She caught his hand. “No, home. To Egypt. That is my real home, after all.”
Warmth bloomed inside at the familiar feel of her hand in his. “Yes.”
“One request, though.”
He didn’t hesitate to say, “Anything.”
She entwined her fingers with his. “Can I bring my cats? All seven of them?”
“Of course.” Such simple needs. Then why did she suddenly appear horrified?
“Oh god, my cats. They’re all right, aren’t they?” She searched his face, then the goddess’s.
Bastet said, “Your friend Margo has taken exceptional care of them.”
“Thank goodness.” An instant of relief, and she wrinkled her nose. “Such a long flight will frighten them.”
“We’ll hire a private jet.” He’d learned about those. “You can comfort them whenever they need it.”
“We can’t. That’s crazy expensive.”
“Not for me.” He could indulge in any luxury. He cared less about pleasing himself than her, a strange yet satisfying change within him.
“Impossible,” Bastet said. “You are a stranger in this world, Iker.”
“So?” He didn’t intend to remain one for long.
Sanura winced. “I should have thought of that. Authorities won’t let you get on a plane without a passport. You have no identification at all.”
“However,” Bastet said, “One of the members of The Royal Daughter of Amun Society could fly you there.”
“He has a plane?”
“She does,” Bastet corrected. “Mrs. Allgood will be in touch tomorrow with the arrangements. And now, I must take my leave.” The goddess glided to the door. “Thank you, Sanura.”
“For what?”
She glowed with a beatific smile. “For believing in yourself.”
“Thank you for helping me believe.”
After touching her fingers to her forehead, then her heart, Bastet turned and passed through the door.
Sanura sighed. “Next time I see her, remind me to ask her to show me that trick.”
Iker chuckled. “And you must show me how to gain a passport.” After he’d packed her bags and crated her cats, and they’d sailed through the skies to home.
Home. The word filled him with dread. What if everything had changed? What if the estate he’d once loved had crumbled to sand and blown away?
“Hey.” Sanura’s palm warmed his arm. “You okay?”
“Never better.” Never more nervous either. Ahead lay unfamiliar territory, a world with no rigid restrictions, and no guidelines. He might get lost in a heartbeat.
The rest of the night passed in a blur. The taxi ride to her apartment, the hurried tossing of clothing and essentials into a few suitcases. When Sanura telephoned her friend Margo, her hurried, heartfelt thanks and condensed explanation of what had happened tugged at his heart. He understood too well what it meant to leave everything behind.
At some point, Sanura also spoke to Mrs. Allgood and jotted notes. Shorts showcased her long, slender legs, and he had trouble keeping his gaze away.
After thanking the woman, she appeared by his side at the window. “The jet is scheduled for takeoff at ten tomorrow morning.”
“Good.” Eleven hours from now. “Do you need more help packing?”
“Nope, I think I have the essentials. I’ll wait until just before we leave to crate the cats.”
At a loss for what else to say, he nodded.
She shrugged. “Guess we should get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day.”
He frowned. “The day will be as long as any other.”
“Yes, but the flight will take forever. That always makes the day seem extra long.”
“Ah. I understand.” Tedium could extend the hours, though he had difficulty imagining any time with her as tedious. “Sleep well.”
Her expression blanked, then a wan smile briefly lit her face. “You too. I’ll grab you a pillow.”
“No.” Last time, the scent of her hair on the pillow case kept him awake, dreaming wild thoughts. “These are fine.”
“No blanket?”
He sat and held a pillow against him like a shield. “Not needed.”
After a beat, she moved to the bedroom door. “Good night then.”
“And to you.” He stretched out and stared at the ceiling until the latch clicked shut. He blew out a long breath.
A cat leapt to his chest and stared down at him.
He scratched its ear. “You think me a coward, Ramses?”
The cat sneezed.
“You are right.” He desperately wanted to offer some excuse to follow her. To hold her, and then fall into her bed with her. But Sanura had to be exhausted from the ceremony. Honor demanded he not press her.
Once they reached Egypt, he would advance with caution, applying the strategies he’d learned in battle, but with one aim—winning her heart. He would consider it his greatest victory.
Chapter Twenty-One
Hours passed, darkness into dawn. Noises within her room alerted Iker she’d awakened. He sat up and waited until awhile later, she appeared, freshly showered and dressed.
They barely spoke while they readied. After the taxi arrived, she swept a final nostalgic glance across her loft, and then they shuffled the bags downstairs. The wait at the airport seemed unnecessarily long, and Iker worried the officials would detain him for questioning, possibly even prevent him from leaving. He gave the females in uniform his warmest smiles, and melted their hard exteriors. Before long, they’d boarded the aircraft and took two seats beside one another.
Two women entered. One introduced herself as Alexandra, their pilot. Zenobia, the co-pilot and flight hostess, showed them how to press the button whenever they needed anything, or help themselves in the kitchen area, and then both women entered the cockpit. The engines whooshed to life, and the plane circled and lifted into the sky.
Though he’d glimpsed the airborne vehicles overhead and through the visions granted by Bastet, Iker found the idea of traveling this way more incredible than when the goddess transported them. He would place his life in the hands of Bastet with no problem, but an airplane filled him with an uncomfortable nervousness. She had likewise gifted him with the knowledge of engines, in concept. To his mind, machines had too many moving parts, which meant they were subject to breaking down. Especially during a long session of use, such as their flight to Egypt.
Sanura’s hand warmed his, and worry fled his mind. “Are you hungry? Thirsty?”
She shook her head, then rested against his arm.
“The seats recline, you know.” He pushed a lever to demonstrate.
“Nice.” She did the same for his chair. “I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Neither did I.”
When she eased away, green eyes sparkling, some lightness bubbled inside him, and his nervousness crumbled and lifted away. He lifted the arm rests separating them and drew her against him. With her warmth curling through him, he drifted to sleep. Only the occasional trip to the rest room interrupted their rest.
The plane touched down in Luxor, and he cleared his head. Not one tedious moment.
The taxi driver grumbled about the multiple cat crates. Caesar and Cleo’s hissing didn’t help the awkward—and tight—situation. Iker’s generous tip relieved the tension, if too late.
Standing on the curb, he frowned up at the tall building. “This cannot be right.”
“Does the address match what Mrs. Allgood gave you?”
“Yes, but these are flats. Similar to the one in which we stayed before.” He noted the miracle of being able to stand there at all, after what they’d experienced. Only a rare few mortals could make the same claim, and none that he knew of could claim to have lived in such disparate times. Yet he was disappointed all the same.
“I’ll stay with the bags if you want to check inside to be sure we’re at the right place.”
He scanned the streets. He couldn’t leave h
er alone and unprotected. The vizier’s followers might still have orders to kill her. “No.” He stopped a man heading toward the building’s entrance and showed him the note. According to the man, the address should be the top floor.
“Many thanks.” To Sanura, he said, “Your kittens must be hot in their boxes. Let’s take the bags inside.”
She stacked their crates as he rushed the luggage indoors, then helped her drag the three crates.
Sumptuous artwork and plants decorated the generous lobby. After they piled their possessions in the elevator, Iker pressed the 12 button. His heart flip-flopped on the upward glide, a smooth ride, at least.
The elevator opened to a smaller, but no less sumptuous, lobby. Sanura blocked the elevator while he unloaded. He faced the next set of double doors of ornately carved wood.
Sanura came to his side. “Don’t you have the key?”
“Yes.” In the smaller bag he’d packed. He meant to remove the key earlier, but did so now.
Her expression softened. “You have so many new things to get used to, everything at once.”
“It is a bit overwhelming.” He would never have admitted that to anyone but felt safe telling her.
“If you don’t like this place, you can look for a new one later. You have other options.”
“You’re right.” Why was he acting like a frightened schoolboy? He inserted the key into the lock, and threw open both doors.
They stared into the ample room, open to the wide terrace outside. The flat spread the width of the building. A sectional sofa angled around a table, with a large kitchen and dining table to one side, and a hallway leading to what he assumed were the bedrooms.
With a mischievous grin, she linked her arm in his. “Let’s explore.”
Each room elicited a new gasp of delight from her, easing his misgivings.
“This flat is huge.” She hurried onto the patio and whirled with a laugh. “And so lovely. Don’t you think?”
His heart soared. “I’ve never seen anything so lovely.” Sunlight and wind in her hair, her long legs moving in a graceful dance. Her hips, perfect for…
He cleared his throat. “Let’s see the rest, shall we?” He guided her to the hallway opening to the private rooms.
Sanura turned shy when they stepped inside the master bedroom with a Grecian-style four-poster, king-sized bed. “Great room. I love the huge windows.”
“Yes.” And the heavy drapes that would stop prying eyes.
In one of the two smaller bedrooms, she perched on the bed. “This one would be great for my cats and me.”
“No, you should have the large bed. Plenty of room for…” He gulped, imagining what the bed had plenty of room for. “All of you.”
“No, I couldn’t. That’s your room.”
“It’s yours for as long as you wish. No more arguments.”
The last small room held a desk and laptop. A sticky note taped to the monitor instructed him to check the top drawer.
He slid open the wide one and lifted an envelope. “What are these?”
Sanura came to his side. “A passport? How did they manage that?”
He flipped it open. “David Iker?” A strong ancient name, but strange.
“It suits you. What do you think?”
“If you believe it is necessary, I will be David Iker.”
“I’m afraid it is. An official ID will keep you off the federal watch lists.” When he frowned, she laid a hand on his arm. “You’ll be able to travel freely. Wherever you want.”
“I see.” He sighed. “I still have much to learn.”
“You will. A little at a time.”
Her soft assurances assuaged his tension. He quashed the impulse to take her in his arms. He had invited her so he could take care of her, not take advantage of her weakened condition. “You must be hungry.”
“A little, but if you’re not, I’ll wait.”
“I could eat, especially pizza. With everything on it.”
“We’ll have to look for a takeout place later. I’m not a great cook, but let’s go raid the fridge.” With a grin and a little hop, and she danced across the room and opened the fridge. “Whoa. Fresh fruits and veggies, and hey, two prepared meals just waiting to be devoured.” She drew out two white containers, set them on the island and popped them open. “Mm, the perfect cure for jetlag.”
“Impressive.” Probably ordered by Hatshepsut, and probably an attempt to conjure her in his mind. He did, but only long enough to say a silent thanks.
Sanura pinched off some fish and sampled a bite, and her eyes flew wide. “You have to try this.” She raised a chunk to his mouth.
“I’m supposed to be taking care of you, remember?” He closed his lips around her finger and flicked his tongue. “Mm, you’re right. Delicious.”
The spark of heat in her eyes was worth it. “I thought we were taking care of each other.”
“I intend to nurse you back to health.” Then he wouldn’t hesitate to follow the instincts washing over him, urging him to hold her, taste her.
“I’m not sick.” Her teasing tone had a sultry edge.
Tempting. Still, honor demanded he wait. To rush her would be to risk rejection. “Perhaps, but you have endured great strain. You must allow your body to rejuvenate.”
At the mention of her body, they both turned shy.
A few meows, and seven furry bodies lined up on the floor.
“Poor babies, are you hungry?” She crouched to pet the cats. “They smelled the fish. I wonder if anyone thought to stock cat food?”
He began opening cabinet doors. “Here.” He drew out a bag of dry food and a box of canned, and the seven bowls stacked next to them. “You’d better feed Caesar first. Though Mark Antony looks ravenous too.”
Sanura tilted her head. “You can tell them apart?”
“Of course.”
She studied him with a strange expression, then laid the seven bowls on the floor. Crouching, she dribbled the dry food and sniffled.
What had he said? “Is anything wrong?”
“No.” She rose and laughed through her pout. “The opposite.”
He grasped her shoulders. “Tell me.”
As usual, her eyes electrified him.
“Not only do you not mind my cats, you seem to actually like them.”
“I have always enjoyed animals. My busy travel schedule prevented me from owning them.” He understood less than before. “Why should that upset you?”
“I’m not. I’m happy.”
Her smile was not that of a happy woman. Her bottom lip quivered, as if she were on the verge of tears.
Thoroughly confused, he released her. “We should finish eating before the food spoils.” Perhaps she merely needed sustenance, in addition to rest, to recover from their ordeal. Battle experience had taught him that stress affected people in different ways. He released a breath of relief when she nodded in agreement.
All trace of sadness gone, she asked, “Can we move to the patio? It’s such a lovely night.”
“Good idea.” The walls always closed in on him if he stayed too long indoors. He preferred open skies, fresh air.
She strolled to a chaise lounge. “I love this place.”
“Not the best arrangement, but I could get used to it.” Could get used to having her there. The wind dancing in her hair, her smile lighting up the night. The terrace could use extra lighting, however. Candles. He must remember to purchase some at the market.
“Not just your flat. The city. Egypt. Until this craziness began, I never knew that I was born in this country. No wonder coming here was like coming home.”
“There is no place in the world to compare.” Breathing the hot, dry air was enough to give him comfort.
She rested back against the cushion. “Funny, I don’t feel a bit jet lagged, do you?”
He sat on the chaise parallel to hers. “No. But I insist you let me care for you.”
The muted lights of the city played acro
ss her features when she turned toward him. “I’m grateful, but honestly, I feel kind of amazing.”
“Because you are.” The old instinct to clamp down his thoughts—and his heart—rose up. He clamped down on that instead, and let the words flow. “I’ve never known anyone so amazing as you. You’re bright, brave, generous, strong-willed, curious, infuriating…” He laughed at the seeming contradiction, but it was all true. Put together, those qualities made up Sanura. He wouldn’t change one thing about her. “You’re beautiful.”
She set her dish aside. “The old me would never have done anything like this.” She rose and came to him, every bit the goddess. “But you’ve shown me I can be so much more.” She removed the container from his hands and placed it on the stone floor, then slid onto his lap. Cupping his face, she pressed her mouth to his. Soft and slow, her lips moved against his in a mesmerizing way.
Electrified by her touch, he wound his arms tight around her. When her lips parted and her tongue explored his, heat slammed through him. His body screamed for more, but she eased away.
Still in the grips of need, he released a ragged breath. “Why does this seem like goodbye?”
“Oh no. Maybe it’s goodbye to the girl I used to be. But it’s definitely hello to the new, improved Sanura.”
He traced the curves of her rear, her shivers beneath his touch stoking his desire. “You need no improvement.”
Her gaze plumbed the depths of his soul. “I need you. Not as a warrior. Not as a guide. I need Iker, the man.”
He rested his forehead against hers and breathed in her sweet, trembling breaths. “I have been waiting to hear you say that.” For what seemed like two lifetimes.
“I can’t wait any longer. I want you, Iker.” She trailed little kisses along his jaw, and nipped his ear. “Make love to me.”
The whisper had the force of a gale within him, churning desire to life. His mouth found hers in an intoxicating kiss. He would have let himself drown in her, in that moment, but he had waited long enough. He scooped into his arms, stood and carried her inside, down the hall to the master suite. Gently, he set her on the center of the bed and she reached out to him.
All hunger and desire and need, he climbed like a stalking panther, ready to devour her. Slowly, savoring each taste of her delicious skin. She opened to him, legs wrapping around his, body pressing against his so their ribs and hips met in a new dance. Her murmurings of his name imprinted deep into his soul, where he would keep them forever.
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