Free Pharaoh's Desire by Chanta Rand

spell on him, and if he was not careful, she would soon master him entirely.
    With restraint he didn’t know he possessed, Amonmose released her from his embrace and gently placed her in the seat furthest from him.
    Kama’s eyes flashed angrily as she struggled for composure. Her chest heaved as heavily as his, but she wiped at her mouth. “Are you pleased with yourself?” she scathed breathlessly.
    Amonmose eyed her ripe form and tried to calm his rising manhood. “No,” he answered. “I will be pleased with myself only when you are pleased with me.”
    “Then you will have a long wait!”
    He smiled ruefully. “Speak again and I shall silence your tongue with mine own, woman.”
    She glared hotly at him but wisely said nothing. They rode the remainder of the journey in silence.
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
    When the hunt finally began, a spirit of competition had taken root. Of all the men in the hunting party, only the Pharaoh, his closest advisors, and a handful of wealthy landowners were permitted to hunt. The rest were soldiers and attendants to assist the nobles, many of whom had brought their wives along, but females were denied the privilege of hunting. Kama thought this notion was absurd. In her culture, everyone enjoyed hunting, especially women. And hunting was more stealth than strength. Women silently stalked their prey and almost never came back empty-handed. Kama winced at the huge gathering of 124 people and 17 dogs. How did they hope to catch anything with all these fools hovering about?
    Kama felt someone at her side and was relieved to find it was Dyzet. “Thank the gods,” Kama breathed. “I feel so out of place here.”
    The young girl gave her a toothy grin. “I am glad for your company as well, Kama. I rode with the other ladies, and I cannot tell you what a bore they were.”
    Kama had not spoken with any of the other women, but she was sure they were exactly as Dyzet described. “Perhaps you can ride with me on the return,” Kama suggested.
    Dyzet shrugged. “You need only ask, and I am sure the Pharaoh would willing comply with any request you make.”
    “He does not care about my wishes,” Kama said as she walked with Dyzet away from the large group.   “He cares only for what he wants.” It was true. She had begged for her freedom, and Amunmose had brushed her wish aside as though it was papyrus. No, she would not embarrass herself again by making requests. And she would never be indebted to him, no matter how small the score. She could only imagine what form of payment he would expect.
    “Perhaps you need to find a different approach,” Dyzet insisted. “I’ll wager you have not used your charms on him at all.” Kama stopped in her tracks and eyed Dyzet with suspicion. “I have known the Pharaoh for many years,” Dyzet continued. “And I’ve always found him to be a wise and just ruler.”
    “Except when it comes to me.   He is neither just nor wise.”
    Dyzet’s face clouded in confusion.   “Have you learned nothing of Amunmose the man ?   You’ve spent intimate moments with him.   You’ve seen him as few others have.   Can you not determine his likes?   Dislikes? His passion?   Every man has a weakness – even one who is divine.”
    Kama was silent.   Perhaps Dyzet’s idea had merit. If Amunmose did have a weakness, maybe she could use it to get what she wanted. Maybe she could barter for her freedom. She’d done everything else in her power to change Amonmose’s mind, and it had been to no avail. For all of her ranting and raving, for all her tears and determined silence, she had not even succeeded in securing her release. Yes, maybe it was time for a new tactic. She bit her lip. It would require more intimate contact with him. The question was could she do it? The answer was— she had to!

    Later in the day, the oversized party drifted away from the marshlands and toward the dense forest. Most of the footmen stayed behind to attend to the litters,