Untitled (22 page)

      They'd left Suridesh that morning, taking two of Jaden's water caravs with them, intent on returning to their oasis to retrieve the caravs Ziyad had left behind. With a fresh supply of water, they'd be off to Parradh, to replenish the tent city to the north.

      They'd taken on a few of the Cobra's servants and distant family, people who'd wished to ride the Spider's caravan now that theirs had been destroyed. Ziyad had taken Jaden's physician, as well as his caravan driver, if only to give old Brand a rest every now and again. And each and every one of the Spider's newest members had been given black robes to wear, instead of the old, drab brown of the Cobra.

      Right now, Ziyad spoke with those servants about Jaden's water barrels, and how they were indeed filled with mud. There wasn't much to be done with them, other than to empty them, cleanse them, and restack them until they reached his oasis.

      The sun had disappeared beyond the horizon when Ziyad had finished giving orders. He stood there, gazing out upon the empty dunes with his hands on his hips. Amani strode quietly behind him and embraced him.

      He ran his palms over the back of her hands and threaded their fingers without saying a word.

      "I need your help, Spider," she said, giving him a

squeeze.

"Oh?" he asked, turning in her embrace.

      Amani gazed up at him and nodded. "I need to watch the stars this evening. And I need to do it with you."

      He arched a brow. "Do you?"

      "I was thinking on top of your—our carav?"

      Ziyad grinned and cupped her cheeks. "I have a better idea."

      "What's that?"

      "Let me take you beyond the caravan where we can gaze at the sky—alone."

      A thrill shot through her. She couldn't help but remember that he'd once suggested the very same thing— the night he'd found her on top of her carav. Now, he was giving her that choice again.

      "I would love to. Can you manage to break away from your daunting duties, my prince? Or will I have to rely on Brand, or perhaps Hyram to take me stargazing?"

      Ziyad growled and shook his head. "One of these days, minx, I will bend you over my knee and you will feel my wrath."

      She grinned wickedly and stood on her toes to whisper in his ear. "Maybe I'll bend you over mine."

      Amani walked away, glancing coyly over her shoulder. Ziyad followed her like a devoted dog. Within seconds, he caught her, taking her hand and marching away from the caravan.

      "Don't we need to tell someone where we're going?" she asked, trotting along behind him just to keep up with his long strides.

      "I believe one and all saw you hugging me just now and whispering in my ear," he said, his voice light. "They are a smart lot. They will figure it out."

      Amani giggled, but no longer questioned her husband as he took her beyond a very large dune. The caravan was far behind them, and she took in the beautiful desolation of the desert.

      "The moons have risen," Ziyad said, pointing to the horizon. He was right. Pamos had caught Thiadra. They were making love, as they had countless times before.

      Amani stared at her husband and watched in awe as a

light breeze ruffled his hair. He was so intense and amazing that he took her breath away. When he turned back to her, she could barely see more than his silhouette, but that was enough to make her heart thunder against her ribs.

      "I need your help with something else," she whispered, barely able to get her words out past the lump in her throat.

      Ziyad took a step closer and the concern in his voice was obvious. "Are you all right?"

      Amani nodded, but trembled nonetheless. Perhaps it was the deafening silence or the dark of the night. But she knew otherwise. She trembled at being one of the most powerful women in the Golden Desert, the one who had wormed her way into the heart of the untouchable Spider Prince. He loved her—she knew it beyond the shadow of a doubt. And the realization of his love finally struck her.

      Just now.

      "I n-need your help, Highness, in bathing the desert in our colors. I believe there's a legend about the lovers in the sky, and I can recall certain occasions where I've seen them turn red and blue and green. But never black."

      Ziyad stroked her face and grinned, she saw the flash of his white teeth against the shadows. "I must take you under their light for the moons to glow black, my love. Are you ready for such an undertaking?"

      "More than you know."

      With lightning speed, Ziyad grabbed her by the waist and sat back in the sand, bringing her down with him. She squealed, then giggled when his chuckles hit the air.

      "Straddle me, Amani," he commanded, his voice slowly losing his mirth. She obeyed him, wanting him to command her as much as she had commanded him.

      "Open my robes and pull down my undergarments."

      Amani did as she was told and couldn't stop her mouth from watering at her glimpse of his rigid cock, already long and hard for her.

      "Take off your undergarments."

      Within seconds, they were gone.

      "Now open your own robes and take me inside you."

      Amani sat on her knees and did as he said, impaling herself with a cry of satisfaction. No more verbal commands were spoken, but plenty were given as Ziyad demanded with his hands she ride him like he rode his horse. Up and down she grinded, loving the feel of him deep in her pussy, rubbing her clit against the course hair that surrounded his cock.

      Ziyad ripped open her belt-wrap and tongued her tits, lapping at each nipple before suckling one deep in his mouth. Amani rode him harder, faster, until the cries of her orgasm echoed on the breeze. Once her sheath pulsed around his cock, Ziyad came as well, hissing through his teeth and holding her hips down, demanding she take his deep, rolling thrusts.

      And just like that, the light over the desert went dark. Amani glanced at the sky in wonder just as Ziyad did. They both gasped at the sight.

      Thiadra and Pamos were still visible, but their light had turned black, dousing the dunes with the colors of the Spider.

      "You have blessed me, my princess," Ziyad said, his voice full of wonder.

      Amani caressed his cheeks. "No, Highness," she said, giving him a soft kiss. "You have blessed me."

      Ziyad's hand slid down her back and spread across her thigh. Amani nuzzled his neck in return and breathed deep. Finally she knew what it was like to be cherished. Finally, Amani knew what it was like to be loved.

      "The god of Spiders has blessed us both," Ziyad whispered.

      "Yes," she replied, gazing deep into her husband's adoring eyes. "He has."

      "I love you, Amani Bihar."

      Her eyes filled with tears at his gentle tone. "And I love you, Ziyad Bihar, my magnificent Spider Prince."

Rebecca resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband and five children, who are the light of her life. A native Californian by birth but a native Oregonian at heart, Rebecca loves the Pacific Northwest and never plans on leaving. You

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