Free The Sheikh and the Servant by Sonja Spencer Page A

glanced up from arranging the fruit. “Shall I serve you, my lord?”
    Noori watched some sort of emotion flit across Shahin’s face and wished he understood it. Then, with a small frown, Shahin reached for the tray, took a slice of fruit, and held it to Noori’s lips. Noori watched the fruit as it neared his face before lifting his eyes to meet Shahin’s. A wrinkle formed between his brows as he looked questioningly to his lord. “My lord?” The fruit brushed his lips, and he leaned forward, taking a bite into his mouth.
    Shahin smiled approvingly and popped the other half of the piece of fruit into his mouth, watching Noori as he chewed.
    “Seems strange that a sheikh would feed his servant, my lord.” Noori smiled tentatively as he teased, looking up from under dark lashes as he took a wedge of fruit and held it to Shahin’s lips. “This seems more appropriate.”
    Shahin pursed his lips in disapproval, but bit off a chunk of the fruit anyway, chewing it slowly. “You are not a slave,” he rumbled softly, picking up a thin cracker and holding it before Noori’s lips.
    “But I am a servant,” Noori countered, taking the cracker onto his tongue and closing his mouth around the end of Shahin’s fingers. He chewed the crispy offering and explained, “But being a servant, or even a slave, to someone is not necessarily a bad thing. ’Twould depend on the way in which I would be used.”
    Shahin’s dark eyes turned inquisitive. “It’s not just semantics,” he asserted, taking the bite of fruit Noori offered.
    “I find I do not mind being your slave,” Noori murmured. He wiped at a drop of fruit juice that ran down into Shahin’s beard. “I quite enjoy knowing I belong to you.”
    Shahin blinked, the look on his face one of clear consternation. Instead of speaking, he offered a cracker topped with a thin bit of cheese.
    Noori took the offered bite, the tart flavor of the cheese exploding on his tongue. “You are the kindest master I have ever served,” he clarified.
    Shahin harrumphed slightly. “I treat servants like humans, not like dogs, is all.”
    “But you allow me into your private space. You share a bed with me, even. Most masters would do that for neither slave nor dog,” Noori murmured.
    They exchanged several bites in silence before Shahin spoke. “You will earn your freedom. I can see it burning in your eyes. Then you will need serve no man.”
    Noori dipped his head, blushing at the effusive praise of his master. “And I have you to thank for that. With the amir, I would never have had the opportunity to be free. I can serve you and know that it is toward a greater purpose. You are an honorable man who cares deeply for his people. Even if I were never to be free, I could serve you in good conscience.”
    He could feel Shahin studying him and then Shahin reached to tip up Noori’s chin. “You will earn your freedom,” he rasped again, and then he sat up and moved to sit at the edge of the pallet.
    “When I do,” the servant’s voice grew hoarse and broken as he whispered, “will I have to leave?”
    Frowning, Shahin looked back at Noori. “You will always have a place in this tribe, should you wish it,” he said firmly.
    Noori lifted his eyes to meet Shahin’s. “I wish to remain here.”
    Shahin met his eyes and answered softly, “The tribe will benefit.”
    “As will I,” Noori whispered. “As will I.”

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 8
     
     
    Noori fluffed the last pillow in the sheikh’s tent before checking to make sure that the evening repast had been delivered as ordered. He smiled at the variety of sweets that were arranged on the platters. Shahin had left earlier to collect his children, planning to bring them back to the tent to spend the evening. He smiled nervously as he pulled a simple gift for each child from his bag. They weren’t much, but he had thought to get the children something. He remembered their happy smiles from the night he met them, and he