The Call of the Desert

Julia bit her lip, clearly fighting for control. “It’s just all … a bit much. Finding out about my pregnancy, coming here … my life changing overnight.”

A solid mass of something dark settled into Kaden’s chest. Clearly this was not what she’d envisaged for herself. He felt the sting of guilt. He’d seduced her. And changed their lives.

“Julia … you will not want for anything ever again. You or our babies. You can be happy here.”

She gave a half-strangled laugh. “When your people look at me as if I’m about to do something scandalous?”

He grimaced. “They just need time, that’s all. There’s been so much change in Burquat … my divorce …”

Julia was finding it hard to breathe with Kaden so close and holding her face. She couldn’t bear for him to see her desire on top of this. She tried to pull his hands down but they were immovable. She looked into his eyes. “Kaden … it’s OK. You don’t have to pretend here. No one is watching. And I don’t expect to share your rooms. I’ll go back to my own.”

“Pretend what?”

Julia avoided his gaze. “Pretend to … want me.”

Kaden frowned. Pretend to want her? Could she not feel how on fire he was for her? And then the notion that perhaps she didn’t want him sent something cold to his gut. He moved his hands and took her wrists. He could feel the hammering of her pulse. A sigh of relief went through him.

“Julia, look at me.”

With obvious reluctance she lifted her head. Her eyes were clear now, but no less troubled.

“What on earth made you think that I didn’t want you?”

Now she frowned, a flush coming into her cheeks. “That last night in B’harani … you were so quick to leave …” She stopped when she thought of his reaction to the necklace, and then said hurriedly, “Not that I wanted it to go on. I was happy for it to be over. But I just thought …”

“That I didn’t desire you any more?”

She nodded, and Kaden moved close to her again, lifting her hands and trapping them against his chest, where she would feel the thundering beat of his heart. Standing so close to her like this was exquisite torture. A deep contentment flowed through him that he wasn’t even aware of. He thought of the necklace then, of how seeing it had made him feel. But instead of dousing his desire, or making him want to flee, it actually made him feel even hotter.

Julia’s cheeks flushed even more when Kaden moved so close that his erection pressed against her lower belly. Sensation exploded behind his eyes, through his body, and he had to bite back a groan. He said throatily, “Does that feel like the response of a man who doesn’t desire you?”

He marvelled. How could she not know? He felt as if every time he looked at her she must see the extent of his hunger. She was so different from any other woman he’d known. He’d almost forgotten that a woman like her could exist, and had a fleeting image of how bleak his life would have been if he’d not met her again.

Julia’s eyes dropped to Kaden’s mouth. She was transfixed. Almost without r

ealising what she was doing, she extricated her hand from his grip and reached up to trace the sensuous line of his lips.

Kaden’s hand went around the back of her neck, under the heavy fall of her hair, massaging the tender skin and muscles. His other hand was on her waist, big and possessive. Her breathing was already coming quickly, and she was telling herself to try and stay clear … but it was impossible.

Kaden dropped his head to hers. They were so close now that his breath feathered along her mouth. “I’ve never wanted another woman the way I want you.”

Julia looked into his eyes and saw the flame in their depths. She reached up and pressed her mouth to his softly, chastely. For a moment he did nothing, and then with an urgency that made her blood exult in her veins he brought her even closer and fused his mouth to hers, opening her up to him so that his tongue could explore and seek a deeper intimacy.

Julia’s hands and arms wound around Kaden’s neck, fingers tangling in the silky hair brushing his collar. She could feel the swell of her belly pressing into him, the stab of his erection against her, and something deeply feminine and primal burned within her. This was her man.

Perhaps their desire was the one pure, true thing between them? Perhaps they could build on this? Perhaps one day the fact that he’d rejected her once would fade away?

All of these thoughts and other incoherent ones raced through her head in time with her heart, but she just wanted to lose herself in the release only he could give.

He drew back and took in a deep, ragged breath, eyes looking wild. Julia’s mouth was burning.

“Wait … I want you so badly, Julia … But can we? I mean, is it safe?”

For a moment she didn’t understand what he was saying, and then she felt him place a hand to her belly. Something inside her melted even more. Blushing, because she was aware of the rampant need inside her, she said, “Dr Assan told me that it would be OK if we wanted to … you know …”

Kaden clamped her face in his hands and said, “Thank God.”

And then they were kissing again, and that helpless emotion was bubbling up within Julia. There was a desperation about their kiss, as if they’d been separated for years. As if something had broken open.