Free As Long As by Jackie Ivie Page A

people?”
    “No. It was my duty to expand the borders. Subdue anyone who stood in the way. Secure tribute. Bring glory to my name. That was why I waged war against the bowmen in Kush.”
    “Kush?”
    “Oh. Apologies. It became known later as Nubia. I believe it is now part of the country, Sudan.”
    “Wow. Whoever taught you did an excellent job. You’re very convincing. I’d really like to believe you. You have no idea.”
    “I do not lie. But even I cannot keep up with all the border changes in the world. Lines are continuously being redrawn and modified. I have been hidden here at Buhen for some years. I did not know about the dissolution of the U.S.S.R. I am just catching up.”
    “What?”
    “I speak of the world. This technology thing. Computers have certainly changed. Did you know you can type any destination into a query line and you will receive a picture of the actual land? From a bird’s eye view!”
    She smiled. His thighs trembled. He locked his knees before he wavered.
    “Is that what you were doing? Playing online?”
    “I borrowed this laptop from my pilot. It has been...enlightening. The world did not move at this speed until recently. I can access data now from a hand-held object. There is even one you can wear on your arm. Like a bracelet. You don’t type into it. You speak and it gives you an answer.”
    “Are you serious?”
    “I must order these things.”
    “Sokar?”
    She sounded unsure. She wasn’t smiling, either.
    “Yes?”
    “I sure hope you are joking.”
    He held out his hand. “I can prove it, habibi . Come. I will show you the tomb.”
    “Now?”
    “It is time. The sun has set.”
    “How do you know that?”
    He almost lifted his upper lip. Something held him back. Something he hadn’t any experience with. Something that might actually be fear.
    She glanced to his mouth and then back to his eyes. Her chin came up higher. Her eyelids lowered. Her lips parted slightly. A shudder ran her frame. He daren’t guess why. His body suffered an answering tremor, but he knew the reason. He was holding back. Maintaining command of his body.
    “You are a very sexy man, Sokar.”
    Her words were a direct hit against his control. His thighs trembled. He caught the weakness before he dropped to his knees. She didn’t know what she did! She was the woman of his dreams. She had the body of his fantasies. Her scent intoxicated. Her blood called to his. Everything about her drew him. He was trying desperately not to force and dominate. He pulled his muscles into painful knots.
    “The hint of fangs. The mystique. The aura of darkness. It only adds to the whole package. Know what I mean?”
    “ Habibi . Please? We must go.”
    A smile curved her lips. The blush bloomed through her cheeks again. Sokar sucked his belly in. It didn’t help. Nothing did. He was being tortured and had nothing to blame but his own self-restraint.
    “Will you...?”
    Her voice ended. Her gaze dropped. The blush deepened within her cheeks. Was it possible she felt the same? Her body endured relentless surges of desire, too? Dare he hope? His voice stammered with the answer.
    “Y-y-yes?”
    “Before you show me...um? Will you do something?”
    “Anything.”
    His answer was harsh. It sent vibrations through the room that snuffed candles and rattled the incense brazier. It also hinted at insanity. And something else. He was giving power over to her. Tying his hands. Potentially killing his future. Because he had no idea what she’d ask. If she asked for her freedom...?
    His heart hurt at the thought. It started sending pain with every beat. He’d thought his knife wound painful. The infection that followed, a hellfire of agony. He’d been wrong. This pain was worse. Much worse.
    “Any...thing?”
    She sounded so hesitant! He didn’t blame her. He couldn’t believe he’d said it, either. He had to nod a reply. He didn’t trust his voice.
    “Will you...take me back when this is over?”
    She said the