Under a Desert Moon

by Laura Martin

  Emma could almost picture the meeting, her father had told her about it so many times.

  ‘Mama literally fell into the hole Father was supervising the men to dig. He caught her and it was love at first sight.’

  Emma couldn’t imagine anything more romantic.

  ‘They were married within six months. Father took Mama everywhere with him. They visited all the sights in Egypt and Mama even helped out on the digs he went to.’

  ‘Sounds like a good life,’ Sebastian said thoughtfully.

  ‘It was. At least my father remembered it fondly. But then Mama fell pregnant with me.’

  ‘And that’s when they returned to England?’

  Emma shook her head.

  ‘They stayed here, despite what both their families wanted. Egypt was the home of their hearts, and they thought they wanted to raise me here.’

  Sebastian remained silent, apparently aware this was a difficult and emotional subject for Emma to talk about.

  ‘The birth was difficult, traumatic. Mama lost a lot of blood. She didn’t ever get to hold me in her arms.’

  Emma felt the tears spring to her eyes and tried to blink them away. Every time she thought of her poor mother she wondered what life would have been like if she’d survived.

  ‘Father blamed himself, thought if he’d taken Mama back to England to give birth she would have lived. He boarded the first ship back home and didn’t leave England again in his life.’

  ‘It must have been difficult for him, raising you alone.’

  Emma shrugged. ‘I think for the first few years he struggled. He loved Mama so much he never got over the loss. But as I grew older he was the best father a girl could have.’

  Sebastian reached over and took her hand in his own.

  ‘He sounds like he was a great man and a wonderful father.’

  Emma felt the warmth and reassurance of his touch and in that instant hoped he would never let go.

  ‘When I was young, I used to catch him staring at maps of Egypt or examining scrolls or old books. I think he missed the country but could never bring himself to come back.’

  ‘The memories of your mother would have been too overwhelming.’

  Emma glanced at Sebastian. He was looking out into the distance. She wondered whether he’d had a happy childhood growing up.

  ‘When I was still a child I used to ask him to bring me here. I didn’t realise how painful his memories were.’

  ‘I’m sure he didn’t mind you asking.’

  Emma smiled at the memory. ‘He used to make a joke of it, say I’d be eaten by a cursed mummy or kidnapped by bandits as soon as I stepped onto Egyptian soil.’

  ‘Did he know you were planning on coming to Egypt?’

  Emma shook her head. He hadn’t known, at least not explicitly. But she wondered if deep down he’d always expected her to travel to the country he’d loved so much in his youth one day.

  ‘I didn’t really make any plans until after he died, after I’d come out of mourning.’

  She remembered the instant she’d decided she was going to travel. It had been exciting and terrifying all at the same time. It wasn’t what young ladies of society did, but Emma had felt less like a lady of society and more like an outcast for a while. All she would be doing was giving the gossips something else to talk about.

  ‘It’s a very brave thing you did,’ Sebastian said quietly. ‘I don’t know many women who would travel halfway across the world on their own.’

  ‘Sometimes I feel like it’s all a dream,’ Emma confessed, ‘and that soon I’ll wake up in my bed in Kensington with nothing but memories.’

  ‘We’d better make them good ones, then,’ Sebastian said as he urged his horse forward.

  She laughed and tried to keep up. They cantered along for a few minutes and Emma enjoyed the sensation of a warm breeze on her face. The desert seemed much more inviting when she had Sebastian to share it with.

  They mounted a small ridge and Sebastian drew his horse in to a walk. Twenty seconds later Emma was by his side. She followed the direction of his gaze down into a shallow canyon and her breath caught in her throat.

  ‘It’s beautiful,’ she said eventually.

  About a mile away, along the bed of the canyon, the browns and yellows of the desert were interrupted by a splash of green. A dozen palm trees towered above the rolling dunes and on the desert floor the vegetation was thick and lush. Emma could just about make out a sliver of blue amongst the green.

  ‘It’s an oasis,’ she said in amazement. ‘I’ve never seen one before.’

  ‘Want to get a closer look?’

  In response Emma nudged her horse forward and started down the zigzagging path.

  ‘This whole area used to be criss-crossed by rivers,’ Sebastian explained. ‘We’re riding in a river bed now. Not that it’s had any water in it for hundreds of years.’

  ‘And the oasis is all that’s left?’

  Sebastian nodded sadly. ‘One lone watering hole. Probably in another few hundred years even that won’t exist.’

  As they rode towards the oasis Emma could see the first proper signs of life since leaving Cairo. On the ground were a few dusty footprints, signs that other animals used the oasis as a watering hole.

  In less than half an hour Sebastian motioned for Emma to stop and dismount. Carefully he led her through the bushes that surrounded the small pool of water. Taking Wadjet’s reins, Sebastian quickly tied up the two horses where they could drink at their leisure. Both beasts started lapping greedily at the water and Sebastian laughed.

  ‘Is it bad I feel like I want to do the same?’ he asked, turning back to face Emma.

  ‘I won’t judge.’

  She watched as he lowered himself to his knees and scooped some of the clear, fresh water into his hands. He drank for a long few seconds before motioning for her to join him.

  Kneeling down next to him, Emma knew she was too close. Something about Sebastian made her lose all sense of reason, and crouching next to him in such close proximity only made things worse.

  Wordlessly he refilled his hands with water and lifted them towards her lips. Long seconds passed as Emma tried to resist touching his hands with her mouth and taking a drink. It was to no avail. She wasn’t that strong. She badly wanted the water, and what was worse was that she wanted to drink it from Sebastian’s hands.

  Her lips touched his skin and parted slightly, allowing the cool liquid to trickle into her mouth and down her throat. It was heavenly after so many hours of the dust and dirt of the desert. She felt cleansed and rejuvenated.

  Once she had drained his hands Sebastian lowered them from her lips and dipped his palms again into the water. Emma’s heart pounded in her chest as again he raised his flesh to her lips and motioned for her to drink. This time as the water slipped down her throat her eyes met Sebastian’s and a flicker passed between them. She wanted him to cup her face with those strong hands and kiss her just as he had a week previously.

  Emma held her breath as Sebastian seemed to sway towards her, his eyes locked on hers. His lips parted ever so slightly and his hands fell away from her mouth.

  Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the moment passed. Sebastian pulled away, getting to his feet too quickly and almost overbalancing. Emma felt too stunned to move. Despite all of her self-recriminations she’d wanted Sebastian to kiss her again. She’d wanted to feel his mouth on hers and get lost in the heady sensation of desire and lust.

  Her cheeks began to redden and Emma took the hand Sebastian was offering to her without looking at him. How could she be so foolish? Once was bad enough, but kissing the man twice would be unforgivable. Wanton. Everything the gossips had said about her would be proved to be true.

  As soon as she was on her feet, Sebastian let go
of her hand and turned away, fussing over the horses. Emma pushed away the faint pang of regret and steeled herself. She was a strong young woman who didn’t need a man like Sebastian to kiss her to give purpose to her life.

  With one last wistful look at Sebastian’s back, Emma took a few steps away and began to explore the oasis. After all, this was her adventure. She wasn’t going to let some inappropriate feelings for Sebastian spoil it.

  Chapter Ten

  Seb fiddled with the horses’ reins, pretending to check they were secure. In reality he was trying to stop his head from spinning. He glanced over his shoulder. Emma had walked a couple of paces away and was examining the vegetation intently. He was sure she’d felt it too, the flare of attraction that had passed between them. One second he’d been offering her water to help her rehydrate, the next the movement of her lips to his hands had become the most sensual thing in the world.

  He’d imagined cupping her face with his hands and bringing her full lips towards his until they met in an exquisite kiss. Every nerve in his body was on edge and firing, asking for more stimulation. He needed to stay in control, and when Emma was around that just didn’t seem to happen.

  Seb shook his head. He’d known a two-week expedition into the desert with Emma was a bad idea when he’d accepted the job offer. She was alluring and arousing and he didn’t seem to be able to keep his hands off her.

  The plea from Ahmed earlier in the day rang in his ears, but in truth Seb didn’t need the older man’s words to know any liaison with Emma was wrong. She was a well-brought-up young woman who had been unfortunate enough to be tainted by one scandal in her life—the last thing she needed was a second. But more than that, Seb should be shunning any thought of romantic involvement with her. He had seen what men of his family turned into when they married, he had seen the destructive relationship between his father and mother, and he wasn’t about to follow in their footsteps. Seb would never know what kind of a husband he would make, but to him never knowing was better than being a husband like his father had been. The family resemblance was strong. He was like his father in so many ways; what was to say he wouldn’t be like his father towards women, too?

  No, the safest thing for Seb was to continue to limit his romantic involvement with women to short dalliances, affairs with an end date firmly stamped upon them; that way he wouldn’t hurt anyone. Not the way his father had hurt his mother.

  Seb shuddered as he remembered the first time he’d seen his father raise a fist to his sweet, loving mother. She’d cowered away, but had not fled, as if she knew what was expected of her. In his darkest moments Sebastian wondered whether he could ever be so cruel, and knew he could never risk finding out. There had been occasions when a rage had descended over him and he had found it hard to control. He’d never hurt a woman, or even hit someone in anything but self-defence, but he couldn’t ever risk letting anyone get close, in case he did hurt them.

  He would just have to curb his attraction towards Emma and act the role of a professional guide. Once this expedition was over, the best thing would be to never see her again.

  Akins and Akil shattered the peace of the oasis with their animated chatter and for a few moments Sebastian was thankful of the distraction they provided.

  ‘Four men on horseback, trailing at a distance of two miles,’ Akins said as he came to a stop before Seb.

  ‘They are slow and stupid,’ Akil added.

  Seb nodded slowly. He’d been aware they were being followed whilst they were still in the streets of Cairo. When they’d entered the desert he’d sent Akil and Akins to flank the men following them and gain more information.

  ‘Either they’re slow and stupid or they don’t mind us knowing they are following us,’ Seb said quietly.

  He glanced at the sun. It was starting to dip towards the horizon; they probably had an hour, maybe two at most until sunset. Night-time in the desert descended quickly.

  ‘We need to keep watch throughout the night,’ Seb said. ‘Hopefully they will keep their distance and just continue to observe for now.’

  ‘Akil, you will take the first watch...’ Seb paused as he calculated ‘...four hours. Then I will take the second. Akins, you will relieve me and watch until dawn.’

  The boys nodded.

  ‘Go and set up an observation point near the top of the canyon, before the path leads down into the dried-up river bed. They will have to pass by to reach our camp.’

  Akil and Akins scurried off back the way they came. Although they were young, barely more than children, Seb knew he could rely on the two brothers as much as he could anyone in his employ. Four years ago he’d intervened when they’d been caught stealing. Some fast talking on his part had helped them avoid a harsh penalty, and they’d been his loyal employees ever since. He’d never known either of them to fall asleep whilst on watch or to disobey an order.

  Seb turned to face Emma, knowing he was going to have to talk to her at some point—delaying the conversation would only make it more awkward. She was looking wistfully at the clear pool of water as if she wanted nothing more than to dive in.

  ‘The boys have gone to set up an observation post,’ Seb said. ‘If you want to bathe you’ll have complete privacy.’

  Emma looked from him back to the water dubiously.

  ‘Could there be crocodiles?’ she asked.

  Sebastian laughed. ‘All this way in the desert with nothing to eat? Unlikely.’

  She still didn’t look sure.

  ‘I can go first to put your mind at ease.’

  She didn’t move, but continued to look at the water. Suddenly Seb wanted nothing more than to strip off and dive into the crisp, clear water. The day’s ride through the desert hadn’t been exhausting, but it had been hot and sticky and he wanted to feel refreshed and cool.

  Without another word he started to slowly strip off. Emma seemed frozen, her eyes roaming over his body as he raised his hands to start unfastening his garments. As he pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his tanned torso below, he thought he heard a little intake of breath from Emma. He hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his trousers and gave her a long hard look.

  ‘I will be naked when I take these down,’ Sebastian said.

  For a second Emma didn’t move, just stared at the point where his thumbs disappeared into his trousers, then she seemed to realise exactly where she was looking and spun around so quickly Seb thought she might fall over.

  He chuckled quietly to himself; at least he hadn’t lost the ability to shock a well-brought-up young lady. Quickly he divested himself of the rest of his clothes and left them in a pile by the water’s edge. With a glance around to check Emma wasn’t peeking, he started to stride into the water.

  It was cool against his skin and Seb knew he’d have a hard time persuading his tired muscles to get out of the small pool. When he was submerged to the waist he took a deep breath and dived under the water, enjoying the sensation of complete submergence and the eerie silence underwater.

  He surfaced and turned back towards Emma, just quick enough to see the swish of her skirt as she turned back around. She’d been peeking.

  Seb grinned, found his footing and stood, letting the water drip from his torso. He was decent, nothing south of his waist was visible, so he thought he might have a bit of fun with the peeking Miss Knight.

  Seb let out a strained roar and started splashing in the water. When he was sure he’d got Emma’s attention he ducked his head under, just leaving his arms splashing on the surface. After a few seconds he became completely still. He stayed that way for ten more seconds then surfaced.

  Emma was in the process of unfastening her dress, her fingers slipping on all the ties. When Seb resurfaced she froze and shot him a disbelieving look.

  ‘I thought you were drowning,’ she said, a hint of anger in her
voice.

  ‘You were coming to save me?’

  Emma looked to where her fingers were still pulling at the laces of her dress and shrugged. ‘I need my guide to be alive.’

  ‘Well, I’ve explored every inch of this pool and I can assure you there are no crocodiles in here.’

  Emma nodded and Seb realised she was staring again at his bare chest. It was as though she’d never seen a man half naked before. Seb grinned; maybe she hadn’t. Maybe her single night with Freddie hadn’t extended to examining the male form. The idea made him feel more pleased than it should. He stretched, then bobbed farther down in the water.

  ‘It’s lovely and cool. Why don’t you come in?’

  Emma looked at him as though he were mad.

  ‘Come in?’ she asked. ‘With you?’

  He nodded. He was already regretting the invitation. It had just slipped out, a manifestation of his subconscious and the part of him that wanted her naked in the water with him.

  ‘That would be scandalous.’

  Seb shrugged. ‘There’s no one here to tell.’

  Emma looked around her just to confirm they were alone.

  ‘I won’t look as you get in,’ Seb said. ‘On my honour.’

  Emma had slipped off her heavy boots and cautiously dipped a toe into the water. Seb could tell it must have felt heavenly against her skin as she sighed and closed her eyes.

  ‘I could wait until you get out,’ Emma said, a sliver of doubt creeping into her voice.

  ‘It’ll be getting dark soon,’ Seb said. ‘If you’re happy swimming in the dark...’

  She glanced at the sky and noted the position of the dropping sun.

  ‘I suppose if you stick to your half...’

  Seb grinned. She was coming in. He knew he should be a gentleman and insist he get out, then turn his back whilst she bathed, but he wasn’t that strong a man. He wanted there to be nothing more than the cool water between their bodies.

  ‘Turn around,’ Emma said. ‘And no peeking.’