Jennifer looked at Habeeb and for the first time saw his ugly face split into a huge grin. The transformation was startling, and looking into his steady eyes, Jennifer realized that she had been accepted and would have a friend for life.
"Thank you, Habeeb," she whispered. Inclining his head, he acknowledged her thanks and left her alone with Kalim.
"And now that we are finished with that, it is time to get to important matters," Kalim said. "My work here is finished and it is time to leave." He hesitated for a second. "There is something I must ask you. Do you still resent me because I tricked you into coming here?"
"Oh, no, Kalim! It's been an experience I wouldn't have missed for anything. I know I… I acted abominably in the beginning, but—"
"Hush, my darling." He silenced her with a kiss, which she returned eagerly, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. The gentle pressure of his lips increased at her willing response and his mouth bored down on hers, possessing her with mounting passion. His arms strained her so close that they were almost like one person and Jennifer's surrender was complete.
Her throbbing desire rose to meet his, but with a great effort Kalim reached up and unclasped her arms. Moving away, he lit a cigarette with shaking fingers. "If we continue in this way I will find it impossible to say what must be said."
Jennifer could scarcely believe it. It was almost exactly like that night he had been about to make love to her. She had practically thrown herself at him then and he had rejected her. And now he was doing it again. When would she ever learn? In an agony of pain, she said stiffly, "You don't have to put it into words. I understand."
"You do?"
"Yes, you're sending me home." A sad little lopsided smile tried to establish itself. "Well, don't worry—I'll have only nice things to say about you."
He looked at her with a mixture of disbelief, annoyance, and tenderness. "Jennifer, what am I going to do with you? You make it very difficult for a man to ask you to marry him." Despair was suddenly replaced by a wild hope that made her heart sing as he said, "I was going to wait until I returned you to your own country, but I dare not wait any longer. You misunderstand my every action. Will you marry me, Jennifer?"
It was the fulfillment of all her dreams and she cried, "Oh, yes, Kalim! Yes, I will! Why did you wait so long?"
He took her gently in his arms and tenderly stroked her hair. "In the beginning you did not trust me and when I forced you to come here I was afraid you hated me."
"No, no, never," she cried.
He put one finger on her lips and kissed the tip of her nose. "Then when I realized you were beginning to return my love, I thought it best to wait until you were back in familiar surroundings. You were so alone and vulnerable here. I wanted you to be sure of your answer."
Jennifer was overwhelmed by the depth of his feeling and her heart sang a love song to this wonderful man. Only one small thing clouded her bliss. She touched the curly black hair on his bronzed chest where it was revealed by the open neck of his silk shirt. Why bring it up now? But it was something she had to know.
A rosy pink flooded her cheeks as she raised her head. "Kalim, there is something I want to ask you."
"Yes, my darling?"
"That night… when Ayesha came to the door. You told her you were glad she had come."
The effort was too great and she bowed her head, but he put his hand under her chin and raised it, forcing her to look at him. "Never be shy with me, little dove. Yes, I was glad she interrupted us at that moment. I wanted you then and I want you now, but not like that. I want you to be my wife." His eyes gleamed with sudden merriment. "My one and only wife forever and always."
Flight to Romance Page 17