Kidnapped from her home in Cairo, Egypt, Laila is placed on an auction block in Constantinople and sold to work as a handmaid to a wealthy man and his daughter. Unhappy as a maid and leery of the lustful advances of her owner, Laila dreams of returning to her home.

Laila is sold to a Turkish harem where she catches the eye of the handsome yet arrogant palace heir, Kudar al Numan. When Laila is given an opportunity to return to the family she left behind, little does she know the offer has been concocted by a vengeful foe eager to keep the couple apart. Laila must make a choice...return to her homeland or remain in her new life.

Will Laila return to her homeland or will she forever remain Kudar's slave girl? And does going back to relive the past mean there is no hope for the future?

EXCERPT

Impulsively, Kudar slid his arm around Laila and pulled her to him. He bent his head and kissed her gently on the mouth. He had been dreaming about kissing Laila since the day she had been brought back to the palace.

"Don't be afraid," he whispered when he felt a shutter go through her. Then, he kissed her again expectantly.

However, she lay completely still in his embrace. Lifting his head, he asked, "Why won't you kiss me back?"

Laila didn't answer. Instead, she pushed away from him. Quickly, tying her vest together, she rose and walked to the balcony wall. She turned her back to him and looked out toward the city.

"Answer me," Kudar demanded.

At the sound of his impertinent tone, Laila found her voice. "Why are you pretending this is about me?" she asked.

"What?"

"Let's face it. None of this is about me. It's about you and what you want. I don't have a say. You wanted to kiss me. So, I let you kiss me."

"You let me kiss you?..."

"What more do you want from me?"

"I want you to kiss me back. I want you to enjoy it as much as I do."

"Enjoy it? I don't know you. Why would I want to kiss you and make love to you?...If you want someone who feels privileged to be in your bed, you want one of the other women in your harem. You don't want me."

In a few strides, Kudar was at her side. He turned her to face him. "You should want to kiss me," he explained.

"Well, I don't! Why should I want to kiss a man who's kissed a million girls before me?" she countered in a steely voice.

"This is why..." Kudar grumbled.

Without warning, Kudar scooped her into his arms.