Read Online The Concubine's Tale by Jennifer Colgan - Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Colgan
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choice. He knew they’d face a lot of hardships in hiding from Ammonptah, especially if his plot succeeded. They had no choice but to leave Egypt and make a life for themselves somewhere else.”
“She didn’t take him up on the offer.” Grant shifted and settled Cait into the crook of his arm, then shifted again. “Can we move?”
“Come to the bedroom.” She untangled her legs from his and rose. She stretched for him, and noted with satisfaction that she wouldn’t have long to wait for a repeat performance. “I’ll finish the story in there.”
With Grant trailing behind her, Cait stopped to retrieve another condom from the drawer, then sauntered into her bedroom. She never sauntered, but it felt right somehow, sexy and fun.
With a wink, she pulled back the thick comforter, exposing almond colored sheets of Egyptian cotton. Funny that Nayari and Khanu probably slept on straw mats and thought them luxuriantly comfortable.
Grant slipped into the bed. “Nice room.” He pulled her close. His warmth surrounded her, and she sighed.
“To answer your question, no. Nayari didn’t let Khanu sacrifice himself for her. She wanted him with her always, and she couldn’t bear the thought of going back to Ammonptah. She pledged herself to Khanu and agreed to accept whatever life had to throw at them. The next morning, just as planned, Horeb led them into the desert.”
The cave to which Horeb led them was nothing like Khanu expected. He’d imagined a dark, damp hole where they would huddle in fear of every sound, waiting for a safe time when Ammonptah would no longer care what happened to them. Instead, Horeb took them to a wide, sunlit grotto of rock near an oasis of tangled palm trees and low bushes. A spring bubbled up amid a pile of smooth stones, and the water was cool and clear.
“Others must know about this place, Horeb. Can you be sure we’ll be safe here?” he asked his friend. He hated to sound ungrateful, but a magical spot like this would not remain unknown for long.
“I come here often. I discovered it when Setma and I were younger. We spent quite a bit of time here…alone.” Horeb winked.
Khanu turned to look for Nayari, who had wandered off beneath an overhang of striated rock. She sat on a smooth shelf of sandstone that looked to be the perfect shape for sleeping. She sighed, and her eyes drifted closed as she relaxed against the warm stone. He prayed they were as safe and content as she looked. The journey had been long and exhausting, and she needed to rest, but Khanu wasn’t sure he’d be able to enjoy their solitude.
Horeb clapped his shoulder. “Now would be a good time to change your names and think about who you have been and who you will become. If someone does arrive, they will meet a pair of young lovers hiding in the hills to escape the disapproval of their families.” Horeb raised his eyebrows and glanced at Nayari, now sleeping peacefully in the rock alcove. “The farther you go, the less likely anyone will recognize you.”
Khanu nodded. Horeb had always been the clever one, the cautious boy who managed to break the rules without ever once getting caught.
“Take care of her, Khanu, and be well, my friend. I will come back in a few days with some supplies for you.”
“Thank you, Horeb. You have done more than any friend should ask of you.”
Horeb only smiled. He left the cave, and Khanu stared after him for a long while, then moved to stand near Nayari. She slept deeply, her dark head resting on her crossed arms. He let his gaze wander the luxurious curve of her hip and down her thigh. He felt a stirring, but he would not wake her—yet.
He settled next to her and curled himself around her. Had he realized he would fall asleep almost instantly, he might not have closed his eyes just for a moment to rest them. With her clutched against his chest, her rhythmic breathing matching his own, he began to dream.
Chapter Six
The Chief of Heaven danced in a circle around
“She didn’t take him up on the offer.” Grant shifted and settled Cait into the crook of his arm, then shifted again. “Can we move?”
“Come to the bedroom.” She untangled her legs from his and rose. She stretched for him, and noted with satisfaction that she wouldn’t have long to wait for a repeat performance. “I’ll finish the story in there.”
With Grant trailing behind her, Cait stopped to retrieve another condom from the drawer, then sauntered into her bedroom. She never sauntered, but it felt right somehow, sexy and fun.
With a wink, she pulled back the thick comforter, exposing almond colored sheets of Egyptian cotton. Funny that Nayari and Khanu probably slept on straw mats and thought them luxuriantly comfortable.
Grant slipped into the bed. “Nice room.” He pulled her close. His warmth surrounded her, and she sighed.
“To answer your question, no. Nayari didn’t let Khanu sacrifice himself for her. She wanted him with her always, and she couldn’t bear the thought of going back to Ammonptah. She pledged herself to Khanu and agreed to accept whatever life had to throw at them. The next morning, just as planned, Horeb led them into the desert.”
The cave to which Horeb led them was nothing like Khanu expected. He’d imagined a dark, damp hole where they would huddle in fear of every sound, waiting for a safe time when Ammonptah would no longer care what happened to them. Instead, Horeb took them to a wide, sunlit grotto of rock near an oasis of tangled palm trees and low bushes. A spring bubbled up amid a pile of smooth stones, and the water was cool and clear.
“Others must know about this place, Horeb. Can you be sure we’ll be safe here?” he asked his friend. He hated to sound ungrateful, but a magical spot like this would not remain unknown for long.
“I come here often. I discovered it when Setma and I were younger. We spent quite a bit of time here…alone.” Horeb winked.
Khanu turned to look for Nayari, who had wandered off beneath an overhang of striated rock. She sat on a smooth shelf of sandstone that looked to be the perfect shape for sleeping. She sighed, and her eyes drifted closed as she relaxed against the warm stone. He prayed they were as safe and content as she looked. The journey had been long and exhausting, and she needed to rest, but Khanu wasn’t sure he’d be able to enjoy their solitude.
Horeb clapped his shoulder. “Now would be a good time to change your names and think about who you have been and who you will become. If someone does arrive, they will meet a pair of young lovers hiding in the hills to escape the disapproval of their families.” Horeb raised his eyebrows and glanced at Nayari, now sleeping peacefully in the rock alcove. “The farther you go, the less likely anyone will recognize you.”
Khanu nodded. Horeb had always been the clever one, the cautious boy who managed to break the rules without ever once getting caught.
“Take care of her, Khanu, and be well, my friend. I will come back in a few days with some supplies for you.”
“Thank you, Horeb. You have done more than any friend should ask of you.”
Horeb only smiled. He left the cave, and Khanu stared after him for a long while, then moved to stand near Nayari. She slept deeply, her dark head resting on her crossed arms. He let his gaze wander the luxurious curve of her hip and down her thigh. He felt a stirring, but he would not wake her—yet.
He settled next to her and curled himself around her. Had he realized he would fall asleep almost instantly, he might not have closed his eyes just for a moment to rest them. With her clutched against his chest, her rhythmic breathing matching his own, he began to dream.
Chapter Six
The Chief of Heaven danced in a circle around
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