Touch the Horizon by Iris Johansen Page A

hurt feelings. I want you to be able to concentrate on forming new emotional responses.” He turned to Karim and said tersely, “I think we’ll dispense with any type of formal dinner. I’m taking Billie with me to my suite. We’ll dine there and perhaps I can repair some of the damage you’ve done. The next time you see her, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to apologize.”
    Karim flushed. “Apologize! She’s no delicate shrinking violet. She’s a very tough lady. I think she came through the encounter better than I did.”
    “She’s strong, but she’s sensitive enough underneath all that brashness to be hurt,” David said as he turned and pulled her toward the door. “I won’t have her hurt, Karim.”
    “David—”
    David turned, and when he saw the pleading that warred with the pride in Karim’s fierce hawk eyes, he smiled very gently. “It’s all right, Karim. It’s just that you’ve made a mistake. She’s special to me, and you must treat her with kindness. It’s very important to me.”
    “It’s you who are making a mistake,” Karim said heavily. “It’s dangerous to trust her. Even more since she is strong. You respond to strength, David. Weakness in others arouses your sympathy, but strength attracts you. Ladram would know that. He’s made a study of you.”
    “It’s not a mistake,” David said softly. “Can’t you see she wouldn’t use that strength to do anything but help?”
    “No. I can’t see that.” Karim’s voice was roughly impatient. “And neither can you. She’s an unknown quantity.”
    “I know her very well.” David’s smile encompassed her in a sunrise of warmth. “And I’m going to know her even better. Get used to the idea, Karim.” The door closed behind them, shutting out the sight of Karim’s frowning face and Donahue’s smile of amusement.
    Then David’s hand was beneath her elbow and he was hurrying her through the mosaic corridors at a pace that had her half skipping to keep up with him. “Sorry about that, Billie. I should have realized they would react like that and been there to support you. It won’t happen again. Karim knows I’m dead serious now.”
    “That’s more than I do,” Billie said wryly. “I can’t believe any of this is really happening. Would it be too much to ask you to slow down so I can catch my breath?”
    “Literally or figuratively?” His pace slowed as he glanced down at her. “Both, I think,” he decided. “I’m moving too fast for you, aren’t I, windflower? You need time to catch up and grow into your own knowledge of me.” His eyes were grave. “I promised you that time, and I won’t go back on it. I won’t force that growth.”
    “Why should you, when everyone else is willing to do it for you?” Billie grumbled. “Yasmin almost served me up on a silver platter.” She touched the glittering lamé dress. “She informed me that there wasn’t much she could do to make me as glamorous as your last
kadine
, but this was her best effort.”
    “Is that who it belonged to?” David asked, his gaze running over her admiringly. Again she had that sensation of warm sunlight flowing over her. “I thought it was vaguely familiar. It looks different on you, sweetheart.”
    “I imagine it does,” Billie said dryly. “According to Yasmin, Miss Nazare was considerably more voluptuous.”
    “That’s not what I meant,” David said. “On Shareen, it was just a dress. On you it’s like a precious shimmering vase to hold my bright, glowing flower-girl.” His eyes were twinkling. “And for your information, I’m finding you much more provocative in it than I ever did Shareen.”
    “That’s difficult to believe,” Billie said a trifle breathlessly, looking away from him.
    “I know.” David sighed, shaking his head. “You’re not sexy, right? I can see something’s got to be done to set you straight on that score.” The amusement suddenly vanished. “Does the thought of Shareen bother you? It