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“Don’t be sorry,” she said softly. “I wouldn’t be here now, making love to you, if it wasn’t for my sense of adventure. And it’s not as if my parents’ death is your fault.”
He sucked in a breath, her words so contrary to what he’d heard growing up it was almost intolerable.
Her eyes widened. “Are you okay?”
He managed to crack a smile. “Yes. Of course.”
Liar!
But though he could deny the truth to Holly, he couldn’t deny it to himself. His mother would still be alive today if it wasn’t for him. And no reminder that he wasn’t responsible would heal the slash cutting his soul into pieces.
That Holly seemed to be the one and only thing to soothe his sense of loss and endless guilt wasn’t lost on him. As her lashes slid closed and she dropped off to sleep, he stayed awake watching her for long hours until he too finally slipped asleep.
Chapter Seven
Holly’s eyes fluttered open to mostly shadows, with only a couple of torches still flickering and spluttering, just barely illuminating the dark, watchful stare of Hamid.
She blinked at him and smiled as their lovemaking rushed back to her in stunning detail, every intimate, pornographic, pleasurable second of it. “Good morning,” she croaked, sounding more like a dehydrated frog than a woman ensnared in her lover’s gaze.
“Morning,” he replied huskily, his voice reminding her of butterscotch drizzled over ice-cream.
Huh.Typical.
She stifled a yawn, though she’d slept like a log last night after her lovely orgasms. “What are the plans for today?”
Other than lots more sex?She shivered at the delicious notion.
“I thought we might lie in the shade near the water to see if you can capture some wildlife shots.”
Her mind finally computed his suggestion and she pushed to her feet in instinctive reaction. It wasn’t until his breath hissed out and his admiring eyes scanned her that it infiltrated her consciousness she was still naked.
It was a little too late for modesty now. He’d looked at and tasted her most intimate femininity. He’d also become as one with her both physically and mentally, or at least, that was how it’d felt to her. She’d never been touched emotionally like she had with Hamid.
“I should probably get my clothes,” she said with a wry smile.
He shook his head. “I’m afraid our urges overtook our common sense last night.” He stood, fully naked, too. “Your clothes will be sandy and damp.”
He strode toward the partition that was his bathroom, his back muscles flexing and pulling with every step, his pale buttocks built to caress and clasp. He returned with a thobe, his semi-erect cock making his front even more impressive than his back.
His nostrils flared as he smiled at her, as though aware of her thoughts. As though aware that her mouth had gone dry and her pussy was now wet. He cleared his throat. “It’s a men’s garment and probably miles too big, but at least it will cover you while your clothes are cleaned and dried.”
She nodded, and managed to pull it on. And though it really was miles too big and billowed around her, it was soft and clean and smelled of Hamid, of frankincense and vague notes of lemon.
That he was still naked didn’t seem to bother him. She was more bothered when he retrieved another thobe and pulled it over his strong, lean body. It was only when he also grabbed a folded up pair of binoculars that she remembered what they hoped to achieve.
He nodded at her. “We have a few hours before breakfast. We should see something at the oasis before then.”
They stepped outside to a morning that was still more night than day, with only a faint tinge of light giving any suggestion that sunrise was in the air. Hamid led her to the group of date palms, one of which still had her camera hanging from it.
Shit.She must really have been distracted to not have grabbed that before going into the tent. The Nikon was her most prized possession, one she didn’t leave behind…ever. She’d managed just fine to bring it here with her while leaving behind her cellphone, water, purse and hat in the hire car.
“Just remember to aim your camera away from where the camels and my men are as no wild animal with any sense will go near them,” Hamid said quietly.
She nodded as she carefully cleaned her lens on the fabric of his borrowed thobe. As she lay on her belly on the sand and grass, Hamid moved into position beside her, his binoculars in hand. He appeared to know not to talk then and it seemed as though hours ticked by before he nudged her carefully and pointed in the shallow water to their left.
She aimed her lens to where he’d indicated, holding back a gasp of delight at seeing the pale yellow leopard with its rosette fur and huge paws prowling toward the waterhole.Click. Click. Click.Its ears flickered at the shutter noise but it continued forward and finally crouched at the water to lap at the water.
Beautiful.
