Chapter Nine #5
‘Then I don’t want this conversation. In fact I think tomorrow I should fly home.’
‘Liliana,’ he shouted. ‘We need to talk.’
‘No,’ she said, making her way to her chamber, but he walked behind her. ‘I don’t want the crumbs you offer, and I don’t want you.’
‘Liar.’
He caught her.
‘That last one was a lie, because you do want me.’ He held her shoulders to turn her around to face him, but she resisted, for she knew she would meet his kiss. ‘I will take care of you, more than take care of you.’
His hands moved down her ribs, to her hips, again to turn her around, but still she resisted, though not his touch.
She could feel the raw passion, knew that in a moment the nightdress would be off and those knowing eyes and skillful hands would roam her body.
Oh, she knew that, for she wanted it desperately too.
He had awoken in her this want and thick desire and she did not know how to douse it, and now she too ached for more of what they had. So instead of turning, stripping, she pressed back into his erection.
‘You are bold,’ he said, kissing her neck, pulling her in.
‘You made me bold,’ she said, for she wanted him urgently and knew if she took off her nightgown there would be yet another conversation to have.
He went to turn her again, to kiss her, to strip her before him, but still she resisted, too nervous to expose her ripening body to what those knowing eyes might see.
And so, she knelt for him, facing away as he pushed her nightdress up, and he moaned when he saw her naked bottom.
Her knickers were still hung by the wash area, but that was irrelevant; she just felt the primal need as he explored her cheeks and then came the sound of him unbelting and his robes lifting and then the bliss of his fingers checking she was moist, and the warm cup of his hand on her mound…
For both, the thought of having no contraception flashed through their minds.
Liliana decided it was too late anyway and it didn’t matter now.
For Rafiq, the thought was the same; it didn’t matter now.
Here in the desert, naked and unsheathed, it didn’t matter.
He squeezed in, for the first time unsheathed, and he revelled in the new sensation as over and over he sank into her.
He had been her first, they had obstacles, yes, but there was no question in his mind she was now his.
Liliana felt the grip of his hands as he moved her a little, then he knelt up higher, pushed her nightdress up to her neck and for a moment, his hand rested on the base of her spine and she knew he was watching them.
She sank lower, resting her head now on her arms and while taut with arousal, somehow limp as he moved her, just loving the feel of him, and then he moved faster and she felt the final swell and then a shout from Rafiq that had her pulse and tighten and close her eyes as her body released.
‘Liliana,’ he said as he pulled out and his hand was back, cupping her again, somehow soothing where she was tender. ‘I’ll take care of you now.’
She lay, bottom up and a little embarrassed at how easily, how quickly this man could bring her to her knees, and expose a different side of her.
He went to slip her nightdress fully off, to take her to bed, but she hastily pulled the flimsy gown down and dashed off to tidy herself up and collect herself.
Her eyes looked shocked when she checked in the mirror. She was flushed and wide-eyed and about to walk through the veils when she had sworn never to.
He changed every facet of her.
For how could she even consider staying when he had told her he did not want love? Told her that the man she’d met that night had been a persona, that the person she had possibly fallen in love with might not even exist.
And yet she freshened up then covered herself with a wrap and instead of taking the long way around, pulled back the veils to his chamber.
He lay on top of the furs, up on one arm and staring approvingly at her.
‘Come here.’
Rafiq would have carried her to his bed and tidied her. Now she seemed shy as she walked towards him and slipped beneath the furs and then threw off the wrap…
‘It’s warm enough to lie on top,’ he said, because the fire was dancing high and he knew merely lying atop the furs would keep them warm, but she shook her head and hid a little, and he thought he knew why.
‘I know we didn’t use anything,’ he said.
‘But if there are consequences know that I shall take care of you both.’
Liliana closed her eyes. She had a feeling they were a few months late for this discussion, but she was curious to know.
‘What would happen?’ she asked, forcing her eyes open to look at him. ‘Would your people hate me, would Yara…?’
‘Shh,’ he reassured. ‘I would take care of you. Both of you. I’m sure the people assume I already have children.’
‘So, it wouldn’t count.’
‘Of course it would count,’ Rafiq reassured.
‘Unofficially though.’
‘Of course.’ He nodded. ‘Liliana,’ he said when her eyes filled with tears. ‘Surely you can understand that?’
Rafiq hated that she cried.