CHAPTER 8

Ali awoke to sunlight streaming into the room. For a moment she did not remember where she was. As she sat up in the bed she felt the old panic creeping upon her. Then she took a true look at her surroundings and slowly relaxed. She was safe in Ardeth's home. As she lay back upon the furs and covers she could smell that this was Ardeth's bed. There was a lingering scent of him there. She breathed deeply and was amazed at how comforting it was.

After a few cat stretches Ali climbed out of bed and walked over to look out the small window. As she did she saw the brush Basel had left her the day before.

Ali was standing looking out the window, brushing her long auburn hair when Ardeth came through the front door. However she was lost in thought and did not hear him.

Ardeth stood just staring at the vision in front of him. Ali was standing there in nothing but her first covering which with the sun streaming in through the window was quite sheer. Ardeth could see her shapely body beneath the black material. Her long legs, her taut stomach, her full but not too full breast. She was a site to behold.

Ali suddenly felt as though she was not alone. She turned to see Ardeth standing in the door way just looking at her. The look in his eyes surprised her. It was one of desire. It did not frighten her, it did however make her heart beat faster.

Ardeth took several long strides as was beside Ali before she could even clear her head.

Reaching out, Ardeth touched her hair "Gamiila" he muttered as ran his fingers thru it. "You are a beautiful sight in the morning, kalila".

"Thank you" Ali stammered out. Without realizing it Ali turned and she and Ardeth were face to face. With his fingers still entwined in her hair, he bent down and softly kissed her.

Ardeth broke their kiss and pulled Ali to him. As he did he whispered into her ear "Habibi if you expect me to behave myself you will have to finishing dressing. Your sheer covering is much too tempting for me to ignore."

He pulled back just a step and watched Ali's reaction. She blushed from head to toe. He could see that she had not realized how revealing her covering was. So with never completely breaking his hold on her, Ardeth reached out to the bed and retrieved her top covering. As he handed it to her he smiled and said "I will give you time to dress. I will be preparing our breakfast". And with a quick peck on her cheek he was gone.

Ali stood there in total shock. She was embarrassed that Ardeth had seen her like this. She was shocked by the feelings he caused in her. While she was dressing she tried to straighten out her feelings, but to no avail. She was still trying to work it all out when she walked into the kitchen portion of Ardeth's home.

"Ah, there you are. I was beginning to think you had run off." Ardeth said as he flashed an amazing smile.

Ali felt a surge run through her. Just hearing him speak, just seeing him there made her body respond. It was a feeling she had never felt before. And it made her realize that she had a lot of things to figure out. She had to decide what to do with her future. Looking at Ardeth she wondered if he'd be a part of it.

Finally she spoke "No, I'm still here."

"Good, breakfast is ready" Ardeth said as he handed a plate to Ali.

They ate their breakfast in relative quietness. It was Ardeth that finally spoke and broke the silence. "Ali is something wrong?"

She looked up from her plate to find concerned caramel eyes intensely looking at her. "No, Ardeth nothing's wrong. Well, I mean...I've just got a lot on my mind. I have a lot to figure out."

Ardeth nodded. He wanted so badly to tell her to just stay with him. She did not have a family to go back to. That he could be her family. Ardeth shook his head. No as much as he wanted to tell her that he could not. She needed to make her own decision. Ardeth sat there running those thoughts through his head, amazed at how much Ali had to come to mean to him in just a span of a few days. It would hurt him greatly if she was to leave, but she was use to a much different life he supposed. His desert way of life might not hold any appeal to her at all.

"Ardeth?"

"Yes, kalila." Ardeth said shaking his head clear of his thoughts. "I am sorry I was lost in my thoughts."

"That's alright. Is everything ok?"

Ardeth looked into Ali's green eyes "Yes, habibi everything is fine. I too have things on my mind."

Ali just nodded.

Trying to lighten the mood Ardeth spoke "Would you like to spend some more time with Basel today? I have several things to do around the village today."

"Oh yes, that would be wonderful. I really like your Grandmother."

"Good it's settled then."

Again they ate in silence. As they finished Ardeth asked "Can I ask a question of you?"

"Sure, Ardeth."

"If it is too painful to discuss, I understand. But I was wondering, kalila what happened to your Mother? You said that her death caused your Father's downfall."

Ali placed her cup down on the table "No I don't mind telling you, except there's not much to tell"

"I do not understand"

"Well it's just that Mother came down sick and the doctor's never could decide what it was. She just kept getting weaker and weaker. She passed away only 3 months after she first became ill."

"I am sorry, habibi. I'm sure you miss her a great deal."

"I do"

"As you miss your Father and your brother."

"I miss Timmy very much. But it's odd and might sound wrong, but I felt like my Father died when my Mother did. The man that Hudson killed was not my father. Does that make sense?"

"Yes, habibi it does. Although my father did not turn to alcohol to soothe his soul after my Mother's passing he was quite a different man."

Ali watched as Ardeth spoke. It was the first time he had spoken of his family.

"Ardeth, what happened to your Mother?"

Ardeth looked at Ali. She could see that pain in his eyes as he spoke "When I was eight summers old, a plague swept through 5 of the 12 tribes. It took a great toll on our tribe. My Mother, who was with child at the time, was one of the many it claimed. It also claimed my Grandfather Oded, Basel's husband."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Ardeth."

"Thank you, but I was only one of many grieving."

"You were raised by your Father then after that?"

"Yes, with Basel's help. Then my father was killed when I was 19."

"That's how you became Chieftain."

"Yes. Am I to guess that you have been talking to Basel about me?" He said with a smirk on his face.

"A little" was Ali's reply as she blushed from head to toe. Why did this man do that to her?

"What else did she tell you about me?"

"Just that and how old you are."

"Yes I will be 30 summers soon. And much to the council's dismay I have not wed nor have I produced an heir to take my place." Ardeth smiled as Ali blushed again. He quite enjoyed making her do so. "On the subject of age, how old are you, Ali?"

"I'll be 21 next month."

"So you are of definite marrying age. I will have to keep all our young single men away from you."

"Ardeth!!!"

"What? You are a very beautiful woman, Ali. I'm sure many of my men would love to claim you for their own." 'Including myself' Ardeth thought to himself.

Again Ali blushed from head to toe. Despite himself Ardeth laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" Ali stated in a semi-agitated tone.

Ardeth rose from his seat and walked around to Ali. He extended his hand to her. "I am sorry Ali. It is just that in the past few minutes you have blushed many times."

Ali took his hand. "Well it seems you have a way of making me do that."

"Is that a bad thing?" he said grinning a sly grin.

"No, I guess not" she almost whispered. Standing that close to him made it hard to breathe. Why did he make her feel this way?

Ardeth speaking brought her back to the moment "Kalila am I making you uncomfortable?"

"No"

"Good. I don't want to make you feel anything but pleasure and happiness" the last words came out in a whisper as Ardeth claimed Ali's lips.

Automatically his arms were around her waist. Her arms made their way around his neck and into his hair. She had so badly wanted to feel it between her fingers. Ali found herself lightly tugging at it trying to bring him closer to her. She needed to be closer. For when he was near her nothing else mattered. The last year of her life didn't seem to exist. All that existed was the two of them.

Ardeth's lips made their way from Ali's lips across her cheek and slowly down her to her neck. He placed light butterfly kisses on her collar bone and received in response Ali pressing her body closer to his.

Ali's hands left his hair and made their way to the front of his robes. She clumsily pushed them open and lightly placed her hands on his bare chest. As she did she could feel him sharply inhale against the soft skin of her neck.

"Gamiila" he muttered as he pushed her coverings. He wanted to taste more of her. As he started to tug, not carrying if he ripped the material or not, he felt her go rigid in his arms. As Ardeth opened his eyes he was met by the fear in Ali's green ones. "Habibi, I am sorry" he said as he stepped back.

He could see that she was shaking and he saw the unshed tears. "Allah, that was the last thing I ever meant to do. I did not mean to frighten you. I am so very sorry". Letting go of Ali he walked away to look out the window.

Ali stood for a moment just staring at the spot where Ardeth had been. She was a mess of emotion. Part of her did not want Ardeth to stop. But when he tugged at her clothing.....she couldn't get all the times that Hudson and his men....... No she wouldn't think of that. She knew Ardeth was nothing like that.

Ali turned to see Ardeth just staring out the window. She walked up to him and placing her hand on his arm she spoke "Ardeth, please don't be sorry. I'm not." She stopped to compose herself and continued "I did not want you to stop. It's just that well.....when you tugged at my covering it reminded me of......" Ali stopped when she saw a wave a pain flash across Ardeth's brown eyes.

He turned to look at her "That is the one thing I never wanted. I want to show you how a man should love a woman. The way you deserve to be loved. I understand that there are many things that will remind of your terrible treatment. I do not wish to put you through any more. It is just that........I let my desire take control of my head. And for that I am very sorry." He tentatively reached out as is to cup her face but stopped.

Ali took his hand and pressed it to her lips then said "I know you're not like that. Please, I am okay."

Ardeth just stood there not knowing what to do. Ali speaking solved his problem for him "Ardeth?"

"Yes, kalila"

"Hold me"

Ardeth gladly took her back into his arms. They stayed like that for some time. Finally Ardeth spoke "I believe I promised you a visit with my grandmother, did I not"

"Yes I believe you did."