Her Desert Knight (8 page)

“Are you hoping I can convince him to drop the suit?” She finally spoke up. It was either that or run from the room, and since she’d resolved to take control of her life, speaking up was better.

“Of course not.” Quasar looked shocked. “I’m sorry it’s even come up. Salim, you’re making my guest uncomfortable. I brought her here to meet you all and get to know you and you’re stirring up some family feud that has nothing to do with her. I’m so sorry.” He looked so genuinely contrite that she almost forgot her ideas that this visit was part of a scheme to end the land dispute.

Almost.

“That’s okay. As I said, it has nothing to do with me. I wish my father would drop his lawsuit but I really don’t have any influence over him in the matter.”

The children had grown restless during the boring adult discussion and were now chasing each other around the table. “I think it’s time to hit the beach,” said Sara. “I’ll grab the towels and sunblock if someone else could bring the sand toys.”

“I’m on it,” said Elan.

“I’ll herd the children,” said Salim, with an indulgent smile at them. And just like that they were all headed for the beach. Dani wasn’t sure whether she liked being bundled so easily into the family group. Her nerves jumped when Quasar touched her a couple of times as they walked along the elegant allée of date palms that led to the beach. Part of her was excited and flattered to be here, and the rest was terrified that she was in way over her head.

They spent about two hours building a magnificent kneeling camel out of sand, kept damp by an elaborate network of canals hand-dug by Elan and his son, Ben. When the camel was done, it was solid enough for the children to climb carefully onto its back and “ride.”

No further mention was made of her father and his land claim. In fact the conversation centered around education and the dilemmas that the Al Mansur parents were facing regarding the benefits of homeschooling their children so they could travel freely, versus letting them enjoy the social environment of a real school. Both families had decided to travel and homeschool while the children were younger, then worry about where to settle so the kids could enjoy more stable social lives once they were in their teens.

It was refreshing to hear people who thought nothing of living part of their lives in the States and part in Oman. When she’d moved to New Jersey for college her Omani friends had been appalled and swore that she’d never come back. You’d have thought she’d decided to colonize deep space. When she met her husband and settled there, with her father’s stern disapproval, she did indeed wonder if she’d ever see Oman and her brothers again. It had taken a lot of courage and humility to come back, and at the time, her departure from the States had seemed final and permanent.

Now she wondered if in fact she could make a life that involved both places. Her expertise seemed to lend itself to that, if she could just find the right niche. She felt invigorated and excited about her future by the time Quasar pointed out that it was time for her to go home.

She was forced to admit, on the drive back, that Quasar’s family was both warm and welcoming and that she’d actually enjoyed herself. She’d almost forgotten her fears that they’d brought her there to convince her to win her father over.

Until Quasar brought up the subject. “How much do you think your father would take to drop his claim on the land?”

“Are you serious?” Her worst fears flared up again.

“Why not? It would solve a lot of problems. He might even start to like me if I can resolve this issue that’s been nagging at him for decades.”

She snuck a sideways glance at him. Was he interested in her because she could help him solve the land problem, or was he interested in the land problem because it could help him win her?

It was too confusing for her to tackle. “I don’t think he’d take money at this point. I think he wants the land back.”

“What would he do with it?”

“Sell it on the open market, I suppose. But there’s no way to know what it’s truly worth until he does that. He says the location is so prime there would be multiple offers for it.”

“Salalah has a lot of empty coastline.”

Suspicion flickered inside her. “Not in the middle of town.”

“You’d be surprised. It may not be worth as much as he thinks.”

Her throat tightened. “I have no idea what it’s worth and I don’t want to get involved.” She wanted to get home and away from Quasar before he charmed her into anything else.

“What about one million dollars? American money.”

Now she was really getting upset. “I don’t know. It’s not my land. You’d have to ask him.” If this were the real reason for his visit last night it would explain why he didn’t care if she wanted him to meet her father or not.

“He says he won’t negotiate with an Al Mansur.”

“Then you have your answer.” She checked her watch. It was nearly three-thirty and to be safe she needed to be home by four. Her youngest brother often got home from school around that time. Luckily they were already in her neighborhood.

Quasar sighed. “I wish I could convince my brother to just give him the land. Now that you’ve met Salim you can see that Salalah would have to freeze over before that happened.”

She softened. “If Salalah froze over the hotels might not be so popular. Unless he opens a ski resort in the mountains.”

Quasar laughed. “I suspect he’d like the way you think.” He pulled on to her street and drove up to the front of her house. Then he glanced both ways and drove around to the back entrance. “I can’t stand to leave you. I want to spend more time with you.”

I want to make love to you
. She read the words in his gaze and they echoed in her heart.

Was this part of his charm? A slick gloss over an ulterior motive? Or was Quasar really as smitten with her as she was with him?

“Can I come in, just for a moment?” His soft words scandalized her.

“You’ve got to be kidding. I promised my father I wouldn’t see you again. You’ve already made me a liar and now you want to trespass in his house?”

“I’ve been accused of having a different set of morals than most people.”

“I don’t think that’s a good thing.” She gathered her bag off the floor. “I have to go.”

“Kiss me.”

His gaze, hooded, dark and filled with passion, stole her breath and every last ounce of her common sense. Suddenly her lips were on his, kissing him with tenderness. His arms wrapped around her in the cramped space of the car, and his exhilarating male scent filled her senses. The effect he had on her was shocking. Once minute she was normal and sensible, the next...

“I’m desperate to make love to you.” He gestured to the house with his head.

“No way. You’re crazy.”

“Kiss me again, then.” He covered her mouth with his before she had a chance to refuse. His hands on her body stirred passion that grew into an ache. He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. “You know you want to.”

“I do, but...” The prospect of making love with Quasar in her own bedroom was terrifying and electrifying at the same time. Her whole body burned to feel his pressed against it. “We’ll have to be really quick.” Heart pounding, she extricated herself from his embrace and climbed out of the car. She couldn’t believe she was about to do this, but apparently that wasn’t enough to stop her. It was a crazy foolish risk but somehow that felt right. She’d been tiptoeing quietly through life, putting her own needs and desires last for far too long. Following her instincts felt daring and liberating.

The back door had a key code and she unlocked it and ushered him down the dim hallway past the empty servants’ bedrooms. “In here.” She ducked into her bedroom and pulled him with her, locking the door behind her. Her familiar bedroom, with its calming lilac walls and floral-patterned bedcover, looked utterly different dominated by the tall and commanding presence of Quasar.

Within seconds they were grabbing at each other’s clothes and shucking them off to reveal bare, anxious skin. Dani clutched at him, pressing her chest to his, reveling in the closeness that banished all her doubts about his intentions.

He wanted her. Nothing else.

Quasar kissed her face, her neck, her hands, with worshipful passion. He kissed her thighs, her knees and her ankles. Then, easing her back onto the bed, he licked her sex until she gasped with pleasure.

For an instant she was distracted by the framed picture of her high school class photo, then by the stuffed bear her friend Nala had given her. Things that reminded her there was a real world out there beyond Quasar’s intense embrace. Then she forgot again and folded herself into him, watching with joy and impatience as he donned a condom. Welcoming him into her and moving with him on her familiar bedspread, letting sensation and emotion wash over her like a tidal wave she couldn’t fight but could only hope to flow with.

They climaxed in a rush of almost unbearable tension and release that made her cry out so loud that Quasar clapped his hand over her mouth and startled her. Eyes gleaming with arousal and amusement, he urged her to be quiet and not give them away.

She watched her own chest rising and falling as if she’d run a marathon. “What have you done to me?”

“Awakened you.” He kissed her cheek softly, his eyes closing for just that instant. “You were like the sleeping beauty, sleepwalking through life. Now you’re living in the moment.”

“Living like a crazy person.” The clock on her wall said 3:45 p.m. “My brother Khalid could be home any minute.”

“You can tell him I’m the mailman.”

She smiled. “He’ll know you’re not. The real one gives him gum sometimes.”

He put on a mock serious expression and pretended to check his pockets even though he was naked. “I don’t have gum.” He let go of a wistful sigh and stroked a finger along her body. “You’re beautiful, and sensual, and affectionate, and I can’t get enough of you.”

“Sorry to disappoint you yet again but you need to leave
right now
.” Half-playful and half-serious, she pushed him off her and reached for her clothes. It was hard to tug them on. Her whole body was trembling with excitement and something akin to shock.

“What if I won’t go?” Sprawled across her single bed, he knitted his hands behind his head and pretended to ease farther onto the mattress. “Then what will you do?”

“That’s not funny. I hate bossy men, remember?”

He smiled and rolled up and onto his feet. “I’m not really bossy. I’m just...” He seemed to think about it for a moment.

“You’re just trouble.” She picked up his pants off the floor and threw them at him. “Get dressed and get out of here.” Even while she pretended to scold him, excitement at their escapade rippled through her. They were both healthy, consenting adults. Why couldn’t they enjoy each other’s company?

Quasar pulled his pants on far more slowly than she liked. She tried to bundle his arms into his shirt to hurry him up, but he ended up grabbing her around the waist and kissing her until she wondered if they’d need a second condom.

Then she heard something and froze. Footsteps in the hallway.

Eight

“I
t must be Khalid.” Her heart was jumping around in her chest.

“Why don’t you introduce me?”

Dani motioned for Quasar to be silent. “He probably saw you here last night. He certainly heard you. There’s no way we can pretend you’re just a friend, even if it wasn’t totally inappropriate for me to have a male friend come visit me here alone. We have to get you out of here without him seeing you.”

“I’ll climb out the window.” He looked amused by the idea.

“You can’t. It has a grating over it. It’s locked from the outside and I don’t know where the key is.”

“That sounds very dangerous in case of a fire.”

She motioned again for him to be quiet. Now was not the time to worry about fire safety. He shrugged his shirt on, quickly buttoned it and examined the window. “Will he come in?” He gestured toward the hallway.

“No. But he might wonder why I haven’t come out to say hello. I’ll have to pretend I was napping and didn’t hear him come in.” It was hard to speak quietly enough that the sound wouldn’t travel into the hallway. “Maybe you should hide behind the door. I’ll go distract him with something in the kitchen, and you can dash out the hallway past the servants’ quarters.”

“It’s lucky you don’t have any servants.” He tucked in his shirt. “I’ll sneak out like an experienced diamond thief.”

Dani’s heart was in her throat as she opened the door with Quasar hidden behind it. If her brother saw her he’d rat her out for sure. He wasn’t mean but he was a Goody Two-shoes. She’d been one at his age, too.

“Khalid? Is that you? I fell asleep!” She hurried down the hallway toward the living room. Her brother often threw his bag down in there and lay on the sofa before he started his homework. “Could you help me get the lid off the new olive jar? I’ve been trying all afternoon.” She had to lure him into the kitchen. It was the only room where you couldn’t see into the central hallway. She prayed that Quasar would be patient enough to wait.

“Dani! I’m resting. Give me a minute.”

“Oh, come on. I’ll make your favorite snack. Anything you want.”

“Well, in that case...” He eased off the sofa. She held her breath as he glanced in her direction. The hallway was clearly visible behind her. Then he turned toward the kitchen and she followed him, hoping there was an unopened olive jar somewhere.

“What did I do with it?” She made a big show of clattering around in the pantry, trying to make as much noise as possible while straining her ears to hear if Quasar had made his escape. “Oh, here it is. I don’t know why it’s so stuck. I even put it under hot water. I couldn’t get it open.” She glanced over Khalid’s shoulder as she handed him the jar.

He opened it without a moment’s hesitation. At that exact moment the back door clicked shut.

“Did you hear that?” Khalid wheeled around. “It sounded like the door.”

She shrugged. “I didn’t hear a thing. Thanks so much for opening this. What would you like to eat? I could make
halwa
if you like. Aunt Nadia gave me a new recipe.”

“I swear I just heard a car engine start back there. I’m going to check.”

She grabbed his sleeve. “Wait, there’s a bottle of oil I couldn’t open, either. Just do that before you go. And do you want me to make the
halwa?
”

“Sure,
halwa
sounds good. But it takes a long time and I’m pretty starving so I’m going to grab something else while I’m here.” He dove into a packet of crackers. By the time she found a bottle of oil and looked impressed while he opened it, she’d quizzed him about his homework and he seemed to have forgotten about the door and the car and was telling her to make sure the
halwa
was sweet enough.

As soon as he returned to the living room she locked the back door and hurried to her bedroom to rearrange the disordered bed. The condom wrapper lay on the floor like a pointing finger of accusation and she quickly crumpled it up and shoved it down into the toe of a boot she didn’t wear often.

She sagged onto her bed as waves of guilt and relief crashed over her. Was she completely out of her mind? She’d let Quasar make love to her in her bedroom, only hours after promising her father she wouldn’t see him anymore.

He had a frightening amount of power over her. The worst part was that she was so willing to do all the inappropriate things he suggested. Her ex-husband had talked her into doing all kinds of things she didn’t want to because he’d pout and whine and make such a fuss if she didn’t. It was impossible to imagine Quasar doing that. He’d just smile and shrug and seduce her until she wanted to do it even more than he did.

Her body still tingled and pulsed with the sensations Quasar had created inside her. A quick examination of her face in the mirror showed her lips were pink from kissing and her hair messy. Lucky thing her brother wasn’t too observant, and she’d mentioned waking up from a nap. Still, she’d taken a huge risk that her father would discover her affair. He would go ballistic if he found out what she’d been doing. He might even throw her out of the house.

Quasar was making her careless. Reckless. Which was all well and good while he was there and she was having the time of her life, but she’d have to live with herself and what little reputation she had left when he was gone.

Her phone pinged. And she grabbed it out of her bag.

Made it.

She smiled. He hadn’t sent her a text before. Of course this was just one more piece of incriminating evidence, like the condom wrapper. She resisted the urge to respond and quickly deleted it. And now she had to go make
halwa
from scratch. At least creating the sticky dessert would keep her busy!

Another ping.
I miss you.

Her heart seized. Did he really? She supposed he must or he wouldn’t be texting her. She couldn’t resist typing back,
I miss you, too.
She turned off the volume on her phone so her brother wouldn’t get curious.

Being apart like this is foolish.

She frowned.
What we’re doing is foolish.

No, it isn’t. I need you.

The tiny words on her screen made her breath catch and she told herself to get a grip. It wasn’t as if he’d told her he loved her. Not that she’d even believe it if he did.

I need you, too
. She wanted to type the words. But she didn’t. It was much safer to keep her feelings secret.

You have an alarming effect on me.
That was less incriminating and no less true.

He responded immediately.
The effect is mutual. I can’t stop thinking about you.

She glanced over her shoulder.
You really shouldn’t text me. Someone might see it.

Come to the hotel tomorrow. Ten-thirty?

She paused, and inhaled very slowly.
I can’t. I have to go see about a job.
She’d gotten sidetracked today, but establishing her independence would be the first step to securing her own future. If she made money she could rent her own apartment and see—within reason—whomever she chose. Even Quasar, if he still wanted to.

After that, then. How about two?

Could she? Of course she wanted to. The prospect of going all day without seeing his mischievous smile was grim. But she had to be sensible.
I won’t have time.

I can’t go a whole day without seeing you.

She couldn’t help smiling. Sure you can. You’ve been through many days in life without seeing me.
She headed out of her bedroom, and down the hallway to the kitchen.

That was before I met you. Now everything’s different.

She bit her lip. She could almost swear he was sincere. Then she remembered the twinkle of humor that always hovered in his slate blue eyes. Was Quasar ever serious about anything?

If you don’t agree, I’ll come back right now.

Dani frowned. Part of her knew that the humor was still there and he was just teasing. The other part, that had been bullied and ordered around for nearly five years, coiled up ready to strike.
That’s not funny.

“Who are you texting?”

Her brother’s voice made Dani look up with a start. She hadn’t noticed him there in the doorway. “A friend from the States.” Not exactly a lie. Not exactly the truth, either.

“Cool. I could end up at school there, too. Dad thinks I might be able to get into MIT.”

“Really?” She was surprised their father would even consider it after the way she’d gone off track. “That’s great. It’s one of the best schools in the world.”

“I know. They have an aerospace engineering program.”

“I didn’t know you were interested in rockets.” She could feel her phone vibrating, but she resisted the urge to look at it.

“I’m more interested in satellites. You’d be surprised how important they are these days. All our information is bouncing around in space. It’s the new frontier in information technology.” He glanced at her phone, which was vibrating. “I think you’re getting another message.”

“Oh.” She pretended to glance casually at it.

I’m still crazy about you even though you’re ignoring me.

“I can’t get used to people being able to contact me wherever I go. I’m not sure I’m ready for all these new frontiers.”

“I think it’s awesome. Tell your friend I said hi.” He smiled and headed off to do his homework. Dani blinked and felt another vibration.

I’m on your doorstep.

Her blood ran cold. He wouldn’t, would he? Did he have that little respect for her wishes and her reputation? Her heart squeezed.

Just kidding.

She narrowed her eyes.
You’re really starting to tick me off.

You still miss me, though, don’t you?

She hesitated for a minute, and pursed her lips.
Yes. But don’t come here. We need somewhere very discreet to meet. I’ll text you in the morning.
What if someone saw this conversation on her phone? She deleted the thread, shoved the phone into the pocket of her pants and pulled out the sugar and cardamom and rosewater to start her preparations for
halwa
.

* * *

The next morning Dani donned a conservative blue ensemble and headed for the university campus. She’d printed her resumé and intended to drop in on the administrative offices and ask about available openings. Her interview with the human resources coordinator was humbling. Although she had a Ph.D. and had published several papers, didn’t know any of the new database software and had no office or management experience. She’d been so successful, or lucky, at finding great mentors and work in her field that she’d never had to develop the peripheral “fall-back” skills most people her age had.

Although they had three administrative openings, none of them was “quite right for her.” Friends in college had teased her that a degree in art history was preparation for would-you-like-fries-with-that? jobs. Maybe they were right.

Keeping her chin in the air, she went to the history department, thinking that perhaps she could get her foot in the door by volunteering her time here. The older building was barely air-conditioned and looked neglected and run-down compared to the rest of the state-of-the-art campus. Apparently the school put more stock in the future than in rehashing the past—and could she really blame them for that? When it came to the modern world, her academic expertise was of limited use.

An older man in a rumpled dishdasha was pinning something to the cluttered notice board inside the door when she entered. “Excuse me, does this department have an art collection?”

He looked up slowly. “Art collection?” He snorted. “I think not. There used to be a collection of swords but I think it was sold off when the roof needed fixing.” He looked her up and down with some distaste and she got the distinct feeling he didn’t approve of her. “This department focuses exclusively on military history. Unless you’re looking for a collection of ancient battle maps, you’re in the wrong place.”

“Oh. Thank you.” Deflated by his hostile gaze, she turned and left. As far as she’d been able to discover, the other universities nearby were entirely science-and technology-oriented.

She stopped into a boutique selling pretty traditional dresses and asked about a job there. The owner, a rather glamorous middle-aged woman, was kind, but said that currently she didn’t need help.

As she walked through an unfamiliar souk in a neighborhood more than twenty minutes from her own, she realized it was a good place to meet Quasar. He answered his phone immediately and eagerly agreed to meet her there right away.

Feeling better already, and trying to hide her smile, she walked among the stalls, and tasted a sugary date. She even bought a bag of almonds so she wouldn’t look as if she were only there to meet her lover. She still couldn’t believe they’d made love in her bedroom. It was so wrong, and yet so exciting and exhilarating.

“Hello, gorgeous.” Quasar’s low voice in her ear made her spin around and her grin probably announced their relationship to anyone who was paying attention.

“Hi.” Her skin prickled with awareness in his presence. Something about him lit her on fire, even out here in the everyday atmosphere of the market. She noticed a lime seller eyeing them curiously. “We should probably go somewhere else.”

“I’ve been thinking about nothing but seeing you since yesterday.” His eyes glittered with a desire that echoed her own.

“Me, too.” It was hard to think straight with him around. Colors grew brighter and the sounds of the street seemed to blur into white noise. “I missed you.”

She knew she was admitting too much, letting him know the power he had over her. He knew already, though. How could he not? She melted like butter in the hot sun whenever he was near.

“Let’s walk.” He gestured along the road that led south, toward the ocean. His hand twitched slightly and she could swear he wanted to put it around her waist, but was resisting.

They rounded the corner out of sight of the market stalls, and were now alone on a dusty street of modest houses. Quasar took her in his arms with a swiftness that almost pushed the breath from her lungs, and kissed her with intensity.

When their lips finally parted she was shocked for a moment at how bold he’d been to kiss her in public. “We shouldn’t do this. Someone might see.”