Claire Delacroix by Pearl Beyond Price Page A

quickly? He frowned and shook his head, leaning over her to untie the scarf that bound her wrists.
    That dark thicket of hair on his chest brushed against her shoulder and Kira took the opportunity to study him through her lashes at such close quarters. Though he was bigger than she, there was not an ounce of spare flesh on his body, all of it lean strength and muscle.
    His eyes were gray, she noted with amazement, wondering at his heritage, for his eyes were not as narrow as the Mongols’, either. She felt that increasingly familiar tingle of awareness when his fingers brushed her skin, knowing all the while that ‘twas futile and foolish to feel anything at all for a bloodthirsty warrior like this.
    But he had not abused her, she was forced to concede. Fixed on his task, he dropped to one knee to undo the binding at her ankles with surprisingly gentle fingers. Lucky for her ‘twas that rape was not among his objectives, Kira concluded as she noted the disparity in their sizes once more. Little enough was there she might have done to defend herself against one so much larger and stronger.
    Mayhap ‘twas a blessing that he liked her not, she reflected, watching his strong fingers make short work of the tie at her ankles.
    Her father might be pleased.
    Surprisingly enough, Kira found that neither the warrior’s apparent disinterest nor the promise of her sire’s grudging satisfaction sat well with her. Clearly, her irrational thinking of the night before still plagued her.
    Her stomach rumbled once more and the warrior spoke brusquely, indicating her garments with an imperious finger. Kira hastily donned her kurta, chalwar and djellaba, grateful that he seemed to understand her haste when he immediately opened the tent flap and hastened her to the latrine.
    * * *
    The most savage expulsion of her life left Kira weak-kneed with relief when ‘twas over. She inhaled shakily, passing one hand over her sweat-beaded brow. Knowing she had no choice, she turned to look, gasping aloud at the sight of the creamy pearl reposing amidst the dirt.
    Kira glanced to her warrior, but he was scanning the horizon, frowning thoughtfully at the dawn with his arms folded impatiently across his chest. Her heart pounding erratically, she flicked the pearl into the grass with her toe and rolled it around under her foot.
    Convinced he was distracted, she finally picked up the pearl and slipped it surreptitiously into her pocket. She looked guiltily to him again, but he evidently had not noticed her furtive move and she willed her heart to slow.
    For no intention had Kira of surrendering the gem as yet. At least, not until she knew his plans for her.
    Kira knew only too much about broken promises. He might not have abused her so far, but Kira would be sure of his intent before surrendering her only asset. Well might the warrior be biding his time, only to strike a more telling blow once he had what he wanted from her.
    Kira strolled toward him as nonchalantly as she could manage, rubbing her troubled stomach to ease its aching. He turned that sharp gaze upon her and frowned, extending his hand between them in silent demand. Kira jumped at the abruptness of the gesture, then shook her head. She hoped against hope that she looked as convincing as she had the day before. His scowl deepened as he glanced back to the space she had used, offering his hand once more insistently.
    “Nay, I did not pass it yet,” Kira lied. She shrugged as though she did not understand the matter.
    The warrior’s brow darkened thunderously before he abruptly strode back to the spot where she had crouched. The precision with which he went to the exact location sent Kira’s heart plummeting. Much more had he observed than she had suspected and she feared suddenly that he might have seen her covert retrieval of the gem.
    Had she left some mark in the dirt when she pushed it to the grass? She knew not and her heart pounded as she watched. He peered into the dirt, then