Read Online Pharaoh's Desire by Chanta Rand - Free Book Online Page A

resistance vanish. Her heart fluttered, as if a cloud of butterflies had taken flight inside her. She closed her eyes as Amonmose brushed tiny kisses along her collarbone. The warmth of his mouth left a trail of heat everywhere he touched. His lips were tender against her skin, and her body flushed with heat, as he pressed delicate kisses along her neck. Kama shuddered, overwhelmed by the gentle affection. No man had ever touched her this way.
    His scent was all male, strong and masculine. When she breathed, she felt surrounded by him, assailed. Then he softly licked her earlobes, gently pulling them with his tongue, and she heard her own sigh of delight. He was a drug, ominous and forbidden but darkly intoxicating. She did not want to be a slave to that drug. She did not want to lose herself in this euphoria. If she fell victim to him, she would never regain her freedom. She had to stop him.
    Kama pulled herself from her passion-induced stupor, her breathing ragged and her heart palpitating. Somewhere, she found the strength to focus. “Why did you kill my family?” she asked.
     
    Amonmose felt as if he’d been struck by a lightning bolt. Years of training had taught him to control his reactions and never apologize for his decisions. He was a Pharaoh. And yet, he felt moved to give Kama an explanation. But he did not know where to begin.
    “I did not kill your family,” he said simply.
    “You gave the order for them to be killed,” she replied, becoming bolder. “Maybe you were not present, but you were responsible. You engineered the raid. You commanded the soldiers. You are their leader.” She shrank away from him, eyeing him with hatred. “You may as well have killed them with your own hand.”
    Amonmose’s heart thundered in his chest.   He did not know that her family had been killed that night.   For him, it had been another battle, trying to keep his citizens safe from foreign invaders.   He sat back, releasing his hold on her.   “You do not understand politics,” he said.   “My kingdom, my very way of life is constantly threatened by uprisings. I cannot have the people under my rule living in fright, fearing retribution from neighboring tribes.
    You Nubians relentlessly attack our borders and terrorize our people! As Pharaoh, it is my sole mission to improve conditions here and guarantee solidarity to the citizens. I must protect my people. During that process, sometimes, innocent lives are lost.”
    Her black eyes flashed at him. “My cousin had barely seen fifteen summers! You and your people needed protecting from her? Your men murdered her, and for that I blame you.”
    Amonmose gave her an impatient look. No matter how many times he said it, she would never understand.   “Kama, know this.   I am sorry for your loss.   But I will not apologize for defending Egypt.   I have a kingdom to protect. If I second-guessed everything I did, it would eat me alive.   Sometimes, a man must make unpopular decisions,” he told her. “I live with mine every day.”
    She sank against the velvet fabric of her seat. “You will never know the pain you have caused.”
    He clasped her hands in his own. “I will not ask forgiveness for going into battle. This is what I do. It is who I am. But I will ask forgiveness for what I have unintentionally done to you.”
    She stared at him through mist-filled eyes. “Giving me my freedom will replace any apologies you offer.”
    Amonmose gazed at her, his body flooding with heat and attraction. He’d never felt more alive, nor questioned himself more deeply. It was thrilling and unsettling. Kama’s courage was attractive, but he could not agree to her request just yet. “I give you my word, I will consider the matter,” he said.
    Hope burst into Kama’s eyes. “Pharaoh, I’m certain my mother is dying of a broken heart, waiting for my safe return. I am all she has. If you will not take pity on me, take pity on her. How would you feel if you were taken