Kept by the Highlander (2 page)

Three

              Princess Kalila paced back and forth in her chamber.

             
She was bored. She was restless. She was
furious.

             
Yet another trunk of books had arrived for her. Once again, there were pages removed.

             
Lots and lots of pages.

             
How did Al Hakam do it? She was the Royal Princess! More than that, she was sneaky. And rich. Yet no matter how secretive, or how far off the book seller she contacted, he managed to intercept her books. And mutilate them.

             
"How am I to learn anything of the world! This is absurd. I will be leading our people some day and he thinks to keep me uninformed!"

             
She turned to see Ghali, her head guard standing there with a strange man. She stopped mid pace and stared at the stranger.  He was- quite pleasing to look at. He had the brightest green eyes she had ever seen. And his face was chiseled, angular, masculine in the extreme. Except for those sooty lashed eyes. Her eyes dropped to his sensual pink lips.

             
"Highness, your new slave is ready."

             
Kalila's mouth opened slightly in surprise. The man was… not what she had expected. His appearance was having a strange effect on her. She resisted the urge to smile to herself. She was not sure what had possessed her to save the filthy prisoner from certain death. But it had seemed like a good idea at the time. And now, her instincts had proven right. She had endless hours of diversion to look forward to.

             
"Tutor. Not slave."

             
"Princess- he must be collared at least."

             
"Fine, fine. You may leave us Ghali. Thank you."

             
She waved her hands in the air and walked toward her new servant, looking him over closely. He was tall and broad shouldered. Too thin of course. Actually, he must be starving.

             
"Did they feed you?"

             
His green eyes darted to hers, sending a strange thrill through her. He lifted his eyes away again, staring straight ahead.

             
"No, your Highness."             

             
She clapped her hands briskly and one of the servants came running.

             
"Bring food please! Enough for everyone."

             
Her new tutor could teach her the customs of his homeland, help her practice speaking various languages, and perhaps some other things… she had caught the warm look in the Scotsman's eyes. Maybe he could teach her a bit of what was always hidden from her as well. Namely, what happened between a man and a woman behind closed doors.

             
Even her own dear Aluda refused to speak of it, for fear of having her tongue removed. It seemed extreme that Al Hakam wanted to keep Kalila completely in the dark, but he seemed determined.

             
Well, she was equally determined to shed some light on the situation. After all, she would have to marry eventually. It seemed at times that Al Hakam was deliberately delaying that day. Somehow, someday she would find a way to break free of his control.

             
In the meantime, all she had to do was keep him from trying to steal away her new toy...

*********

             
Malcolm stood perfectly still as the Princess circled around him. She'd changed out of her heavy formal clothing and was dressed in a dark blue silk that molded to her curves as she moved. He swallowed and made his hands into fists. He'd been in her chambers for only minutes and he was already feeling his arousal rise. He was struggling to resist the urge to touch her.

             
If he touched her, his life was forfeit.

             
The girl was standing very close to his chest, peering up at him. He glanced at her again. Her veil had come loose during her pacing and he could see her face at last. Soft peachy gold skin, a pouty rosebud mouth and a small straight nose. Her face itself was heart shaped and her hair appeared to be a rich mahogany brown, peeking out from under her veils. Her pretty little feet were bare, making a soft padding noise against the marble floor as she walked around him.

             
In short, she was devastatingly pretty. She was almost
too
beautiful. He was having trouble tearing his eyes away. It was far worse than he'd imagined when he'd only seen her eyes. The Princess looked like an angel, but judging from the mischievous look in her eyes, she was more akin to a devil.

             
A barefoot devil.

             
"Come, sit. You must be weary."

             
She turned abruptly and walked back to a table with two chairs. There were cushions and a low bench along both walls. Several servants sat there, embroidering cloth. They looked well cared for and happy. That boded well.

             
He watched as she sat in the chair and smiled at him. She looked rather pleased with herself. She gestured to the chair across from her and he sat. It felt incredible to be clean again and sitting in a chair instead of laying in his own filth.

             
"I am sorry about the collar. I cannot free you at the moment unfortunately. There is no hope for it. Al Hakam would never allow it."

             
He jerked his gaze to hers. She was staring at him earnestly, obviously waiting for a response. He nodded.

             
"You must be circumspect in all things, but most especially in his presence. Then again he has spies everywhere so please, keep your profile low."

             
He smiled at her slightly awkward English. It was charming.

             
"I will."

             
She sighed and stood, pacing again. He found it difficult to look away, as each step caused the silk to tighten around her delightful form. Hot lust pooled in his stomach.

             
"Look at this, Scotsman! Someone even told him of my latest shipment of books! All destroyed!"

             
She turned in a circle and eyeballed her servants.

             
"If any of you have been spying- I will be very cross!"

             
The servants smiled at her adoringly. They were not afraid of her, that much was apparent. Maybe he would be able to keep his manhood after all. She obviously meant him no harm. This Al Hakam character sounded ominous though. He would have to bide his time and see if escape was possible. His grandfather would have sent word to his family in Scotland already. He closed his eyes, knowing his mother the Lady Alice must be worrying herself sick.

             
At the moment though, he had no desire to escape. He wanted to stay here with the Princess as long as possible. He could not have explained it if he tried.

             
Jesu, but he wanted to kiss the perturbed look off her face!

             
"Tell me Scotsman- what do you think was in these pages? International intrigue? Politics?
Sex?
"

             
He would have laughed if the Princess had not been so earnest. So, she was curious about sex was she? He would be more than happy to be the one to teach her such things…

             
A furtive knocking sounded at the door. Instantly the room sprang into action. Clearly it had been a warning.

             
"Here- go with them Scotsman! Quickly. Keep your head down."

             
He was pulled across the room to kneel with the other servants on the floor cushions. He realized they were crowding around him to conceal him, though considering his size it was a futile effort. He glanced up to see the Princess adjusting her veil and slipping her shoes back on.

             
The door opened suddenly and a man stood there. He was dressed as a king might be, lacking only a crown. Dark robes of the finest embroidered silk, a long beard, and piercing dark eyes. Malcolm could feel the evil radiating off the man. This must be Al Hakam.

             
He snuck a look and felt his stomach drop as he watched Al Hakam walk forward with a sickly sweet smile on his face. The King's advisor was smiling, but he looked as if he wanted to devour the Princess. Malcolm glanced at her, wondering if she realized the man's intentions. He oozed lust of a very specific kind. He didn't just want to take her, he wanted to
destroy
her.

             
Princess Kalila was standing straight up with her shoulders back and chin raised. The stance made her voluptuous bosom even more pronounced.

             
Sweet Jesu.

             
He stared at the ground again, trying to distract himself from this damnable arousal.

             
"Your Highness. It is an honor to be invited inside your chambers."

             
"Al Hakam, you know very well you were not invited. You also did not bother to knock or wait for my permission to enter."

             
"Oh? I was certain I heard you bade me enter. No matter. I have come because I received word of your new slave. You know I must interview anyone who comes into the palace."

             
"You mean interrogate."

             
Malcolm realized suddenly that he was on thin ice indeed. If the man wanted her, he would not allow a virile young man to be in her presence. He sunk down a little lower.

             
"Call it what you will, but it must be done."

             
"It is not necessary."

             
"But your Highness-"

             
"Thank you for your visit Al Hakam. It has been a long and trying day and I wish to rest."

             
Malcolm slanted his eyes to the side, watching Al Hakam bow and back out of the room. Anger radiated off the man. This was clearly not over. But she had managed her adversary well. He was impressed.

             
The moment the doors closed the Princess slumped. Servants rushed to her side, consoling her with gentled pats and kisses to her hands. She stood there, accepting the show of affection as her due. The servants then guided her to her chair.

             
Blessed Saints the gel was spoiled rotten! Brave yes, startlingly intelligent, certainly, but spoiled beyond reckoning! If she was his woman, he'd have to attend to that. He shook his head, clearing it of such impractical, impossible thoughts.

             
Just then the doors opened again. Servants entered bearing trays of food. The trays were placed on tables throughout the room. A final tray bearing a solid gold carafe and several cups was placed on the table in front of the Princess. She waved him over.

             
"Come Mal-colm. You will tell me if our pomegranate water is comparable to the beverages in your fine Scottish Highlands."

             
The way she mispronounced his name was adorable. Even the way she was staring at him imperiously was appealing. Malcolm had a sudden premonition that he was in worse trouble than he'd thought.

             
He sat and watched as she poured him a cup.

             
"But wait! We forgot the most important part! Come!"

             
He followed her gracefully swaying hips to the back of the chamber. They passed an open doorway where he glimpsed a large bed. To the other side was another chamber with a large bathing pool. And straight ahead was a walled garden unlike anything he had ever seen.

             
A tiled fountain sat in the center, surrounded by plants of every sort. There were fruit trees everywhere, mostly of varieties he had never seen before. Pillows and low chaise lounges were everywhere. It was sumptuous in the extreme. The Princess guided him unerringly to a lemon tree on the far side of the garden.

             
She reached up to pluck a low hanging fruit and he could not resist staring at her lithe form. He lifted his eyes hastily when she turned, bright eyed and smiling. He inhaled sharply at the trusting look in her gaze. They were completely alone he realized with a start. He could easily overpower her, take her hostage, use her to manage his own escape.