My Desert Rose

by Kalia Lewis

  Katie watched the intensity of longing in his gaze and it gave her the confidence to reach out for what she wanted. Lifting herself up on her elbows, she raised an eyebrow at him. "Take off all your clothes," she instructed him.

  Grinning in response, he undid the buttons on his shirt and then let it fall to the floor.

  Observing him through her half-hooded eyes, her mouth watered at the sight of his olive-skinned muscular torso. "Hmmm, now for the pants. And make it slow."

  "You witch," he said, laughing. Undoing the button and zip, he allowed his chino pants to slowly slide down his muscular legs, knowing he was commando underneath.

  "Oh my," she breathed, as his erect length came into view. Cocking her index finger, she gave him a sexy, half smile, "Come to me, my desert rose," she hummed in a sultry tone.

  Not wasting a second, he joined her on the bed and kissed her hard and passionately, but she matched him with a desire-fuelled appetite of her own. Now desperate to taste and lick every inch of her, he moved downwards, nipping and sucking on her erogenous zones. Finally, he found the ultra-sensitive nub that he was looking for and he dived right in, bringing a cute little cry from that delicious mouth of hers.

  "Yes, right there, Tariq." Katie was on fire. Little waves and tremors were rocking through her body. If he so much as stopped right now she'd commit blue murder. When she was just about at the level of not being able to take much more, he stopped. "No, no, you can't stop," she squealed.

  Rising up and leaning over to the drawer, he pulled out a condom and sheathed himself before covering his mouth over hers. "Desert roses are supposed to be quiet and pliant," he replied with wicked humour.

  Lifting up her hips towards him, she was now desperate. "Yep, that's me, pliant all the way," she replied. "I'll do anything if you just carry on," she whimpered against his lips.

  He readied himself at her entrance and looked into her eyes. "Anything?" he asked.

  She nodded.

  "Marry me," he whispered.

  "We're already married." She was trying to urge him on by pushing against him, but he was having none of it.

  A little flutter of shock rippled through him. "You didn't sign the papers?"

  "No," she gasped. "Now please, I'm desperate here."

  He let out a little laugh, "Okay, marry me again?" He pressed in an inch and she groaned in his ear. "Was that a yes?" he asked teasingly.

  "Yes, damn it! Yes!"

  "I love a woman who can make up her own mind." With that, he pushed in all the way.

  Katie felt an absolute delicious wave of pleasure fill her from the inside out. Holding on for dear life, she clawed at his back and kissed him fiercely as he set the rhythm. Raising her hips to meet his every stroke, the fire began to burn again in her belly. It flowed unchecked up her spine before exploding inside of her mind, sending her swirling into a world of colour and light, all whilst crying out his name.

  Tariq felt the pulsing of her inner walls and it sent him over the edge. The sensations were so powerful, he didn't know if he could take the intensity. Every fibre of his being was morphed into such an acute point, that it was almost painful. When his release came, it brought up a wave of deep emotion, a sense of fulfilment so great that he wondered how he'd ever lived without it before. How he'd managed to live without her before.

  Slick with sweat and exhaustion, he dropped his weight onto her, needing a moment to bring his breath back under control. A droplet of warm wetness on his shoulder caused him to lift his face from her neck and look at her. There were tears running down her face.

  "Are you okay?" he asked, now worried in case she regretted it.

  "That was incredible," she breathed. "Much better than just humpy pumpy."

  He felt relieved and so he smiled, "Better than funny business?"

  "You bet!" she replied, as she laughed through the tears.

  Tariq dropped a quick kiss on her forehead, then pulled away to discard the condom. As he climbed back into bed he pulled her into the crook of his arms.

  A contented silence filled the room.

  "Tariq?"

  "Hmmm," he was drifting in a wonderful, peaceful state.

  "What happened with Amira?"

  His eyes snapped open. "She was caught in Somalia and deported back to her family. Prince Saud will deal with her. It is said that she's been sent into isolation where she will have to seek forgiveness for her sins against Allah."

  Katie sighed heavily. "I'm so sorry. I'm especially sorry for your mother and father losing a son and a daughter-in-law."

  Tariq hugged her more tightly to him. "It's been hard these last few weeks, but what I do know is that they've missed you and they'll be happy that they've gained their other daughter back."

  "And perhaps one day we can give them a grandchild?" she whispered. Never having thought too deeply about having children with anyone in particular before, all of a sudden there was a profound yearning to have Tariq's.

  Tariq moved to look down at her and seek out her eyes. They were looking up at him in joy and innocence, an endless ocean of blue. "Katarina Turan el-Tayeb, why, I think you've just made me happier than I ever believed possible."

  Katie gave him a shy little laugh. "Maybe we can have a few months' worth of trying first though, just so that I get to have you all to myself for a while."

  He bent down to kiss her and then he rolled her onto her back. "Oh, I think that can be arranged, little moheet. Now please be quiet and pliant and love me like I love you."

  Epilogue

  "Who is that?" called out an excited April.

  Katie looked over to the bedroom window where April was standing with Annabelle, pointing out to someone below. They'd been watching people arrive at the house for the last thirty minutes. Both she and Miriam made their way over. "Who?" she asked, whilst trying to rubberneck over Annabelle's shoulder.

  "That dark and mysterious man over there with all the people milling around him?" replied April, as she pointed out a man dressed in a white Arabian outfit.

  "Oh, that's just Prince Saud," answered Miriam casually.

  April stuck her face to the glass in awe. "What, as in a real-life prince?"

  Miriam scrunched up her nose. "Yep, but he's not very warm. Kat calls him a cool cucumber."

  Katie laughed. It was taking a while getting used to being called Kat. "Miriam, honey, I said, 'He's as cool as a cucumber.'"

  "Oh..."

  Katie was about to move away when someone driving a car into the makeshift carpark at the back of the house caught her eye. "Oh my God! I don't believe it!" she exclaimed, as she watched the car pull up and a man get out.

  "What?" all three replied in unison.

  Katie shuffled in closer to the window to get a better look, but with her silk wedding dress, Annabelle's expanded belly, April stuck to the glass and Miriam squeezing in, she couldn't get a proper nosey. "Can't you move that great big herd of cows you're carrying over to the side a bit?"

  Annabelle shifted the weight of her nearly nine-month pregnant belly to the other foot, bumping Miriam. "Sorry."

  Miriam patted it affectionately.

  Katie was gobsmacked. Wait until she got her hands on Tariq. "I told him I wanted to do the photography and look at what he's gone and done!"

  Annabelle burst out laughing. "No way, is that Jeremy?"

  Miriam sighed at the tall athletic figure getting his camera equipment out of the boot of the car. "Oh, he's so hot chilli."

  Katie shook her head. "Miriam, honey, it's 'he's as hot as chilli.'"

  "That's what I meant." She pouted.

  Katie exchanged smiles with Annabelle before turning away from the window. "Right, I'm off to find Tariq and give him what for! He promised me he wouldn't manipulate anything or make decisions without consulting with me first and bringing Jeremy of all people to photograph my wedding, well..."

  Annabelle grabbed her hand. "Kat, sweetie, I'll just point out the obvious, okay? You can't exactly take picture
s of yourself in the wedding dress while saying your vows?"

  "Humph! Still, he needs a little word in his ear."

  "It's unlucky to see the groom before the wedding," piped up April.

  Katie tickled her under the chin. "We're already married, so it doesn't count." Then she left the room before a heaving Annabelle could even take a step forward to stop her.

  Tariq had been camping out in the room down the corridor and when she reached his door, she rapped her knuckles hard on it. Tristan opened it, taking the wind out of her sails.

  "Is something the matter? Is it Annabelle?" He'd gone as white as a sheet.

  "Huh?" Katie then realised that he thought she was knocking because there was something wrong with his wife. They'd flown over on his jet especially for the wedding, armed with a medical team. Tristan wasn't taking any chances with Annabelle or their precious cargo. Shaking her head, she put her hand on his arm in comfort. "No, no, Annabelle's fine."

  "Okay, but I think I'll go and check for myself." Tristan brushed past her. "You look lovely by the way," he called at her as he strode down the corridor.

  "Exquisite, actually."

  A warm voice whispered the words in her ear and she turned slowly to look at Tariq. A big smile lit up her face at the sight of him, he looked strikingly gorgeous. "I've come to tell you off," she said softly, as she fingered the lapels of his white silk suit. To complement her dress, he'd had the same gold embroidered on his jacket and he was wearing a matching gold tie.

  Tariq raised an eyebrow at the stunning woman standing before him. "You have?"

  "Uh huh," she replied sweetly, licking her favourite pink blush from her lips. They hadn't seen each other properly for the last three days and now she was so hungry for him, she could eat him all up. "But now I can't seem to remember why."

  "I can help you with that," he murmured seductively.

  "You can?"

  Tariq smiled and bent to kiss her.

  Katie immediately yielded and gave a little sigh. The feel of him against her sent little pulses zooming all over her body. Standing in just the sheath part of her wedding outfit, goose pimples broke out all over her skin and she wanted more. Was it always going to be like this between them? A little jolt shot through her stomach as he nibbled on her bottom lip. Hell, yeah!

  Dragging his lips away, he pulled out a box from behind his back and gave it to her. "I have a gift for you."

  Katie opened it to find a pure golden rose hairpin with tiny rubies on the tips of the petals. "Oh, it's so beautiful, thank you."

  He took it out and pinned it in the side of her hair, which was half-up and half-down with ringlets falling like waterfalls around her shoulders. "Now go, before I pull you in here and ravish you," he playfully admonished.

  She laughed as he smacked her rump when she turned to walk away.

  ****

  After much debate and discussion, in the end they'd decided on an afternoon ceremony in the garden rather than the midnight one Katie had originally agreed to. Keeping a heavily pregnant Annabelle up until the small hours of the morning hadn't felt right. It was to be a mix of both their Muslim and Christian cultures, combining the whole family together in a mix of English, Italian, Turkish and Yemeni history. Chairs had been set out in rows under a white muslin canopy and its hanging drapes had been tied to poles with strips of gold silk ribbon. The bride and groom were to stand in front of the congregation under another canopy of gold silk, which complemented their wedding attire. Both the imam and a vicar would be reciting religious passages for the blessing.

  Katie could see Tariq waiting for her at the end of the aisle. They'd come far in these last four months and it was a testament to their deepening love. It may have started off on the wrong foot, but since finding him at his beach house, they'd grown and blossomed together more each day. It wasn't always easy. Tariq was used to making decisions without consulting anyone and she didn't like being told what to do, but the making up was always explosive. There were quiet times too, watching the ocean together or just reading curled up with each other on the sofa.

  Tariq had asked her countless times what she wanted to do with her photography business and where she wanted her full-time base to be. This decision had been agony, but just last night she'd finally made up her mind and today she was going to tell him.

  Waiting to walk down the aisle on her father's arm nearly caused her heart to burst with joy. Having him here in this moment was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. Over the last few months, they'd built up an amazingly close relationship. She'd even met his wife of fourteen years and found that she had two siblings, a younger brother and a sister, whom she'd struck up a great friendship with. They were all sitting at the back of the congregation. Turning their way, she gave them a smile and a little wave.

  Patting her hand, her father smiled at her, pleased at her acceptance and affection for his family. Tears filled his eyes. "Are you ready?" he asked her with emotion in his voice.

  "I'm more than ready, Papa, I'm finally home."

  All the heads of the congregation turned in her direction as they began to slowly walk. Captain Azab gave her a beaming smile as she passed, as did his men and their wives. She'd become good friends with a few of them since the incident. Annabelle blew her a kiss and Tristan was sitting next to her, pointing a little motorised fan at her flushed face. Next to him sat Rose, holding Preston's hand. Katie inwardly smiled, another wedding on the horizon, she thought. Reaching her aunt and uncle at the front, Katie couldn't resist giving them a quick hug before turning to hug Selina and Malik.

  Miriam and April were waiting at the top near the imam and the vicar in their long, white, Audrey Hepburn-style dresses with gold sashes. Miriam was beaming from ear-to-ear. Wade was also at the front cutting a dashing figure as he unconsciously drew attention to his James Dean looks. He winked at her and did an impression of a pregnant woman, indicating that she'd be next. Blushing, she turned away to meet two passion-filled eyes that spoke the language of love to hers.

  Tariq wanted to pinch himself. The ethereal angel walking down the aisle was making her way towards him and his heart swelled. When she reached him he took her hand in his and kissed it. Nothing in the world had prepared him for the feelings that she drew out of him. Sometimes, the intensity of what they shared amazed him and he couldn't believe that this beautiful woman was in his life. Not letting go of her hand, they both turned to the imam and the vicar.

  After the ceremony and dinner in the marquee, fireworks lit up the night sky. Tariq had his arms around Katie, nuzzling her neck as she watched them. "I want to take you somewhere."

  She half turned her head to face him. "I'm only interested in going to paradise."

  He laughed and took her hand, pulling her along the garden, and waving at people as they went. Sounds of cheers and laughter followed them. Outside in the courtyard, his little red convertible was waiting.

  Thebes gave her a knowing wink and she grinned back at him in pure happiness.

  Not saying a word, Tariq helped her in with her dress and then they took off down the road.

  Leaning her head back against the seat, she sighed in bliss. The day had been perfect, everything had flowed and all the people she loved had been there. Floating away on the memories of the wedding, she must have drifted off, as the next thing she knew the car had come to a stop outside the beach house. But instead of going inside, he led her to the wide steps which went down to the beach.

  Picking her up, he carried her down the stairs and set her down on the soft white desert sands. Gazing at her delicate features in the light of the full moon, he took off his tie and jacket and slipped off his shoes.

  "What are you doing?" she asked him whilst biting her lip in anticipation.

  "I'm finishing what we started," he replied softly, as he undid the button on her dress-coat and pushed it over her shoulders to fall to the floor. The moonlight bounced off her buttery skin as he ran his hands up her arms, pulling her into him
and against him.

  All the tiredness vanished and in its place a ravenous hunger for him took over. Without waiting, she pulled open his shirt and helped him out of his pants. As she kissed his chest, she could feel him impatiently fiddling with the buttons at the back of the dress. Laughing at him, she turned around and pointed to where she'd had a concealed zip put in. The dress was off in seconds, as was her underwear. He then grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the water.

  The heat of the day and the balmy night meant that the water was warm and she waded in, following Tariq. The gentle waves rocked her body, and she sighed as they undid all the knots in her muscles from the past few weeks of preparing the wedding. Tariq moved away and swam out a little, before calling her to him.

  This was her husband. Today had confirmed something inside. A part of her had subtly changed. It was like a letting go, an inner permission of acceptance - a deep understanding that you don't find love, love finds you.

  Reaching him, she ran her fingers over his chest and then pulled his head towards hers, devouring him and kissing him with all of her being. A sound vibrated against her mouth as she heard him groan and she could feel his erection rubbing at her belly. Not wanting to wait, she wrapped her legs around his waist.

  "Little moheet, you're killing me here," he murmured against her skin as he lowered his head and sought out a nipple which was bobbing just above the water line.

  "It's time to consummate this marriage, dear husband," she joked into his ear.

  He went still at her breast and then he lifted his head up to look at her in the moonlight. "Well, wife, we'll have to continue this on the beach where I've left my pocket full of condoms."

  She shook her head. "No condoms," she said softly before cutting off any reply with a kiss. Their touch was fuelled with a deeper passion at knowing what they were about to do, but she had one more thing to say. Pulling back to look at him, she felt completely fulfilled, at peace with herself. "I want to live here, in the beach house with you and just take each day as it comes."