"Yes,Your Highness. It's so romantic. He showed up early this morning with a crew of men and arranged to have everything moved. We were very careful to put things back where you left them so nothing should be out of place."

Heidi glanced at her. "Thank you so much for telling me," she said.

The woman nodded and left.

Heidi made her way around the large space. She touched her desk, the back of her chair,then walked to the window. She remembered her pitiful lie about working in her bedroom because she'd wanted to be able to see the water.Jamal had listened and moved her here as a lovely surprise.

She clutched his note to her chest and gave a little laugh. Surely his wonderful gesture meant that he cared about her. It probably wasn't love, but it was a start. If she was very lucky, she might just be able to win her handsome husband for her very own. With time, he might start to love her back.

But not if he found out she was lying to him. So she had to be very careful and make sure he never learned she was the mysterious Honey Martin who planned to seduce him with her own version of the Dance of the Seven Veils.

Heidi moved slowly in the center of the room. The portable CD player in the corner pulsed with the sound of drums and bells. The steady beat had already started to increase as she shook her hips.

Jamal sat on the sofa and told himselfno matter what happened, he wouldn't smile . He knew that she wouldn't understand that he was as charmed as he'd ever been and instead might think he was laughing at her.

His wife was many wonderful things, but she wasn't a dancer, he thought as he followed her movements. She was awkward and unfamiliar with the steps of the dance. He saw where she had to pause to remember and then improvised to catch up with the music. But none of that mattered. To him, she was a mysteriously beautiful creature, and he was grateful to have her in his life.

Sunlight spilled in through the French doors of the suite, illuminating her pale skin. She wore her hair long. There weren't curls today. Veils covered her body, but they were sheer enough that he could see the beaded bra and panties underneath. She danced for him, barefoot, smiling, and she was the most erotic vision he'd ever seen.

He wanted her with a desperation he'd never allowed himself before. The urge to take her right there, to grab her and pull her down onto the sofa, nearly overwhelmed him. He forced himself to stay still, to hold his desire in check. Because he wanted her to think she'd won him on her own.Because she was the courtesan, not because she was his wife. This was her game and he was determined that she would win.

Talk about a mistake, Heidi thought grimly as she held her hands above her head and spun until the room seemed to tilt. She hated the silly dance and she'd never felt more ridiculous in her life. What was wrong with her? She could only pray she didn't look as stupid as she felt.

She blinked several times and was shocked when she realized she was holding back tears. Why on earth was she crying? She wasn't upset. She was having a good time, wasn't she? Hadn't she been the one to decide to do the routine? Hadn't she thought it would be fun? She'd enjoyed learning the dance, making her own modifications. She'd even liked practicing. But now, in front of Jamal, everything was different.

Her chest hurt, she thought as she dipped toward him and reached for the first veil. Tightness around her ribs made it hard to breathe. Some of it, she admitted, was the fact that although they'd only been intimate for a few days, she still recognized that look of desire in Jamal's eyes. He wanted her. Exceptthe her that he wanted was another woman. How could he have made love with her last night and sit here now, lusting after someone else?

Involuntarily her gaze lowered to his lap. She stumbled when she saw the ridge of his desire pressing against his fly. He was aroused!

The realization sent a jolt of fire through her body. She nearly stopped her dance and went to him, but then she remembered that this arousal wasn't about her. It was too confusing, she thought, wishing she'd never started this particular game. She wanted to stop and tell him the truth, except she was afraid to. She didn't want him to misunderstand what she'd done or why.

How could he be doing this to her? How dare he be with another woman? And what if instead of falling in love with her, he fell in love with Honey?

What if he wanted Honey more?

She spun around to confront him. She was going to tell him the truth and damn the consequences. But as she turned, her foot caught against the leg of the coffee table and she stumbled. For a second, she nearly caught her balance again, but then she lost it and fell to the floor.

Several large cushions broke her fall, but her ankle twisted painfully in the process and she gasped as her butt thudded onto the marble. Jamal was at her side in an instant.

"Are you all right?" heasked, his voice low and concerned. "Does anything hurt? Should I call for a doctor?"

He looked worried, she thought as she stared at his familiar face-a face she'd touched just that morning in their bed. This man had held her and caressed her and made love with her. He'd murmured that she was lovely and told her he wanted her. How could he be with someone else?

"I-I'm fine," she said.

"No, you're not. I can tell you're in pain. Where does it hurt?"

Everywhere, she thought.Mostly in her heart. But she couldn't say that.

Instead, she pointed to her ankle. "I think I twisted it a little. It's not sprained or anything. I just need a minute to catch my breath."

Without responding, he slipped an arm around her back and another under her thighs. Then he lifted her and carried her to the dining-room table where he set her on the glass surface.

"Let's take a look at that ankle," he said and bent to examine the area.

His fingers were gentle but sure as he moved over the bone. "There's no immediate swelling. That's good. Can you wiggle your toes?"

She did as he requested. He glanced up at her face and smiled. "They're very nice toes."

"Thank you," she whispered, knowing he was trying to be kind. She started to say more, then found herself resisting the urge to burst into tears. To her horror, a single tear crept down her cheek.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Jamal asked. He stepped between her thighs and pulled her close. "Are you injured somewhere else?"

"No," she sniffed, savoring the feel of having him hold her like this. As if shewere precious...as if she mattered.

Her feelings confused her. She hated that he was with Honey, and she loved that he'd taken her in his arms. She needed to be next to him. She wanted to make love with him.But not now, not like this.

Yet when he lowered his head and brushed her mouth with his, she couldn't resist him. She opened to admit him, accepting the intimate kiss even as more tears rolled down her cheeks.

It was six kinds of heaven, but seven kinds of hell, she thought as their tongues brushed against each other, and his hands began to explore her. She told herself to stop him, but she couldn't. Already the liquid heat moved through her, melting her bones and robbing her of her will. It was too amazing, too much of what she wanted.Jamal.Always Jamal. He was her husband, the man she loved. She could no more resist him than she could stop breathing.

The tone of his kiss changed as their tongues continued to dance with each other. His passion grew. She felt the fire race through him. It caught her in its grip, making her cling to him. Even the sheer veils and brief costume were too much for her to be wearing. She wanted to be naked right there on the table.

He nipped at her mouth then trailed kisses down her neck. She arched to let him have his way with her. Then she drew him back. She kissed him-offering nibbling kisses of her own. She nipped at his lips and his tongue, all the while dragging her nails across his back.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her up against him. His hardness fit perfectly against her waiting dampness. She felt herself preparing to climax, and he hadn't even touched her yet.

"Wrap your legs around me," he told her, his voice low and hoarse.

She did as he instructed and found that they fit together even better than they had last night. He rocked against her, teasing her center with his arousal, making her writhe. Even as his mouth kept contact with hers, he began to unfasten her veils, tugging them off her, removing her bra until she was topless.

There was no slow seduction like the first time they'd made love, she thought hazily. Perhaps he thought Honey didn't need it because she was experienced. Heidi didn't mind. She was already wet and ready. Her breath came in short pants, and she knew she was going to die if he didn't start touching her soon.

Jamal broke their kiss long enough to pull off her panties. When she was naked, he hurriedly shrugged out of his shirt,then tossed it onto the table behind her. As if he'd read her mind, he lowered her onto the soft fabric, still warm from his body, and began to caress her breasts.

He knew exactly how to touch her, she thought hazily. He cupped both her breasts in his hands,then teased the tight nipples. He took those tight buds between his forefinger and thumb and tweaked them until ribbons of pleasure wove their way to her most feminine core.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice raspy and hoarse.

She stared at him. "What?"

"Are you sure about this? Do you want me to make love with you? Is this what you want?"

Was he really checking with her? She searched his dark eyes. "I don't understand."

"I want you to be sure that you want us to make love."

She covered his hands with hers and smiled. "Don't you think you're asking that a little too late?"

He didn't return her smile."Not at all. I'll stop if you want me to."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him close. "Don't stop.

Don't ever stop."

He plunged into her mouth, even as his fingers continued to work their magic. Then he moved down her neck until he rained kisses across her belly, making her shiver and writhe and wish it would never end.

She didn't know what was happening to her, but she also no longer cared.

All that mattered was that she was with Jamal and he was with her. If she had to be someone else to hold her husband, then she would be that other woman.

Her skin rippled and quivered where his tongue traced tiny circles. He slipped down her belly, moving lower andlower until she didn't know what he planned to do. At last he knelt on the floor and shifted her legs so that they draped over his shoulders. Then he parted her female flesh and kissed her most secret place.

Heidi had been clueless of his destination. One minute he was trailing tickling kisses across her stomach and the next he was performing the most intimate act of her life. She vaguely recalled reading about this kind of kissing in those booksFatimahad given her. Several had told of these touches of the tongue-male to female and the other way around. Heidi had been two parts shocked, one part

disbelieving.

But it was happening now. Her husband was actually touching her there with his mouth and his tongue. Even more unlikely...she enjoyed it!

She half rose on her elbows toprotest, then sank back on the table. Her legs were splayed, her body exploded, yet she couldn't find it in herself to care. Not when Jamal circled her most sensitive spot, loving it from every direction. He moved gently, slowly, discovering what made her gasp and moan and writhe. She felt herself tensing and recognized the symptoms.

She was nearing her climax.

The feeling grew inside her. As he touched her, her body prepared itself for the release soon to follow. It was magic, she thought, her mind thick with heat and need. A kind of magic only Jamal knew. The kind of magic he'd never known with his wife.Only with his mistress. What did it mean?

Before she could answer her own question, he began to move faster and lighter. She felt herself being pulled up toward the release.

Unconsciously, she drew her legs back and bore down on him, wanting more, desperately needing more. He answered with faster movements that made her cry out even as the tension grew and grew until it exploded, making all of her shudder in ultimate glory. His touch lightened and slowed, urging every last drop of wonder to spend itself, leaving her gasping for breath and yet wholly healed.

He rose to his feet. Heidi felt the movement and forced herself to look at him. Passion tightened the features of his face, making his expression harsh, his eyes bright with fire.

"I want you," he growled, already reaching for his belt. "I want you now, and I know I should wait, but I can't."

He fumbled with his zipper, his movements awkward. It took her a moment to realize his hands shook. She couldn't believe it. She'd done that to Jamal?

"Don't wait," she said suddenly, sitting up and moving to the edge of the table. "I don't want you to."

Her insides still quivered from her release, yet the sight of him so aroused, so ready, made her want to do it all again.

Jamal shoved down his slacks and briefs, but didn't bother pulling them off. There was no careful folding of clothing, no tenderness. Instead, he stepped between her parted thighs, pulled her close and thrust inside.

Heidi screamed. The pleasure was so intense, so much more than anything she'd already felt that she lost control. She arched against him, grabbing at his rear, pulling him next to her, needing him deeper and deeper.

Nothing mattered but their being together. She wrapped her legs around his hips, urging him on. He wrapped his arms around her, easing her back, staring into her face.

"I want you," he gasped.

"Yes," she cried.

He thrust in and out, moving quickly, pulling her along with him. Her body shuddered and quaked and quivered as the tension increased. Then she crashed, spiraling out of control, calling out her pleasure. He thrust again, and it happened again. She was vaguely aware of pulling him in with her legs, of going wild

and bucking. He answered her every demand, filling her over and over until one last thrust made them both cry out and collapse together on the table.

What perfection, she thought, stunned by what had just happened.And so much for telling Jamal the truth. She didn't dare risk destroying their magical, fragile bond by exposing her lie. So for now, she would find a way to be both mistress and wife.