He sighs raggedly and I can’t hold back any longer, the sound pushing me over the edge. As quick as a flash, I’m above him; crawling and laying my body flush against his. I run my hands through his hair, my mouth moving to his jaw, kissing and licking as I travel. Reaching his neck, I place my mouth against the prominent vein as it beats beneath my lips, the pulsing echoing in my groin. For those few mad beats I want to bite, lay my teeth against his skin, around the sensation. I satisfy the thought by grazing my teeth there.
A masculine groan hums from his throat.
I lift my head as he moves abruptly, twisting and bringing my hands above my head.
‘You know how it feels, don’t you? To want to mark me as yours, etch possession with your teeth? The woman who thinks she isn’t, says she can’t, suddenly realizing that she needs.’
His hips rock into mine as he strains his torso upwards. I moan and arch my back from the bed, relishing the feeling of his body against mine and submitting to his words.
A sudden rap of knuckles against the door sounds and Kai stills. The sound beats out again and I can feel the hard length of him against me, pulsing, almost in time to the noise.
‘Leave it,’ I whisper, my body rising against him. I rise higher than expected as he moves.
‘I can’t.’ Kissing my forehead, he stands and readjusts the seam of his pants before leaving the room.
Bugger. Bollix. Feck.
My arms and legs hit the bed, disgruntled, as shuffling and murmured thanks sound from beyond the door. Then Kai returns, sitting against the edge of the bed.
‘Aren’t you coming back?’ I rub my hand across the cover, still needy.I can still get with this, I haven’t yet gone off the idea.
‘No,habibti.’ He chuckles softly, rubbing the back of his neck and absolutely avoiding my eyes. ‘Things to see, certain persons to do... later.’
‘What?’ I pull myself upright with an exasperated huff.
‘You’ve wanted to do the tourist things,’ he says, holding out his hands. ‘Time to get changed. We’re going out into the desert.’
Yes, I want to do touristy things, but right now I’m more interested indoinghim. And for a fleeting second a look of delight crosses his eyes and I wonder if he arranged the inopportune knock at the door, just for the tease.Paranoid.
‘Here,’ he chuckles, throwing me a pair of khaki pants from the holdall, pants I recognize. It looks like hehasbeen rifling through my drawers. A long-sleeved linen shirt follows shortly afterwards, covering my head.
‘Oi, watch it,’ I snipe.
‘Ya’allah, habibti. Quick, we’re on a schedule here,’ he says, tapping my arse as I slink off the bed with the reluctance of a sullen teen.
‘Dunno why I have to get changed,’ I grumble, shimmying the pants up my legs.
‘You need to be suitably attired for the desert. I’m afraid a skirt isn’t appropriate.’
‘Why? Will I get sand in my crack?’ Inappropriate, thy name is Katherine.
‘In your—’ Bending from the waist, a huge belly laugh rocks his body.
‘My arse crack, not... the other,’ I qualify stupidly.Shut da puck up already.‘It’s an Aussie thing, like a builder’s bum... y-you probably wouldn’t understand.’ My cheeks flame red, but Christ knows what he’d call this shade. Abject-shame, maybe?
‘None of it sounds very comfortable,’ he says straightening. ‘You do say the funniest things.’
‘Pleased I’m entertaining,’ I mumble as he wraps me in his arms.
‘Funny and irresistibly sexy. But the wind can be harsh against your skin, changing is for your comfort,’ he says, his voice softening. ‘And then there are the men we’ll be travelling with. I don’t want them ogling my girl’s legs.’ He kisses the crown of my head. ‘Come, let’s go.’
Outside once more, Kai greets two locally attired men standing by a large Toyota Land Cruiser. As they complete their introductions, I stand awkwardly beside Kai studying the pair. I guess the older of the two to be the leader, based on his bearing and years. Probably about sixty or so, judging by the lines on his weather-beaten face and the grey hair protruding from thesheghmascarf, wrapped almost turban style around his head. His eyes catch mine once briefly at this stage, sliding shyly away.
‘Kate, this is Mohammed and his son, Adil. Our guides this afternoon.’
‘Hello.’ I offer my hand and retract it quickly at their embarrassed faces, but my greeting is returned bysalam’sand we head towards the car, Kai and I climbing into the back.
‘Are you going to tell me where we’re going now?’
