Read Online Captive Bride by Johanna Lindsey - Free Book Online

walked into the water; deeper and deeper until it covered her breasts.
    She'd give him no pleasure if she could help it. She kept her back to Philip and washed herself under the deliciously cool water. She submerged to wet her hair, but it took a long time to build up enough lather to give it a thorough scrubbing with the bar of soap. When she finally succeeded, she heard a large splash.
    Christina turned around quickly, but she couldn't see Philip anywhere. Suddenly he was standing directly in front of her. She was all too aware that they were both naked underneath the cool water.
    Philip shook the water from his thick black hair and reached to take Christina in his arms, but she was prepared and threw the bar of soap at him. She swam away quickly. She stopped when she heard him laughing, and turned around to see that he hadn't moved, but was washing himself with the soap.
    The relief showed openly on Christina's face as she finished rinsing her hair and emerged from the water. Quickly she toweled herself dry and wrapped the towel around her hair. She wrapped the long, dark-brown skirt around her waist, tying it in front. Next, she put on the dark-green sleeveless blouse with a low, rounded neckline. The rough cotton material irritated her skin, but she would have to make do with whatever he gave her.
    Christina sat down and was trying to comb the tangles from her hair with her fingers when Philip came up behind her.
    "Feel better now, my sweet?" he ventured softly.
    She refused to answer him or look at him, and busied herself with braiding her hair while Philip dressed. Christina couldn't keep quiet for long, however, because her curiosity was stronger than her unwillingness to talk to him.
    "Philip, what are you doing in this land, and how do these people know you so well?" she asked.
    His laughter rang through the clearing. "I was wondering when you would start asking questions," he said. "These are my father's people."
    Christina was stunned. "Your father! But you're English!"
    "Yes, I'm English through my mother, but my father is an Arab and these are his people."
    "You're half-Arab, then?" Christina interrupted, rinding it hard to believe.
    "Yes, and my father captured my mother, just as I have captured you. He let her return to England later with my brother and myself. So I was raised in England until I came of age. Then I chose to come here and live with my father."
    "Your father is here?"
    "Yes, you will meet him later."
    "Surely your father doesn't approve of your kidnapping me?" she asked, hoping his father might help her.
    "I have done nothing to you yet—but yes, my father approves," he said, a smile playing on his lips. "You forget, Tina, this isn't England. It's the way of my people to take what we want if we can. And I made sure you were available for the taking. You will understand better after you have been here awhile."
    He escorted her back to bis tent and left her there alone.
    Would she ever understand Philip Caxton? Christina looked around the tent, wondering what she was supposed to do with herself. She suddenly felt quite lonely, and it annoyed her.
    Without thinking, Christina raced out of the tent to see Philip mounting his horse along with four other riders. She ran to him and clutched his leg. "Where are you going?" she demanded.
    "I will be back shortly."
    "But what am I supposed to do with myself while you're gone?"
    "That's an absurd question, Christina. Do whatever you women usually do when you're alone."
    "Why, of course, Mr. Caxton," she said flippantly. "Why didn't I think of that? I can make use of your sewing room, though it's not really necessary—I'm used to wearing hand-me-downs. Or perhaps I could take care of your correspondence. I'm sure you must be a busy man and can't find time to do it yourself. But if you'd rather, I could just browse through your well-stocked library. I'm sure I can find something interesting to read there. I do have a mind as well as a body, Mr.