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Talib rested his head against the headrest and closed his eyes, realizing that he needed to take his own advice. But sleep was elusive. Instead, his thoughts returned to what Kamal had told him. While Kamal might be his leader, he was also his cousin, and Talib would not stop until Erin Malone was found and returned to Kamal’s arms. Family was everything.
Casting a glance to the woman behind him, he admitted to himself that he was looking forward to spending time alone with her out in the desert. While he had every intention of waiting until Erin was found before pursuing PJ, it didn’t mean that he couldn’t fantasize in the meantime.
8
TALIB
Unable to sleep, Talib watched the sleeping beauty in the rearview mirror, ignoring the questioning glances of the security guard doing the driving. She looked very young, and he had a hard time reconciling the tough security operative with the beautiful woman asleep behind him, the one with the porcelain smooth skin, long blonde hair currently hidden under her hijab, and the crystal blue eyes he knew lay behind her closed eyelids.
When he had assisted her with the headdress, he had fought the desire to run his hands through her hair and to see if her skin was as smooth as it looked.
His libido had been in overdrive since his first sight of her earlier in the day, and with each passing moment, he found her more and more intriguing. Even if there had been another woman on the team, he doubted he would have made a different decision. The opportunity to share such close quarters with her—the back of a camel in the middle of the Jawharan-Sumari desert—might not sound ideal to some, but Talib was looking forward to it.
He wanted to know more about this intriguing woman, including what demons drove her to keep up with the men on her team rather than be content with her place in the world as a beautiful woman. If she were his, he would pamper her, making sure she always knew how beautiful she was to him.
Cringing at the path his thoughts had taken and realizing that she wouldn’t appreciate the sentiment, he directed his thoughts to the road ahead and the nomad’s camp that lay before them.
As the vehicle came to a stop, he saw that PJ still slept peacefully and decided to give her a few more minutes. After negotiating with the tribal leader for a camel and other supplies, he returned to the vehicle and woke PJ.
“Time to wake up.” Talib leaned in the open door of the vehicle and gently shook her shoulder.
PJ moaned and then opened her eyes. She blinked up at him and gave him a sleepy smile. “Hi.”
“Did you get some rest?” Talib asked, moving a strand of hair back from her forehead with a single finger.
PJ nodded. “Enough to carry on. But I think I could sleep for a week.”
Talib smiled. “Once we get on our way, you are welcome to sleep some more.”
“Really? On the back of a camel?”
Talib nodded. “Yes. In my arms.” He watched her digest that information before he changed the subject. “So, tell me, what does PJ stand for?”
PJ widened her eyes at his question. “Not gonna happen.”
“What?” Talib asked. “It can’t be that bad. Tell me.”
PJ shook her head. “No.” Glancing around, she seemed shocked to see a camel with several packs already attached to its back, kneeling in preparation for riders to climb on. “One camel for the both of us?” she asked nervously.
Talib smiled and then sobered as he saw the uncertainty creep into her eyes. “Yes! But don’t worry. I have ridden many times. See the small cage sitting atop its back?” When PJ nodded, he continued. “That is a saddle of sorts. It will make the journey much more comfortable and allow both of us to ride at the same time. Did you not have one when you rode on a camel?”
PJ swallowed. “We did, but I thought they did that because we were kids. So, the chances of falling off are…”
Talib took her hand and helped her from the vehicle. “Not something you should worry about. I will be sitting right behind you. If you start to slide off, I will wrap my arms around you to keep you in place.” He readjusted her headscarf, making sure no blonde hair was visible. “Remember to keep your eyes down,” he murmured to her as she stepped away.
PJ nodded and headed for the camel, intending to pet it as she would a horse when Talib quickly pulled her back and to the side of the camel.
“You never want to approach a camel straight on.”
PJ looked at him in puzzlement. “Why not?”
Talib grinned. “Do you not know anything about camels?”
PJ shook her head, narrowing her eyes as he continued to grin and laugh. “Why do I feel like I’m missing some elementary piece of information here?”
“Camels spit. Need I continue the explanation?” Talib laughed as he watched her mind kick itself back into gear.
PJ blushed. “I knew that! I really did! God, you must think I’m an idiot. Thank you for saving me from myself.”
