“I didn’t mean…” She saw the laughter in his eyes. To heck with it, she thought, and laughed, too.
It was the first time he’d heard her laugh and it surprised him. A woman who’d come halfway around the world to play games with a sultan shouldn’t have a laugh so delightfully earthy and innocent.
“I was talking about this. You know. Trudging across tough terrain without breathing hard. It seems second-nature to you.”
He thought back to his years in Special Forces, then his years at the Agency. Nothing about those years had been second-nature. A man had to learn how to do all the things he’d done.
“I was a soldier for a long time.”
“In this part of the world?”
“Among others.” Cam frowned. She was shaking again. “You’re still cold. Here.” He reached out, grasped the lapels of the shirt and tugged her to him. “Button up. It’ll help.”
“I can do it,” she said, but his fingers were already at the buttonholes, brushing lightly against her breasts. She inhaled sharply; he saw color race into her face, felt the answering rush of blood rush to his loins. Now, he thought. Right now. He could tumble her onto the sand, rip away the thong, bury himself inside her…
Salome took a step back.
“I’m fine,” she said quickly. “All I need is to start moving again.”
Silence fell between them. He felt a muscle jerk in his cheek. “Why?” he said hoarsely.
“Well, because of the energy I’ll—”
“Why did you sell yourself to Asaad?”
She flinched, as if he’d struck her.
“It’s an easy question. Why did you do it?”
Why did it hurt, to know he believed the worst about her?
“Were you desperate for money?”
“You mean, is my grandmother dying of some disease nobody’s ever heard of? Is my mother about to lose the family homestead to a mustachioed villain?” Her eyes flashed. “Sorry. I’m fresh out of tearjerkers.”
“For God’s sake,” he said roughly. “What kind of woman are you?”
“The kind who should have known better than to think you were different than your friend, the sultan.”
She gasped as he pulled her to him. “You’re right. I’m no different. A woman like you teases me with what she’s got, I damned well intend to take it.”
Cam’s mouth captured hers. She tried to turn away but he was relentless, cupping her face, then sliding his hands down her back so he could lift her into him. She struggled hard and then, suddenly, she gave a wild little cry, wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her mouth to his.
Mercilessly, he plundered its sweetness, changing the angle of the kiss, taking it deeper and deeper while the last stars of the rapidly fading night wheeled over their heads.
He was the one who ended the kiss, clasping her wrists, easing her hands from his neck, bringing her palms to his mouth and biting lightly on the soft pads of flesh.
Then he took one of her hands and placed it over his throbbing erection.
“What happened in that bed isn’t over, Salome. We both know it.”
He took a last look at her. The softness of her mouth. The swift rise and fall of her breasts. Then he swung away, picked up the pack and began walking.
CHAPTER SIX
THEY reached the hill just as the sun rose.
“It’s real,” Leanna said softly. She spun toward