Deadlands Heat (Doomsday Lover Book 1) by Sienna Cole Read Free Book Online Page A

food and wine for my guests! And call in some of my girls—I want to be surrounded by swaying bodies and smiling faces.”
    “Yes, master.” The steward bowed and scuttled away.
    Max stood. “I should go.”
    Amir took him by the shoulders. “Stay. Let me feed you at least—consider my reputation as a host, it’s the least you can do.”
    Max glanced at me and sighed. “Fine. For a little while.”
     
     

 
    Chapter Ten
    Into the Sunset
     
    A LITTLE WHILE turned out to be seven hours. The feast lasted all day long. Amir had a girl for every season—there were serving girls and dancing girls and girls who played the harp. There was even one girl whose sole job was brining snacks and water to the other girls. I told myself the pang of jealousy I felt when I saw them hanging all over him was utterly ridiculous. Not that it did any good.
    After hours of feasting, dancing and carousing, I was feeling increasingly depressed—burned out on partying and ready to slink off somewhere quiet. The revelers included the sheik’s local business partners and visiting tradesman, along with anyone Amir found… entertaining . They were a friendly lot, and getting friendlier as the evening wore on. Eventually, they started moving the party inside. I got the impression these impromptu celebrations were not unusual. And why should they be? Amir had plenty of reasons to celebrate. At last count I’d seen at least twenty-two.
    By the time it was just Amir, Max and I, alone in the garden the sun had nearly set. I watched it sink and slowly kiss the rim of the rock wall, casting the sheltered oasis in a brilliant orange glow. Across the valley, near the entrance, a long shadow crept towards us.
    “Beautiful, isn’t it.” Amir came up beside me and put his hand on my waist. It was an obvious signal to Max, who stood brooding nearby. They’d been circling each other throughout the evening—each quiet boast and careful comment full of innuendo and superficial subtlety.
    Subtle my ass . I barely kept from rolling my eyes at him. “Yes. It’s lovely.”
    “I was thinking about turning in early…if you’d care to join me?” His hand moved up and down on my back. As pissed off as I was, he was still so tempting.
    “Maybe next time.” I said turning to face him. I held out my hand. “It was a pleasure making your acquaintance.”
    He stared at my hand for a moment with bemused surprise and then he took my fingers in his grasp and leaned down to kiss my knuckles. “The pleasure was mine,” he said, pressing his lips, first to the top of my hand, and then the inside of my wrist. “And I do hope there is a next time. Goodnight, tumbleweed.”
    I took a deep breath and watched him walk away.
    “I have to say, I’m surprised.”
    “Why is that, Max?” I turned to look at him.
    He shrugged. “I thought you’d go with him.”
    I shook my head and turned away, arms wrapped around myself as I watched the sun disappear behind the sheer rock wall. “He never even asked me my name.”
    “Why would he need to? He probably already knew it.”
    “That’s not the point.” I shrugged. “I guess it doesn’t matter.”
    “Well, Jenna , in any case, it’s his loss.”
    “And your gain, I suppose?”
    He spread his hands. “ That is entirely up to you.”
    The shadow swallowed the ground at my feet, falling over my skin like a cool blanket. Soon, the normally inhospitable desert would turn chill and dark and even more treacherous. Even if I wanted to risk it and leave now, I no longer had transportation…
    “The next horizon will still be there in the morning,” Max said softly. He came up behind me and snaked one arm around my waist, his other hand came up to playfully fondle the pink lace bra strap peeking out from under my tank top. His lips brushed the side of my neck as he spoke, breath hot on my ear. “Why not kill some time with me until then?”
    I turned my head so I could look at him over my shoulder. “Got any more