Unearthed Book 2: The Pharaoh's Command: The Rogue Series, #2

By Cherri Velvet

Two rich and powerful men, vying for her love. One mysterious cult that holds Egypt in its grasp.

One night of passion that will leave Zaria Bell At the Pharaoh's Command.

Zaria and her sometime lover and full-time boss, Dr. Alexander Cade, have been whisked away by the sands of time and landed in ancient Egypt. Before they can get their bearings, they find themselves embroiled in a plot to overthrow the most powerful Pharaoh Egypt has ever known: Ramses the Great.

Although her heart still yearns for Alex, his one night of passion and known dalliances with grad students has left her cold. All the while a very available - although very complicated - man wants her at his beck and call. He worships the ground she walks on and treats her like the Princess he thinks her to be.

The catch? She can have him - only if she joins his harem. He has promised her a position as a First Wife, but Zaria would never be as respected and adored as Nefertari, the First Wife and Head Priestess of Ra.

Meanwhile, the old gods of Egypt are waking up. And they are thirsty.

This book is part two of a four-part serialized Fantasy Erotic Romance. This part has a length of about 20,000 words. It contains strong sexual content and is not intended for readers under 18.

If you love erotic fantasy romance novels, Scroll Up and Grab a Copy Today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cherri Velvet
• Release date: Mar 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781519937605

Cherri Velvet

Cherri Velvet is a writer of hot, steamy tales.  Her first series, "Bewitched by the Baker", combine her two favorite passions: writing and baking! When she's not creating tempting treats in the kitchen, Cherri loves to knit and collect vintage clothing.

Book preview

Unearthed Book 2: The Pharaoh's Claim

by Cherri Velvet

Ramses kept a respectful but protective distance from me. I could feel the heat of his hard body next to mine, his skin glowing in the early morning desert light. We walked over the cold sand, and it felt fantastic between my toes. Ramses took my shoes and handed them to a wizened man walking behind us. His braided beard at his chin curved into an intricate point. He held my Converses up by the laces and inspected them as if he were examining a fish at the market. He sniffed and gingerly handed them to a servant walking behind him.

I heard Alex chuckle at Khufu's confusion over my sneakers, and I stifled a laugh in kind. Alex already had a notebook and pen out, and scribbling away. From what I knew of his research and working with him, he was an excellent drawer. I could only imagine what his renderings of the pharaoh's guards would look like completed. We might even be able to use his drawings to identify one of the thousands of artifacts we had in our collection at the Smithsonian.

I turned and bowed, thanking Khufu for handling my footwear. Ramses stopped to introduce us. This is my most trusted advisor, Khufu, he said, and Khufu and I bowed to each other. He looked at me with a sardonic smile, and I prayed my face didn't show my confusion. I wondered how many potential wives Khufu met over the years. Thinking back to what I knew about Ramses, he had ninety sons and sixty daughters. And those were just the ones listed in the artifacts at the Smithsonian.

I put this troubling thought out of my head and focused on the handsome man next to me. Any woman would be lucky to be in the family way with this gorgeous, living God. Heck, I could see the appeal. I would be lying if I said my thoughts weren't wondering if my IUD was still working in ancient Egypt. I needed my head to stay clear. There was something intoxicating about being so close to him and yet having a sliver of space between us. Just remembering the way we connected in a dream, across the sands of time, sent a delicious shiver down my spine.

He lowered his voice and leaned in slightly, close enough that I could feel his heat. Being so close and unable to touch in the presence of his guards and Alex was torture. I dreamt of you, my princess, he said, staring at me with eyes that saw into my soul. I could understand why so many women would be willing participants in his harem.

I felt the heat rising to my cheeks, but I didn’t dare look away. I dreamt of you, my king, I responded in kind. The words flowed from my lips like wine, and I heard Alex exclaim, You speak ancient Egyptian? I put a protective hand on the amulet, which was now sparkling in the sun. The lapis sparkled electric blue in the sun, and the gold was almost blinding. It looked made yesterday. It must have been the only way I was able to speak and understand this language! Alex I knew was fluent, but my language skills were rudimentary at best. I certainly wasn’t talking this way to anyone in my time.

Princess, may I have the honor of hearing your name? Tell me your name and I will brand it on my heart and soul. I blushed then and lowered my eyes. Gone was all the confidence I felt with Alex just a few months ago. Ramses made my knees weak, and I was powerless to hide my feelings. I glanced over my shoulder at Alex, who was furiously taking notes and asking the guards questions. Maybe I just needed to forget Alex, once and for all. He sure hadn't wasted any time in forgetting about me.

My name is Zaria, my king, I said, bowing low in a gesture of respect. The sands shifted underneath my feet, and my knees buckled underneath me. I lost my footing, and before I could catch myself, I had already fallen. Grace personified, indeed. I'm in ancient Egypt for all of ten minutes and I manage to embarrass myself in front of Egypt's greatest Pharaoh. Alex started walking towards me, but his guards automatically extended their golden staffs across his chest, blocking his path. Ramses stopped walking beside me and took my arm in his, helping me to rise from the sand.

Zaria, he mused, helping me to my feet. You are too lovely to bow to anyone, princess. His touch was electric. He ran a finger across my cheek, and I leaned into his hand, closing my eyes. I remembered the way his hands felt all over my body, and a longing grew deep in my belly. I moaned softly, and Ramses traced his fingertip down my neck and paused at the hollow of my throat. I felt a pang of guilt, remembering that the last man's lips who had caressed my body was Alex.

And here I was flaunting my attraction with Ramses, right in front of him. Damn girl, I chided myself, you are no better than that man behind you. I stole a furtive glance in Alex's direction, and he had a look on his face I couldn't quite read. No, I did recognize it.

It was the same way Alex looked at me that night in the hotel room. Lust, passion, desired. I felt it all. Was he seriously turned on by another man hitting on me? Or just jealous? Maybe he finally got what was coming to him after all these years of being the player.

I never knew how much fun it could be to be the hidden queen in someone else's game. I felt powerful and sexy and hoped my confidence shone.

I felt Alex's gaze bore into my