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She’d read these animals were on the verge of extinction despite attempts to breed them in captivity. There was a market for their hides and other body parts that were sold on the black market.
She continued to take photos. It seemed impossible to believe that this footage might be one of the last taken of these beautiful creatures in the wild.
She’d taken close to a hundred shots of the leopard by the time it had finished drinking, then stalked away from the oasis and into the desert where the color of it’s hide meant it soon disappeared amongst the dunes and sands as though it had never been.
She turned to Hamid. “I can’t believe I just captured that magnificent animal.”
His smile was sad. “That male is one of the few left in the wild.”
She blinked at him. “You’ve seen him before?” At his nod she asked, “Is anything been done to save him?”
He cleared his throat. “The sheikh of Imbranak is doing his best to save him and the few remaining population of wild animals.”
She snorted. “Wouldn’t your sheikh be a little too busy to oversee animal preservation?”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
She turned away and checked the waterline of the oasis through her lens. “Never mind.”
“I’m interested to hear what you’ve heard about our great sheikh.”
She lowered her camera and turned back to him.“Greatsheikh?” She raised her eyebrows. “Is that what you and your people call him?”
“I’m guessing you’ve been told otherwise?” he asked quietly, his eyes holding eyes with an intensity that was a little disconcerting.
She sighed. “Look it’s not for me to judge, okay? I’m a foreign woman on foreign soil. I’m not exactly welcome here by any men, let alone your sheikh.”
“I’ve treated you well, have I not?”
“Considering I’m your captive, I guess you’ve been…accommodating.” She smiled and conceded, “I’ve enjoyed your company.”
His face tightened a little at the wordcaptivebut he didn’t refute it, either. He was happy to have her in his camp—and why wouldn’t he when she was given him sex?—and would only get rid of her when he’d had enough of her.
“So your problem isn’t with the men of Imbranak, it’s with theSheikhof Imbranak?” he asked.
She cupped her camera as she studied him. He was clearly a devout follower of the sheikh. She’d have to tread carefully and not step on his toes by saying the wrong thing. “I just think he’s got a nerve screwing women from every corner of the planet while those females born here have to follow rules that are outdated and barbaric at best.”
Shit.Even when she tried to be subtle she steamrolled through his peoples traditions and customs with her western beliefs and ideals.
Expecting censure, she was surprised when he threw his head back and laughed. She gaped. And though half-aware of a falcon that fluttered into a panicked flight from the reeds nearby, she lifted her camera to instead take shots of her lover in his full gaiety.
Damn he was gorgeous with his dark eyes alight with mirth and his white teeth glinting against his dark stubble, his powerful body relaxed and indulgent.
He pushed her camera away with a hand and said mildly, “You don’t mince your words, Holly. I like that. You truly are a breath of fresh air.”
Her heart warmed at the compliment. When the air heated along with her blood, it seemed as natural as breathing for them to move together, their mouths becoming as one as they kissed.
She forgot about everything then. The big cat. The falcon. Even her camera, which she clasped weakly with one hand.
Then a camel bellowed and they broke apart like two teenagers caught in a tryst. A soft tread behind them had Hamid explode onto his feet with his hands fisting as though ready for battle.
“Essam,” he said darkly, his fists unclenching.
The man, Essam—one of the men who’d been riding the camels—nodded his head. “Sorry to disturb you,” he said with a glint in his eyes and a grin that communicated quite the opposite. “But we believe we’ve spotted a nomad tribe.”
“Brigands?” Hamid asked.
Holly narrowed her eyes at the quick glance Hamid sent her, as though having her here would spell disaster. She shivered. Perhaps he was right. “Will they attack us if theyarebrigands?”
