Diamond in the Desert

‘I want you to see what the money from the diamonds can accomplish,’ Emir remarked.

Yes, there were benefits for both their countries. ‘I will,’ she said, more in hope than expectation. ‘I think you miss Kareshi,’ she added in an attempt to shift the spotlight onto him.

‘I love my country. I love my people. I love my life in Kareshi. I love my horses—they’re a real passion for me. I breed pure Arabs, though sometimes I strengthen the line of my breeding stock with Criolla ponies from the Argentine pampas.’

‘You play polo?’

‘Of course, and many polo players are my friends. You will have heard of the Acosta brothers, I’m sure.’

She had heard of the Acosta brothers. Who hadn’t? ‘I learned to ride at the local stable,’ she admitted. ‘Just old nags compared to the type of horses you’re talking about, but I loved it all the same. I love the sense of freedom, and still ride whenever I get the chance.’

‘Something we have in common,’ he said.

Something else, she thought, inhaling steadily. Friendships were founded on sharing a passion for life, and there was no doubt that they were opening up to each other. So much for her mother’s warning. And, yes, it was dangerous to reveal too much of yourself, but if you didn’t, how could you ever get close to anyone?

She had to face facts. Once he had collected the information he needed, Emir would go home—and inviting her to Kareshi was probably just talk. Making her excuses, she stood up to go. Emir stood too.

‘No birching?’ he asked wryly.

She gave him a crooked smile. ‘I’m warm enough, thanks to you.’

‘That’s right,’ he called after her as she walked away. ‘You probably deserve a good birching—probably even want it. But you’re not getting it from me—’

Britt shook her head in wry acceptance, but Emir didn’t turn around as she huffed a laugh. He didn’t need to. There was a new sort of ease between them—an understanding, almost.

He caught her at the door of the hut, and, lifting a switch from the rack, he shot her a teasing look. ‘Are you quite sure?’

‘Certain,’ she said, but there was laughter in both their eyes.

Laughter that died very quickly when Emir ran the switch of twigs very lightly down between her breasts and over her belly to the apex of her thighs. She was instantly aroused and couldn’t move, even had she wanted to. She remained motionless as he increased the pressure just enough, moving the bunched twigs with exactly the right degree of delicacy. Her breath came out in a noisy shudder, and all this time Emir was holding her gaze. His eyes told her that he knew exactly what she wanted him to do. Her breathing stalled when he used the switch to ease her legs apart.

‘Why deny yourself, Britt?’

‘Because I need to get inside where it’s warm,’ she said lightly, pulling herself together.

Physically, she yearned for everything Emir could give her, Britt realised as she quickly shed her underwear, while emotionally she was a wreck. She felt such a strong connection to him, and knew she would never be able to ignore those feelings—

Better she end this now.

He joined her in the hut. That was a foregone conclusion. The stag didn’t abandon the doe when it was cornered. The stag knew what the doe wanted and tracking it was part of the game. They sat opposite each other with the hot stones sizzling between them, and, leaning back, Emir gave her a look—just a slight curve at the corner of his sexy mouth.

‘What?’ she said, knowing he could hardly have avoided noticing that she was naked.

‘Now we get really hot,’ he said.

CHAPTER SEVEN

AS EMIR’S FAMILIAR warmth and scent flared in her senses and his arms gathered her in, Britt felt a new energy flooding through her. She even spared a foolish moment to wish it could always be like this—that he was really hers, and that these strong arms and this strong body would sometimes take over so she could take time out occasionally. But that was so ridiculous she had no difficulty blanking it out. She took one last look at a world where desire for a man could grow into friendship, and where that friendship could grow into love. That was just childhood fantasy. She’d settle for lust.

Holding her face between his hands, Emir made her look at him. Gazing into the burning stare of a man who knew so much about her body made it easy to forget her doubts. Her face must have shown this transition, because he brushed her lips with his. And from there it was an easy slide into a passionate embrace that ended with Emir manoeuvring her into a comfortable position on the bench—which just happened to be under him.