Her Desert Knight Read online

  He laughed. “Too right. I used to keep a falcon for hunting. Trained it myself. I’d spend hours out here tracking prey with it when I was a kid.” She shrank a little from his touch. His admitted predatory attitude should make her wary. “But don’t be afraid. I won’t eat you.”

  “No?” She looked up into his face. His dark blue eyes were soft, curious.

  “No.” The high midday sun illuminated his aristocratic features. Of course he wouldn’t be interested in devouring her. Obviously she’d been out of circulation too long to think that a man as magnificent and confident as Quasar would be interested in her.

  “Maybe just a tiny bite.” His wide, sensual mouth hitched slightly. Something strange was happening in her belly. It was the way he looked at her, like he held her in his grasp. She couldn’t look away. His face was moving closer, his sparkling eyes still fixed right on hers. She could smell his musky, masculine scent. Any minute now she’d feel the roughness of his skin....

  His lips met hers in a rush, like the eagle falling on its prey. Far from diving for cover, her mouth rose to his and melded with it. Sensation crashed over her. She was dimly aware of their natural surroundings—the wind in the trees, animals scurrying nearby—and of his hands resting warmly at her waist, but her whole being focused on the kiss and the powerful and intense effect it created in her body. Heat flooded her core, spreading out to her limbs, squeezing the breath from her lungs as she gave herself over to the sensation. She’d never experienced a kiss like this. Chemistry, was it? Or was it that she’d never kissed a man as gorgeous and dashing as Quasar. Either way the effect was overwhelming.

  She had no idea how long they kissed, but when they finally pulled apart and she opened her eyes, she found herself blinking against now-unaccustomed daylight. “Oh, dear.” The words spilled out. The intense sensations pouring through her had sparked her to life in a way that seemed dangerously familiar. She hadn’t felt this way since the early days of her marriage, when she was so sure that love could solve any problem, if she could just find a way.

  She’d been wrong.

  Quasar gave an amused frown. “‘Oh, dear?’ That’s not the effect I intended.”

  She sucked in a breath, fighting the urge to fan herself. “It’s just that I haven’t...I’m not used to...I didn’t think...” She didn’t know what she was trying to say. Had she really come here to watch the birds? She was old enough to know better than to accompany a gorgeous man into the wilderness if she couldn’t keep her wits about her.

  Her heart fluttered in her chest, the emotions that she thought she’d abandoned back in the States scaring her. Her conviction that from now on she’d live a sensible life, free of passion and drama, had all but deserted her. Right now she wanted nothing more than to kiss Quasar again.

  Which was a terrible idea. He was only here for a couple of weeks, tops. He’d made no further mention of introducing her to his family. For him this was just a diverting vacation fling. If she could enter into this with that spirit it would be fine, but she couldn’t. “We should go.”

  * * *

  Quasar felt his smile fade. Just moments ago Dani had been one with him, lost in a delicious and enthralling kiss. Now she shrank from him, her muscles stiffening. “I didn’t mean to alarm you. That was a sensational kiss but I’ll behave myself from now on if you prefer.”

  The countryside hummed with life that echoed in his body. A soft breeze tossed Dani’s hair and arousal kissed her cheeks with pink. The secluded natural setting, high up above the world, was the perfect place for a little impromptu lovemaking.

  But something told him that wasn’t going to happen.

  Dani’s lips had tightened into a white line. “I need to get home.”

  What had changed? She’d warmed to the kiss instantly, and enjoyed it as much as he. She was giving back as much as he gave the entire time. They’d kissed for a full three or four minutes! Part of him wanted to seize her in his arms and kiss her again, so they could jump right back into that world of passion.

  But he could tell that would be a terrible idea. “What’s the matter?”

  She shook her head, blinked. She inhaled as if to speak, then didn’t.

  “Is it that we don’t know each other well enough?”

  “Yes.” She spoke fast, obviously glad of a way to respond. “But it’s not just that.”

  “We can get to know each other slowly.” He took her hand and squeezed it. It felt cold, and tightened in his grasp.

  “We can’t. You’re leaving soon.”

  “Not that soon.” He’d be here for at least two weeks. On the other hand, maybe that was no time at all to her. He wasn’t too sure of Omani dating customs. It was probably customary for them to glance at each other across the stalls of a souk for nine months before a single word was exchanged.

  But she was wearing jeans and a khaki T-shirt and looked like an American today. Even the lush green hillside with its winding, rocky trails looked like somewhere in the Ozarks. He didn’t care where they were. All he knew was that he needed to keep her here. If he drove her home now he’d never see her again. “Let’s climb higher so we can look down on the eagles. Maybe we’ll even see their nests.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Her dark eyes wide, she looked so confused he just wanted to take her in his arms.

  “Of course it is. We’re grown adults and we can do anything we set our minds to.” He scanned the horizon, hoping for an impressive eagle, or at least some rare sparrow to distract her with.

  “I don’t know what came over me. I haven’t kissed anyone since...since...”

  “Your marriage?”

  She nodded. A furrow formed between her elegant brows. “I didn’t think I’d ever want to kiss someone again.”

  He smiled. “And then you did.”

  He heard her inhale. “It was a mistake.”

  “I should take that as an insult.” Her whole body was so tense he could tell she was deadly serious, but still he wanted to lighten the mood.

  “It’s not you, it’s me.”

  “You’re a lovely woman. You’re single, or at least so you’ve told me. What’s wrong with you enjoying a kiss?”

  “I am single.” She looked shocked that he’d called that into question. “And believe me, I am not looking to get into a relationship ever again.”

  He wanted to quip that she’d found the right man for that—relationships were not his strong point—but he restrained himself. “Just because it didn’t work out with one man, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ever enjoy romance again.”

  “Yes, it does.” She hugged herself as a breeze ruffled the trees. “Can we leave now?” Her eyes implored him.

  “I guess we could start walking back toward the car.” It was a good twenty minutes away. Hopefully he could win her around by then. “Why are you so afraid of another relationship?”

  She walked ahead of him. “Being part of a couple turned me into someone else.”

  “How?” He walked faster to catch up with her.

  “I lost myself. I became the person he shaped me into. The weak and useless person he despised.” He saw her shoulders shiver.

  “You didn’t become that person. He just made you feel that way. Was he abusive?”

  “Not physically. He never hit me.” Her voice was very quiet. “He didn’t do much at all. I became a victim so easily. I gave up my career, gave up my friends, stopped doing everything I enjoyed and turned into the nobody he wanted to hate.” Gravel scattered at her feet as she hurried along the loose surface of the trail, over tree roots and around rocks. At this rate they’d be back at the car in less than ten minutes.

  “He sounds like a jackass.”

  She stopped and turned around. “Yes. He was a jackass. I can see that now, but at the time I thought it was
me. I lost all perspective on my own life. You can see how I don’t want to get myself into a situation like that again.”

  “You won’t. You just had the bad luck to give your heart, and your trust, to someone who didn’t deserve it. Most men aren’t anything like that.”

  “Aren’t they?” A pained expression flickered across her face. “My father thinks I’m a fool.”

  “Then you need to get away from him, too.”

  “I can’t. I have no job and very little money. The divorce lawyers took almost everything I had left, which wasn’t much. We didn’t have any assets to split and I didn’t want alimony as it would have given my ex-husband a hold over me when I needed a complete break. With my—as both my father and ex-husband pointed out—useless career, I’m not likely to make money anytime soon.” Tears rose in her eyes. “I guess I planned my life like a fairy tale, where I’d live my dreams surrounded by art and love. I was stupid.”

  She turned and started walking again, batting branches away from her face, descending the trail so fast he worried she’d slip on the loose gravel.

  Quasar’s chest swelled with pity. Which annoyed him. She didn’t want pity. He hurried after her. “You had a job at Princeton. That’s the epitome of success.”

  “And I gave it up because it interfered with me being home to vacuum the carpets. Obviously I didn’t deserve it.”

  He grabbed her arm. “What kind of pity party is this? You need to turn your life around, not whine about it.”

  She’d stiffened at his grip, and now she tried to tug her arm away. Then a sob emerged from her throat, like the sound a wounded animal would make. “I know. I know! I hate myself.”

  Remorse clutched at his heart. Had he added to her sorrows by insulting her like the men who’d tried to crush her? “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m just upset to see an intelligent and capable—and very beautiful—woman selling herself so short. You have an amazing amount of potential and you should tap into it.”

  Her eyes were bright with tears. “I know I do. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  “Nothing’s wrong with you.” He’d softened his grip on her arm, but didn’t let go. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d run away if he did. “You need to believe that. And a good start would be to look around at the incredible beauty surrounding us and let yourself appreciate it for a moment.”

  She blinked, and a small tear rolled quietly down her cheek. She looked up and he saw the sky reflected in her gaze. A dark shape darted across her pupil: the flickering outline of a bird high above. He turned and watched a kestrel circling over them. “Careful,” he whispered. “Don’t show any weakness or he might come eat us.”

  A smile tugged at her sad mouth. “We’d be awfully big bites.”

  “And I’ll protect you with my bare hands.” He lifted the one that wasn’t holding her upper arm.

  “You have very capable hands for a businessman.”

  “I play sports.”

  “Oh.” She glanced at his body. A flash of awareness jumped inside him. He hoped she felt it, too.

  “So I’m fit enough to protect you.”

  “I guess that’s reassuring.” The smile now reached to her eyes. “And you’re right. It is stunning here. I mustn’t let myself get wrapped up in fear again. I’m trying to get away from that.”

  “Good. Because before that happened I think you were enjoying our kiss.”

  She looked up at the bird again. “I was.” Her lip quivered slightly. “Too much. I enjoyed kissing my ex-husband at first, too.”

  “I’m not him.” He let go of her arm gently. She didn’t run off. That was a start.

  “I know you’re not.” She fixed her eyes on him. “It’s just that I was so in love. It started with attraction and quickly spiraled into me giving him my entire life. I don’t trust myself to be sensible.”

  “I don’t trust myself to be sensible, either, very often.” He was more inclined to plunge in headfirst and deal with the fallout later. “Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. Don’t lose the part of you that feels, or that cares. That’s what makes us human.” He couldn’t stand that she thought shutting herself off from experience was the best way to protect herself from pain.

  Even if she might have a point, especially where he was concerned. He didn’t exactly have the best track record when it came to long-term loving relationships. “Look at the view from here.” They’d reached a bend in the road and a gap in the trees revealed a clear view down to a river sparkling in a valley below them. “Isn’t it amazing to see a river running here so close to the vast barren desert?”

  “This whole mountain range seems to rise up out of nowhere. I guess it shows you that life can flourish in surprising places.”

  “And joy can flourish in unexpected places, too.”

  She turned sharply to look at him. “You’re a flirt.”

  “Either that or I’m speaking the truth.”

  “Or both.” She laughed. “I think you’re very easy to take at face value.”

  “Good. Would you like to walk down toward the river? There’s a path here—look.” A narrow trail between the trees zigzagged across the hillside.

  “Why not?” The sparkle was back in her eyes. “In fact, I’ll lead the way.” The kestrel spiraled overhead as she proceeded—gingerly—down the gravelly path toward the sparkling water in the wadi below. He enjoyed the view of her body in the fitted jeans that showed off her athletic-looking curves. The mystery of her traditional clothing had its own allure, but he preferred the what-you-see-is-what-you-get simplicity of Western clothing. Maybe mystery wasn’t his thing. His hands itched to run themselves over her lithe body, but he counseled himself to take it slow. Take your time. It will be worth it. The last thing he wanted was to add to her burden of grief and regret. When they parted, he wanted to leave her smiling.

  His own thoughts jolted him, and he almost slipped on the loose ground. Why was he thinking about their parting already? In business he always had an exit strategy in mind. Was he the same in relationships, even though he’d never admitted it to himself?

  Something felt different this time, though. What were his intentions with Dani? She was quieter and gentler than the kind of women he usually dated, and that made him take their whole new relationship more seriously. He knew everything that happened between them would mean a lot to her, and that made it important to him, too. Already he felt a connection to her far deeper than such a short acquaintance would normally produce. He wanted to make her happy.

  “Almost there!” She flashed him a brilliant smile that made his breath catch in his lungs. In moments like this he could see Dani shake off the shroud of fear and transform back into the vibrant young woman she was supposed to be. Her exhilaration was catching and he bounded down the last few yards like a clumsy gazelle, arriving on the pebbled shoreline at the same tizme she did.

  “I wonder if the water is cold.” He crouched and dipped his fingers in it. “Yes. It must be spring water.”

  She let her fingers play in the water. “In the old days there were underground channels that carried water hundreds of miles through the desert—all the way to the cities—without evaporating.”

  “Proves that in some ways our ancestors were more advanced than we are. Today that kind of pipeline is usually filled with oil.”

  “One day something else will replace the oil. A few centuries ago the frankincense trade was the beating heart of this area. You still see the trees dotting the landscape. Some of them are hundreds of years old, maybe even thousands. They tap them for the sap, which dries into hard chunks of frankincense. People still burn it for the aroma, though it isn’t worth more than gold anymore.”

  “Value is always relative.” Quasar splashed water on his face and neck. “Anyone in business will tell you that. Can’t kn
ock the oil, though. It made my family wealthy, though they’ve since branched out. Is your father in the oil industry?”

  “He used to be. Right now he’s employed by the latest building boom. He does pretty well but for some reason he’s always complaining. I think he feels he should be a millionaire by now. He’s never satisfied. He’s griping about supporting me again. I wish I could find a job.”

  “Have you looked?”

  “Here in Salalah?” She laughed. “I haven’t. I’ve just assumed there’s nothing in my field.”

  “Don’t give up before you even try.” He splashed a little water at her. She shrieked and splashed him back. Suddenly they were engaged in an all-out splash war that left them both drenched and breathless—and kissing again.

  Four

  Dani’s clothes had almost dried by the time she unlocked the back door to the house and snuck in, hoping no one had noticed Quasar’s car on their street. He could hardly drop her off at the market damp and disheveled, so she had to take the risk.

  “Where have you been?” She almost jumped out of her skin at the sound of Khalid’s voice.

  “Why are you home from school so early?”

  He stood in the hallway looking gangly and awkward in his too-small school uniform. At fifteen, he was going through a teenage growth spurt and had shot up about three inches just since she’d been home. “Our algebra teacher is having surgery. They let us go home. Why are your jeans wet at the bottom?” His eyes traveled back up to meet hers. “And why are you wearing jeans at all. I thought Dad told you to dress traditionally.”

  “I’m a grown-up. I can dress how I want.” She attempted to sweep past him but the hallway was narrow and their elbows bumped.

  “Hmm. Sounds like you were doing something you’re not supposed to.”

  “I know. Walking around without a male relative. It’s a shame you weren’t here or I could have taken you with me to the dry cleaner.”

  “How did you get wet at the dry cleaner?” He was following her down the hallway.