I lift my head and peer at him sceptically. ‘Saturday and Sunday areboththe first day of the week in the Middle East?’
‘Not that it should concern you, I can’t see you moving to Saudi anytime soon. I’ll be back by the evening. Can I see you then?’
‘I’m seeing Niamh tomorrow night.’ Then I voice a ridiculous thought. ‘Why don’t you join us?’
‘You wouldn’t mind?’ he asks, peering down at my upturned face. ‘My tagging along, eating into your time with your friend?’
‘I’d love to see you and seeing as how she gave you my key, I guess she approves.’ At least I hope so. ‘I’ll let you know tomorrow. At worst, I can see you later. Afterwards, here or at the hotel?’
‘Is that what’s known as a booty call?’ A brow rises to match his tone, his very proper accent relating the phrase more to a pirate’s loot. ‘Can I expect to be used?’
‘Only if you’re real lucky,’ I chuckle. ‘Might even get you to walk the plank.’
‘So you’ll be drunk?’
‘What do you take me for?’
‘Perfect. Just my type.’
His words fill me with an internal glow and I nestle my head back against his chest with delight. ‘What’s Riyadh like?’
‘Oppressive. No music, no alcohol. No fun.’ As he answers, he runs his hand through the strands of my hair. ‘You and I wouldn’t be allowed to sit in a restaurant together, unmarried and unrelated. Women also aren’t allowed to drive.’
‘I’d heard about that. It doesn’t sound like a fun place at all. Still, no girl’s going to get a chance to steal myboyfriendif you can’t even be in the same room as the opposite sex.’
My hair, once in his fingers, falls across my cheek. ‘Beirut,’ he says after a beat. ‘Now that’s a fun place. We’ll have to go there one weekend, not this weekend,’ he adds hurriedly, ‘that’s not on the agenda.’
‘Okay, Mr secret-keeper,’ I say on the breath of a laugh. ‘Sure, let’s hop over to Beirut. No biggie, because everyone’s got a jet stashed in their garage.’On this side of the looking glass, at least it seems.
‘Very droll. It’s a company jet, I wouldn’t be too impressed, if I were you.’
‘Oh, I’m not. It’s just like having a bike for your paper round.’
‘Exactly. A means to an end.’ Turning me in his arms, he fits his body behind mine. ‘Sleep thou, and I’ll wind you in my arms.’ Kissing the crown of my head, he smooths my unruly mop of hair against my scalp.
‘Mmm,’ I murmur sleepily, ‘You do have such a way with words. Shakespeare and filth. I love them both.’
Muted voices drift up from the pool as the sun sets. With his hand draped across my waist, I feel Kai’s form settle against the bed.
‘Jayyid,’ he whispers with a soft exhale. ‘Just perfect.’
Smiling, I drift off into happy oblivion.
