She picked up the card lying on top of the gown. "It's copied from an authentic bedouin wedding robe," she read. 'The brocade was my idea. Thoughwool is the traditional fabric, I want all the textures to be right tonight when you wear this."

Her lips curved in a smile as she picked up the gown and held it at arms' length to look at it. Philip and his textures. He wouldn't be able to complain about this particular brocade. It was both soft and supple, and a pleasure to touch.

That Philip did intend to touch tonight was clear, and the knowledge sent a little tingle of shock through her. It shouldn't have. The sexual tension between them had been evident in every minute of their time together. Yet these two weeks had possessed the misty aura of a dream. Philip had been so gentle. Gentle and sweet and loving, so very loving. And now that loving was going to blossom into physical fulfillment. Their joining would be as natural and beautiful as the time that had gone before. She felt a sudden surge of excitement rising within her. It was like the moment before a jump, when there was only the sky before her and the unknown on the other side. Evidently Philip had decided to start his campaign early.

She experienced a thrill of happiness. It was time to move out of the dream into reality, and she was ready for it. She whirled around in a circle, hugging the gown to her. Oh yes, she was ready for it.

Philip didn't join her for dinner that night. She was standing on the balcony perhaps fifteen minutes after her tray had been taken away, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach, when she heard the closing of the door.

"Come in and let me look at you." Philip was standing in the doorway of the balcony as she turned. He was dressed in white. Superbly fitted white trousers clung to his narrow waist and slim hips, and his white, long-sleeved shirt was fashioned of a material that glowed with a soft, silky luster in the darkness. "I waited too long. It's too dark out here to see you."

"I was wondering if you were coming at all," she said lightly as she moved toward him. "You didn't show up for dinner."

"I learned my lesson the last time," he said. "I had only two days of anticipation to go through before that first night, and I nearly went crazy. I would have been tempted to toss the tray off the balcony tonight."

"Me too."

He went still. "You mean that? I was afraid you'd think I was rushing you."

"Well, a little, maybe." She smiled teasingly. "Tomorrow was the day for Hannibal's arrival."

"It still is." He drew her into the room and shut the balcony doors behind them. "This is still a Khadim night. I promise you. Stay here while I turn on the light."

He was gone, a pale ghost in a darkly shadowed room. Then the soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the darkness as he turned to look at her.

"Oh yes," he said after a long moment. "I knew you'd look like that in the gown. The richest of wine and the most shimmering of silver-gold. There's nothing more beautiful on the face of the earth."

"I love it," she said. "It makes me feel like a princess."

"Every bride should feel like that." He was moving back to stand before her. "And that is a bridal outfit, Pandora." He cupped her face in his two hands. "Why not take advantage of it?" His lips were hovering near hers. "We could be married tonight. Why don't we fly to Marasef and get the formalities out of the way? You know you're going to do it anyway."

"Probably," she said huskily. He was so near. The warm scent of spice and soap was enveloping her, and his eyes were almost mesmerizing.

"Not probably. It's a certainty." His fingers were on her shoulders, kneading the flesh through the supple brocade. "Haven't you kept me dangling long enough?"

"I wouldn't play games like that. It's just that it's so important that I be sure."

"Yes, I know." His teeth nipped gently as her lower lip. "I wish I didn't. It would be so much easier just to rush you off your feet." He chuckled. "Well, there's one way I can whisk you off your feet."

He suddenly picked her up and carried her toward the bed, his face alight with laughter as he looked down at her. "I'm giving you fair warning. By morning I have every intention of wresting that promise from you." He laid her down in a flurry of cranberry brocade. "I'm going to be such a very seductive Khadim that you're never going to want to do without me again."

"That's no challenge. I don't want to do without you now."

His face was beautifully tender as he gently brushed back a lock of hair from her face. "Then you realize how simple everything is. Neither one of us will be without the other from now on. Turn over, love, and let me get you out of this thing."

She rolled over on her stomach. "It's not a thing, it's beautiful." She heard the hiss of the long zipper and then felt a breath of cool air on her naked back. She heard him inhale sharply. "I see you don't believe in wasting time either." His palm reached out to cover the smooth curve of her buttocks. "Lord, that's pretty."

"I told you I didn't play games."

"Then I'll have to teach you. Certain games are very enjoyable." He was deftly slipping her arms out of the sleeves. "I'm sure you'd be better at them than you are at mahjongg."

"I'd have to be," she muttered. "It's an idiotic game anyw—" She gasped as she felt his warm lips at the hollow of her back. When she got her breath back she asked, "Is that a fair move?"

"If you like it." His teeth gently nipped the soft flesh below the hollow. "Tell me what you like and I'll make up new rules as we go along."

"You always do," she said with amusement. "Ouch!" That bite had been decidedly more punishing than the last. "You did have dinner, didn't you?"

"No." The lightness was completely gone from his voice. "I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep last night. Sometimes I wonder if I'm ever going to be able to do either again." His hands were running up and down her back in long, caressing strokes, savoring the silkiness of her flesh. "I'm tired of keeping

things light. I don't feel light, dammit! I feel serious as hell."

He was lifting her, turning her over on the rumpled cranberry brocade. She was startled when she saw the intense look of hunger on his face. "No seduction?" she asked softly.

"I'm trying." His gaze was traveling over her, finally fastening on the soft golden nest of her womanhood. "It's never been so difficult with any other woman." He lowered his cheek and rubbed it against her belly. The slight abrasion caused her muscles to contract, and her hands went involuntarily to his shoulders. "It was a game with them. Skill against skill." His warm breath was searing her. "I want to make it so good for you and I'm afraid I'll foul it up." Her heart was pounding wildly, and she felt a burning begin between her thighs. "This means something to me."

"It means something to me too." Her heart jerked as his lips moved against her in the most intimate of kisses. "Philip!"

"You're so sweet here," he said as his hands cupped her gently. "But then, every part of you is sweet. Do you know how beautiful you are?"

Her hands clenched on his shoulders, her nails digging into the silk of his shirt. "Yes. No. What did you say?" His tongue touched her, and she arched up against him with a little cry.