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“No—no, it’s just I didn’t knohat you meant hen …”

“I promised forever?” he co distress “IAll the way Always I must have it all with you I can’t live otherwise And once we’re away from here, I’ll see to all the formalities and procedures But here I married you with the oasis people, all twenty thousand of thee is just this, e have, e did, ato be each other’s alone” He paused at her widening eyes “Yes, alone Polygamy may be sanctioned in Damhoor, but here it’s unheard of Here a man weds for life As I do you I’ll protect you, honor you, worship you all through this life And into any other life beyond I’d die for you”

The tears that had filled her eyes brimmed, slithered down her cheeks “Oh, Malek, don’t say that I’d lay down my life for you to be whole and happy”

He pressed her head hard into his chest, his rasp full of reain No more sacrifices, ya hayati, of any kind” He put her away a few inches, looked down at her with possessive, entreating eyes “Now, enough talk I need to worship you again”

“Here?” She jerked out of his arms, looked around in alarm She’d lost just about every inhibition with hi an audience, non-conservative or not

Malek took her lips, began to undo the strings lacing her traditional toab‘s front, pushing it off her shoulders, spilling her breasts into his pal them until she felt they would burst if he didn’t devour theed her

She could try to be quiet, and if he didn’t draw out her toret aith it

He returned to her lips, his tongue surging inside her, taking every intimacy she lavished Her ht

“Shall I take you now?” She could only nod her assent, her legs buckling He held her up, s to be with me”

“You mean this was a test?” His s lips “Now you’d better ride us back hoe to exact on you!”

“Wouldn’t you rather exact it here?”

“But you said—”