Sold To The Sheik Read Free

forgive your rudeness this time because you’ve been through a trying ordeal. However, heed my words, pet, it would behoove you to learn manners before I am forced to punish you for your insolence.”
    I couldn’t stop myself. “In my country, when people traffic in the sale of other human beings, they are arrested and thrown in prison for a long time.”
    “It is a fortunate circumstance that we are not in your country then,” he replied smoothly. “I do not believe prison would suit my lifestyle.”
    Although his bevy of beauties tittered, I did not appreciate his wry wit. “How nice that you can laugh at my expense,” I said, lifting my chin. I dared much but perhaps I wished for a quick death in my delirious state. “I doubt if the shoe were on the other foot, you would be so cavalier.”
    His brow arched but he conceded my point with surprising grace. “Perhaps not.”
    “Oh, so you admit being someone else’s property would not suit you?”
    He smiled. “No. It would not. But then, women were meant to be in the care of a man, not the other way around.”
    My lips thinned. “I do not believe men are superior to women; in fact, in some areas, women are the more accomplished species.”
    “Undoubtedly so,” he agreed easily. “But where women are soft, men are hard and that is the way it should be.” He regarded me openly, feasting his eyes on wherever he chose, lingering on the pink areolas of my nipples as they hardened beneath the thin material skimming them. I gasped and tried to cover myself. He chuckled at my actions, saying, “Sweet Layla, you please me with your hot and ready tongue. I look forward to feeling it against my cock.” I shuddered and snapped my mouth shut with a mutinous glare, which he ignored. “This is your new home. If you work hard to please me, I will reward you with a life filled with everything you desire—“
    “I desire my freedom,” I cut in sharply, unable to resist.
    His nostrils flared at my rash interruption but he continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “However, if you displease me, I will throw you to my men to use at their leisure and forget your existence.” In spite of my bravado, more tears tingled at the back of my eyeballs. The gravity of my situation crashed down around my shoulders and I struggled to breathe. No one was coming to rescue me. I was, in fact, at this man’s mercy. No one would prevent him from doing any number of depraved acts to me. My permission was not necessary. His expression gentled and his mouth tipped in a sensual smile. “Calm your fears, pet. I have no doubt you will please me. There is something about you that I find…intoxicating. I confess, I don’t normally find myself so taken with a woman.”
    My gaze flicked to the women lounging together on a chaise watching us avidly and he followed my gaze. He graced them with an indulgent smile. “All my women are special to me for different reasons.” He returned to me. “But you, my pet, stir something I cannot define inside me. It is this unknown I wish to explore. However, first, business must be attended.” He gestured to the hulking man standing at the ready. “Please take the lovely Miss Layla to be fitted for her collar.”
    I balked. “I’m not going to wear a collar.”
    “You will do whatever I demand. You belong to me. And all my pretty pets wear beautiful jeweled collars befitting their station.” He paused and crooked his finger at the women. They eagerly popped from their positions and sank to their knees before him, their heads bowed. He tapped Belinda on the crown and she gazed up at him with total adoration. It was then I realized what I’d assumed were ornate chokers were actually collars and I shrank against the headboard, shaking my head. I couldn’t do that — couldn’t be collared like an animal. Please no! Omar caressed Belinda’s jaw and smiled down at her with warmth, then returned to me, his eyes hard, and said to the woman at his feet,