Averill: Historical Romance (The Brocade Collection, Book 3) (16 page)

“We’ve given enough of a display for one night
! All right? Now, none will doubt that Kareem claims you!” 

He stalked out of the tent door flap,
slapping it shut behind him with a sense of fury. So…that was it. She’d been gullible
. Again.
It even explained the lamplight. It had been placed there to make their movements easily visible. He’d put on a show. As part of their act. When would she learn? Averill sucked in air and pushed the hurt down. It was easier than she suspected. She just had to remind herself that Tenny was a brute. And a fool. And he was in for a surprise. They all were. Averill was musical. It was one of her talents. And so, tonight she had three choices.

Hide in the tent and pretend an illness
.

Sway in place like a fool.

Dance.

Her eyes narrowed in thought
. She was actually looking forward to this.

~ ~ ~

Averill sat at the tent’s opening as Conique neared the bonfire. They’d created a blaze that lit the entire street. The crowd was standing for a better view as well as lack of room. Spectators also lined the roofs above the street. She rubbed her hands together to warm them. Being nervous wasn’t going to help.

Drums started, and so did a strange windpipe
. Averill gasped as Conique tossed off her cloak, revealing the wide weave of her golden skirt, a large golden necklace, and absolutely nothing else. Thunderous cheers rose from the crowd, and the woman hadn’t even started dancing.

Averill shut the flap and scooted to the rear of Kareem’s tent, trying to ignore the throbbing sounds outside
. She smoothed down the silvery scarves about her legs, amazed still at her attire. And she had Harvey to thank.

The man really was a wonder, although she hated admitting it
. When she asked him for a costume to dance in, he delivered a small top of black silk embroidered with silvered threads. Small tassels made from the same thread hung from her bodice to swirl about her belly. She had a hammered silver belt worn low on her hips. She wasn’t sure if it was supposed to fit that low, but she was too slender for it to stay on her waist. The outfit included an abundance of shimmery scarves that draped from her belt, making a skirt that slit open to reveal her legs whenever she moved. There was a snake-shaped, silver ankle bracelet to climb from ankle to knee up one leg, as well.

And s
omewhere Harvey had found a headband fashioned with long, black hair streaming from it. The feel of the hair around her shoulders and back felt strange. That was odd. She’d worn her hair that long for many years before Father Timmons had died, and Father Sanders took his place.

The drums rose to a loud crescendo, there was a moment of silence
, and then wild cheers and applause broke out. Perhaps Averill had been optimistic about dancing against this Conique. Such primitive dances were a gift to some women at birth.

“
It’s your turn, Averill,” Harvey whispered. “I instructed the drummers on your tempo. Good luck.”

She stood and
nodded her thanks. She knew why he’d helped her. She didn’t care. She’d used it. He wanted her to be a success so perhaps she’d choose this future, and leave his beloved captain be. Her lips twisted as she slid from the tent. Almost instantly, the crowd became silent again. Many eyes looked her way, but only the eyes of one man mattered. She searched for him.

Kareem
sat beside the fur-covered Salazar, and that Conique was perched atop his lap! In that revealing outfit! Averill felt gooseflesh form all the way to her toes. They carried anger. Spite. Jealousy. She refused to pinpoint the direct cause, she was only grateful. It cleared her head. Straightened her back. Set her lips. Her head held high, she took a place before the fire.

Drums began, softer and more melodic than
before. Averill spun, her head falling back as she looked up at a multitude of stars in an incredibly black sky, then she closed her eyes and let the beat fill her. She’d never seen a full street dance, so she invented her own steps, sometimes sinking to the ground before twirling back up. At each full circle around the bonfire, she pulled another scarf from her skirt and tossed it to the crowd.

A high-pitched note joined the drums
. Averill slit her eyes to follow it. It took her from the darkness of the street to her secret kingdom, where her knight, Andrew Tennison, held out his arms to her.

She was down to her last scarf
. And then hard arms encircled her, stopping the music and her motion as she reached for the final offering. Averill’s eyes opened.

It was Tenny.

“I love you.” 

He whispered the words
just before his mouth slammed down on hers. The crowd roared, almost obliterating Conique’s loud screech of anger. Averill clung to him, blending her near-nakedness against his burnoose.

He loves me!

He lifted his head. “Harvey? My horse. Now.”

She heard the command without understanding
. Tenny placed her in the space before the saddle, mounted behind her, and then lifted her onto his lap. The robes of his burnoose went around her.

“I can’t stand it any longer, Averill
. I love you. I need you. I want you. And I have nothing left to fight any of that.” 

And then the horse beneath them moved, adding pressure to his kiss
.

CHAPTER
SIXTEEN

“Halt, Sabin.”  The horse obeyed Tenny’s verbal command. Averill lifted her head from his shoulder.

“Where...are we?” she asked.

He dismounted without releasing her. He carried her through a curtain of hanging beads before answering. His glance dropped to her for a moment and then shifted over her head. She watched the nerve pinch out the side of his jaw.

“A friend’s.”  He knocked with his foot against a wood door.

“Kareem!”  A woman’s voice called out the name. “I’ve been awaiting your visit. Your man stopped by earlier to borrow the most interesting assortment of...never mind. I see that you found them.”

It was a
n older woman. Averill looked at the painted face before hiding her own against Tenny’s shoulder again.

“Is
the bath readied?” Kareem asked.

“Prepared for whatever time you decided to come
. I didn’t know you’d have company. You should have warned me.”

“Neither did I.” 

He pushed past her and went through several hangings that Averill assumed served as walls. All about them, sounds of laughter and enjoyment sounded, while the sitar played, and her nose wrinkled at the smell of something sweet, like opium.

She refused to look up
. He’d arranged to come to this place at night...without her? Furthermore, he’d arranged a bath? That must’ve been why he made sure every man knew she had his protection earlier. He’d intended to leave her back there alone.

She stiffened.

“Oh Averill, where did you learn to dance?”

He
whispered it against her ear when he stopped. Then he compounded the effect by licking the spot below her earlobe, making her squeal.

“Well?”

Averill hunched her shoulder up to stay the shivers. Tenny wasn’t having any of it. He maneuvered his chin into the space below her jaw, kissing his way along the barely knit flesh there.

“Tenny
! I mean Kar…eem! You must...stop. You must –.”  She was gasping through the words, making little sense.

“
Oh, Averill, didn’t you listen to a thing I said? I am not stopping. I am not letting you go. I can’t. I’m beyond that point. I love you. I have never said that before to another woman. And I never will. Cease struggling.”

He called it struggling
? Averill had launched herself at him, holding so tightly to his shoulders, her arms shook.

“
Come, love. Enough stalling. We’ve a Turkish bath waiting.”  He pulled away from her and winked. “For special customers.”

Averill’s eyes widened
. “Special—? You were—?”

“Don’t ask
. And don’t look at me like that. You’re going to have to let go of me, too. I can’t undress otherwise.”

She stopped his words with her mouth
. Hard hands held to her and all thought of anger evaporated.

“Oh, Averill
. Oh, God. Oh, love.” 

He was murmuring more endearments as he set her down, pulling her hands
apart from behind his neck. Brown eyes held her spellbound. She watched as he unfastened his
ghotra
and dropped it to the floor. His burnoose followed.

“You were planning on staying here...without me?” 

She tried to ignore his fingers as he unbuttoned the red shirt he wore beneath his burnoose.

“I wouldn’t have stayed, Averill
. Didn’t you hear me? Do I have to shout it? I love you.” 

He tore his arms from the sleeves, messily turning them inside out
. She looked at him uncertainly. His fingers went to the cord at his waist, and her eyes widened as he pulled the belt out.

“Hold this,” he said, handing the cord to her
. Averill was grateful for something to occupy her hands as he opened the waistband and simply dropped his trousers to the tiles before kicking himself free of them. She gasped, put her hands to her cheeks where the tie dangled from one side.

“What?” he asked.

She shook her head. She didn’t have a voice.

“Join me.” 

He dropped a kiss on her nose, turned toward the pool, and dove in. The image of his naked body seemed emblazoned on her mind. She watched water lap against the edge before he surfaced again, coming up beside her feet.

“Are you going to bathe with me or not?” he asked, tipping his head up to meet her eyes
. “You’re blushing! Why? I’ve already seen you. At the oasis. It was ungentlemanly of me, but I admit it. I peeked. Just as you did. And I found out you’re absolutely beautiful. Everywhere.”

“I
—.”  Her voice wasn’t working, and he was wrong. She wasn’t blushing. She was on fire with the embarrassment.

“Are you going to get shy on me?” 

“But...I...never–”

“
Oh, yes you did. Admit it.”

“I didn’t
!”

“I know you did
. I saw you.”

Averill gasped
. “You saw?”

“It’s my profe
ssion to see things. Water reflects. Like a mirror. I knew very well what you were doing.”

Averill covered her eyes
. She couldn’t face him.
He knew? He’s known all along
? The room was dim, but it was still too bright. Tears of shame and humiliation filled her eyes.

“I have to admit, I
was grateful for the knowledge too, what with the way you have treated me.”

“What?” she whispered to her hands, still covering her face.

“You flaunted yourself. You taunted and teased me. Endlessly. You wore next to nothing when you should’ve been swathed in quilts. You just twirled about in a dance designed to put me…in a desperate state of need. And that was just tonight! I think you’ve turned my every moment into an agony of want and desire. And then you made me think you cared nothing for me. Thank goodness you peeked at the oasis. Admit it.”

The ripples of goose flesh on her body told how his speech affected her
. Averill trembled in place. “I...didn’t see...what I am now,” she replied finally, and lowered her hands.

He smiled up at her
. “Fair enough. I look forward to correcting that. It’s going to be a long night, love. Come. Help me soap away Kareem.”  With strong motions, he back-stroked into the center of the pool before stopping and looking at her.

What was she waiting for
? Averill pulled off the headdress with shaking hands. She set it neatly on the floor before working her top free. The entire time, she was aware of Tenny’s eyes on her. He refused to look away. She dropped the top piece onto his trousers. The buckle on her silver belt gave her trouble. She messed with it as her final scarf floated to lie on her foot. She stared at it as if seeing it for the first time. Tenny was right. She had just danced…but for him. Not the others. Oh, could she have been so brazen, dancing only in the small black briefs, when the entire camp was able to see her?

“Enough
! I think you’ve tormented and teased me enough!”

She squealed as
he grabbed her from behind.

“You also lied when you told me you couldn’t dance
. Yes?”

Averill shook her head rapidly.

“You don’t know how to dance? What do you call what you just did?”

“I...have never done it before
. I just...closed my eyes and let the music move me.”

“Another talent
? Hmm. I’ll keep that in mind.”

It was hard to follow his words, when every bit of her back was clasped against what she’d just seen.

“Oh, Averill, it’s difficult to remember what I’m supposed to keep in mind when I’ve got you in my arms. Never before? Well, you’ve amazing. Conique won’t live it down. I almost wish we could’ve stayed to see her tantrum. No. That’s a lie. I don’t wish to be anywhere but here. Right here. Right now. With you. I’ve spent so many hours thinking of you, dreaming of you, wanting to feel...”

He reached a hand over her shoulder
, tipping her head toward him in order to meet her lips. This kiss was designed to drain resistance. As if it was needed. She loved him and he loved her! That was what mattered. He pivoted Averill, sliding her nakedness against his. There were too many experiences in too many places. Averill’s head arched back to allow him access as his tongue traced her jaw and then he slid it down her neck. And then he licked his way down to her breast, surprising, titillating and emboldening her.

Her fingers clenched wet strands of hair as he nibbled on her
. She was on fire! Her knees lost substance, and his hold tightened as if he knew.

“Beautiful Averill
. Lovely, sensuous Averill. God, how I adore you! All of you.” 

His
hands roamed her back, one at her buttocks while the other moved to the nape of her neck, pinning her in place. And this kiss was different, harder, more demanding. Her breath caught and held as he darted a tongue between her lips, igniting thrills wherever he touched. Averill’s heart swooped. It accompanied his groan as he pulled back, in order to fit his nose alongside hers.

“Do I frighten you?” 

She nodded.

“Good
. Because you scare the hell out of me.” 

“I...do?” she asked.

“Oh, yes. You do. I’m in love. Completely. Totally. Forever. It’s beyond frightening. And, it’s also wondrous. Do you know what I’m trying to say?”

She nodded.

“Good. Then, cease stalling, and get this off.”  He’d set her back on her feet. Cold fingers touched her abdomen. Averill whimpered.

He raised his head, and the look in his brown eyes stunned her
. She thought she’d seen every emotion. This one was mesmerizing as his fingers worked on the belt buckle, each touch making her jump. His knuckles grazed her skin and then she heard the clink as her belt released and fell.

“I’ve waited
so long for you, Averill. You’ve tortured me enough for a thousand lifetimes. My nights have been pure, unmitigated hell. My days were almost as bad. And now, I think you’ll pay.”  He finished his words by pushing her briefs down her legs and to her feet. And when he was done, he lifted her. She kicked the garment off. And then he walked into the water, taking her with him. Wetness lapped at her thighs, stomach, and then her neck.

“Here.”  He set her down in the center of the pool and waited for her to
stand. He handed her a bar of scented milled soap. “Wash that black from your eyes. You’re the loveliest woman of my acquaintance. All that black does is cheapen it. You’re too beautiful for such. I’ve hated seeing you in disguise. Did you know that?”

“I...guessed,” she whispered.

He grinned, his teeth white against his skin. “I suppose you also guessed the other, hadn’t you?”

“What other?” she asked.

“That you’d won. You have, you know.”  He didn’t finish the mystifying words. He splashed her as he moved away, taking his warmth with him.

Averill shivered
. The water felt cold without him. “Won?”  She asked it before wetting her hair and face. She soaped and rinsed herself, then scanned the water for him. “Tenny?”

“At your service, my love.”

She gasped as he grabbed her from behind and pulled her against him again. “Give me the soap. I’ll explain.”

He took it from her numb fingers
. She couldn’t help blushing everywhere as he lathered her entire body, his hands sliding about her waist, back, and then he lifted her to his shoulder, in order to finish his ministrations along her legs and thighs.

“
Remember my pompous speech over my gentleman’s code? Well, forget it, love trumps everything. I’m not ashamed to admit to it, either. I’m not ashamed of anything. I love you. I’ll shout it from the rooftops of Tennison Hall if you like.”

He turned her around
. Tears blurred the sight, but the look in his eyes was one she would always remember. If it took forever, she’d never be able to paint such a gaze. It was too beautiful.

“Oh, Tenny!”  She laughed and tears streamed from her eyes while he held her, stroking her back.

“It’s a good thing we’re already in the water.”  He wiped at her cheeks with his thumbs and held her face as he lowered his head.

Above them
starbursts of crimson and plum color showered them with blood-red hues. The strange hardness of his lower torso pressed against her. Even in the water, his flesh seared hers.

“My little, lovely Averill...so frightened
. First of her own beauty, and now of me.”

“You don’t
…frighten me,” she said.

“I don’t?”

“No. What you make me feel, does.”

He held her to him and
bent his neck, touching her forehead with his. “You were right to hide your beauty, especially on the streets of Cairo. Look what happens when you don’t. You intoxicate and enflame. You make me forget everything save you. Why, when I watched you tossing your clothing, I went mad. I couldn’t get Conique off my lap fast enough. I think she fell on her barely-clad
derriere
. Come. Enough of this.”