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“Our beach?” She looked at him curiously, and the intensity of his gaze sent little arrows of pleasure darting along her spine.
“Yes. It is – and has been for two hundred years – a private beach for the Emir’s family. Here we may be completely free, and undisturbed.”
“It’s beautiful.” The cove stretched for miles in each direction, with a natural border provided by two distinct headlands – one on each side. A large white tent had been erected on the sands. “What’s that?”
“Come and explore it.”
She smiled and nodded.
They walked hand in hand over the bright white sand, with the gently rolling waves for company. The tent was not far, but they moved slowly, simply enjoying the moment.
He lifted one side, so she could step in ahead of him.
“Oh!” She gasped, admiring the interior with wonderment. “It’s a lovely little home.”
Her joy in simple things always, without fail, pleased him. Seeing the world through her eyes had become an addiction. “Look at it, Layth. There’s a proper bed, and a sofa.” She spun around to him, her smile enormous. “But you already knew this.”
He nodded slowly. “I had it set up to meet your needs. If this is to be our honeymoon, I wanted it to be perfect.”
“We flew here via a week in Paris,” she reminded him jokingly.
He shrugged. “Can we not have two honeymoons then?”
“Two? I want a lifetime.”
He grinned. “Consider it done, your highness.”
Much later that night, when the heat of the day turned to a cold that was as startling as it was sudden, Layth and Cassie sat side by side on the sand, a bright blanket wrapped around their shoulders. The flames of the fire were licking rapidly, sending warmth towards them.
Overhead, the stars were pristine glitter against a blanket of black, and the waves continued to roll. Cassie pressed her head against her husband’s shoulder, her contentment a feeling she would never tire of. “Layth?” Her voice was dreamy. “What did your mother mean when she said that thing about your name?”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“She said something about it being lucky they named you as they did. Why?”
“Oh.” He smiled, and ran his hand down her back. “My name… It means Lion – a name given to those with great courage.”
Cassie straightened, and her heart was beating fast in her chest.
“That’s strange.”
“Is it? You do not find me courageous?”
She shook her head. “No, do you remember my dream? When I was … younger? I used to dream that I was rescued by a lion. And here you are, my Lion, and you have rescued me.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I did think of it, when you told me of this dream.” He stroked her back. “Would you like to hear something even more interesting?”
She nodded.
“Your name, Cassandra, means one who prophesises. I looked it up after you told me of your dream.”
“Layth!” She was aghast. “That seems far too superstitious for a man like you.”
He exhaled slowly and wrapped her against him. His heart was beating heavily in his chest. “Look at the heaven, Cassie, and tell me it is not possible that there was a plan for us amongst those stars. You who was named for a future-seer, and me for a Lion. You do not think there was a hand of something inexplicable in how we met and came together?” He pressed his lips against her hair. “From the first moment I met you, I felt I knew you.”
“Me too,” her voice was just a husk. Something else occurred to her. “What were you doing in the bar that night?”
“I told you, my friend was looking to buy it.”
