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Khalil smiled against the top of her head, “It’s partly the adrenaline drop. Now that you are not worrying about Erin, your body can focus on its need for sleep.”
Shira nodded her head, “That must be it. I can hardly keep my eyes open.”
“Don’t then. Shut them. I will keep you safe.”
Shira smiled, “You always do.”
Khalil let his own eyes close, drifting into a light slumber while he held his future close to his heart.
*****
Kamal was finally alone with his bride to be. She was sleeping peacefully and had no idea of the torment her disappearance had put him through.
He shed his clothes, having given orders to the guards standing outside the family apartments that no one was to be disturb them. Talib had taken the young American to her assigned rooms, and had not returned yet. That fact didn’t disturb Kamal, instead, he was encouraged to know that his little cousin might be on the path to finding a life partner as well.
Khalil had pulled Shira away only moments before, and Erin’s parents had finally succumbed to the jetlag and headed to their own chambers. This left him alone with Erin for the first time since she had been brought back to the palace and he felt a pressing need to hold her close for a while.
He positioned her on her side, smiling when she muttered in her sleep, yet not waking up. He used his arms to cage her upper body against his own, letting her nestle her buttocks back into his groin.
He closed his eyes as he fought with himself for control. The doctor had been very specific about her need for rest if she was to make a full recovery. Sighing against the back of her head, he put a little distance between their hips, only to have her squirm one again until she was nestled tightly against him. Even in her sleep the little minx drives me insane!
He felt his body tighten, but did not act upon it. It was many minutes before he finally allowed himself to drift off to sleep, with an armful of woman, the scent of her wrapping itself around him like a blanket. Together, they slept, letting time and rest remove the fear that had ruled their lives over the last day and a half.
He had so many things he wanted to tell her, but he wanted her awake to hear them. He wanted her to realize, if she didn’t already, just how important she had become to him. She was his life! “Ente omri” he whispered to her as he let sleep claim him.
Epilogue
PJ watched as Shira placed the finishing touches upon Erin’s veil. Miss Malone, Erin as she had instructed PJ to call her, had chosen to be married to Kamal in the native dress of Jawhara.
Her emerald green robes, trimmed with gold edging, accentuated the paleness of her skin, the fiery color of her hair, and almost perfectly matched her expressive eyes.
PJ had only spent a few hours with both women, but knew that theirs would be more than a standard guard and client relationship. They had already developed a budding friendship and PJ looked forward to spending more time with both women.
After everyone had gotten some much needed rest, they had met with the American security personnel late yesterday evening. The body of the kidnapper had been returned to Sumari and his next of kin – along with the body of his mother.
She had taken her own life, inside the tent in the refugee camp. The palace guards had found her lying in the middle of the tent, empty lifeless eyes staring up at the ceiling, her body cold and stiff. The doctor had estimated she most likely killed herself shortly after
Amir and Erin had left the camp.
With them both dead, and the leadership of Sumari assuring Kamal that Amir had been acting on his own, the entire incident had been labeled closed. Only, the men of Jawhara were not so easily mollified. The threat to themselves and their women was still strong and ever-present.
Kamal, Khalil, Talib and Slade discussed the remedies available to them, and it was decided that PJ would remain in Jawhara indefinitely, or until such time as she asked to return to the states. Talib assured the other men he had no intention of letting her slip away from him.
Due to Shira and Erin’s sometimes hectic schedules, it was decided that another female operative needed to be brought in to work side-by-side with the other American men. PJ couldn’t be expected to watch both women, all the time.
Slade knew of just the woman, and after gaining Kamal’s support, placed the call. He had told PJ about the woman who was to be arriving before the wedding ceremony took place and her new role in helping ensure Erin and Shira’s safety.
PJ had been impressed when Slade told her about the woman’s abilities and was looking forward to meeting her.
As Slade was sticking close to Kamal today, he had asked PJ to make sure someone met the newest member of their team and escorted her to the wedding.
She had spoken with Brock only moments before returning to Erin’s dressing room, letting him know the woman had landed and was on her way to the palace. She had asked Brock to escort her to the garden where the wedding ceremony was about to begin.
*****
Brock watched the limousine pull up in front of the palace and then saw the rear door open. He lifted his eyebrows when a pair of very tan, very bare, and very long legs emerged from the car.
Letting his eyes travel up to see the rest of the body attached to them, he nodded his head slightly in approval. Until he reached her face, that was. What is the hell was Keira doing here?
