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The endearment, my soul, speared her with its sarcasm Its impossibility The rest of his wickedness had a counteractive effect, tickling her And she couldn’t help it

She ue “Show off”

He threw his head back on a surprised guffaw, his face blazing with enjoy She found herself s back at him in yet another demonstration of unabashed idiocy

And it was as if they were back to thosebetween them had been rich in rapport—to use twoand the other would understand, appreciate, the desire to please as strong as the desire to pleasure or be pleasured, the s uncensored, unfettered

But like any illusion, thehis face evaporated, the mirth drained to be replaced by the coldness that had turned hio

He finally drawled, “So you clai nauseous then? Are you going to go on a hunger strike in protest of ainst you?”

“I ae land where you knew no one, wouldn’t you be?”

His chin rose “You know me That’s all you’ll need”

She shook her head at the irony “Do I know you, Farooq? In the biblical sense, you aze on her, his eyes glinting with danger and a resurgence of reluctant humor “You’d be surprised how alike all faiths are And besides knowingthat counts”

“Really? So being the crown prince of Judar now is one of the things that don’t count? I just discovered that—by accident”

His eyes narrowed “And the discovery disappoints you?”