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She smiled at him. “And I love you, Kale. More than I’d ever thought I would love someone.” Shira then yawned wide before slapping her hand over her mouth on a squeak. “I’m so sorry. That was the worst timing ever. I guess maybe I’m more tired than I thought.”
Khalil chuckled. “It’s partly the adrenaline drop. Now that you are not worrying about Erin, your body can focus on its need for sleep.”
Shira nodded before laying back against Kale. “That must be it. I can hardly keep my eyes open.”
“Don’t then. Shut them. I will keep you safe.”
Shira smiled, kissing his chest. “You always do.”
Khalil let his own eyes close, drifting into a light slumber while he held his future close to his heart.
21
KAMAL
When Erin had first returned to the palace, Kam had been overjoyed to see her climb out of the helicopter on her own two feet, but then she’d collapsed. He’d run to her, scooping her up in his arms, and rushed her inside. He’d been grateful for Talib following them and calling out orders that Kam was too overwhelmed to give.
She’d felt so small and frail in his arms, and he worried that something was seriously wrong with her or the baby she carried. The physician met them outside his quarters and when he saw them coming down the hall, he quickly opened the door and pulled the covers back on the bed so that Kamal could lay his precious cargo down. Talib had shut the bedroom door, giving them privacy.
Kam held his breath as the physician examined her, then used his portable ultrasound to listen for the baby’s heartbeat. When the doctor had nodded at him and smiled, Kam was almost embarrassed at how weak his knees went with relief. According to the doctor, other than dehydration and a mild concussion, she appeared to be okay. She would need a few days to completely recover from her ordeal, but she was in no danger.
The doctor set up some IV fluids along with some meds to settle her stomach, and within moments, Erin began to rouse. Kam pulled a chair close to the bed and didn’t even look up when the physician left the room.
As Erin woke, she’d started to panic, and Kamal had moved to the bed and wrapped himself gently around her, whispering words of love and telling her that she was safe. They wereallsafe. She’d settled down after that.
“Oh, Kam. I’m so happy to be back. But I itch all over from all the sand and sweat.”
“My darling, I am at your service.”
Helping her to sit up, he’d helped her undress and drew a warm bath for her. He risked the doctor’s ire by pulling the tube from her IV so she could leave the bed. Joining her in the tub, he’d held her cradled between his legs as he washed the filth of the desert and the torment she’d been through from her body. By the time he’d lifted her out, she was nodding off.
When he’d carried her back into the bedroom, he was pleased to see that someone had already changed the sheets and left the covers turned down. His plan had been to put her to bed and join her immediately, but his brother had texted him, warning that her family was demanding to see her.
So Kam had roused her just enough to put on a nightgown and tucked her into bed, just in time.
Now, what seemed like hours later, but couldn’t possibly be, Kamal was finally alone with his future bride, and thankful that her family had returned to their respective quarters. She was sleeping peacefully and had no idea of the torment her disappearance had put him through.
He shed his clothes, having given orders to the guards standing outside the family apartments that no one was to disturb them. Talib had taken the young American bodyguard to her assigned rooms, and he suspected that they would be occupied for some time. Kamal smiled, pleased to know that his cousin might be on the path to finding a life partner as well.
Khalil had pulled Shira away only moments before, and Erin’s parents had finally succumbed to their jetlag and headed to their own chambers. This left him alone with Erin for the first time since their shared bath, and he felt a pressing need to hold her close and never let her go.
He positioned her on her side, smiling when she muttered in her sleep, yet not waking up. He used his arms to snug her upper body against his own, letting her nestle her buttocks back into his groin.
He closed his eyes as he fought with himself for control. The doctor had been very specific about her need for rest if she was to make a full recovery. Sighing against the back of her head, he put a little distance between their hips, only to have her squirm toward him until she was nestled tightly against him once again.
Even in her sleep, the little minx drives me insane!
He felt his body tighten but did not act on it. It was many minutes before he finally allowed himself to drift off to sleep with an armful of woman, the scent of her wrapping itself around him like a blanket. Together, they slept, letting time and rest remove the fear that had ruled their lives over the past day.
He had so many things he wanted to tell her, but he wanted her awake to hear them. He wanted her to realize, if she didn’t already, just how important she was to him.“Enta omri,”he whispered to her as he let sleep claim him. “You are my life.”
22
ERIN
“You look beautiful, Erin.”
Erin looked up and smiled at her mom, who stood behind her.
