but rather in some form of shade. And from the lack of any breeze and the smell of slightly stale air, she had a feeling she was in some kind of shelter. Her body was partially on the ground and partially braced by a man. He was holding something to her lips and instinctively, Rose reached out and clasped at his wrist with her bound hands.
"Don't," she whispered, finding her voice would create no louder a sound.
"Drink," he said with a low tone. "You are not well."
Rose hesitated at doing or saying anything for the man's voice reminded her much of Ali's. His handsome face flashed in her mind for a moment and before she could realize how absurd her idea was, she asked, "Ali?"
There was a long pause before the man spoke again. "That is not my name, but I do have an Ali among my men if you would like me to go retrieve him for you."
His accented voice held much sarcasm, and Rose shook her head slightly and replied, "No. I just thought.never mind." She began reaching for the blindfold on her face when the man halted her with a firm grasp.
"No," he ordered gruffly.
Rose sighed with frustration and questioned, "Who are you? I just want to see."
"No, you may not see," he answered. "But I will tell you who I am. I am the chief of the desert tribe of the Medjai. The man you held at gunpoint." He added his last phrase with a hint of anger as if to remind her he was still displeased with last night's adventure.
So, she was with the same man she had seen the night before who had pretended to know nothing of English when she'd been making her demands.
"You speak English now?" she asked caustically.
"I spoke English last night," he teased, "but I preferred not to. My own language tends to strike more fear into the hearts of the men we raid."
"And just why did you raid those men last night? To claim Yasmeen and myself?"
The man was still holding her and again he placed something against her lips and said simply, "Drink."
Rose was thirsty, her throat dry, and she loosened the grip on the man's wrist and took a sip of the water he was offering her. It was warm water, yet this was the Sahara and she figured cold anything would be impossible to come by.
When she was finished, she pushed the canteen away and took several deep breaths of the heated, stale air. She had a million questions to ask, and wanted to be unbound, but she was positive this desert warrior would neither answer her questions nor untie her.
Suddenly, she felt his touch upon her head and he said, "You are hurt."
"Not badly," she replied, knowing the bump on the side of her head looked worse than it actually was.
"I will have the other woman sent in to attend to you. She claims she is a nurse."
"So you brought Yasmeen along as well?" Rose inquired.
"Of course," the man answered. "You are both safer with the Medjai than with those other men."
"Safer?" Rose remembered the swiftness with which the Medjai had attacked and the fierceness of their leader's assault on that gunman with his sword. She wondered if she was safe at all with these men. "I doubt that. After all, I am bound and blindfolded."
"You are. But what condition would you have been in if I had left you to those men in the canyon?"
"I'd more than likely be bound and blindfolded as well," she snapped.
At her words, the man laid her on the floor, which felt like a canvas tarp beneath her. She heard his steps carry him a few feet away. She pushed to a seated position, feeling vulnerable on the ground and blind to her surroundings.
"Why did you take us and what exactly do you have planned?" Rose questioned when the man said nothing to her for several minutes.
Again, he remained mute.
Frustrated, Rose asked with growing strength in her voice, "Were we on sacred, protected ground or something? I hear that's your group's job to protect sacred territory. If we were, we're sorry. Yasmeen and I were just traveling to a village, to my friend's home. We weren't doing anything wrong. Why don't you let us go?"
Finally, the man spoke. "How do you know the duties of the Medjai?"
"Yasmeen told me. She's from around here."
"Then if she is from the desert, your friend should have also told you the Medjai do not attack arbitrarily. Nor do we harm innocent bystanders. You have little to fear from us."
Sarcasm was brewing in her mind as she again remembered how the men had threatened her with severe consequences if she hadn't given up the night before. So she shot out, "That's right, you only add unsuspecting women to your harems."
The man laughed at her. Rose was startled by the sound and even more by the feel of him next to her. The cloth from his robe brushed her arm and then his fingers landed upon her cheek. She would have jerked her head away, only his touch was not harsh or repulsive. His fingers were warm and smooth upon her skin and created a tingling sensation where they brushed her face.
"That was nothing more than a fib to taunt you," he told her. "We do not have such customs in my tribe. But you would make a lovely addition to any man's harem if he had one."
At his words, Rose pulled her head away from his reach. Now, he frightened her for it was obvious he was noticing her as a woman and she felt at a serious disadvantage.
"If it is true that your tribe has no intentions of harming me, don't touch me," Rose demanded.
The man moved away at her words.
"You might not be so displeased with my touch," he returned from several feet away. "After all, I am chief of my people. My position carries much power."
"And that's suppose to impress me?" she retorted.
"You are American," he commented. "I thought positions of power impressed Americans."
"I have no interest in power. Other Americans may, but not me." After all, her father had been a very powerful man and she had experienced enough of that type of power in her life.
"Then what does interest you?"
"Being released," she threw out.
"I am afraid I cannot do that," the man refused. "I need information from you and you will remain my.guest.until I am satisfied that you have provided me with that information."
"Information? I don't know anything that would help you," Rose returned, certain this man had her confused with someone else.
"Really? Then if you know nothing, why did six men have you at gunpoint last night when my men and I arrived?" he challenged.
"That was something personal. I doubt it has anything to do with your duties or your people," Rose defended.
"I do not believe you," the man said in a growl. Suddenly his voice was very near again and he said harshly, "There are people out here in the Sahara that I must find. Dangerous people who are trying to wield power beyond your imagination. How can I be sure you are not one of them?"
"I know nothing about this place aside from the fact that I was traveling to a village to meet my friend," Rose said with a hint of desperation in her voice.
"What village?" he asked.
"I don't know. Ask Yasmeen. Look, all I know is that my friend lives out here in the middle of the desert and I was going to stay with him."
"You left America for the Sahara?" he questioned with disbelief.
"It was not by choice," Rose explained. "I." she paused because she realized her explanation would sound strange. Yet she had to tell this man what had happened to her so that he did not continue to believe she was dangerous or working with any group he may be after.
"You what?" he demanded.
"I woke up here in Egypt. I was hurt in America by men who work for one of the men in that group last night and my friend brought me here to escape the danger I was in."
"So," the man said with triumph, "I was right in thinking you had information for me."
"I have no information that will affect you," Rose insisted.
"Don't you? One of the men in that group last night is a very dangerous man around Egypt. His name is Jeffreys and he has been known to have unscrupulous contacts in the criminal world. I know he has contacts with the group I am seeking out."
"Is that so? Then why didn't you kill him last night along with that gunman you took out?" Rose again saw that scene unfolding and it shocked her that she was sitting there talking with the same warrior who had so skillfully killed the night before.
"That gunman's bullet missed my head by five centimeters. Was I supposed to let him live to try again?" the man questioned. "And I did not kill Jeffreys last night because it was more important he live so that we might see what other contacts he has. He is a low-level thug, but his connections are always interesting and often dangerous."
"But the rest of the men you could have killed. Why didn't you?" Rose asked.
"Because you asked me not to. You sacrificed yourself for them and I wanted to know why. After all, it was obvious you had no desire to go along with them. Wouldn't it have been easier on you if they were all dead?"
"No, it wouldn't have. My brother was in that group." **
Ali was shocked by Rose's confession about her brother. He had wondered all night why Rose had protected those men when they had held her at gunpoint. And now it started to make some sense to him after hearing that her brother was among the group. But he wanted more information. Having seen Jeffreys, a man whom he was certain knew of the terrorist group they were chasing, made him wonder if perhaps Rose's and his problems were somehow related. Yet it could just be a coincidence that the group after her was just another one of Jeffreys' famous illegal connections.
"Your brother? Really? I find that interesting. Why did he hold you at gunpoint then?" Ali asked, again being sure to keep his voice lower and more accented than usual so that Rose didn't suspect his true identity. He wasn't sure how long he would hide his identity from her, but he did know he had to squeeze all the information he could from her before he revealed anything.
"Tony never pulled a gun on me. It was Victor's idea. My ex-fiancé. He's a horrible man. He works for my father. I've been hiding from them for five years now and they found me a few days ago in California. They sent men after me, one of them made this nasty bump on my head," Rose explained.
"And how did you escape from California?" Ali asked, though he already knew the answer to that.
"I'm not sure. But I'm positive my friend Ali was responsible."
"Ali? The man you spoke of earlier?"
Rose nodded.
"Where is he now?"
"Back in Cairo. Or maybe on his way to his home village by now. I'm not sure."
"Some friend," Ali mocked, wanting to see Rose's reaction. "He sent you off into the desert alone?"
Defensively, Rose said, "He sent me with an escort. Yasmeen knows her way around."
"Yes, but in this country, women alone in the desert can be vulnerable. He should have traveled with you to protect you from desert bandits." Ali said that only because part of him did feel guilty about having sent Rose off alone. For that had allowed last night's escapade to happen. And if he had not received that phone call from Saed at the last minute, Rose would not be with him now. She would be in the custody of that vile man named Victor.
"He would never send me into danger willingly. He's not like that. He's very thoughtful." Rose paused and Ali could see the frustration building in the language of her body. "And I don't know why I'm defending him to you!"
Ali said nothing for a moment because he was relieved Rose held no anger over his having sent her into the Sahara with Yasmeen alone. But it wasn't like he had planned to leave them alone for the entire trip. The Medjai would have caught them by morning and followed from afar to ensure their safety. However, the discovery of Victor and his men had prompted Ali and his warriors to rush much quicker and rescue Rose and Yasmeen just in time.
Now that he had Rose answering his questions and divulging information, he decided to push her further and ask more about her feelings for him. Since she had revealed nothing too in depth to him in Cairo when he had told her he loved her, he wanted to probe further now.
"Does this man care for you, or is he merely a simple friend and nothing more?" Ali inquired.
Rose paused and turned her head his way. He knew she was dying to see and probably curious as to why he was asking her such personal questions. And he was correct for she asked him, "Why do you care what my relationship with him is?"
With a smile she could not see, Ali replied, "Because I just wanted to know how heartbroken he would be when I steal you away."
Ali watched as Rose's pretty mouth turned down in a frown and then began to open in an effort to retort. But they were interrupted when Devraj entered the tent.
"We have found one of the traders, my lord," he announced in their native tongue.
He nodded Devraj's way, indicating he would be there in a moment, and then turned to Rose.
"You will remain here. I will send in your friend to look over your injury. Do not attempt to flee. There is a guard outside the tent," Ali said with a stern voice, then left the tent to speak with the trader they had found.
When they had arrived only a half-hour earlier, they had discovered the oasis, a popular stop along the desert trade route, deserted. That discovery had caused them much concern for each tent was empty and every camel gone. Ali had sent scouts out to search the nearby areas and they had returned with one man whom they often found at the oasis on their stops. He was shaken and cut and told a story that surprised no one.
"These men came through two days ago. They were being led by a German. Their group was made up of Egyptians and Europeans and they were heavily armed. We had only a small group of travelers here at the time, and everyone scattered quickly when the men began making demands and taking what they wanted," the man explained.
"And what did they demand?" Ali questioned.
"They stole our supplies and asked about the Fortress of Aten. They said they knew it was around here." The man paused and looked up at Ali. "My lord, does the fortress even exist?"
"Leave that worry to us," Ali answered. Then to his men he instructed, "See to this man's comfort and health. We will meet shortly to discuss a plan of action. The men we seek cannot be far."
And Ali prayed his predictions were true, for the dangerous group was much closer to finding the Fortress of Aten than he had anticipated. **
Rose heard the footfalls of another person only moments after the chief warrior had left. She was glad he was gone, for his questions had been too personal and his arrogance chilling. She wondered if he truly meant to keep her or set her free. He alluded several times to his interest in her as a woman and that scared her. Did that mean she would be another victim of an overbearing man as she had been with Victor and her father? No, it did not mean that, for now she was stronger and determined to fight for her independence.
"Who's there?" Rose demanded of the new guest.
"Its just me," Yasmeen answered.
Rose sighed with relief and felt Yasmeen pull the blindfold from her eyes but not untie her.
"Yasmeen, you'll get us in trouble," Rose chastised as the blindfold fell from her face and the bright light of the mid-morning stung her eyes.
"No. It will be fine as long as you remain in the tent," Yasmeen insisted. "But I cannot untie you."
"Why do they have me blindfolded and tied?"
Yasmeen began looking at the wound on Rose's head, her beautiful face showing with professional concern.
"Because you are a foreigner and they do not trust you," she answered. "Plus, the Medjai do not freely reveal themselves anymore. They use to. In fact, the men once wore tattoos on their faces and hands to signify their tribe and heritage, but that died a generation ago."
"Why?" Rose asked, wanting to find out as much as she could about this group that held her hostage.
"Because the world has changed so drastically, it is safer to be discreet so the Medjai only bear markings on their chests now and keep their faces covered when in their traditional attire."
"But you've seen them," Rose commented.
Yasmeen nodded and sat back on her heels, apparently satisfied with the look of Rose's bump.
"I have. They know I am from a nearby village and trust I am no threat. Besides, they wanted to take advantage of my medical skills. Some of the men were wounded last night."
"So does that mean I'm stuck here in this tent, blindfolded and bound forever?" Rose asked.
"I don't know. I'm not sure what their chief has planned for you."
"I do," Rose drawled as she rubbed at her face. She felt the grime from the desert drive and ride building upon her skin and wondered how any man could find her attractive right about now, especially the chief warrior of the Medjai. "The chief keeps insisting he plans to steal me away."
Yasmeen gave a small laugh and smile.
"Its not funny, Yasmeen. Last night, my ex-fiancé was ready to kidnap me as well and I'm in no mood for another man to try and push me around," Rose declared.
Yasmeen handed Rose some food she had brought in and said lightly, "You may not be so disappointed, Rose. The chief of the Medjai is considered a prize. He is quite handsome."
Rose swallowed a lump of fear, for she was growing concerned that even Yasmeen would be of no help to her. It seemed as if the woman was content to remain a hostage and feared nothing from the Medjai. In fact, she appeared to be right at home the way she was now casually sitting with crossed legs and sharing her food.
"I don't care," Rose spat out. "I'm not going to let some desert warrior hold me captive."
"Would you rather your loving Victor had you captive instead?" Yasmeen threw out.
"No. I'd rather just be with Ali right now and have everything back to normal."
"Normal?" Yasmeen questioned. "As in, back in California living that lie of a life you had?"
"I was hiding from Victor and my father," Rose explained.
With venom in her eyes suddenly, Yasmeen asked with sarcasm, "Is that so, Rosalinda? Or is it Rose? I'm confused."
Rose tugged at the bindings on her wrist. Her hands moved barely, just enough for blood flow, but not enough to allow her escape.
"Its Rose. I'm not Rosalinda anymore," Rose returned.
"But you were?"
"Yes, I was," Rose answered truthfully. "A lifetime ago when I was young and stupid. But I escaped all that and was doing just fine until father found me."
"Ah, the men in your apartment!" Yasmeen said with triumph. "Those were daddy's henchmen?"
Sadly, Rose nodded. "Of course. That's why they only wounded me instead of killing me. Father wants me back and what Mafia boss, Alfonse San Giovani wants, he gets." ****
The sun was dipping lower, lending a slight break to its unrelenting heat. A breeze was beginning to blow in from the south and Ali feared a winter sandstorm was on the horizon. The signs were few, but he still sensed it.
It had been a long afternoon of planning with his men. If it was true the terrorist group had been through the oasis only two days ago, then there was time to track them down. He had a feeling he knew the direction they were traveling and he and his men would trek that way tonight, if the weather held and his predictions about a sandstorm proved false. Otherwise, they would be forced to travel by day in the morning.
With nothing left to do, now that the plans were set with his men, Ali started back for the tent he had commandeered and left Rose in. Yasmeen had been by to see him an hour ago, having left Rose after feeding and checking on her and filled him in on their conversation. It seemed as if Rose had an interesting family tree and Ali was relieved to know that her problems had nothing to do with his. Last night, when he'd seen her "acquaintances" with Jeffreys, he had briefly thought perhaps their problems had crossed paths. But it appeared as if her ex-fiancé had simply acquired Jeffreys' assistance for his task of finding Rose and nothing more.
Rose's background intrigued Ali, for it was strange to discover that she came from a world-renowned mob family. That must explain her handiness with a gun! The way she had fired expertly at the Range Rover's headlight the night before still shocked him and if anyone had told him sweet, reserved Rose from California could do that, he would have thought them insane. Now, he had to begin accepting the fact that Rose was more dimensional than he'd ever realized. But it didn't change his feelings for her. She was still the same person inside, just as he was the same person inside that she'd known in California.
Ali dismissed the guard who had been standing outside Rose's tent. The warrior had insisted all was quiet since Yasmeen had left and he assumed Rose must be resting. Ali hoped she was resting, for it was obvious she needed it. Her face was lined with worry and stress and after being forced to ride on his horse all night, he figured she was exhausted.
Assuming too that she must be asleep, Ali walked into the tent, pushing the flap aside, and was just about to pull his veil down when something hard struck him in the stomach. He doubled over with both pain and shock, then felt another blow land on his back, causing him to lose his balance. He pitched forward and a foot on his backside aided him to the ground.
By the time he was able to regain his composure and breath, he saw the tent flap rustling in the breeze that was growing outside. A quick scan of the tent revealed that Rose was gone.
"Ahhh," he growled as he pushed to his feet, his abdomen still contracting painfully from the hard blow.
He made his way back out into the sun just in time to see Rose swinging herself on the bare back of a nearby black horse and kicking it into a full gallop. Several of his men began rushing for their steeds, ready to pursue, when Ali held up a halting hand.
"I will take care of this," Ali insisted, and grabbed the closest saddled horse for Rose had stolen his.
He was positive it would not take long to run her down, for her hands were still bound, though she had pulled her blindfold down. And as for her riding skills, he was sure she would not remain upon the back of his horse for long without the assistance of a saddle, for Raja demanded the most of his rider.
Yet Rose surprised him with her ability. Just as she had shot a gun expertly the night before, she handled his stallion with more precision than he. Her seat was balanced, her reining sure, and even with bound hands she controlled his horse as if it were a mere pony.
They raced across the dunes for several minutes. The distance from the oasis stretched into miles and it wasn't long before Ali was following Rose into another hard-packed, rocky canyon like the one he'd found her in the night before.
Ali had made up some ground on her, for he knew the terrain better, but she still managed to keep ahead of him as she maneuvered Raja around the rocks and desert scrub in the canyon. The further they descended into the canyon, the longer the evening shadows grew, making their path more difficult to see. And as evening drew nearer, the storm that Ali had feared began to make its presence known with an eerie howl to announce its arrival.
"Stop!" Ali demanded as he moved within yards of Rose and her horse.
"Go to hell!" Rose shouted back over her shoulder.
"There are cliffs up ahead!" Ali warned, knowing the treacherous territory all too well.
He noticed Rose slowed her horse slightly, but did not heed his warning until she was almost upon the drop. The canyon was a dangerous place with its jagged rocks, steep walls and precarious cliffs at the north end and Rose was about ready to discover just how dangerous it was.
As soon as the drop was visible, Rose pulled up the horse and swung around, looking to backtrack. But Ali blocked the narrow path and they sat upon their winded horses, staring at each other.
"Let me by," Rose demanded. "I'm not going back to the oasis with you. One of us will die first."
Ali was amazed by her determination. Again, Rose was turning out to be something more than he had ever imagined. Most men would have been frightened by the discovery of her recent "abilities" but it only made Ali love her more.
"It seems then, that you are at the disadvantage," Ali spoke, placing a hand upon the sword at his side.
"I thought you didn't harm innocent bystanders?" Rose questioned.
"You lost that title when you attacked me in my tent," he growled.
Rose smiled at him with victory and taunted, "And I'll bet you've never had a woman do that to you before."
It was obvious she was proud of her accomplishments and the pain in his stomach and back had yet to leave. She should be proud, for it wasn't often one bested the chief of the Medjai.
"Nor shall one ever again. I have learned my lesson not to underestimate you. Now, dismount."
"Don't underestimate my ability on this horse, I can ride right past you," Rose said. "And don't think you can intimidate me by flashing your sword. I know you wouldn't hurt me, otherwise you would have already."
Ali frowned under the thin, black gauzy material that covered most of his face. Rose, of course, was right, but he was disappointed that she had already read that in him. He thought he had been doing a good job of acting with her, but apparently too much of his concern for her had shown through.
With but one option left, Ali shouted out a command in his native tongue and his horse suddenly reared, catching Rose off guard. She slid off the back of the horse when her bound hands were unable to grip Raja's mane quickly enough and landed on her behind. Ali dismounted his horse and stood over her.
"Do not underestimate my horse," he said to her in his most menacing tone. "I'm afraid you stole the wrong animal."
Rose sighed and her body went limp as if she had given up. Ali began to bend down to pull her to her feet, when suddenly his feet were knocked out from under him by her swift leg-sweep.
Again, Rose had bested him and he had to remember that as long as she thought he was her captor, she would continue to fight him. That meant he had to keep his guard up more than he had been doing. Reacting quickly and with new determination to keep her from fighting him further, Ali snatched Rose around the waist as she attempted to crawl away and dragged her back against him.
As soon as he had hold of her, she swung an elbow back toward his face. Prepared this time, Ali caught it and gripped her arm firmly.
"Enough!" he demanded next to her ear. "You will not escape."
"Fine, then I'll die trying," she insisted and began to flail with surprising strength.
Ali tightened his arms about her again, crushing her back to his body, rendering her immobile and knowing his hold was probably hurting her but having little choice in the matter.
"You will not die trying. You will stop fighting and return with me to the oasis before the winter sandstorm reaches us," he said to her. "It is dangerous out here in the Sahara."
"Its dangerous with you," Rose snapped.
With humor in his tone, Ali insisted, "Only if you believe there is the danger of losing your heart to me." ****
Rose was exhausted from the long ride and the physical fighting she'd done to escape the Medjai. Now, she was feeling the emotional drain of the relentless battle of wills this man was waging against her. The more he continued to express interest in her, the more distraught she became. Would she ever see Ali again? Would she ever be with the man who made her feel loved and safe instead of one who wanted to dominate?
She was about ready to give up, for her energy was gone and her emotions were raw. Yet there was a small spark left inside her and she was going to find a way to resist him and try to escape again.
"I seriously doubt that," Rose insulted, wondering how on earth she could fall for a man who's face she'd never seen and who kept her bound.
"Ah, do not put too much stock in your ability to resist me," he said lowly, as he slipped the blindfold that was still tied around her neck, back over her eyes.
Rose was certain he would simply hoist her back onto his horse and take her to the oasis. But he didn't. Instead, he pulled her against him, his hands squeezing her shoulders and kissed her.
She was stunned beyond belief. One moment the man had been wrestling with her, the next he was kissing her. She didn't respond and was certain that would prompt him to stop. Her inaction only spurned him on, for his strong lips demanded more of her.
If it wasn't bad enough that the man was kissing her, Rose grew more distraught when she discovered that her body began reacting to his kiss. Her insides heated and her lips eventually moved slowly against his. She felt the soft, bristly facial hair that he obviously wore, brush against her chin and she wanted to know more about his looks, but was unable to for her sight had been taken away from her.
She wondered why her body felt the urge to kiss him back. Was it her exhaustion or the fact that she was finding his kiss to feel familiar? Yes, that was it. His kiss reminded her of someone and that was the only reason she felt any desire.
At that thought, Rose turned her head away, placed her bound hands upon his solid chest to push him back and said, "Don't."
The man chuckled for a moment as he pulled back, but kept his hands on her shoulders.
"Why did you have second thoughts and decide to stop kissing me back?" the man asked.
"Because I realized I don't like you," she returned.
"Or maybe you just happened to remember your Ali?" the man guessed.
Feeling the need to explain herself to him, she said, "It's not exactly like that between us. Not yet."
"Not yet? Why is this man so slow to take you?"
"Because unlike you, he happens to be a gentleman."
The man's hands ran down her arms and she felt a chill travel in the wake of his touch.
"There is no advantage to being a gentleman in the desert. Here, we claim what we want quickly."
"Then find something else to claim and leave me alone," Rose insisted as she raised her hands to pull her blindfold down. Now would be the perfect opportunity to see the man's face for she was positive it was uncovered. His hands, however, would not allow her the pleasure and she was thwarted in her attempt.
"I will not and cannot leave you alone. Unlike your Ali, I will not abandon you in the desert. You are mine now, and I must protect you and keep you with me."
Throwing out her own chuckle, Rose asked, "Don't you mean keep me bound and blindfolded?"
"And perhaps gagged," the man added roughly.
Rose knew she was pushing his patience, but his insistence to not let her go was frightening her.
"Go ahead, at least it would keep your lips off me," she insulted.
Immediately, she regretted her words, for the man again crushed her to him and kissed her. There was no gentleness, no coaxing like before. His lips demanded from hers and again she hated herself for kissing him back.
As soon as she began to respond, he broke the kiss off and asked, "If you loathe me so, why do you kiss me in return?"
Trembling because the kiss had made her want more and reminded her of the only time her lips had touched Ali's, Rose replied shakily, "Because your kiss reminds me of someone."
"Who? Victor or Ali?"
Rose remembered Victor's words to the warrior chief the night before about how he had "had" Rose first. The warrior had soundly knocked him for his remark and Rose couldn't imagine ever wanting to kiss a man back who reminded her of Victor. No, this man surprisingly did not remind her of Victor, only of Ali.
"Ali," she said on a whisper. "Victor can rot in the Sahara as far as I'm concerned."
"I would think I reminded you of Victor," the man declared. "After all, he does sound like the kind of man who takes what he wants. Your Ali, on the other hand, seems afraid to take anything he wants."
"And why do you say that?" Rose challenged.
"Because you only refer to him as your friend. I do not want to be your friend, woman."
"Good, because I don't want to be your friend either," Rose returned.
"And if this Ali had any strength as a man, he would have claimed you long ago," the man insisted.
If Rose had known the desert warrior would taunt her this way, she never would have mentioned Ali in the first place. Coming to Ali's defense, though he was not there to need defending, Rose said, "Its not in his nature to just take things. He's a sweet man. He's not the kind who goes running around in the desert slashing down gunmen. He has respect for things and people."
As Rose spoke, she remembered though how Ali had changed when they'd arrived in Egypt. Something hard had emerged in his personality and he'd seemed like a different man to her. Not so different that she was frightened away, but different enough that she'd been more intrigued by his masculinity than she ever had before.
"It would seem it's not in his nature to do much of anything," the warrior mocked.
"So he's not some desert warrior chief. Does it matter?" Rose asked.
"Out here, it does," he replied.
"Yes, out here in the middle of nowhere where any man just takes what he wishes," Rose retorted.
Suddenly she felt the wind blow around them with a hard blast. It had increased so quickly.
"Not any man," the warrior replied with confidence. "Only strong and dauntless men." He was now pushing her forward. "The storm has almost arrived. We have wasted too much time with your foolish games. We must return quickly." ****
Rose knew they had ridden all night and through the morning. She could feel the heat of the sun begin to beat upon her face and she hoped they reached some destination soon for she was growing completely exhausted. It wasn't so much the heat that was causing her discomfort, but rather the memory of the ordeal from the night before and the pounding of her head. The constant rhythm of the horse's stride was reverberating in her skull and giving new life to pain from the bump on her head.
It wasn't long after those thoughts entered her mind that the horses halted. She felt herself losing her balance atop the animal and if she could see, she was certain her vision would be slightly blurred. She had been forced to ride too long for her current condition and she was feeling weaker than she had in two days.
The man she rode with must have sensed she was losing her balance and about ready to fall, for his arm tightened around her waist and he hauled her against his body. At that moment she was thankful for his strength, but knew she would fear it later when she was confronted with the reality of what this warrior group had planned for her and Yasmeen.
And just where was Yasmeen? Rose had heard no other feminine voices during the ride and she hoped the Medjai had brought Yasmeen with them instead of leaving her for Victor's group. Though Rose and Yasmeen had started off at odds with each other, it didn't mean Rose wished Victor upon the woman. Rose wouldn't wish that upon any woman for Victor was not a kind man. Rose had admired him with the eyes of a child and it wasn't until she had won his attention and affection that she realized too late the kind of evil, hateful man he was.
The man holding her conversed with someone else and she sensed a bit of worry and perplexion in his tone. Then the horse beneath her walked slowly forward and five minutes later she was being hoisted off the horse with gentle care. That gentleness surprised her, for she was certain she was a hostage and nothing the men would care for. Yet she was being treated quite well so far by the hands that were guiding her and when she was set upon her feet on the ground and felt her legs unable to support her, those same hands steadied her and lifted her to be carried.
Rose must have blacked out for a while after being lifted into strong arms, for when she again assessed her situation, she was no longer in the sun, but rather in some form of shade. And from the lack of any breeze and the smell of slightly stale air, she had a feeling she was in some kind of shelter. Her body was partially on the ground and partially braced by a man. He was holding something to her lips and instinctively, Rose reached out and clasped at his wrist with her bound hands.
"Don't," she whispered, finding her voice would create no louder a sound.
"Drink," he said with a low tone. "You are not well."
Rose hesitated at doing or saying anything for the man's voice reminded her much of Ali's. His handsome face flashed in her mind for a moment and before she could realize how absurd her idea was, she asked, "Ali?"
There was a long pause before the man spoke again. "That is not my name, but I do have an Ali among my men if you would like me to go retrieve him for you."
His accented voice held much sarcasm, and Rose shook her head slightly and replied, "No. I just thought.never mind." She began reaching for the blindfold on her face when the man halted her with a firm grasp.
"No," he ordered gruffly.
Rose sighed with frustration and questioned, "Who are you? I just want to see."
"No, you may not see," he answered. "But I will tell you who I am. I am the chief of the desert tribe of the Medjai. The man you held at gunpoint." He added his last phrase with a hint of anger as if to remind her he was still displeased with last night's adventure.
So, she was with the same man she had seen the night before who had pretended to know nothing of English when she'd been making her demands.
"You speak English now?" she asked caustically.
"I spoke English last night," he teased, "but I preferred not to. My own language tends to strike more fear into the hearts of the men we raid."
"And just why did you raid those men last night? To claim Yasmeen and myself?"
The man was still holding her and again he placed something against her lips and said simply, "Drink."
Rose was thirsty, her throat dry, and she loosened the grip on the man's wrist and took a sip of the water he was offering her. It was warm water, yet this was the Sahara and she figured cold anything would be impossible to come by.
When she was finished, she pushed the canteen away and took several deep breaths of the heated, stale air. She had a million questions to ask, and wanted to be unbound, but she was positive this desert warrior would neither answer her questions nor untie her.
Suddenly, she felt his touch upon her head and he said, "You are hurt."
"Not badly," she replied, knowing the bump on the side of her head looked worse than it actually was.
"I will have the other woman sent in to attend to you. She claims she is a nurse."
"So you brought Yasmeen along as well?" Rose inquired.
"Of course," the man answered. "You are both safer with the Medjai than with those other men."
"Safer?" Rose remembered the swiftness with which the Medjai had attacked and the fierceness of their leader's assault on that gunman with his sword. She wondered if she was safe at all with these men. "I doubt that. After all, I am bound and blindfolded."
"You are. But what condition would you have been in if I had left you to those men in the canyon?"
"I'd more than likely be bound and blindfolded as well," she snapped.
At her words, the man laid her on the floor, which felt like a canvas tarp beneath her. She heard his steps carry him a few feet away. She pushed to a seated position, feeling vulnerable on the ground and blind to her surroundings.
"Why did you take us and what exactly do you have planned?" Rose questioned when the man said nothing to her for several minutes.
Again, he remained mute.
Frustrated, Rose asked with growing strength in her voice, "Were we on sacred, protected ground or something? I hear that's your group's job to protect sacred territory. If we were, we're sorry. Yasmeen and I were just traveling to a village, to my friend's home. We weren't doing anything wrong. Why don't you let us go?"
Finally, the man spoke. "How do you know the duties of the Medjai?"
"Yasmeen told me. She's from around here."
"Then if she is from the desert, your friend should have also told you the Medjai do not attack arbitrarily. Nor do we harm innocent bystanders. You have little to fear from us."
Sarcasm was brewing in her mind as she again remembered how the men had threatened her with severe consequences if she hadn't given up the night before. So she shot out, "That's right, you only add unsuspecting women to your harems."
The man laughed at her. Rose was startled by the sound and even more by the feel of him next to her. The cloth from his robe brushed her arm and then his fingers landed upon her cheek. She would have jerked her head away, only his touch was not harsh or repulsive. His fingers were warm and smooth upon her skin and created a tingling sensation where they brushed her face.
"That was nothing more than a fib to taunt you," he told her. "We do not have such customs in my tribe. But you would make a lovely addition to any man's harem if he had one."
At his words, Rose pulled her head away from his reach. Now, he frightened her for it was obvious he was noticing her as a woman and she felt at a serious disadvantage.
"If it is true that your tribe has no intentions of harming me, don't touch me," Rose demanded.
The man moved away at her words.
"You might not be so displeased with my touch," he returned from several feet away. "After all, I am chief of my people. My position carries much power."
"And that's suppose to impress me?" she retorted.
"You are American," he commented. "I thought positions of power impressed Americans."
"I have no interest in power. Other Americans may, but not me." After all, her father had been a very powerful man and she had experienced enough of that type of power in her life.
"Then what does interest you?"
"Being released," she threw out.
"I am afraid I cannot do that," the man refused. "I need information from you and you will remain my.guest.until I am satisfied that you have provided me with that information."
"Information? I don't know anything that would help you," Rose returned, certain this man had her confused with someone else.
"Really? Then if you know nothing, why did six men have you at gunpoint last night when my men and I arrived?" he challenged.
"That was something personal. I doubt it has anything to do with your duties or your people," Rose defended.
"I do not believe you," the man said in a growl. Suddenly his voice was very near again and he said harshly, "There are people out here in the Sahara that I must find. Dangerous people who are trying to wield power beyond your imagination. How can I be sure you are not one of them?"
"I know nothing about this place aside from the fact that I was traveling to a village to meet my friend," Rose said with a hint of desperation in her voice.
"What village?" he asked.
"I don't know. Ask Yasmeen. Look, all I know is that my friend lives out here in the middle of the desert and I was going to stay with him."
"You left America for the Sahara?" he questioned with disbelief.
"It was not by choice," Rose explained. "I." she paused because she realized her explanation would sound strange. Yet she had to tell this man what had happened to her so that he did not continue to believe she was dangerous or working with any group he may be after.
"You what?" he demanded.
"I woke up here in Egypt. I was hurt in America by men who work for one of the men in that group last night and my friend brought me here to escape the danger I was in."
"So," the man said with triumph, "I was right in thinking you had information for me."
"I have no information that will affect you," Rose insisted.
"Don't you? One of the men in that group last night is a very dangerous man around Egypt. His name is Jeffreys and he has been known to have unscrupulous contacts in the criminal world. I know he has contacts with the group I am seeking out."
"Is that so? Then why didn't you kill him last night along with that gunman you took out?" Rose again saw that scene unfolding and it shocked her that she was sitting there talking with the same warrior who had so skillfully killed the night before.
"That gunman's bullet missed my head by five centimeters. Was I supposed to let him live to try again?" the man questioned. "And I did not kill Jeffreys last night because it was more important he live so that we might see what other contacts he has. He is a low-level thug, but his connections are always interesting and often dangerous."
"But the rest of the men you could have killed. Why didn't you?" Rose asked.
"Because you asked me not to. You sacrificed yourself for them and I wanted to know why. After all, it was obvious you had no desire to go along with them. Wouldn't it have been easier on you if they were all dead?"
"No, it wouldn't have. My brother was in that group." **
Ali was shocked by Rose's confession about her brother. He had wondered all night why Rose had protected those men when they had held her at gunpoint. And now it started to make some sense to him after hearing that her brother was among the group. But he wanted more information. Having seen Jeffreys, a man whom he was certain knew of the terrorist group they were chasing, made him wonder if perhaps Rose's and his problems were somehow related. Yet it could just be a coincidence that the group after her was just another one of Jeffreys' famous illegal connections.
"Your brother? Really? I find that interesting. Why did he hold you at gunpoint then?" Ali asked, again being sure to keep his voice lower and more accented than usual so that Rose didn't suspect his true identity. He wasn't sure how long he would hide his identity from her, but he did know he had to squeeze all the information he could from her before he revealed anything.
"Tony never pulled a gun on me. It was Victor's idea. My ex-fiancé. He's a horrible man. He works for my father. I've been hiding from them for five years now and they found me a few days ago in California. They sent men after me, one of them made this nasty bump on my head," Rose explained.
"And how did you escape from California?" Ali asked, though he already knew the answer to that.
"I'm not sure. But I'm positive my friend Ali was responsible."
"Ali? The man you spoke of earlier?"
Rose nodded.
"Where is he now?"
"Back in Cairo. Or maybe on his way to his home village by now. I'm not sure."
"Some friend," Ali mocked, wanting to see Rose's reaction. "He sent you off into the desert alone?"
Defensively, Rose said, "He sent me with an escort. Yasmeen knows her way around."
"Yes, but in this country, women alone in the desert can be vulnerable. He should have traveled with you to protect you from desert bandits." Ali said that only because part of him did feel guilty about having sent Rose off alone. For that had allowed last night's escapade to happen. And if he had not received that phone call from Saed at the last minute, Rose would not be with him now. She would be in the custody of that vile man named Victor.
"He would never send me into danger willingly. He's not like that. He's very thoughtful." Rose paused and Ali could see the frustration building in the language of her body. "And I don't know why I'm defending him to you!"
Ali said nothing for a moment because he was relieved Rose held no anger over his having sent her into the Sahara with Yasmeen alone. But it wasn't like he had planned to leave them alone for the entire trip. The Medjai would have caught them by morning and followed from afar to ensure their safety. However, the discovery of Victor and his men had prompted Ali and his warriors to rush much quicker and rescue Rose and Yasmeen just in time.
Now that he had Rose answering his questions and divulging information, he decided to push her further and ask more about her feelings for him. Since she had revealed nothing too in depth to him in Cairo when he had told her he loved her, he wanted to probe further now.
"Does this man care for you, or is he merely a simple friend and nothing more?" Ali inquired.
Rose paused and turned her head his way. He knew she was dying to see and probably curious as to why he was asking her such personal questions. And he was correct for she asked him, "Why do you care what my relationship with him is?"
With a smile she could not see, Ali replied, "Because I just wanted to know how heartbroken he would be when I steal you away."
Ali watched as Rose's pretty mouth turned down in a frown and then began to open in an effort to retort. But they were interrupted when Devraj entered the tent.
"We have found one of the traders, my lord," he announced in their native tongue.
He nodded Devraj's way, indicating he would be there in a moment, and then turned to Rose.
"You will remain here. I will send in your friend to look over your injury. Do not attempt to flee. There is a guard outside the tent," Ali said with a stern voice, then left the tent to speak with the trader they had found.
When they had arrived only a half-hour earlier, they had discovered the oasis, a popular stop along the desert trade route, deserted. That discovery had caused them much concern for each tent was empty and every camel gone. Ali had sent scouts out to search the nearby areas and they had returned with one man whom they often found at the oasis on their stops. He was shaken and cut and told a story that surprised no one.
"These men came through two days ago. They were being led by a German. Their group was made up of Egyptians and Europeans and they were heavily armed. We had only a small group of travelers here at the time, and everyone scattered quickly when the men began making demands and taking what they wanted," the man explained.
"And what did they demand?" Ali questioned.
"They stole our supplies and asked about the Fortress of Aten. They said they knew it was around here." The man paused and looked up at Ali. "My lord, does the fortress even exist?"
"Leave that worry to us," Ali answered. Then to his men he instructed, "See to this man's comfort and health. We will meet shortly to discuss a plan of action. The men we seek cannot be far."
And Ali prayed his predictions were true, for the dangerous group was much closer to finding the Fortress of Aten than he had anticipated. **
Rose heard the footfalls of another person only moments after the chief warrior had left. She was glad he was gone, for his questions had been too personal and his arrogance chilling. She wondered if he truly meant to keep her or set her free. He alluded several times to his interest in her as a woman and that scared her. Did that mean she would be another victim of an overbearing man as she had been with Victor and her father? No, it did not mean that, for now she was stronger and determined to fight for her independence.
"Who's there?" Rose demanded of the new guest.
"Its just me," Yasmeen answered.
Rose sighed with relief and felt Yasmeen pull the blindfold from her eyes but not untie her.
"Yasmeen, you'll get us in trouble," Rose chastised as the blindfold fell from her face and the bright light of the mid-morning stung her eyes.
"No. It will be fine as long as you remain in the tent," Yasmeen insisted. "But I cannot untie you."
"Why do they have me blindfolded and tied?"
Yasmeen began looking at the wound on Rose's head, her beautiful face showing with professional concern.
"Because you are a foreigner and they do not trust you," she answered. "Plus, the Medjai do not freely reveal themselves anymore. They use to. In fact, the men once wore tattoos on their faces and hands to signify their tribe and heritage, but that died a generation ago."
"Why?" Rose asked, wanting to find out as much as she could about this group that held her hostage.
"Because the world has changed so drastically, it is safer to be discreet so the Medjai only bear markings on their chests now and keep their faces covered when in their traditional attire."
"But you've seen them," Rose commented.
Yasmeen nodded and sat back on her heels, apparently satisfied with the look of Rose's bump.
"I have. They know I am from a nearby village and trust I am no threat. Besides, they wanted to take advantage of my medical skills. Some of the men were wounded last night."
"So does that mean I'm stuck here in this tent, blindfolded and bound forever?" Rose asked.
"I don't know. I'm not sure what their chief has planned for you."
"I do," Rose drawled as she rubbed at her face. She felt the grime from the desert drive and ride building upon her skin and wondered how any man could find her attractive right about now, especially the chief warrior of the Medjai. "The chief keeps insisting he plans to steal me away."
Yasmeen gave a small laugh and smile.
"Its not funny, Yasmeen. Last night, my ex-fiancé was ready to kidnap me as well and I'm in no mood for another man to try and push me around," Rose declared.
Yasmeen handed Rose some food she had brought in and said lightly, "You may not be so disappointed, Rose. The chief of the Medjai is considered a prize. He is quite handsome."
Rose swallowed a lump of fear, for she was growing concerned that even Yasmeen would be of no help to her. It seemed as if the woman was content to remain a hostage and feared nothing from the Medjai. In fact, she appeared to be right at home the way she was now casually sitting with crossed legs and sharing her food.
"I don't care," Rose spat out. "I'm not going to let some desert warrior hold me captive."
"Would you rather your loving Victor had you captive instead?" Yasmeen threw out.
"No. I'd rather just be with Ali right now and have everything back to normal."
"Normal?" Yasmeen questioned. "As in, back in California living that lie of a life you had?"
"I was hiding from Victor and my father," Rose explained.
With venom in her eyes suddenly, Yasmeen asked with sarcasm, "Is that so, Rosalinda? Or is it Rose? I'm confused."
Rose tugged at the bindings on her wrist. Her hands moved barely, just enough for blood flow, but not enough to allow her escape.
"Its Rose. I'm not Rosalinda anymore," Rose returned.
"But you were?"
"Yes, I was," Rose answered truthfully. "A lifetime ago when I was young and stupid. But I escaped all that and was doing just fine until father found me."
"Ah, the men in your apartment!" Yasmeen said with triumph. "Those were daddy's henchmen?"
Sadly, Rose nodded. "Of course. That's why they only wounded me instead of killing me. Father wants me back and what Mafia boss, Alfonse San Giovani wants, he gets." ****
The sun was dipping lower, lending a slight break to its unrelenting heat. A breeze was beginning to blow in from the south and Ali feared a winter sandstorm was on the horizon. The signs were few, but he still sensed it.
It had been a long afternoon of planning with his men. If it was true the terrorist group had been through the oasis only two days ago, then there was time to track them down. He had a feeling he knew the direction they were traveling and he and his men would trek that way tonight, if the weather held and his predictions about a sandstorm proved false. Otherwise, they would be forced to travel by day in the morning.
With nothing left to do, now that the plans were set with his men, Ali started back for the tent he had commandeered and left Rose in. Yasmeen had been by to see him an hour ago, having left Rose after feeding and checking on her and filled him in on their conversation. It seemed as if Rose had an interesting family tree and Ali was relieved to know that her problems had nothing to do with his. Last night, when he'd seen her "acquaintances" with Jeffreys, he had briefly thought perhaps their problems had crossed paths. But it appeared as if her ex-fiancé had simply acquired Jeffreys' assistance for his task of finding Rose and nothing more.
Rose's background intrigued Ali, for it was strange to discover that she came from a world-renowned mob family. That must explain her handiness with a gun! The way she had fired expertly at the Range Rover's headlight the night before still shocked him and if anyone had told him sweet, reserved Rose from California could do that, he would have thought them insane. Now, he had to begin accepting the fact that Rose was more dimensional than he'd ever realized. But it didn't change his feelings for her. She was still the same person inside, just as he was the same person inside that she'd known in California.
Ali dismissed the guard who had been standing outside Rose's tent. The warrior had insisted all was quiet since Yasmeen had left and he assumed Rose must be resting. Ali hoped she was resting, for it was obvious she needed it. Her face was lined with worry and stress and after being forced to ride on his horse all night, he figured she was exhausted.
Assuming too that she must be asleep, Ali walked into the tent, pushing the flap aside, and was just about to pull his veil down when something hard struck him in the stomach. He doubled over with both pain and shock, then felt another blow land on his back, causing him to lose his balance. He pitched forward and a foot on his backside aided him to the ground.
By the time he was able to regain his composure and breath, he saw the tent flap rustling in the breeze that was growing outside. A quick scan of the tent revealed that Rose was gone.
"Ahhh," he growled as he pushed to his feet, his abdomen still contracting painfully from the hard blow.
He made his way back out into the sun just in time to see Rose swinging herself on the bare back of a nearby black horse and kicking it into a full gallop. Several of his men began rushing for their steeds, ready to pursue, when Ali held up a halting hand.
"I will take care of this," Ali insisted, and grabbed the closest saddled horse for Rose had stolen his.
He was positive it would not take long to run her down, for her hands were still bound, though she had pulled her blindfold down. And as for her riding skills, he was sure she would not remain upon the back of his horse for long without the assistance of a saddle, for Raja demanded the most of his rider.
Yet Rose surprised him with her ability. Just as she had shot a gun expertly the night before, she handled his stallion with more precision than he. Her seat was balanced, her reining sure, and even with bound hands she controlled his horse as if it were a mere pony.
They raced across the dunes for several minutes. The distance from the oasis stretched into miles and it wasn't long before Ali was following Rose into another hard-packed, rocky canyon like the one he'd found her in the night before.
Ali had made up some ground on her, for he knew the terrain better, but she still managed to keep ahead of him as she maneuvered Raja around the rocks and desert scrub in the canyon. The further they descended into the canyon, the longer the evening shadows grew, making their path more difficult to see. And as evening drew nearer, the storm that Ali had feared began to make its presence known with an eerie howl to announce its arrival.
"Stop!" Ali demanded as he moved within yards of Rose and her horse.
"Go to hell!" Rose shouted back over her shoulder.
"There are cliffs up ahead!" Ali warned, knowing the treacherous territory all too well.
He noticed Rose slowed her horse slightly, but did not heed his warning until she was almost upon the drop. The canyon was a dangerous place with its jagged rocks, steep walls and precarious cliffs at the north end and Rose was about ready to discover just how dangerous it was.
As soon as the drop was visible, Rose pulled up the horse and swung around, looking to backtrack. But Ali blocked the narrow path and they sat upon their winded horses, staring at each other.
"Let me by," Rose demanded. "I'm not going back to the oasis with you. One of us will die first."
Ali was amazed by her determination. Again, Rose was turning out to be something more than he had ever imagined. Most men would have been frightened by the discovery of her recent "abilities" but it only made Ali love her more.
"It seems then, that you are at the disadvantage," Ali spoke, placing a hand upon the sword at his side.
"I thought you didn't harm innocent bystanders?" Rose questioned.
"You lost that title when you attacked me in my tent," he growled.
Rose smiled at him with victory and taunted, "And I'll bet you've never had a woman do that to you before."
It was obvious she was proud of her accomplishments and the pain in his stomach and back had yet to leave. She should be proud, for it wasn't often one bested the chief of the Medjai.
"Nor shall one ever again. I have learned my lesson not to underestimate you. Now, dismount."
"Don't underestimate my ability on this horse, I can ride right past you," Rose said. "And don't think you can intimidate me by flashing your sword. I know you wouldn't hurt me, otherwise you would have already."
Ali frowned under the thin, black gauzy material that covered most of his face. Rose, of course, was right, but he was disappointed that she had already read that in him. He thought he had been doing a good job of acting with her, but apparently too much of his concern for her had shown through.
With but one option left, Ali shouted out a command in his native tongue and his horse suddenly reared, catching Rose off guard. She slid off the back of the horse when her bound hands were unable to grip Raja's mane quickly enough and landed on her behind. Ali dismounted his horse and stood over her.
"Do not underestimate my horse," he said to her in his most menacing tone. "I'm afraid you stole the wrong animal."
Rose sighed and her body went limp as if she had given up. Ali began to bend down to pull her to her feet, when suddenly his feet were knocked out from under him by her swift leg-sweep.
Again, Rose had bested him and he had to remember that as long as she thought he was her captor, she would continue to fight him. That meant he had to keep his guard up more than he had been doing. Reacting quickly and with new determination to keep her from fighting him further, Ali snatched Rose around the waist as she attempted to crawl away and dragged her back against him.
As soon as he had hold of her, she swung an elbow back toward his face. Prepared this time, Ali caught it and gripped her arm firmly.
"Enough!" he demanded next to her ear. "You will not escape."
"Fine, then I'll die trying," she insisted and began to flail with surprising strength.
Ali tightened his arms about her again, crushing her back to his body, rendering her immobile and knowing his hold was probably hurting her but having little choice in the matter.
"You will not die trying. You will stop fighting and return with me to the oasis before the winter sandstorm reaches us," he said to her. "It is dangerous out here in the Sahara."
"Its dangerous with you," Rose snapped.
With humor in his tone, Ali insisted, "Only if you believe there is the danger of losing your heart to me." ****
Rose was exhausted from the long ride and the physical fighting she'd done to escape the Medjai. Now, she was feeling the emotional drain of the relentless battle of wills this man was waging against her. The more he continued to express interest in her, the more distraught she became. Would she ever see Ali again? Would she ever be with the man who made her feel loved and safe instead of one who wanted to dominate?
She was about ready to give up, for her energy was gone and her emotions were raw. Yet there was a small spark left inside her and she was going to find a way to resist him and try to escape again.
"I seriously doubt that," Rose insulted, wondering how on earth she could fall for a man who's face she'd never seen and who kept her bound.
"Ah, do not put too much stock in your ability to resist me," he said lowly, as he slipped the blindfold that was still tied around her neck, back over her eyes.
Rose was certain he would simply hoist her back onto his horse and take her to the oasis. But he didn't. Instead, he pulled her against him, his hands squeezing her shoulders and kissed her.
She was stunned beyond belief. One moment the man had been wrestling with her, the next he was kissing her. She didn't respond and was certain that would prompt him to stop. Her inaction only spurned him on, for his strong lips demanded more of her.
If it wasn't bad enough that the man was kissing her, Rose grew more distraught when she discovered that her body began reacting to his kiss. Her insides heated and her lips eventually moved slowly against his. She felt the soft, bristly facial hair that he obviously wore, brush against her chin and she wanted to know more about his looks, but was unable to for her sight had been taken away from her.
She wondered why her body felt the urge to kiss him back. Was it her exhaustion or the fact that she was finding his kiss to feel familiar? Yes, that was it. His kiss reminded her of someone and that was the only reason she felt any desire.
At that thought, Rose turned her head away, placed her bound hands upon his solid chest to push him back and said, "Don't."
The man chuckled for a moment as he pulled back, but kept his hands on her shoulders.
"Why did you have second thoughts and decide to stop kissing me back?" the man asked.
"Because I realized I don't like you," she returned.
"Or maybe you just happened to remember your Ali?" the man guessed.
Feeling the need to explain herself to him, she said, "It's not exactly like that between us. Not yet."
"Not yet? Why is this man so slow to take you?"
"Because unlike you, he happens to be a gentleman."
The man's hands ran down her arms and she felt a chill travel in the wake of his touch.
"There is no advantage to being a gentleman in the desert. Here, we claim what we want quickly."
"Then find something else to claim and leave me alone," Rose insisted as she raised her hands to pull her blindfold down. Now would be the perfect opportunity to see the man's face for she was positive it was uncovered. His hands, however, would not allow her the pleasure and she was thwarted in her attempt.
"I will not and cannot leave you alone. Unlike your Ali, I will not abandon you in the desert. You are mine now, and I must protect you and keep you with me."
Throwing out her own chuckle, Rose asked, "Don't you mean keep me bound and blindfolded?"
"And perhaps gagged," the man added roughly.
Rose knew she was pushing his patience, but his insistence to not let her go was frightening her.
"Go ahead, at least it would keep your lips off me," she insulted.
Immediately, she regretted her words, for the man again crushed her to him and kissed her. There was no gentleness, no coaxing like before. His lips demanded from hers and again she hated herself for kissing him back.
As soon as she began to respond, he broke the kiss off and asked, "If you loathe me so, why do you kiss me in return?"
Trembling because the kiss had made her want more and reminded her of the only time her lips had touched Ali's, Rose replied shakily, "Because your kiss reminds me of someone."
"Who? Victor or Ali?"
Rose remembered Victor's words to the warrior chief the night before about how he had "had" Rose first. The warrior had soundly knocked him for his remark and Rose couldn't imagine ever wanting to kiss a man back who reminded her of Victor. No, this man surprisingly did not remind her of Victor, only of Ali.
"Ali," she said on a whisper. "Victor can rot in the Sahara as far as I'm concerned."
"I would think I reminded you of Victor," the man declared. "After all, he does sound like the kind of man who takes what he wants. Your Ali, on the other hand, seems afraid to take anything he wants."
"And why do you say that?" Rose challenged.
"Because you only refer to him as your friend. I do not want to be your friend, woman."
"Good, because I don't want to be your friend either," Rose returned.
"And if this Ali had any strength as a man, he would have claimed you long ago," the man insisted.
If Rose had known the desert warrior would taunt her this way, she never would have mentioned Ali in the first place. Coming to Ali's defense, though he was not there to need defending, Rose said, "Its not in his nature to just take things. He's a sweet man. He's not the kind who goes running around in the desert slashing down gunmen. He has respect for things and people."
As Rose spoke, she remembered though how Ali had changed when they'd arrived in Egypt. Something hard had emerged in his personality and he'd seemed like a different man to her. Not so different that she was frightened away, but different enough that she'd been more intrigued by his masculinity than she ever had before.
"It would seem it's not in his nature to do much of anything," the warrior mocked.
"So he's not some desert warrior chief. Does it matter?" Rose asked.
"Out here, it does," he replied.
"Yes, out here in the middle of nowhere where any man just takes what he wishes," Rose retorted.
Suddenly she felt the wind blow around them with a hard blast. It had increased so quickly.
"Not any man," the warrior replied with confidence. "Only strong and dauntless men." He was now pushing her forward. "The storm has almost arrived. We have wasted too much time with your foolish games. We must return quickly." ****