One Hot Desert Night Read online

  Sensing she needed comfort, he laid his palm against her lower back, relieved when she did not recoil at his touch. “There are certain experiences in life that haunt us for many years. Circumstances that will lessen in impact, yet never be entirely forgotten. Fortunately, the passage of time does aid in gaining perspective.”

  “What events are haunting you, Rayad?”

  Because his attempt at counsel had led to his transparency, he would only supply a half-truth. “I am serving in the military. Oftentimes that regretfully entails witnessing revolting acts imposed by men on other men. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to provide details.” Nor would he reveal his own personal tragedy.

  “I understand.” After a brief span of silence, she asked, “Is that the baby-making mountain over there?”

  That brought about his smile. “Mabrứuk. And yes, if you believe in the legend, it has the power to render women fertile within a hundred-mile radius.”

  “I’m not saying I believe in the legend, but would you mind keeping your distance? Just in case.” She followed the comment with a coy smile.

  He did not care to keep his distance or acknowledge that he gave the folklore credence. “I do not believe that Mabrứuk’s powers would enable me to impregnate you with only a touch of my hand.”

  “I suppose that would be miraculous.”

  “And it would take away the pleasure of the process of procreating.”

  Her cheeks flushed slightly as she lowered her eyes. “True. But the process doesn’t have to be only about procreating, does it?”

  “No, it does not.” Should they continue this conversation, he might attempt to begin the process. Yet when it came to Sunny, vigilance should be paramount.

  When she failed to speak, he felt an apology was in order. “I am sorry if I have upset you with my talk of procreation.”

  “Not at all,” she said. “In fact, for the first time in a long time, I’m starting to feel like myself again. That kiss last night didn’t hurt.”

  He tipped her chin up, forcing her to look at him. “If you believe nothing else about me, believe this. I would never intentionally do anything to make you uncomfortable.”

  “I know that, otherwise I wouldn’t be with you. But there is something you can do for me.”

  “Whatever you wish.”

  “Kiss me good morning.”

  He struggled with what he wanted and what she needed. What he must do to win her trust so that he might guide her through the crisis. Yet refusing a beautiful woman’s request for a kiss was foreign to him. Still, he vowed to proceed carefully from this point forward, and chose to press a chaste kiss against her lips.

  She did not look at all pleased. “Very sweet. Not what I had in mind, but nice.”

  He cupped her cheek in his palm. “Had I kissed you the way I wish to kiss you, we might spend all day on this mountaintop. And though that might be pleasurable, we need to continue our adventure before the storms arrive.”

  Sunny turned her face to the skies. “I don’t see even one cloud.”

  “The deluge is coming,” he said. “But you will see no rain where I am taking you.” A destination where he had never taken another woman since... He pushed away the bitter realities to focus on his companion.

  “Can you give me just a little hint about where you’re taking me aside from your land?”

  “You will soon see for yourself. I will tell you it is unlike any place you have ever been before.”

  “I’ve been quite a few places.”

  “Trust me on this point.”

  “That remains to be seen.”

  Though she had said it with a touch of amusement, Rayad realized he would have to earn her confidence. And should anyone discover where he was taking her, he could be stripped of his duties and his honor, or worse.

  Sunny McAdams would be worth the risk.

  * * *

  Rayad hadn’t been kidding about the lack of rain. For the past twenty minutes, Sunny had yet to see any water whatsoever. The landscape had flattened into desert, the ground covered mostly in sand as far as the eye could see. Aside from one scant patch of grass supporting a small herd of sheep, the route they were taking showed few signs of population. And the farther they drove, the more desolate the surroundings became.

  She adjusted in the seat to get a better look at Rayad and marveled at the perfection of his profile. The fit of his dark green T-shirt. She even sneaked a peek at his extremely masculine legs exposed because today he wore a pair of khaki cargo shorts and hiking boots. She also couldn’t help but ponder the possibility of a real kiss later today—provided he actually cooperated. If she accomplished nothing else, she vowed to convince him she wasn’t some broken, needy female who had to be treated with kid gloves. Okay, maybe she was a bit broken, but she felt as if she might be on the mend, thanks to him.

  “So exactly where does your land begin?” she asked to disrupt the silence that had gone on way too long.

  “We passed the property’s boundary twenty miles ago.”

  “Wow.” All she could think to say in light of the revelation. “You obviously own half of Bajul.”

  “Not quite half.”

  “How did you manage to wrangle the property away from the royal family?”

  “A portion of the land was willed to me upon my aunt’s death. The rest I purchased since the area is not conducive for development.”

  “I can understand that. Most people don’t care to live in the middle of nowhere.”

  “I am not most people.”

  That personal assessment wasn’t remotely up for debate. “Is that why you haven’t built your own palace?”

  “I have no need for a palace,” he said, his tone surprisingly serious. “I travel much of the time.”

  “I assume you have no need for a wife and kids, either.”

  “Not presently.”

  She would have sworn she heard a touch of wistfulness in his voice. “How much longer until we get where we’re going?”

  A split second after Sunny posed the query, Rayad took a sharp right turn and stopped the Mercedes in front of a fortress-like entrance, complete with barbed, ten-foot fencing. He then lifted the console, took out a remote control and pointed it at the heavy steel gate that opened wide to allow them entry.

  She felt as if she were entering a prison and that resurrected memories she was hard-pressed to ignore. “What is this place? Some kind of military compound or maybe a sheikh commune?”

  “You will see soon enough,” he said as he drove forward.

  If she wasn’t so darned inquisitive, she might have demanded a better explanation before she allowed him to proceed. But crazy as it seemed, she didn’t consider him threatening. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  They traveled down an afterthought dirt road that narrowed between two large stone formations. After threading the rocky needle, they finally reached a wider spot next to one of the behemoth boulders.

  Rayad put the Mercedes in Park, turned off the ignition and shifted to face her. “Before we enter, you must promise me you will never speak of this place to anyone.”

  Sunny did a quick visual search but found nothing that even remotely resembled a structure. “I don’t even see a place.”

  “Promise me.”

  Rayad’s stern tone said he meant business. “All right,” she conceded. “I promise to keep my mouth shut, like I do when I’m protecting an anonymous source. But if you want me to climb that wall, you should know I didn’t bring any spikes or rappelling equipment.”

  “No climbing will be involved at this juncture.” He opened the SUV door and told her, “Come with me.”

  When Rayad walked to the back of the Mercedes and retrieved what looked like a cooler, Sunny reached back to grab her own bag. S
he slid out of the seat and retraced his path, her mind caught in a web of confusion when he stopped in front of the mini-mountain. That confusion turned to blatant curiosity when he set the cooler down and opened a hidden panel set in the red-orange rock face, revealing a hi-tech keypad. While she looked on, he punched in a series of numbers, and just like that, the seemingly smooth stone parted. Definitely the stuff spy movies were made of. She wouldn’t be a bit surprised to find a houseman greeting them with a tray of martinis.

  After Rayad stepped aside, Sunny moved forward to find no servants, but she did discover another set of narrow stairs descending into darkness. Fortunately, this time she’d had enough sense to wear sneakers, not stilettos. Unfortunately, her heart began to beat at an accelerated clip when she noticed the narrow walls. “You seriously want me to go in there?”

  “I promise it is safe.”

  She shifted the bag’s strap to her shoulder. “No bats?”

  “No. Or asps.”

  She could use some oxygen after hearing the reference to reptiles. “Thank goodness for small favors.”

  Rayad put the cooler down again, picked up a torch leaning against the wall, retrieved a lighter from his pocket and transferred the flame to a pair of sconces on either side of the steps. Then he turned and pressed a button to his left, closing the door behind him. “Follow me, and take care with your footing.”

  He certainly didn’t have to worry about that. She’d take care all day long if necessary. While she followed behind him, Rayad lit more sconces as they traveled downward into the abyss. The scent of earth and a slight chill assaulted her. Luckily, she didn’t smell fire and brimstone, although right now she wouldn’t be surprised if they came across Hades.

  Much to Sunny’s relief, they eventually reached the final stair where she exhaled slowly when her feet hit the dirt floor.

  Rayad paused and flipped a switch that illuminated several overhead lights, revealing a lengthy corridor. “A generator provides electricity, but I use it sparingly.”

  Sunny joined him and did a quick survey of the room to her right that held no real furnishings but a lot of electronics. “What is all this?”

  “My means to communicate with the outside world.”

  Awareness began to dawn. “Is this a covert military installation?”

  “In a manner of speaking,” he said. “It’s a natural bunker available for the royal family should Bajul come under attack. I discovered it several years ago.”

  “And that’s when you found the artifacts.”

  “Yes. I have spent many days here exploring the surroundings and modifying the caverns to house occupants. I come here often when I am not on duty.”

  Now it all made sense. “So this is also your own personal hideout.”

  “Perhaps some would view it as such.”

  Including her. She couldn’t help but wonder exactly what he might be hiding from. Granted, he’d claimed to be involved in military intelligence, but she sensed there might be more to the story. “Is this all there is to it?”

  “No. I will show you the rest.”

  And he did, beginning with one room that held several bunks and what appeared to be an adjoining latrine. “This is huge. Do you sleep here?”

  “I have my own private quarters that you will soon see, and you may leave your bag here.”

  She really didn’t see much of anything other than a long, narrow hallway. “Can’t wait,” she said as she set her duffel on the dirt floor by the door.

  They continued on to a stockroom with rows of shelves holding what appeared to be military K-rations. A self-contained, primitive hostel. “I take it you don’t have a refrigerator.”

  He placed the cooler on a table in the corner then faced her again. “No, but since the cave holds steady at fifty-eight degrees, spoilage is not an issue when I have fresh fruit delivered.”

  “All the way out here? That must cost a pretty penny.”

  “Money is not a concern when comfort is involved.”

  Of course it wasn’t. The man probably had a fortune holed up in a wall somewhere. “Did you bring some fruit with you today?”

  “Yes, and some other supplies,” he said as he rejoined her in the corridor. “Should we require more, several outlying villages are not far away.”

  “Since we’re only going to be here today, I’m sure we have enough to get us by.”

  “Perhaps,” he said. “Let us now continue the tour.”

  After they traveled a few more feet, the hallway hit a dead end at another stone wall. Sunny assumed the tour was over, until once again Rayad revealed a keypad much like the one at the entry.

  “What you have seen has been designed solely for security,” he said. “What you will soon see is designed solely for pleasure.”

  He then punched in another code, and the walls parted like that proverbial Red Sea. The view he revealed absolutely stole her breath, but not because the area seemed confining. On the contrary, the place was massive—and mystical. The palace-size cavern, with glistening stones dotting the natural walls, could best be described as a fantastical, natural wonderland. Across the way, stalactites hung from the towering ceiling while stalagmites jutted up from the ground. And in the middle of the Caribbean-blue pool of water, a beam of light shone down from a large circular opening in the cave’s roof.

  A few moments passed before she recovered enough from her amazement to speak. “This is unbelievable. It reminds me of Jeita Grotto in Lebanon.”

  “Yet not quite as large,” Rayad said from behind her. “And it is virtually untouched by man.”

  She couldn’t seem to tear her gaze away from the remarkable sight. “It’s truly a desert oasis. Where does the water originate?”

  “From an aquifer fed by runoff from the mountains. Another of Bajul’s hidden treasures.”

  Amazing. “Water is definitely in short supply in the region.”

  “That is why Zain has begun the conservation efforts. Eventually, it will be exported and in turn, secure the country’s future, as well as save lives.”

  “Zain has seen what the lack of water can do to people. So have I.”

  She heard footsteps and sensed Rayad’s presence before he said, “Are you not curious about my personal quarters?”

  Sunny turned to find he was only a foot or so away. “Actually, I am.”

  “Then look behind me to my left.”

  Only then did she see the makeshift bedroom carved out of the rock. And on the raised ledge, a huge bed covered in dark blue satin and draped with a sheer canopy. A cave boudoir definitely fit for a prince. “Incredible. Do you have an en-suite bathroom? Maybe a steam shower and a whirlpool tub?”

  He smiled. “Who needs those accoutrements when you have your own pool?”

  “You bathe in the pool?”

  “At times I have.”

  That unearthed some fairly naughty images involving a very masculine, well-toned body wet and slick with soap... “I suppose that makes you a modern caveman.”

  His low, sexy laugh echoed off the walls of the cavern. “I suppose that would be accurate.”

  She crossed her arms beneath her breasts against the onslaught of shivers, resulting from the cool temperature and his overt sensuality. “Well, as long as you don’t beat me with a club and drag me by my hair, I can deal with that.”

  His expression went suddenly somber. “I would never do such a thing.”

  “It’s a joke, Rayad.”

  “My apologies, but I find no humor in abusive behavior toward women.”

  Evidently he didn’t bring his wit along with him. She also suspected a story existed behind his attitude. “I truly appreciate that. And in case I haven’t said it before, I feel very safe with you.”

  Rayad surprised her by drawing her into a
light embrace then rubbed his palm gently up and down her back. Funny, she hadn’t even flinched, demonstrating how her trust in him had grown.

  A few moments later, he framed her face in his palms and kissed her forehead. “Your faith means a great deal to me.”

  She smiled. “You’re welcome. And now that you have me here, what’s next?”

  “We still have much to explore,” he said as he kept his arms around her.

  “Oh, really? What will we be exploring?”

  “The cavern, of course.”

  “Too bad.” Her face heated over her spontaneous comment. “I’m sorry. I meant I’m getting kind of hungry.”

  He stroked his knuckles softly up and down her cheek. “We will take a brief tour, then we will have lunch.”

  “Not that food in the supply room, I hope.”

  “No. I have brought something special from the palace.” He studied her eyes. “I am very glad you are here.”

  “So am I.”

  And she was. By day’s end, Sunny hoped that still remained true.

  Six

  He’d traveled through the tunnels many times before, yet seeing the cavern through Sunny’s eyes made the experience seem new to Rayad. But when they had ended up in tight quarters several times, she had inadvertently brushed against him, stirring his body and his fantasies.

  Even now, as he walked behind her and watched the gentle sway of her hips, he wanted her greatly. His fantasies took flight as he imagined Sunny naked, her long legs wrapped around his waist. He wanted to know how her bare flesh would feel against his palms, how she would feel surrounding him as he buried himself deep inside her.

  Shaking off the images, Rayad remembered his vow to move slowly. He must accept that quite possibly nothing would come of his desire for her.

  “Which way should I go?” she asked when they met a crossroads.

  “To your right.”

  Once they emerged from the passageway, she turned to him and smiled. “We’re back where we started.”

  “Yes, we are.”

  She snapped off the flashlight. “Any chance we can have lunch now? I’m really, really hungry.”