Kismet's Kiss: A Fantasy Romance (Alaia Chronicles) (32 page)

The marble floor cooled her toes as she walked to the open trunk and stared into it. What would she risk by wearing the clothing and jewelry Kuramos had sent? Putting on the garb of Kad meant removing the garb of Teganne, of her home. Stripping away, literally and figuratively, another layer of her defenses against him. Surely it would mark her as the sultan’s property—
branded
—not only to herself and to him, but to everyone who would see her…

Don’t be melodramatic. Clothes are just
things
. And you’ll be leaving soon. Tomorrow, perhaps. What harm can fall from a gift of clothes and jewels—and such gorgeous ones, at that? The colors he chose are scrumptious, and the fabrics so sensual against your skin.
She reached down and skimmed her fingers over the silks.

The champagne skirt and top, she decided, to set off the purples of the necklace. She pulled the towel from her body and flung it from her.

Somehow, even though she’d stripped down in order to dress her entire life, doing so now seemed freeing, deliciously uninhibited. In fact, she felt wickedly sinful in all the right ways.

Whistling now, she slipped into the brassiere, admiring the way the gold embroidery shimmered against her breasts. She reached for the skirt and something fell to the floor.

A pair of matching silk panties.

That naughty sultan. He certainly knew his way around a woman…

She stepped into the panties and tugged them slowly over her hips, wondering what it would be like for the sultan to tug them back down. She glanced briefly at the mirror, then as if her eyes were pulled back there by magnets, she stared at her reflection again.

The panties were exquisite. And, in a moment of sheer delight, Varene realized that in them, she was, too.

The narrow sides curved around her hips, then dipped low, covering the blonde hair at the juncture of her thighs. They emphasized her curves in a way that wasn’t indecent at all…but womanly. Sensual. Both secretive and beckoning.

She wrapped the side-slit skirt around her and knotted it at her hips so it came up to her belly button—but then the hem was much too short, ending oddly above her ankles. Loosening the ties until the skirt rode low, she exposed far more of her midriff and tummy than she ever had before.

Experimenting, she took a few steps. Suddenly she felt slinky, catlike, and…daring. Definitely not her usual self.

It’s just one night, Varene… Would it be so bad to take what you want, this once? To be with the sultan, to enjoy what’s offered to you with no strings? You’re leaving. Nothing more can come of it. Can’t you let yourself be free for one night of your life?

She slipped a purple scarf from the trunk and wrapped it around her hips, covering what had been exposed…and then, as she stared into the mirror, she tucked it lower, the slash of color accenting her curving hips.

The jewels she clasped around her neck hung as if made just for her. The largest gem, a purple as deep as the depths of an ocean, snuggled above her bosom. The earring stems slid into holes rarely used and danced against her neck, arousing her with memories…Kuramos had kissed her there.

Finally, she pulled a pair of sandals from the trunk, beaded with pearls across straps that criss-crossed her feet and tied above her slender ankles. Oddly, of all her skin newly bared by the sleek Kaddite garb, she noticed the exposure of her toes the most. The same toes the sultan had so recently fondled while he’d cleaned her silk shoes.

It wasn’t as if no one had seen her naked toes before—she’d gone swimming in the cold Pwylla River that ran beside the royal castle in Teganne. And even—her lips twitched up at the admission—skinny-dipping a time or two in the moonlight. Though that had been a very long time ago.

Maybe it was time to regain that part of herself.

There was a soft scratching at the door, then Priya entered. As she spotted Varene, she didn’t say a word, just clasped her hands over her mouth in wonder.

Suddenly, all those areas of skin Varene hadn’t thought so exposed seemed to tighten in the air. But she forced her hands down, away from them, and looked back into the mirror.

Yes, maybe it was time.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

A
messenger swathed in white came to Varene’s door and escorted her and Priya through many long halls to a large passageway Varene had never seen before. The doors were open at the end, and through them lay a long dock…and a beautiful ship. Two hundred people could easily have fit on its decks, and from the looks of the crowd gathering on it and at the ramps, it would be close to capacity this evening.

The flowers that seemed ever-present in Kad bedecked the ship, curling over the railings and coiling up the masts. Oars stretched from the hull toward the water, and the sails above depicted a fiery sun over a golden lion rampant rearing on its hind legs, claws outstretched. The symbol of the sultan of Kad, no doubt—or perhaps of Kuramos himself. Until the day before, Varene had assumed they amounted to the same thing. Now she knew that the man inside the sultan felt the chafe of an inescapable set of manacles—the golden ones of rulership.

Like her, he needed freedom. Should they give each other one night of it?

The messenger led the two women up a ramp to the main deck. Above was a smaller deck, and Varene wondered about its purpose. The view up there would be fantastic.

The messenger bowed and departed. Varene and Priya moved to the far side of the boat and leaned over the railing, gazing out upon the city to the left and the sultan’s wheat fields across the river. Beyond the fields, the tawny desert sparkled. To the right, rising foothills jutted into the mountains beyond, their forbidding peaks crested with snow. The sun was descending behind the women, and would soon set over the city, turning the clouds on the horizon orange and peach and pink, like Kaddite sherbets.

The landscape thrilled Varene in every direction. Teganne’s rolling green hills and ancient forests were familiar and beautiful, as was Fallorm’s snowier climate—or at least, she’d loved the snow in her childhood. But there was something about this place, about Kad, that sparked delight in her soul.

“I see you enjoy my view,” the sultan said behind them.

Both women turned, and Priya made a deep bow. After a second’s hesitation, Varene followed suit in the Kaddite style.

As she raised herself and looked into his eyes, she realized her brassiere top was probably affording him a brazen display of her cleavage. Her cheeks flushed when her suspicion was confirmed by his lingering gaze.

His white teeth gleamed. “You both look lovely.” He gave a benevolent smile to the handmaiden.

“Th-thank you, O Lord,” Priya said, her gaze dropping to the lustrous wood of the deck. “You’re so kind to invite me this evening.”

“Nonsense. You worked hard for your mistress and were instrumental in saving my family and household. Your loyalty and courage will always be remembered.” He glanced toward the stern of the ship and back to her, eyes twinkling. “By the way, I believe there’s someone looking for you.”

Varene followed the sultan’s glance and spotted Sohad, taller than many of the others on board, scanning the crowd.

Priya couldn’t hide the pleasure in her eyes. “Then if you’ll excuse me, O Lord?” She bowed once more.

The sultan waved his hand to let her pass, and once she was out of earshot, he locked his gaze on Varene. “I’m glad to be alone with you again.”

Varene laughed, a sound breathless even to her own ears. “I’d hardly call this ship unpopulated.”

“How true,” he said with a teasing gleam in his eyes. “So follow me.”

Warmth flushed her chest at his admiring appraisal. He held out his hand, and she took it.

They wound their way through other guests, who all stopped their conversations and bowed low to the sultan. Varene felt a blush heat her cheeks. Caught by his firm hand, she couldn’t distance herself from him. Their passage together and the intimacy of their touch would be noticed by all.

Some of those they passed wore the black of mourning—friends and family of the patients who’d passed from the illness—but though she noticed a melancholy tinge to their expressions, there were more smiles than she expected.

Perhaps the wording on the parchment meant more than she’d presumed—maybe Kaddites were truly able to celebrate the dead. As a Healer who couldn’t always save her patients, she could appreciate that.

Kuramos led her to a spiral staircase and waved her up it. As Varene started up the stairs, she felt a momentary panic and glanced about. She spotted Zahlia nearby with a glass of wine in hand, watching them ascend. Kuramos’s Second Wife gave her a broad wink and raised her glass before disappearing as Varene continued around the curve.

The sultana’s words rang in Varene’s ears.
You really should try him. You really should try him. Really should…

She thought of Kuramos behind her, his eyes likely around the level of her waist.
“I am enjoying my view, as well…”
If her buttocks could blush, they certainly would have.

At the top, she emerged onto the deck she’d wondered about, twenty feet square and empty as if waiting for them. Tiger lilies wrapped the railings in sensuous loops. The sun touched the highest towers of the palace, and around them the air seemed to shimmer. The chatter of voices rose up from the lower deck—so close, and yet out of sight. She and the sultan stood in a private haven.

She stepped to the railing and looked out over the deck below. People gathered in clusters, their drinks in hand or little nibbles of food. The ship’s crew threw off the ropes that bound the vessel to shore. Murmurs rose among the passengers as they realized the ship was in motion.

Kuramos joined her at the rail, closer than was proper. Hotter. The sun of Kad had lent its rays to him. Her skin warmed, and she basked in that heat as her earrings dangled, tickling her neck.

Just one night. A night with a supremely sensual man. Enjoy him thoroughly, then leave and don’t look back…
“I had a remarkable conversation with Zahlia today.”

“Did you?” He looked at her, amused.

“Well, perhaps it was less of a discussion than…an invitation.” She cocked a brow and slid her mouth into a knowing curve.

“An invit—” His eyes widened, and he choked on the word. His gaze took on a ragingly possessive look, one that happily curled Varene’s bare toes. “Did Zahlia try—”

“She did.”

His eyes bulged further and a breath hissed into his chest. “Did you two…”

“Why not? She told me you didn’t mind.” Shrugging, she turned away nonchalantly, her mental laughter ringing in her ears.

Fierce male pride spiked the fine hairs along his arms. His hands gripped the railing as if he’d snap it in two. “You and Zahlia?”

She wanted to let him simmer in the thought for a while, but she couldn’t contain her merriment. It trickled from the corners of her eyes and shook her shoulders. When it finally escaped her in something between a giggle and a snort, his hands relaxed on the rail.

Laughter tumbled from his own mouth. “Cruel to tease me like that, when
I
haven’t even had you. Yet.”

Her head snapped back and she huffed at his arrogance. “You’re so sure you will?”

He stared down at her. “Yes.” His baritone held absolute certainty.

As much as she savored the thought of a night in his bed, of writhing with him, slick and sweaty, she resented that he’d removed her own will from the equation. She crossed her arms, barely registering that the gesture enhanced her bosom. “How wonderful it must be to have the power of foresight. That’s rare, even among mages. You must feel lucky to be so blessed.”

He grinned, his teeth stark white in the orange sunset. “How could I not be blessed, with you here?” His gaze seared a path from her naked toes to the curve of her hips, dallied at the mounds of her breasts and the purple gem nestled against them, scorched her lips with heat, and then clicked onto her own gaze as if he was sliding home within her.

Her bones melted. Moisture pooled between her thighs, dampening the silk panties he’d given her. Her mouth parted, her lungs clamoring for air.

With you here
, he’d said. Which reminded her that she wouldn’t be for long.
Just long enough?
She lidded her eyes, considering her next move, but when she looked up, he’d already turned to the rail and raised his hands to address the passengers.

“I bid you all welcome.” The words soared over the deck below. Conversations ceased as everyone stared up at the sultan.

And they saw Varene beside him, wearing the clothing he’d gifted to her. Garb worth a sultana’s bride-price.

A breeze snaked across her bare shoulders.

“Tonight,” Kuramos continued, “we will remember the souls newly at Naaz’s feet—and those who have remained with us in Her blessed realm. My gratitude goes to this lady.” He lifted her hand from the rail and raised it into the air. “Varene of Teganne brought her skills to those among us who lay dying. Her dedication, and that of her two assistants, Sohad and Priya—” he gestured toward the two on the deck, “saved many of our loved ones.” Cheers and claps raced through the crowd of glittering guests.

Varene felt the increasing gale of exposure, her hand enveloped by the sultan’s warm grasp in everyone’s view, wearing his clothing and jewels and wanting so much more from him. But she smiled weakly, her gaze deliberately whipping over the crowd too quickly to catch anyone’s eyes.