BUSINESS
Summary: The wife of the curator of the British Museum meets Med-Jai warrior Ardeth Bay. Ardeth, OC.
Category: Angst, drama, romance.
Rating: M
Author's note: Any feedback will be treasured for the rest of my life, and keep me going.
Chapter Nine
"Come with me," he said. His voice echoed in the darkness and bounced off of the mildewing bottles of imported wine that lined the wooden racks. "I've considered what you suggested. I'll take you to my tribe and deliver you back to this hotel once your husband returns the artifacts to us."
"A kidnap? You had me come here to plan a kidnap?"
He struck a match and brought the flame to a candle. His somber face was orange in the dim light; the shadows weaved among the designs on his cheeks and forehead. "Of course," he said. "Were you expecting something else?" And his lips curled into a smile.
Wildly, she thought of stripping off her kimono in front of him. Crushing her lips to his in a kiss. Taking his manhood in her grip and driving him until his hot seed flowed down the backs of her hand. Boxing him across the ear like Alfred had done to her. But she remained motionless, unable to move from his dark eyes. Finally, she said: "All right. I accept."
He studied her in silence. "No."
She was surprised, confused. "But you—"
"Something has happened."
"What?"
"Your eyes are haunted. You've lost someone during this past hour."
"I don't understand."
"Is it your husband?"
"Is it—" The laugh that bubbled up from within her sounded ghastly to her ears. "Why does it matter to you? I'm leverage. Alfred hates me, but he needs me like a baby needs his mother. He's too afraid to let me go. He'll rescue me on your terms." She laughed again. "Silly old Alfred."
"Go back to your hotel room."
"Why should I?"
"You're not leverage, Mrs. Harrington. Not anymore. You're a sad woman in need of a desert warrior to whisk you off into a distant oasis." Ardeth Bay smiled. "I'm not going to take you anywhere."
She could only seethe at him. "Damn you. No. Fuck you."
"I'm only playing this game by your rules, Mrs. Harrington."
"The longer you keep this going, the longer you'll suffer."
"Perhaps. But isn't that what you want?"
She stepped back from him and headed for the stairs. "I've had enough of you. I'm leaving."
"Good," he called after her. "Apologize to your husband. Make love to him in front of the open window and wake up half of Cairo. Then we can discuss—"
She stopped in her tracks and spun around. "Apologize to Alfred? You stupid Med-Jai – you don't know the half of it."
"I know that he's your husband—"
"And I should honor that bastard like a god," she finished. She ascended the stairs and glanced down at Ardeth Bay's shadowed figure. There was a subtle aspect about his expression that had changed, and she realized distantly that he was on the verge of saying something, but she was certain somehow that whatever he planned say would undo her entirely. "Keep your honor, Ardeth Bay," she said. "Don't sully your hands with a married woman."
TO BE CONTINUED…