CHAPTER FIFTEEN
They made love long into the night.
He was insatiable, driving her to unbelievable heights of ecstasy.
And, even when the storm began to blow against the tent, shaking the walls, he continued to make love to her. He brought her to climax after climax, until she felt exhausted by pleasure. Until she couldn't go on any longer. The whole time, she ignored the sound of the wind blowing against the outside walls of the tent. She paid no attention to any of it because she felt totally safe in his arms, now.
Eventually, they lay holding one another. Gemma was stunned by what had happened. She'd never felt like this. Not ever.
She could feel her muscles aching, but in a good way, she reflected. Parts of her were tender, but that didn't matter. All she cared about was him. All she wanted was to be with him.
He held her close, gazing into her eyes, whispering sweet words to her well into the night. When the storm eventually subsided, it was time to fall asleep. She closed her eyes, feeling how good it was to be in his embrace.
After a while she drifted off to sleep.
WHEN SHE AWOKE SHE COULD SEE THE early morning light coming through the fabric of the tent.
She looked across and saw Ahmed lying there, still asleep. She wanted to touch him, but she didn't, not wanting to wake him. He looked so peaceful, his features soft. There was a calm, satisfied expression on his face.
She slid carefully out of the bed and walked outside. The sky was clear blue and the air was clear and cool. She breathed in deeply and stretched contentedly.
She saw remnants of their meal strewn across the desert floor. Plates had been scattered by the winds of the night before. The table had been turned on its side and the cushions were wedged against the wall of the other tent.
There would be plenty for them to take care of later, she told herself.
A new day, she told herself. And what a night it had been. Her world had been turned upside down by what had happened. Ahmed had been incredible. He'd made love to her with an urgency and a tenderness which had stunned her.
She wandered around the camp for a while, letting the events of the night sink into her mind. Into her heart.
She wrapped her arms around herself. Ahmed would be getting up soon. He'd probably want to be with her from the moment he emerged from the tent. Unlike yesterday, he probably wouldn't want her to spend any part of the day away from him.
But, was that what she wanted?
Gemma sighed, pushing that question out of her mind and walked over to the pool. She leaned against one of the trees.
She thought about the conversation that would take place when he came to her again. He'd want it all to be different. Wouldn't he? He'd ask her to stay a while. He'd repeat to her some of the words he'd whispered in her ear, last night.
Words of desire.
Words of love.
She swallowed just thinking about those words, how they'd made her feel.
Was that what she really wanted? For him to come to her and say those things again?
Because she knew that if she let that happen, her world would change forever.
Even as she felt the echoes of his passion in every part of her body, she still wasn't sure if she was ready for that.
The simple truth was she hadn't come here to fall in love with a sheikh.
That hadn't been the plan. Not at all.
She could feel the beginnings of a very familiar sensation in her stomach. And it had nothing to do with the way they'd made love.
Doubt flickered in her middle.
More than that.
Worry.
She felt anxiety begin to grow as she considered all the possible outcomes for the morning.
For the morning after.
What was she going to do? What was she going to say to him that wouldn't devastate him? Because she'd seen just how much last night had meant to him.
As far as he was concerned, last night they had forged an unbreakable bond. They'd made a connection that now seemed almost destined by fate. There was no other way to explain this instant attraction, she told herself.
This instant love.
Before she'd even had a chance to figure out how she was going to handle this, Ahmed emerged from the tent.
Anxiety tightened her throat, made her heart beat quicker.
He looked so amazing. He was wearing his robe loose, opened at the front. As he started toward her, she could see his powerful body on full display. All his taut muscles, the dark hair on his chest. In spite of what she'd been telling herself moments before, she felt desire stir.
He smiled at her. "Good morning," he murmured.
Ahmed came to her and wrapped his arms around her. He smelled wonderful, she reflected as he leaned in and kissed her. His lips were soft and she felt the stirrings of his firmness against her body.
Was this man completely insatiable? He was ready for her again, and he didn't mind her knowing that simple fact.
He leaned back and ran his gaze across her features. "You look beautiful, this morning," he murmured.
She felt her cheeks flush. "Thanks," she said. "You don't look so bad yourself," she added defensively.
She looked hesitantly at him and saw that he'd noticed her uncertainty.
His brows narrowed. "What is it?" he asked.
"Nothing," she replied.
He didn't look convinced. He gazed steadily at her and she could see he was trying to judge her reaction.
"Is there something I should know?"
She shook her head. "No. Why do you ask that?"
"You look distracted," he said.
"Last night was slightly distracting," she retorted, trying to make the remark sound casual. He didn't laugh. Again, he didn't seem convinced.
He took a step back and gazed at her, assessing her for a moment. She could see the beginnings of doubt in his eyes, now.
"Why do I think you've got something you want to say to me?"
"I don't," she replied, moving away from the tree and walking along the sandy edge of the pool.
He followed alongside her. Gemma thought for a few moments and then stopped. She halted and peered at him.
Ahmed took her arms, holding her gently, but firmly. His touch produced an instant reminder of last night, of every gentle caress, every passionate embrace.
She tried to ignore that, but it was almost impossible.
"You've changed your mind already, haven't you," he said evenly.
"What are you talking about?"
"Last night."
"What about it?"
His gaze darkened. "Do I have to spell it out? What it meant for me?"
She looked away from him. Then she felt his fingers beneath her chin, and he moved her face so that she was looking straight at him again.
"You remember what I said to you, last night," he stated.
She peered into his dark eyes, seeing the same fierce need she'd seen so many times before. "Of course I remember what you said."
"And?"
He waited for her reply, but she didn't know what she could say to him.
She sighed and moved away from him. "It's all happening too fast, Ahmed," she declared.
"Too fast? Isn't that how love works? Doesn't it just take hold of two people in an instant?"
She shook her head. "I don't know," she moaned.
Gemma walked away from him even faster, needing to put some distance between herself and him.
He caught up with her and took hold of her elbow. She turned and gazed at him. She really didn't want to do this, she told herself. Why couldn't she just admit the truth of what she'd felt last night?
She knew the answer to that almost immediately.
Somehow, in the bright light of the morning, what she'd done seemed too impulsive. Almost unreal. What had happened last night had been incredible, but it had just been one night.
That was all.
Nothing else.
Didn't he realize that?
She looked at him and could tell instantly that it had meant so much more to him.
"Gemma," he murmured. The way he said her name made her remember how he'd said it to her hours before. How he had said it during one of their shared climaxes.
Emotion caught in her chest, making her breathing tight.
"You know what I mean, Ahmed," she pleaded.
"No, I don't," he replied.
Or was it that he didn't want to hear what he knew, in his heart, she was about to tell him.
"Last night was beautiful," she said. Her voice was shaking and she had to force the words out. But she knew would have to. Otherwise this would all end very badly for them both.
"Was?" he asked, his brows furrowing with concern.
She nodded. "It was one night, Ahmed. Can't you see that?"
He shook his head. "How can you say such a thing?"
"Because it's true. That's why."
He let go of her arm, turned away, and ran a hand through his hair. He dragged in a deep, harsh breath and then faced her again. "You're not telling me you want to leave, are you?"
She gazed steadily at him. Then she nodded. "Can you take me back to Qabiyah?"
He stared incredulously at her. He seemed lost for words, his features frozen in disbelief.
She hated doing this, she told herself. But, she had no choice. It was either this or facing the consequences of what had happened. She wasn't sure she would ever be ready for that.
"Well?" she prompted, feeling the pain in her heart, sensing the hurt that would be with her from this moment on.
But she had to do it this way.
Didn't she?
Ahmed gazed at her for a very long moment. She could still see the incredulity in those eyes. There were impatient flashes in the dark pools. The moment seemed to stretch forever, but finally he answered her.
"I'll take you back," he said. His voice was heavy and slow. She could almost feel the pain in that voice. The truth was, they were both hurting. But there was no other way. This craziness had swept both of them up and turned both their lives inside out.
She smiled at him. "Thank you," she said and started to move back toward the tent.
"Gemma," he said sharply.
She peered at him and he gazed back at her. "You're sure about this?"
She nodded. "It's for the best, Ahmed. You know it as well as I do."
"But I don't," he replied. "That's the thing."
She shook her head. "I have to get ready," she insisted.
Then she walked away from him, feeling her heart aching, but desperately trying to convince herself that what she had just done had been the best for both of them.