‘So long as it’s with you, I don’t mind.’ God. Talk about cringe-worthy. ‘Was that a bit much?’
‘Absolutely not,’ he says, switching on his toe-curling smile and reaching for my hand. He brings it to his mouth but instead of kissing it, grazes my knuckles with his teeth. ‘So long as we get to fuck lots, I don’t care.’
‘Shush, your mum’s coming back.’ I place my hand against his free one as it snakes up my thigh.
‘Let’s abandon the desert, go over to my house. Spread you across the table. I’d love to eat—’
‘Are you still hungry? I think there’s a citrus tart in the kitchen,’ Mishael calls, panicking me slightly. I hope her hearing isn’tthatgood. ‘Shall I ask Regina to serve it?’ she asks as she re-enters the room.
‘I’m afraid we have to be on our way.’
‘Then you must be sure to bring Kate visiting again.’
At the front door, Mishael takes my hand in hers. ‘It’s been so lovely to see you again, my dear.’
‘Thanks for lunch.’
‘Take care, Kais, darling.’ Hugs, kisses and social niceties over, Kai helps me into the car.
‘So, we’re off to spend some time in the desert?’ Kai pulls out of the large front gates. ‘Are we staying there, only I haven’t brought my toothbrush?’ Or spare undies, mascara or my deodorant, which would be problematic.
‘All taken care of. I’ve broughtmiswak.’
‘Mis-what?’
‘Miswak. A traditional Arabic toothbrush. It’s the root of a tree,’ he explains, ‘you chew on it in the place of a brush and paste.’
‘You’re shi—you’re winding me up.’
He can barely keep a straight face, eventually unable to hold back his laughter. ‘I am,’ he manages to say through his chuckling. ‘I have, however, taken all oral requirements into consideration for this stay.’
‘Okay,’ I reply softly and with a frown.
Staying out in the desert. Does that mean we’re camping? Of course, it does. Desert sand can’t be any different to beach sand and I hate that stuff with a passion. Ironic, considering where I’ve moved to.
‘What is it?’ Kai’s voice pulls me from my internal whine.
‘I’m not a fan of camping,’ I confess.
‘Who says were camping?’
‘I assumed...’ My words trail off.
‘You know what assume did.’
‘Yeah, thanks. My ass is big enough as it is.’
‘Your ass is fine,veryfine, and you obviously haven’t seen how some Emirati’s like to camp. They take everything but the kitchen sink—sofas, huge satellite dishes for TV signals, rugs—the works. All that to get in touch with their inner Bedouin.’
‘And is that what we’re doing?’ I ask trying to mask my smile. Doesn’t sound too bad. Sounds more like glamping than camping. Very posh.
‘You’ll find out soon enough.’
