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‘I look like this because I have won a grand prize. Make no mistake,’ he assured her. ‘One I intend to keep.’
Esme was floundering to grasp the meaning of the last part of his statement when he rose off the bed again, drew the sheet away from her body and scooped her up in his arms.
Face flaming anew, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his throat. ‘Where are we going?’ she mumbled when he began to stride across the room.
‘You’ll see,’ he replied.
A little alarmed, she turned her head just as he stepped through the tent flap.
The high walls were made of the same hardened leather used to construct some of the sandstorm-proof shelters around the camp. This one was over ten feet high, built around a private oasis garden, in the middle of which stood a natural spring pool surrounded by a profusion of exotic shrubs and flowers.
The breath-taking sight made Esme temporarily forget she was naked in Zaid’s arms, her gasp at the natural beauty surrounding her echoing in the dawn-encroaching space around them. ‘Oh, my God, this place is amazing!’
A hint of a smile touched his lips as he strolled towards the pool. ‘I’m glad you like it. My security team insisted on the walls to guard my privacy. I didn’t want it at the time, but I am glad of it now,’ he murmured in her ear as he slowly lowered her to her feet.
He glided his fingers down her side to rest on her hips as he took her mouth in another searing kiss. By the time he raised his head their bodies were plastered together, their breathing ragged. The strong hands clamped on her hips moved to cup her behind, long enough for Esme to become bracingly aware of his potent arousal against her belly before he drew her away.
‘Take off my pants, habiba,’ he ordered huskily. The combination of the American accent he’d never quite lost and the lyrical Arabic of the endearment was so sexy she couldn’t stop the decadent shiver that raced through her.
She slowly disentangled her arms from around his neck, drifting her fingers down his naked shoulders. Last night she’d been too overawed to linger in her exploration of him.
She still was, to be honest. But having been granted this chance she thought might never come again, Esme seized it with both hands. She drew her fingers over his collarbone, past the steady pulse that beat beneath taut bronze skin, over the solid beauty of his pecs. This time she lingered over the flat male nipples that hungrily puckered beneath her touch. She yearned to press her mouth to them, but she hesitated, her gaze flicking up to his.
His eyes were at a watchful half-mast, his breath held as he waited to see her next move.
Something in his eyes lent her a confidence she hadn’t thought herself capable of. Or it could have been the relentless hunger that pounded through her bloodstream. Whatever. Esme lowered her head and flicked her tongue over the tiny nub as he’d done to her so many times during their lovemaking last night.
The hot hiss that issued from his lips made her freeze. About to straighten, she jerked in surprise when he speared his fingers through her hair and held her to her task. She repeated it. Revelled in the fierce tremble that shook his powerful frame. Overjoyed at his reaction, she kissed her way across his massive chest to the twin peak, all the while exploring the rest of his glorious body with her fingers.
He allowed her to explore for countless minutes, his breath growing louder and rougher as her fingers drifted lower, and her mouth and teeth left fiery trails on his skin.
When she reached the waistband of his pants, Esme took a quick, steadying breath, then slipped her hand beneath the soft material.
The power and might of him sent her temperature soaring. Steel wrapped in velvet. Majestic. Potent. Insanely intoxicating. She was so intent on familiarising herself with that part of his body she didn’t hear his tortured groan until he grasped her hand and drew it away.
‘How quickly you recognise and seize your power, jamila.’ His voice was strained. Gravel rough. He kissed her palm, then dropped her hand back to his waistband with an autocratic quirk of his brow.
Reminded of her initial task, she took hold of his trousers and tugged them down, unable to stop the renewed rush of heat to her face when he stepped out of them and stood naked, proud and ready before her.
He was so beautiful he robbed her of breath.
The deeply magical moment continued as he led her down natural steps hewn into the rock of the pool. Cool and silky, the wa
ter submerged them to chest level before Zaid stopped. His fingers returned to spike through her hair, drawing her into his arms to kiss her one more time. After that he swam next to her before grabbing a sponge on a nearby surface. He washed her with slow, languid strokes, then washed himself with brisker movements. She read the intent in his eyes long before he tugged her decisively to the edge of the pool.
‘I only meant for us to bathe in case you were sore after last night, but I’ve been wanting to do this again for hours, Esmeralda,’ he murmured, drawing her down on top of him as he sat on the lowest step.
‘I’m fine,’ she managed to gasp out.
Kisses peppered the corners of her mouth, her throat, before he ravenously latched onto her nipples. Hunger, deep and unstoppable, stung to life between her legs. Legs that he arranged on either side of his hips even while he continued to ravage her breasts. Heart racing, she braced her hands on his shoulders, anticipation making her rock forward in blind search of the pleasure only he could bring. Her feminine core found the head of his penis.
Abruptly, he tore his mouth from her nipples, his face a taut mask of untamed need. With one hand he grasped himself, the other bracing her as he surged upward, seating himself inside her in one powerful thrust.
Her gasp mingled with his groan. Their lips fused for one charged second before they separated again, returning to stare at each other as if their union needed the connection of their gazes. Breathless, silent, he withdrew and powered back inside.
Her mouth parted on another soundless gasp. She met him halfway on the third thrust, earning her a grunt of approval that ramped up the pleasure stealing through her bloodstream.
Eyes still fused to hers, he nodded. ‘Yes, that’s it.’
