My Desert Rose

by Kalia Lewis

  Katie tensed beside Tariq. What struck her about Hassan was the dullness of his eyes. In fact, he looked downright haggard and much older than his years. Recalling Tariq’s words of how his men had died, she wondered how calculated this man really was. This was the real reason why she was here and it sobered her up and moved her out of her romantic notions of Tariq.

  Tariq seemed to ponder on his question for a moment, as if he couldn’t remember why he'd made the changes, but it was a ploy. "Oh yes, I altered them in case the Somali pirates had worked out our weekly schedule."

  Hassan blinked as if the answer was too simple. "But we have supply deadlines to meet?"

  Tariq’s features darkened. "Yes, brother and we have ships that are being hijacked and men dying. Furthermore, I’ve decided to handle the times and movements of all the ships from now on, only letting out the information at the last minute." Tariq was aiming to squeeze his brother into taking some sort of rash action to find out the information.

  Hassan looked at Amira and then turned back to Tariq. "But how will father and I know when to move the oil barrels from the wells to the loading docks?"

  Tariq pushed his plate away. "I shall be going to Yemen the day after tomorrow to choose a group of men whom I can trust with the information and I will be back on Friday."

  This was news to Katie.

  Hassan turned beet red. "And you’re not going to keep Father and me in the loop!"

  Malik turned to Hassan and spoke calmly. "Hassan, I have given Tariq permission for full control on this. I will not tolerate any more losses. Two ships were targeted last week."

  "But Father -" Hassan protested.

  "Enough," replied Malik roughly. "I have spoken."

  Hassan threw his napkin onto the table and pushed his chair back with enough force to topple it over. "Then I will escort you to Yemen, as I too am part-owner of this business."

  Tariq smiled inwardly. It was exactly what he’d been hoping for. "Of course, brother," he answered with ease. "And Katie will be joining me, as she would like to see the whole production."

  I would?

  "Then I shall come too," Amira said, as she too stood up.

  "No, Amira, I need you to stay here," retorted Hassan sharply as he brushed past her to leave.

  Amira's jaw dropped. "Just who do you think you're speaking to?" she called at Hassan's retreating back.

  The room once again fell silent.

  Amira threw Katie a final look of reproach before moving to leave. "Excuse me everyone," she mumbled.

  Malik got up and picked up Hassan's toppled chair. "I apologise for my son's behaviour, Katie. The family have been under a lot of pressure lately."

  "Please, it's fine, really." Katie felt Tariq relax and sigh next to her, so she reached over and put her hand on his thigh.

  Payback time!

  Tariq's head whipped around to look at her and his eyes flashed a warning saying, 'Don't start what you can't finish'.

  In response, she squeezed his taut flesh and suggestively raised an eyebrow at him.

  A slow, sensuous smile spread across his face and she realised that she'd just basically told him she was up for the challenge. Now feeling a little flustered, she went to remove it, but he put his hand on top of hers and held it there.

  The earlier banter they'd all shared, before the arrival of Hassan and Amira, returned to the room as everyone chatted and laughed, giving the atmosphere a much more pleasant feel. The arrival of the dessert trolley was met with cheers of delight and Tariq allowed her to move her hand away in order to pick out a strawberry cheesecake. It tasted divine.

  Finally, Tariq stood up and held his hand out to Katie. "I think it's time for my wife and I to retire." How she’d handled his family tonight had not only made him proud, but she’d proved to him that she had grace and a hint of the social class that her parents had instilled into her.

  Katie blushed again and Miriam giggled.

  Chapter Seven

  The second the doors to their suite closed behind them, Tariq couldn’t wait another moment to get this woman in his arms. Reaching for her wrist and before she could protest, he spun her round to face him and claimed her lips in a fierce kiss.

  There was no way she was resisting him this time and she gave a soft moan as his hot mouth descended on hers and is tongue demanded entry. Before she could even grasp the fact that her legs were turning to jelly, he was pulling off her bolero jacket. Oh, two could play at that game. Tugging off his tie, which she’d wanted to do all night, she yanked open his shirt, sending little pearl buttons across the carpet, and then she slid the material over his shoulders and dropped both his shirt and jacket to the floor.

  Finally, it was going to happen. Since her taste of him in the ocean earlier and her recent decision to let go and have some fun, she'd been waiting in a haze of sexual suspense. What they were about to do was going to change the structure of their relationship, but if the truth was known, she'd wanted him the second she'd laid eyes on him. Palming his firm chest, she marvelled at the contours of his muscles and as her hands roamed over his skin, she could hear his breath speed up.

  One of Tariq's hands had found its way to her hip and he was currently grabbing at her dress, trying to pull it up. The other was seeking out her zip. In his mind, there were too many layers of cloth left between them, so either way, up or down, the dress was coming off. Finding the zip, he made quick work of it and then pressed his palm to her bare back, revelling at the warmth and softness of her skin. "Take it off," he growled at her.

  Taking her arms out of the sleeve holes she did as he asked and allowed the dress to slip down her body and fall to the floor, revealing her matching lilac silk bra and thong. Taking a peek at him through her eyelashes, she could see the effect it was having on him.

  Tariq almost grunted in approval. Pure splendour stood before him. He wanted her more than he'd ever wanted anything. Grabbing her arms roughly, he pulled her into his chest where skin met skin.

  The impact jolted her and then she gasped as she felt Tariq grab her bottom with both of his large hands and virtually lift her up off her feet towards him. Taking the hint, she wrapped her legs around his waist and then felt him move towards the wall. The coldness of it on her back caused her to moan.

  All thoughts of moving this to the bedroom and taking it slow left Tariq as he used the wall for leverage while dropping his head to an erect nipple protruding through the fine silk of her bra. He nipped at it, but the material was a barrier. "Lift it up," he demanded.

  She gave him a little secret smile and unclipped the front fastening, allowing her breasts to be exposed.

  He groaned at their perfect fullness before he took one of her peaks in his mouth and sucked on it, hard.

  Katie dropped her head back against the wall and grasped at his hair. "Mmmm, yes, I like that," she breathed, as she squirmed a little at where her clitoris was rubbing on his hard length.

  Tariq chuckled at her demand to get what she wanted as he moved to her other breast and devoured it.

  Katie was now shamelessly and purposely rubbing herself against him. Waves of excitement were running through her body. It felt so good. "Tariq..." she whimpered, as she moved to undo his belt.

  A loud banging on the suite doors nearly caused Tariq to fall over. He couldn't believe it. "What!" he roared.

  "There’s an urgent message for you, Sayyid," came the voice of Thebes.

  "Can’t it wait?" he answered back in a strained voice.

  "No, Sayyid. You’re father has requested to meet with you in his study right now."

  "Shit!" Tariq muttered. Lowering Katie to the floor, he leaned into her and felt the tips of her nipples against his chest. It nearly caused him to pick her back up again and continue his exploration of her. Breathing hard to bring himself under control, he murmured in her ear as he nibbled on it, "I will be back and I promise you that we will finish this."

  Katie felt dazed. A moment ago she was beginning to so
ar high on a wave pulsating bliss, but now all she felt was disappointment. Bringing her fingers to her lips, she could feel their swollenness from Tariq's passionate kisses and her body was still vibrating with unfinished need. All she could do was nod and move away from him to pick up their clothes.

  Tariq followed her into the bedroom, watching her slim legs in the silver stilettos. Each step caused the cheeks of her buttocks to sway in the pieces of string from the lilac thong. It was killing him and he was as hard as hell. Maybe they should just finish it quickly on the bed and end this torture, but he knew she deserved more than just a quick screw. Pulling out a clean shirt, he heard her shower turn on. There had better be a good excuse as to why there'd been an intrusion.

  Entering his father’s office he immediately began demanding what it was that couldn’t wait until tomorrow, but one look on his father’s face and he stopped in his tracks. It appeared his father had aged ten years in the last thirty minutes since he’d seen him. "What’s going on?"

  Malik gestured to a seat and his son sat down. "Another ship has been targeted."

  Tariq was shocked. "What? When?"

  "This evening," his father replied solemnly.

  Guilt instantly assailed him. While they'd all been eating dinner and making small talk, his men had been suffering. "How can that be? We changed the schedule and ordered extra security on each ship."

  "Someone must have known, as they were ambushed by two pirate ships between Yemen and Socotra."

  Tariq ran his hand through his hair. "That’s impossible. Only you and I know of those changes."

  Malik shook his head. "Only you, I and the head of operations at the port in Yemen knew."

  "Do you think he’s the head guy behind all the hijacks, deaths and thefts?"

  Malik again shook his head. "The pirates aren’t interested in the oil as it can be traced. I think they’re being paid to steal it and offload it somewhere. The deaths are their way of having 'fun'. I don't think any of the deaths were part of the plan, but it would require someone with big money and the head of operations doesn’t have that kind of cash."

  "Maybe it's a competitor?" Tariq wanted to hear what his father knew and suspected without bringing Hassan into the picture.

  "No," Malik sighed wearily. "The next big oil producer after us is Amira’s brother, Prince Saud, and we are accepted as family rather than competition. I just spoke with him and he has offered us the use of his ships to transport the oil, so it’s not him. I believe it’s someone closer to home."

  "Like who?" Tariq held his breath. If his father opened up to him, then they might be able to work as partners in the plan that Tariq was formulating."

  "I’m ashamed to say it son," Malik replied with sadness infusing his voice.

  Tariq watched his father rub his tired eyes in worry.

  Malik continued, "I checked Hassan’s accounts. I know it’s snooping, but in the light of this situation I wanted to eliminate all the possibilities. What I found was disturbing."

  Tariq’s eyes glittered with unspoken knowledge in the light of the desk lamp. "Let me guess, you found out he was extracting large sums of cash and then depositing larger sums of cash some days later."

  Malik looked stumped. "You knew?"

  "I suspected. I think he’s paying the Somali pirates to steal the oil, and have it shipped to a holding zone and then is selling it at a higher price." Malik went so pale at those words that Tariq wasn’t sure he believed him.

  A moment of silence hit the room as Malik digested the implications. "If this is true, then he’s not only stealing from his own family, he has murder on his hands."

  Tariq hung his head in shame. The family name would be forever linked with the responsibility for the deaths of his men. "I have a plan, Father, but it does involve us setting up a dummy cargo ship..."

  Malik’s eyebrows went up. "Okay, let’s hear it."

  Chapter Eight

  Even though Tariq's mind had been eased by sharing his suspicions with his father, the thought of his men aboard that ship had deeply perturbed him. At the moment he didn't know whether they were dead or alive. Within the next hour he would be leaving for the port, but right now he just needed some fresh air before going back to Katie and explaining everything. Making his way through the patio doors of the library, he walked around to the back of the house where the well-lit gardens merged with the desert sands. Sitting down on part grass and part sand, he stared out over the vast ocean and listened to the waves as they swept along the beach. The hairs on his neck prickled and he knew someone was approaching.

  "Hi there, all alone are we?"

  That was the one voice he really didn't want to hear right now.

  Amira's.

  "I'm just taking in some air," he replied coolly. She sat down next to him and his skin crawled. If all of his suspicions were true, then Amira was just as responsible for the deaths of his men from previous hijacks as Hassan and the killers were. She and Hassan may not have actually pulled the trigger and the deaths might not have been a part of their plan, but they hadn't done anything to prevent it from happening either.

  "The ocean is so romantic at night, isn't it," she said softly.

  "Hmmm," he muttered, as he turned to look down at her. The features of her face shone in the light of the gardens. Physically, Amira was faultless, she was exotically beautiful, but there'd always been a part of her that bugged him. It was in the little things that she did. Even as a child, she'd had this obsessive streak running through her. He remembered picking a flower for her once and as he'd placed the delicate bud in her palm, she'd closed her fingers over it and crushed it while giving him an odd smile. It had made him shiver. Another time, she'd been given a kitten for her birthday and she'd possessed it so completely that several times it had nearly died from suffocation. The poor thing was not allowed to leave her side and he'd watched her wrap it up in scraps of material and virtually snuff the life out of it.

  Searching her face, he could see the remnants of that child in the slight smile to her lips and he watched in caution as she fluttered her eyelashes at him in fake innocence.

  "But sometimes it gets so cold out here," she remarked, as she linked her arm through his.

  It felt like a snake wrapping itself around his arm. When he'd turned down his parents' marriage proposal between him and Amira, he'd felt immense relief. For three years prior to this, she'd followed him around everywhere. It had got to the point where he'd felt trapped, just like that kitten, and there was no way he could've spent the next forty years of his life feeling as though he couldn't breathe. Right now, that same feeling was rising up in him. "Well, it's late, so I'd better be off." He untangled himself and stood up to leave, but she jumped up too.

  "Tariq?"

  One half of him wanted to move away as fast as he could, but the other half was warning him not to make any sharp moves. Another rebuff would only fuel her fire. Glancing quickly towards the house and then back to her, he felt a surge of longing for Katie. "What, Amira?"

  "What does Katie have that I don't?" she asked in a small voice.

  He cocked his head. How do you say 'everything' without sounding like a mean son-of-a-bitch? "I don't know. It's not something specific, she's just...Katie."

  "But you and me, we were meant to be together, everyone in our families said so."

  He felt her hand land on his chest, over his heart. A tremor of repulsion rippled through him. "Amira, our families doesn't always know what's best for us, and we wouldn't have been right together." But before he could remove her hand, she'd put her other one behind his head and pulled it down, smacking her lips against his and catching him off guard.

  The last time they'd kissed was just over six years ago. It was that very feel of her in his arms which had confirmed his decision to refuse the proposal. The kiss had drawn nothing out of him, no desire and no passion. It had been cold and empty, just like this one was.

  Gripping the tops of her arms, he pushed her awa
y and she toppled back and fell to the soft sand. Wiping his hand over his mouth in disgust, he snapped at her, "What on earth are you doing?" He didn't want to wait for her answer. The woman was clearly obsessed with him and on top of that she was married to his brother for God's sake! Abruptly, he turned and walked further down the beach to where he and Katie had been earlier that day.

  "You'll regret this, Tariq. I'll make sure of it!"

  The coldness of her words followed him down the beach and made him shudder. There was no way he could go back to Katie now with Amira's vile touch and energy all over him. Maybe he could face her after a brisk walk and preferably a shower to wash Amira off his skin.

  ****

  Katie was gobsmacked. Watching from the recess of the balcony, she'd seen the whole thing. After Tariq had left, she'd taken a leisurely shower, exfoliated, moisturised and perfumed herself before slipping into a black lace teddy. Two hours later she'd been still been waiting for him to return, drumming her fingers on his pillow next to hers. To fill in some time, she'd come out onto the balcony to listen to the sounds of the night air, when she'd caught the profile of Tariq walking from the house towards the beach. Excitement had nearly made her slip on a dressing gown and go down there to meet him, but then she'd caught Amira following him.

  Watching Amira sit down next to him and link her arm through his was bad enough to witness, but when she'd pulled his head down and kissed him, well, that had really got her hackles rising. It wasn't as though she had any right to get pissed off, as their marriage was a fake one, but while they were on this journey together, he was hers. Okay, so he wasn't hers, but he definitely didn't belong to Amira.

  The only relief came was when she saw Tariq push her away. At least the kiss hadn't been mutual. She knew in her heart that he wasn't interested in someone who could callously sit back and allow his family's name to be dragged through the mud, but still, even that truth didn't detract her from the outrage that she was now feeling.