Pharaoh's Desire by Chanta Rand

touch.”
    Their eyes locked, and he stared at her with such intensity that she thought he would strike her. But his rebuttal took a different form. Before she could protest, he pulled her into his arms and crushed his mouth against hers. His tongue swept inside, and he took possession, stunning her with the force of his deep kiss.
    Caught off guard, she did what came most naturally to her. She kissed him back, curiously exploring the soft folds of his mouth. She responded to his demanding strokes, her tongue battling his with an erotic dance. All sense of time seemed to leave her.
    As Amonmose tightened his embrace, Kama felt her body yield to the hard planes of his muscular form. His velvety tongue met hers thrust for thrust as she tasted everything he had to offer. Her flesh tingled in response to his touch, and she felt an intense heat building inside her. In her mind, she fought him, called him the foulest of names, and denounced his possession of her. But her body succumbed easily.
    Abruptly, Amonmose withdrew from her mouth and sneered wickedly. “Kama, you lie. Your words say I do not please you. Yet, your tongue says otherwise.”
    Dazed, she fingered her swollen lips and watched the smug look on his face. “You do not understand.”
    “No, I understand completely. You wanted me, and you proved it. There is no need for me to force you when you give yourself to me so willingly.”
    She shook her head, pulling herself from his embrace. She’d never been kissed before. He’d clearly taken advantage of her, somehow. “Y-You deceived me!” She accused, backing away.
    He gazed at her, his eyes burning like lava. “I did nothing except what you wanted me to do.”
    His kiss had left her teetering like a newborn lamb. What had he done to her? What kind of sorcery had he used to make her body betray her? She touched a dainty hand to her forehead.
    Amonmose frowned. “If you faint again, I will no doubt be forced to kiss you repeatedly until you regain consciousness.”
    Kama turned on her heels and fled. Hours later, she could still hear his cruel laughter ringing in her ears.
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    Kama managed to avoid Amonmose for the next several days. She didn’t think she could ever face him again without dying of humiliation. She still remembered every second of the kiss they’d shared—the most intimate act she’d ever experienced. She recalled the taste and texture of his mouth. The warmth of his tongue touching hers. She thought of that kiss at least a dozen times a day. Visions of him began to haunt her dreams, and she soon found herself wishing for the bitter tranquilizer the old doctor had brought her days earlier. Even if she did escape the powerful Pharaoh, she would never be able to get him out of her mind.
    She was angry with herself for not putting up more resistance.   If only he were an ordinary man, she would have slapped him or hit him with one of her many verbal barbs. But the Pharaoh was no ordinary man.   He was all smooth words and brutal kisses—a charmer and a viper. Perhaps a sorcerer as well! Why else had her body responded so wantonly? Perhaps, she thought, she would have responded that way to any man’s kiss, not just the Pharaoh’s. But there was no way for her to know. Amonmose had branded her as his property, and she knew in her heart that it would not be long before he sought her out again.
     
    A few days later, a royal page appeared at her door with a missive. Dyzet was there to answer, and she read the note excitedly. “Oh, Kama! Our presence is requested at the royal hunt tomorrow. The Pharaoh sent a personal invitation for you”—she waived the pale parchment in the air—“and I’m to come as well!”
    Kama stared at the paper as if it were dipped in poison.   So, Amunmose would not give up so easily?   Of course not.   He was Pharaoh, used to having all of commands obeyed.  
    “Let us find something for you to wear.” Dyzet rushed to