Page 78 of Hired Husband

“First, I do not flirt with architecture, and second, are you sure you wouldn’t like to join us?” I stroked a thumb along the curve of her waist to her hip. “I thought you loved nerding out with me.”

“Usually, yes, but if I let Zara into the markets all by herself, we’d need to charter another ship to get everything she’ll buy back home. Outside of that, I just did the temples a couple months ago with my family. This time, I want to check out this little market I’ve seen on social media where they supposedly sell the best scarves and jewelry in the country.”

“You want to go shopping for scarves and jewelry when you could be looking at ancient temples?” I sucked in an exaggerated gasp. “Who are you and what have you done with Jasmine Saad?”

She laughed. “Oh hush. It’s not so bad. I might even buy you something if you’re good.”

“You know I’m good.” I winked and rolled over so I was half on top of her, bringing my lips to hers and groaning as she kissed me back. “What were we arguing about again?”

She smiled against my lips. “I don’t know.”

Wrapping her arms around me, her hand was just skating down my abs toward my suddenly aching cock when a sharp knock sounded at the door. “Room service!”

She pulled back with a heavy sigh. “Well, that’d be your coffee.”

“I don’t need it anymore. You’ve got me wide awake.”

“It’ll go cold.”

“I don’t care.”

“I do.” She rolled away from me, got up, and tugged her robe back into its proper place. “You’re going to love Luxor, Isaac. It’s worth getting out of bed for right now. I promise.”

Reluctantly, I nodded and sat up, running a hand through my hair. Jasmine opened the door and a waiter rolled in a cart. She tipped him, and as soon as he was gone, Sweet Morning Jasmine had vanished and Bossy Daytime Jasmine had taken her place.

“The cruise is flexible, but if you and Joseph wander off and get lost, the ship will leave without you,” she said as we sat down to eat. “I know how both of you are going to get the second you hit Karnak, but keep an eye on the time and meet us for lunch at two p.m. sharp.”

“Got it.” I grinned. “Where are we meeting you?”

“There’s a cafe on the shore right next to the Luxor Hotel. It’s between Luxor Temple and the museum, so you can’t miss it. Meet us there.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

One corner of her lips twitched up. “I might just like the sound of that, but not right now. Joseph and Zara are meeting us in forty minutes and we still need to shower.”

I saluted her. “As soon as we’re done eating.”

“Yep, but not together,” she said. “You don’t have any clothes in my suite to change into, and if you get in the shower with me, we’re going to miss the guide taking you to the temples.”

“Fair point.”

When I went back to my room after breakfast, Joseph wasn’t there and his bed hadn’t been slept in. Had he spent the night with Zara? I would have to ask Jasmine if she knew. It was possible he had no idea I hadn’t slept here last night either.

I grabbed a quick shower and got ready, meeting Jasmine twenty minutes later at the gangway. Joseph and Zara were there too, but none of us said anything about the night before. We followed a cheerful guide and a crowd of mostly retirement-age tourists to the dock.

Jasmine turned to face Joseph and me while the guide was helping the rest of our group shuffle into a small transfer bus. “Alright, gang. Remember, nobody gets lost, nobody adopts a camel, and if either of you disappear because you got distracted by an interesting ceiling, we’re leaving without you.”

Joseph’s eyes widened in horror. “You wouldn’t, would you?”

“We would,” Zara said, but her tone was playful enough that I wasn’t convinced she was serious. “Happy exploring, boys. We’ll see you later.”

She took Jasmine’s arm and guided her toward a waiting black SUV, not even giving me a chance to say goodbye. Joseph glanced at me once they were in their car, inclining his chin toward the bus. “Well, I suppose we don’t have private transport, so we should probably get going.”

“Probably.” I watched their car pull away before I followed him. “How was your night?”

He turned beet red but shrugged. “Fine. Yours?”

“Fine.”