One Hot Desert Night (7 page)

He admired her strength. He appreciated her courage. He did have difficulty understanding her benevolence. “You’re a brave woman, Sunny McAdams. Braver than many men I have known. Are you brave enough to show me your scar now?”

She came to her feet and gave him another smile. “Since you know the story behind it, I guess you should know it all. And since we’re going swimming, you’re going to see it all. So now I’ll go change into my suit in the bunker, if you’ll tell me how to open the disappearing door.”

He stood and returned her smile. “Press the red button. It is unlocked.”

“Okay.” She turned then paused and faced him again. “I happen to love life, Rayad, and that makes me a survivor. I’m positive you’re a survivor, too, and that’s why we’re drawn to each other.”

When she walked away, he pondered her words. He had survived some of the worst scenarios, including one that had happened several years ago. Yet on that day, a part of his soul had died. He was not certain he would ever recover what was left of it, or to halt the search for the people who murdered his wife and child.

* * *

Sunny was surprised by how quickly she had revealed the details. Telling Rayad most of the abduction story surprisingly hadn’t been that difficult, once she’d started talking. Wearing a swimsuit in front of him wasn’t going to be quite as easy. He would then see remnants of the one detail she hadn’t bothered to mention, though she wasn’t quite sure why.

As soon as she’d put on the tasteful two-piece, her hand automatically went to the raised welt located right below her collarbone—and then came terrifying memories of the knife slicing her skin, followed by the warning issued by her terrorist in barely recognizable English.

Do as I say or next time, I cut higher.

She shook off the recollections as she wrapped herself in the towel she’d packed, holding it closed above the scar. Eventually, she would have to reveal it, but not until she was safely sequestered in water.

On that thought, Sunny made her way back to Rayad, careful to keep the towel clutched at her throat. But when she arrived, he was nowhere to be found.

Suddenly, he emerged from the reservoir like a gorgeous, golden-skinned god, a sensual smile curling the corners of his sexy mouth. He swam toward her until he found his footing and stood only a few inches from the stone bank. “I had begun to believe you had reconsidered.”

She visually followed a droplet that trickled down his sternum to where the water line circled his lower belly. She couldn’t help but notice the beginnings of a thin stream of masculine hair traveling south from below his navel. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was wearing swim trunks. “I haven’t been gone that long.”

“It seemed like an eternity.”

Pretty words from a very pretty—in a macho sort of way—bad boy. “How’s the water?”

“Temperate enough. Are you coming in, or do you wish to stand there and admire my aquatic skills?”

She’d been admiring a lot more than his skill a moment ago, and imagining all sorts of things. “If you’re
that
good, maybe I should bow out and watch.”

“If you do not swim all that well, I will assist you.”

Sunny’s competitive streak kicked, prompting a little temporary white lie in the form of playing the consummate helpless female. “How deep is it?”

“At the moment, I am standing on a narrow ledge that drops off into the depths behind me. I have never located the bottom, though I have tried.”

She laid a dramatic hand above her breasts. “Wow. You’re well over six feet, so that means it must be
really
deep.”

“Do not be afraid.”

She wasn’t anything of the sort, and she planned to show him. With that in mind, she walked to the edge to study where Rayad was standing and to gauge the depth of the water behind him. Then in one fell swoop, she tore off the towel and executed a dive into the pool.

After Sunny surfaced several feet away from Rayad, she slicked her hair back with one hand and almost laughed when she saw the puzzled look on his face. Time to end the charade. “I happened to be on my high school swim team for four years, and I served as lifeguard during the summer. I’ve never been afraid of water.”

Without saying a word, he shot toward her, using his long, powerful legs to consume the distance between them in a matter of seconds. “I suspected you were not being truthful,” he said as he slid his arms around her.

She continued to tread water, well aware that not much separated them, both in space and in clothing, yet she wasn’t the least bit afraid. In fact, her reaction had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with feminine need. At least he’d put on swim trunks so she wasn’t tempted to act on those desires—yet. “I thought I’d done a pretty good acting job.”

“Perhaps I know you well enough to see through your act.”

That might not be up for debate since he’d demonstrated that on several occasions. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t resist raining on your macho-man parade. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m rather self-sufficient.”

His gaze traveled from her eyes to her chest, the scar plainly visible due to the clarity of the pool. “I have noticed your independence, and this.” Keeping one arm around her, he slid his fingertips along the raised area. “He used a blade on you.”

Rayad said it as a statement of fact, not a question, but he still looked as if he needed her confirmation. She saw no real reason not to explain at this point. “Yes, he did. Or that’s what I assume since I couldn’t see it. But I definitely felt it. If I hadn’t cooperated, he promised to be more accurate the next time.”

“The scar is not as unsightly as you might think.”

“It’s bad enough, but I’m getting used to it. Besides, it gives me a good excuse to buy a new necklace.”

His smile indicated he might actually appreciate her sarcasm. “Perhaps I will purchase that for you, although you should wear your wound proudly as a sign you had the strength to survive.”

Exactly what she’d planned to do—eventually. Unfortunately, she didn’t feel all that strong at the moment. Not with Rayad so close, her hands resting on his broad shoulders while her heart beat a staccato rhythm in her chest. “Are we going to just float around here like a couple of rafts, or are we going to swim?”

He pressed a soft kiss on her cheek. “How is your endurance?”

“I don’t know. How’s yours?”

“Excellent. I am also able to swim long distances, as well.”

The sexy devil. “What do you have in mind? From a swimming standpoint.”

He looked thoroughly disappointed. “I have somewhere else to show you, but we can only see it by water.”

“Sounds interesting. You lead, I’ll follow.”

This time he landed his lips square on her mouth, but he didn’t linger very long. “When we reach the opening to the cavern, take hold of my leg.”

“Is that really necessary?”

“Do you wish to be lost?”

He had her on that one. “No.”

“Should you inadvertently let go, you will be in total darkness. Keep going as you will shortly return to light, and our destination. I will go slowly.”

She brushed a kiss across his unshaven chin. “Don’t be careful on my account.”

He responded with an all-out grin. “Are you ready?”

“I’m ready.”

Before she could draw another breath, Rayad took off, swimming toward the mouth of the cave they had explored earlier. She attempted to match him, stroke for stroke, but he was just too fast.

By the time she came upon the abyss, he was waiting for her, looking as fit as a fiddle and ready to take on the English Channel. She, however, was a bit out of shape. “That was exhilarating. How much farther?”

“Not very far at all.”

“Apparently your ribs have sufficiently healed.”

“Well enough. Now take hold of me and do not let go.”

Ever the tough guy. She gave him a salute. “Aye, aye, captain.”

Rather than hinder his movements by commandeering his leg, Sunny slid her hand in the back waistband of his trunks. She only caught a glimpse of the scars, but they couldn’t detract from his appeal regardless of how bad they might be. Nothing could ever take away from the fact he was a compassionate, strong and extremely desirable man.

As Rayad guided them through the darkness, Sunny had a few moments of knee-jerk distress. But it didn’t take long before she allowed herself to enjoy the freedom, the sounds and scents of the cavern and the man serving as her own personal escort through paradise. She soon became aware of the fact she didn’t feel the least bit claustrophobic, despite the total blindness to her surroundings. Instead, she felt oddly elated, completely liberated and oh, so taken with Rayad’s controlled strokes, bringing to mind some other strokes she would like to experience.

Down, Sunny
—her thought as they continued on their trek. She needed to be a bit more wary, otherwise she would end up going down the wrong road with Rayad. Or maybe it could turn out to be the right road. Only time would tell.

The blackness began to fade as they rounded a bend, and a large opening revealed a gentle waterfall flowing down the stone, feeding the basin below that led to the underground aquifer.

Sunny let go of Rayad to swim forward, and when she felt sand beneath her feet, stood to admire the scene. “This is absolutely breathtaking.”

“Yes, it is.”

She looked back to find him staring at her. “I’m sure you’ve seen it so many times, you take it for granted.”

He waded toward her and paused at her side. “I still appreciate its majesty, but I was not referring to the falls.”

“Did you mean the sun bouncing off the water? The blue, blue skies?”

“My admiration is solely for you.”

She faced him and faked a frown. “You are one charming sheikh.”

“And you are one very stunning woman.”

“Flattery could very well get you anywhere you want to go,” she said as she draped her arms around his neck.

“Anywhere?”

Time to rephrase that. “Okay, anywhere we both mutually decide to go.”

“Do you have a place in mind?”

She felt a little bit giddy and a whole lot bold. “Why don’t you kiss me, and we’ll find out?”

He did. A coaxing kiss, but very persuasive. He sent his palms down her sides slowly then back up again and paused precariously close to her breasts. She could tell him to stop, or she could encourage him to go. She wanted him to go, not stop.

More brazen than she’d ever been before, Sunny reached back and unfastened the clasp at her back, then loosened the tie at her neck, allowing the swimsuit top to drop and float away.

Apparently aware that she was now bare from the waist up, Rayad broke the kiss and favored her with a knowing smile. He cupped her breasts, circling his thumbs around her nipples while seemingly studying all the details. She wasn’t overly endowed like her twin, but the gentle way he treated her, she couldn’t care less.

Never had she let a man she’d known for such a short time go this far this fast. Did that make her more like her mother than she cared to admit? She didn’t want to think about that now. She stopped thinking altogether when Rayad lowered his head and replaced one hand with his lips.

The sensations were remarkable, from the pull of his mouth to the flick of his tongue. Waves of heat washed over her and settled between her thighs. As if Rayad sensed that, he pulled her legs up around his waist, bringing her in close contact with his very impressive erection. Then he began to move her up and down against his groin, creating a friction that brought her close to the edge of climax. If he kept it up, she would start making a few primitive sounds, or beg him to put her out of her misery. Then he had the audacity to stop moving altogether.

After Rayad set her back on her feet, Sunny bit her tongue to keep from cursing. “Nothing quite like getting turned on then immediately turned off.”

He swept a hand over the back of his neck. “That was not my intention. If I had my way, I would have taken you here without formality.”

That sounded like a good plan to her. “Why didn’t you?”

“I am not certain this is what you want.”

She crossed her arms over her bare breasts and blew out an impatient sigh. “Believe me, I’m not that good at faking it.”

He retrieved her top that was floating nearby and handed it to her. “When a person has a brush with death or suffers a loss, at times they search for any means to remind themselves they are still alive.”

She redressed and refastened her suit, all the while battling frustration. “Is that truly what you think I’m doing?”

“I believe it is possible.”

She viewed his concerns as an affront to her character. “For your information, I’m not the kind of woman who goes searching for just anyone to meet my needs, physical or emotional. If I didn’t trust you, I would never even consider crossing the intimacy line. Believe it or not, I do trust you, Rayad, and I want you more than I’ve wanted any man in a long time, even Cameron. If that’s crazy, then I’m certifiable. But I can’t help how I feel.”

Some unnamed emotion reflected from his eyes. “I truly appreciate your continued faith in me, yet trust should be earned.”

“You earned it when you halted our little interlude because you’re worried about me. However, something tells me there’s more to your worries than whether or not I’m ready. Maybe you’re the one who isn’t ready.”

He took her hands in his and gave her a meaningful look. “It has been some time since I have been with a woman, yet my concerns lie solely with your well-being. If you decide we should enjoy each other from a carnal standpoint, you may rest assured I will grant you an experience that you will not soon forget. Although I am not averse to lovemaking in various places, our first time should be in a proper bed.”

She found his self-assurance and traditional ideals oddly appealing, and believable. “Then we’re agreed that when the time comes, we let nature take its course with no more second-guessing?”

His expression brightened a bit. “Agreed. You only have to ask, and I will answer your every fantasy.”

Even with the sun beating down on her head, she experienced a bout of chills when she imagined him stealing into her suite tonight once they returned to the palace. And on that note... “I suppose we should think about heading back before dark. I’d like to be there in time to have dinner with Piper.”