Uncut Bundle

To hell with what he thought.

Cam slipped his hands into his dancer?

?s hair and lifted her face to his. Then he kissed her, slowly, telling her with his kiss that he would protect her with his life.

Honor was an emotion he understood.

“It’s going to be okay, sweetheart.”

“Is it possible… Could Asaad have given up looking for us?”

Given up? No way. Despite overwhelming odds, two people had escaped from Baslaam. They’d outwitted a small, well-equipped army. Instead of a contract worth millions, Asaad had suffered a humiliating loss of face.

Still, a little hope never hurt.

“Anything’s possible,” he said gruffly.

Leanna sighed and leaned against him. His arms tightened around her until she couldn’t tell where her heartbeat ended and his began.

“Yes,” she said quietly. “Anything’s possible.”

Cam kissed her. For another little while, they could go on living in a dream.

They tried the cell phone half a dozen times. From the front steps, from the garden, and, finally, from beside the pool.

No success. The phone couldn’t pick up a signal.

“They never work when you want them to,” Leanna said. She’d meant to sound matter-of-fact. Instead she suspected she’d sounded defeated. “Maybe later. Maybe whatever satellite it uses isn’t in the right position. Maybe—”

Cam reached for her hand and drew her down onto the soft grass.

“There’s no sense worrying about it, Salome. Another hour, Shalla will take me to the village and—”

“Us,” Salome said. “She’ll take us to the village.”

“No.” Gently he laid her back on the grass. “I’m going by myself.”

“Suppose it’s a trap. Suppose Asaad’s men are waiting in that village.”

“Suppose you do as I say for a change,” he said, softening the words with a smile. “I want you to stay here with the door bolted and the gun beside you.”

“You can’t go without a gun. I won’t let you.”

“I can think of better things to do than quarrel.”

“You’re just trying to change the subject.”

“Clever woman.”

“Cam. If—if something should happen—”

“Nothing will.”

He sounded positive, but she knew it was for her sake. “I know…but if something should—”

She squealed as he rolled her beneath him. “Have you always been such a pushy broad?”

Leanna laughed. “Yes.”