My Desert Rose

by Kalia Lewis

  At the end of the bazar, near to the tiny port, fishermen had explained their way of life and the rare diversity of the local marine life. They'd showed her the previous night's catch of shark, tuna, lobsters and king fish. They were all very gentle people and she said this to one of them, who explained that the name 'Socotra' meant 'the island of happiness.'

  Tariq was known everywhere. People called to him, waved and brought him gifts for his family. Seeing their respect of him, Katie knew that he cared deeply about these people and they returned that care to him.

  Nearly ready to drop, Tariq had taken her arm and led her back to the car and then he drove to a point not far from the house. Now they were walking towards a deserted beach. Katie couldn’t recall the last time she’d felt this relaxed and happy. Swinging her shoes as she walked, she felt the warmth of the sand as it seeped through her toes. Tariq walked at the side of her, carrying the picnic basket and straw bag. They chose a spot and Tariq plonked everything down and pulled out the blanket.

  Katie longed to feel the cool waters of the ocean on her dusty skin. Knowing the laws on Muslim women and bare skin, she asked, "Do you think it’ll be okay to take a dip?"

  "Sure, this is our family’s private beach. Besides, there's only us two here and there are some towels in the bag."

  She gave him a sidelong glance. "I’m not wearing a bikini though, so my underwear will have to do, but no looking, okay?" The grin he gave her wasn’t exactly comforting. His eyes were covered with mirrored shades, but she'd bet that behind them they were laughing at her. "I mean it," she warned.

  "But honey," he drawled. "The feel of them this morning has left little to the imagination, so please, don’t worry about me if you'd prefer to go skinny dipping?"

  She swiped playfully at his shoulder.

  He laughed as he dodged her.

  Not wanting to give him the pleasure of seeing her blush as she took off her clothes, she picked up a towel and ambled down to the water’s edge.

  Watching her as she began to strip made him feel guilty as hell, but surely her being his wife gave him the right? Who was he kidding? It gave him nothing but agony. It was like being a child, presented with the most luscious cream cake in front of you, yet you were denied a piece. The torture of wondering what that sugary treat tasted like would be forever imprinted on your mind.

  The blue linens now lay in a heap on the sand, revealing her white lace underwear. The temperature of the air just got hotter. Creamy skin covered her athletic, yet curvy form and full breasts were being hugged by the flimsy material. Holding back a grin, he noted her quick glance towards him to check that he wasn’t looking, which of course he was through his shades. Turning her perfect butt cheeks his way, she then dived into the ocean and disappeared under its swells. Before she could even come up for a breath, he’d stripped off while jogging to the water’s edge and jumped in.

  Katie wallowed in the coolness of the water. She was a strong underwater swimmer and she stretched her arms and legs, slicing through the water. Needing a breath, she swam to the surface and filled her lungs with oxygen. As she treaded the deep waters, she looked back to where she’d left Tariq, but the blanket lay empty. Where had he gone? Before she could scan the beach a head popped up next to her and Tariq’s wet face was grinning from ear to ear. She couldn’t help but laugh. "I’ll race you to the shore," she challenged.

  He wasn't given any time to respond as she moved off by a stroke. Having been raised by the ocean Tariq was no weak swimmer, so he easily kept pace with her. Halfway back, he let her get slightly ahead of him until he could reach her ankle and tug on it, drawing her back. She emerged spluttering and laughing. Using that moment of distraction, he set off in front of her, but she retaliated by jumping on his back and dunking him in the water. Doing a smooth underwater roll to release her grasp, he then grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him as he reached the surface. The water was still deep, so he treaded it to keep them both afloat.

  Sparkling blue eyes full of mischief ground into his and their faces were just inches apart. Dynamic sexual energy vibrated between them and he could feel her body length against his. Other than the sound of the breaking waves on the beach and the rising and falling of their breaths, the air was silent. Tariq closed the distance between their lips to a mere whisper away. "I'm here anytime you want to take the lead and make that move."

  Katie couldn't resist any longer. "I'm the leader, right?"

  "Right," he agreed as one of his hands lowered to caress the cheek of her bottom, pulling her further into him.

  A little moan escaped her at the feel of him and desire shot up her spine. Without stopping to think about the warning he gave her last night she gently touched her lips to his, sliding the tip of her tongue over them, tasting their saltiness.

  His response was to pull her even tighter to him. This was what he'd been waiting for and the thrill through his body at the touch of her lips didn't disappoint him. Tenderly nipping the end of her tongue, she opened her mouth for him and he deepened the kiss.

  Utterly delicious, she thought, as she wrapped her legs around his waist under the water, bringing her sensitive spot against his throbbing erection. Rubbing along its length, she shuddered as the core of her lit up in delight at the impact. Holding on for dear life with one arm across his back and the other grasping at his hair, she let go to the delicious feel of him. There was nothing in this moment but her and Tariq and she felt wild and carefree.

  Tariq still had one hand on her buttocks and the other was now filled with a lacy, creamy breast. Tweaking at the nipple, he could feel the wild-cat in his arms squirming against his hardness.

  "Yes, don’t stop," she panted.

  He had no intention of stopping, but his legs were killing him from treading the water. Moving backwards, he used their weight to tread towards the shore until his feet hit land. Now they could get down to some serious business.

  "Yoo-hoo!"

  Katie’s eyes flung open at the same time as Tariq’s did.

  "Yoo-hoo, Tariq!"

  Katie pulled away from his lips at the intruding voice. They both turned to look at the shore at the same time. A woman was waving at them.

  "Damn!" cursed Tariq, as he turned back to her, dropped his head to her shoulder and nibbled on the skin that he found there. "Only my sister has the ability to show up at awkward moments."

  "That's Miriam?" echoed Katie. "Oh my God, what will she think about us making out in the ocean?"

  Tariq grinned at her. "We’re married now, remember?"

  "I know but..." she trailed off. "Crap! I’m in my underwear, how will we get out of the water?"

  He looked down at the swell of those delicious breasts. What he would give to see them naked. "I’ll go first and bring the towel to you as you wade out."

  She nodded and was about to move away from him when he tightened his hold on her waist, pulling her further into him. With one hand he cupped her between the legs under the water and ran a finger along her nub. "We’ll finish this tonight."

  Katie bit her lip to stop herself from groaning out loud. Oh yeah, what’s the point in being married if you’re not going to check out the goods? "You bet," she replied breathlessly.

  He dropped a quick kiss on her lips and then turned to wade out of the water.

  With a towel hugged tightly around her, Katie met Miriam for the first time. She was about twenty-five years old with a similar height and build to Katie, but with long black hair. Being in her presence was like finding yourself in the middle of a tornado. Miriam talked so fast that before Katie could answer, she’d changed the subject.

  "I’m so sorry for intruding and spoiling the moment for you, but I just had to come and meet you. I saw the car parked near the dunes and thought you’d be here."

  Katie blushed at the thought of them frolicking in the ocean.

  "Anyway, listen to me rambling on. I do like the colour of your hair. It’s like sunshine. And just think we’re now
sisters."

  Did she ever stop to take a breath? Katie gave her a big smile. She actually found Miriam really endearing, like a little playful puppy. Acting on that feeling, she turned and gave Miriam a great big hug.

  Miriam beamed. "I knew I had to meet you first. I’m so glad Tariq has finally met someone. There was this other woman once, she was so mean. I was glad when Tariq got rid of her."

  Tariq rolled his eyes to the sky and Katie laughed. "Well, Miriam, I think you and I are going to be great friends."

  "Wait until Mother gets a cop at you with all that blonde hair. Her great grandmother had blonde hair and now you have it."

  That piqued Katie’s interest. They'd not had the opening to really discuss Tariq's family other than his suspicions and a little bit about Miriam. Somehow, that now embarrassed her. In fact, she didn’t even know his parents' names. "Well, I get to officially meet you all tonight," she replied in earnest.

  "Yup, and Mother’s had kittens because you got married without us Tariq, so hold on to your pants Katie, as they’re planning a massive celebration for the end of the month, which is less than two weeks away."

  Katie smiled nervously. Marrying on the plane was one thing, but saying meaningful vows in front of Tariq’s family was a bit daunting. The thought of Annabelle not being there to be her attendant just sucked. Looking at Miriam's innocent, almost angelic face, she linked arms with her as they walked and said, "I don’t suppose you fancy being the maid of honour, do you?"

  Miriam squealed with delight. Tariq groaned.

  At the car Katie pulled on her clothes while Tariq held the towel around her. The wet from her lace underwear seeped through and created dark patches on her clothes. Tutting loudly at his smirking face, she took the towel from him and wrapped it around her for double protection, leaving him without a towel. Now it was her turn to smirk at him as he pulled on his jeans and encountered the same problem.

  They all got into the car to drive the few metres to the electric gates and down the long driveway. Miriam chatted excitedly all the way about the up-and-coming ceremony. "And I said to Amira, 'Well, it’ll be better than your wedding, as this is true love,' and Amira said that Tariq only cared about having an heir and once he'd got that his new wife would be put out to pasture. So I said –"

  "Miriam," Tariq said sharply. "Quiet now, okay?"

  "Sorry, Tariq, I’m just excited about the wedding that’s all," she mumbled shyly.

  Tariq glanced at her sad face in the mirror. She’d always been loyal to Tariq. Since she was born there'd been a deep connection between them both and even though her body had got older, she was still very young in her mind. Their mother and father had decided not to pressure her into marriage, but to let her find her own way as to what she wanted to do. Miriam had discovered a love of painting and so she did quite a lot of commissions for abstract oils. "It’s all right, sweet sister. Let’s just help Katie fit in slowly, okay?"

  A huge grin lifted her face as they pulled into the courtyard. A quick hug with Katie and Miriam was off running through the house shouting, "Mama, where are you?"

  Katie couldn’t suppress a giggle. Looking at Tariq’s sombre face, she jibed at him, "I guess you got the moody countenance and she got the joyful tongue."

  Screwing up his face at her in answer, he swiped at her round bottom as she walked in front of him and through the main doors.

  Once in their suite, he followed closely behind her as they moved into their bedroom. Everything about her appealed to him, drawing him in, even the tiniest change in the pace of her breathing could make his whole body respond. He reckoned there must be a girlie name for that, something like 'attuned'. Whatever its label was, he was aware of her every little pulse. Even now he could read her mind, she was saying, 'yes', with a little bit of 'no' thrown in. The towel had been discarded on the chair by the door and she currently had her back to him. Reaching out, he pulled her back by her hips, positioning her buttocks against his very firm package.

  Katie sighed at the impact. "Tariq." To her ears, his name came out in a half-moan, half-warning sound. It would be so easy to turn around and push him down on the bed, straddle him and take her fill, but what Miriam had said in the car about Tariq wanting an heir now bugged her. The sex thing they could do, but the 'no divorce' rule meant a life without children and she realised that this wasn't going to be fair on either of them. Even though he'd offered, it was impossible to consider having them with Tariq, as she wanted them to be born from love. What they had was lust and lust had an expiry date, whereas in her mind, love didn't.

  One of his hands moved from her hips, along her rib cage and found the fullness of her breast. "Oh yes," she breathed as tiny sensations of pleasure moved through her, but then logic tapped her on the shoulder and reminded her of that expiry date, so she added, "Oh, no." Pulling away from his touch, she stepped out of his embrace and turned to look at him. The intensity of need on his face nearly made her give in, but she knew that in the end it would only lead them into frustration, arguments and possible bitterness over an unfulfilled life without children.

  "I want you," he growled at her.

  Katie retreated several steps back until her spine hit the dressing room door. "I...I just need a moment to think," she replied shakily.

  He shook his head and took a step towards her. "I warned you that once you made the first move, you'd become mine."

  There was no mistaking the heat in his voice and that alone nearly made her clothes frog-march off her body, waving a little white flag in surrender, but logic also had its grip on her. Feeling for the door handle behind her, she knew that she just needed a moment to get her head around everything and make a decision. Glancing quickly at his eyes, her breath stalled. There was an unquestionable gleam of intention in his half-hooded gaze and suddenly everything happened at once. It was the tiny movement of his hand which had her speedily opening the door behind her. Just as she was swinging it shut she caught him lunging forward. With her heart pounding in her chest, she managed to slam it closed and turn the lock. She didn't know whether to squeal with laughter or slide down the door in relief.

  He banged on the door. "You have to come out some time."

  There was humour in his voice and she let out a little nervous giggle. "You said tonight, right?"

  "Right," he chuckled against the door.

  "But it's now only late afternoon."

  "Then take this time to oil those limbs, little moheet, as now it's my turn to take the lead."

  A shiver of anticipation trickled pleasantly down her spine. That alone made the decision for her. Why not? Why not just have some fun? The future will take care of itself.

  Chapter Six

  What do you wear to meet your new in-laws whom you've never met? Several discarded outfits were already scattered around the room. Pants were a no go and either the dress was too short, the colour was wrong or it was too tight. Finally, she settled on a pale lilac silk dress. It came to her ankles and fitted her snugly around the bodice. The neck line was beaded with tiny silver stones and she complemented it with a matching long-sleeved bolero jacket and silver sandals. Pulling her hair into a chignon bun, she held it in place with tiny silver daisies before applying a dash of mascara and pink blush lipstick, giving the whole ensemble a polished effect.

  Physically, she felt as ready as she could ever be. Emotionally, she was nervous about seeing Tariq again. For the rest of the afternoon she'd remained locked in her dressing room. Occasionally, she could hear him moving about outside. At one point he'd called through the door. "It's now officially tonight time," and she'd felt goose pimples all over just thinking about the implication of those words. That had been an hour ago.

  Leaving her zone of temporary safety, she made her way through the bedroom. Tariq's dressing room opposite was empty. Opening the door to the lounge, she entered and found him standing with his hands in the pockets of his suit pants, looking out of the patio doors into the inky blackness of the night
. There was a wistful look on his face and somehow she felt as though she were intruding. She coughed slightly to get his attention.

  Without turning he spoke. "I think I have the perfect plan."

  Evidently, he'd forgotten about it being 'officially tonight time' and she'd just walked into the middle of his ponderings. "A plan of what?" she queried.

  "To catch my brother and his wife," he replied.

  "Ah," she nodded and walked to stand beside him at the window, looking at his reflection. "And what is your plan?" Her eyes roved all over his striking features. Kicking herself, she wished she'd taken him up on his offer now.

  "We need a red herring, big enough to lure them in." Through the glass he appeared to be looking far away, focused on his mental plan.

  "As in, you make it known that there's going to be a big shipment of oil, he gets the pirates to steal the ship, but they find ninjas hidden in the barrels instead of oil?"

  A rumble could be heard in his chest as he chuckled. "Yeah, something like that, but I need my brother on that ship to prove his involvement."

  His eyes flicked to hers in the window before he lowered them and took in what she was wearing. When he lifted them back up they were blazing with a primal fire. The room suddenly fizzed with that sexual awareness that seemed to follow them about and then he spun around to face her.

  "You look so very beautiful," he stated in a deep velvet tone. This woman was doing things to him that no other woman had ever done. The urge to drag her into the bedroom was virtually overpowering him. Now he could understand why the primordial apeman dragged his woman into a cave.

  Blushing, she reached out and fiddled with his lapels. "And you look dashing."

  "Dashing?" A slight smile appeared on his face. The vision of him standing in animal skins, thumping his chest over his woman, didn't really go with the word 'dashing'.