Amy pulled yet another leather-bound tome from the stack beside her and suppressed her sigh of frustration. After spending a half-hour wandering around the labyrinth of corridors searching for the library, a servant had finally escorted her to the room. Books lined the walls from floor to ceiling, and luckily for her, they were organized by category. If they hadn’t been, she would have wasted hours, if not days, looking for the right texts.

But as it turned out, she still had nothing to show for her time. She’d poured over seven books already—some on shifter obstetrics, some on general medicine, some on ancient diseases in shifter races. She hadn’t found anything that could explain Nabila’s illness. It didn’t help that she had no idea what she was looking for. Something was wrong—Amy hadn’t imagined the whisper of a heartbeat from the baby the night before—but she had no clue what it might be.

Damned if she wasn’t going to figure it out, though.

Rubbing her tired eyes, she opened the book before her. It was clearly the oldest of those she’d selected, and she didn’t recognize the language at all, but the plentiful illustrations might give her some insight. She became so engrossed in the manuscript that when the library’s door swung open quietly, Amy didn’t notice at first. Only when she felt as if she was being watched did she look up.

Straight into Tahvo’s molten brown eyes.

That one glance told her everything she needed to know. He knew. He knew everything she’d done with Shon—or at least that she’d done something with Shon. Yet he still stared at her as if she was the last slice of cake on his dessert tray.

Her stomach knotted with guilt, and she opened her mouth before snapping it closed once again. She was being ridiculous. She hadn’t done anything wrong, but she felt as if she owed him an apology. Almost as if she’d cheated on him.

Thankfully, he spared her the indignity of having to find words by offering some of his own.

“I didn’t expect to find you in here.” He took a step toward the ridiculously huge, ornately carved teak table where she sat surrounded by stacks of books.

Amy sighed and cast her eyes down at the book in front of her. “I’m trying to find anything that might help diagnose Nabila.”

“And how’s it going?”

“Not great. But if any library in the world holds the answer, I have no doubt this will be the one.”

Tahvo’s smile brought goosebumps to her skin. “Thank you. Most of the books have been handed down over the generations, but the medical section was a special project of mine.”

“You’ve done a wonderful job.” Amy smiled up at him, struck again by the heat and intensity of his gaze.

He dropped into a seat beside her and pulled one of the books close. “This is difficult reading.”

She chuckled. “I’m grateful for the illustrations, to be honest. I’ve been in here for hours and I’m still having trouble deciphering some of the more technical works.”

“Hours?” Tahvo raised his eyebrows and then glanced at the big clock on the wall that read three.

In answer, her stomach grumbled, and heat raced to her cheeks. “Unfortunately.”

Tahvo laughed and her heart skipped a beat or ten. “Sounds like it’s time for a break.”

As hungry as she was, she pulled the book back and shook her head. “No, I need to keep at it.”

“You’ve done a lot of studying today,” he said, pulling the book toward him again and flipping it closed. “Sometimes the greatest breakthroughs come after some rest and relaxation. Have lunch with me.”

Her stomach growled again, and she pursed her lips, considering her options. After her morning “relaxation” with Shon, she hated the idea of shirking her responsibilities yet again. But she was starving, and Nabila had been napping when Amy had last checked on her. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to take a short break.

“Okay.” Amy pushed her chair back to stand. “Lunch. And then I’m back to work.”

“Deal. Let’s go.”

Tahvo beamed and then opened the door to lead her back into the winding hallways of the palace. Rather than heading deeper into the cavernous halls, he stepped through one of the scalloped openings in the breezeway and led her into the sharp, desert air.

She nearly asked where he was taking her but then decided she wanted to be surprised. Everything about her trip to Adikar had been a surprise so far. Why stop now?

When she fell in step beside him, he reached for her hand as he led her down a long stone pathway toward a long, steeple-topped building. The rough skin of his fingers sent tiny jolts of electricity up her arm, and she couldn’t help wondering what they would feel like on her back, her tummy, her breasts, her…

Her sweet old granny would be shocked at the thoughts tumbling around Amy’s mind. Especially considering how she’d spent the morning with Shon, but he didn’t really seem to care. If questioned, she wouldn’t be able to explain her attraction to the brothers. It almost seemed as if each of them held part of her soul—two whole and equal pieces, neither greater than the other. And the more time she spent with them, the more she worried they each held pieces of her heart.

Before she could delve too deeply into her feelings, Tahvo opened the door to the building. Stepping inside, Amy was hit in the face with a very distinct, very pungent animal scent. The loud bawl of a camel standing in the first stall startled her.

“Oh!” she cried and then laughed at her own jumpiness. “Is this the camel stable?”

“It is,” Tahvo said, casting a proud gaze around the building. “And this bad boy will be our transportation to our luncheon.”

Amy frowned at the funny looking beast staring down at her with bulging brown eyes. It batted impossibly long eyelashes at her, instantly charming her. Still…

“I’ve never ridden a camel before. Can’t we just take a Jeep?”

“Nope. You’ll be fine. I promise.”

Tahvo opened the stall and two servants came running to help him fit the camel with an extra-long saddle. The camel was of the one-hump variety—dromedary, Amy recalled from her grade school obsession with the species—and was so tall her neck hurt looking up at it.

When Tahvo clucked at the animal and said a few words she couldn’t understand, it kneeled down to allow its master to gracefully climb onto its back. Then Tahvo held out his hand for her to join him. Taking a shaky breath, she closed her eyes and reached up. Before she knew what had happened, she was in the saddle with Tahvo snuggled up behind her.

If holding his hand had been electric, feeling his body against hers threatened to short-circuit her system. Every part of her was in hyper-drive as he wrapped his arms around her waist and anchored her. Grabbing the reins, he led them out of the stable and onto the dunes where swirls of fine red dust blowing in the breeze contrasted sharply against the clear blue sky.

“I want you to know that I appreciate how hard you’re working for my sister.”

His deep voice was so close to her ear the sound thrummed through her like a vibration. She swallowed hard, determined to maintain her composure, if not her dignity.

“It’s my job. And my pleasure.”

“Why did you decide to be a doctor? It’s not an easy profession, especially with all the traveling you do.”

Amy considered this for a moment and decided to tell him the whole, unvarnished truth. Anything else wouldn’t be fair to him. Besides, she wanted to share part of herself with him.

“I grew up in a very poor, very rural area. Not very many people, not very many jobs. We grew up eating what we could kill, for the most part. The nearest doctor was two hours away, and you didn’t go see her unless your arm was hanging at a funny angle or worse.”

“Why?”

Amy chuckled wryly. “Money, of course. Most people couldn’t afford to see doctors on a regular basis.”

She paused and allowed her gaze to sweep across the endless dunes stretching out in front of them. They looked endless, but Amy knew from painful experience that everything ended.

“I was sixteen when my parents got the flu. Not a big deal in most places, but when you’re running low on heating oil in the dead of winter, you can’t afford to not work. And when you work too hard when ill, the flu can turn into pneumonia, and from there…”

Tahvo’s arms tightened around her, which gave her more comfort than she was ready to admit. Blinking back the tears that always threatened when she thought of her parents, she shook away the memories and continued.

“I was on my own after that, and I vowed to spend my life doing everything I could to help others in the same situation. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to get scholarships, grants and a couple of loans that put me through college and medical school. I immediately started PCA and the rest is history, I suppose.”

Tahvo didn’t speak for a moment and then murmured, “I’m so sorry about your family, Amy.”

Amy relaxed into his half-embrace and rested her head on his shoulder. “Thank you.”

Cresting the dune they’d been climbing gave them a view that forced Amy to blink and rub her eyes to make sure she wasn’t hallucinating. There, in the middle of the vast, lifeless desert, stood a beautiful oasis. Sun glinted off the deep blue water of a small pond, the sight snatching the breath from her lungs.

Nestled under the shade of a swarm of palm trees stood a red and gold tent, its gauzy fabric billowing gently in the soft breeze. As they drew closer, Amy made out a mass of plush pillows on the floor of the tent surrounding a table piled high with food. The scent of roasted lamb hit her nose and her stomach rumbled in reply.

Tahvo chuckled behind her. “Sounds like we made it in the nick of time.”

“I’m about to gnaw my own arm off, but my tummy would still growl over all these delicious foods. I can’t believe you did all of this!”

“I’m glad you like it,” he said, pulling her tighter into him as the camel slowed to a stop. “I sent some servants to set it all up. I hope you’re hungry.”

She knew he wasn’t talking about her empty stomach, and not just because she could feel him hardening against the seam of her ass. It took all her will not to grind against him so she could get a better feel for what he had to offer. Besides, he was Shon’s twin. She knew exactly what he had.

The memory of her antics with Tahvo’s brother chilled some—but not all—of the heat warming her most secret bits and pieces, and replaced it instead with guilt. What kind of woman hooks up with one brother in the morning and then wants a repeat performance with the other in the afternoon?

When the camel stopped in front of the tent and knelt down, Amy held on to the strange saddle for dear life, but Tahvo leapt off as if he did it every day. Probably did. He turned and offered his hand, his deep brown eyes penetrating her all the way to her very soul as another rush of desire spun up her spine. She closed her eyes to hide her passion and shame, and Tahvo took the opportunity to lift her off the beast’s back.

She wanted his hands on more than just her waist. The imprints his palms left on her flesh burned brightly, erasing any sign of hunger and leaving behind only need for him. His fingers skimmed her arm until they entwined with her own fingers, and then he pulled her along.

Amy wanted to attribute her wobbly legs to the heat, her hunger, or the camel ride, but she knew the truth. Tahvo’s powerful presence overwhelmed her. Sinking onto the pillows scattered about, Amy was silently grateful. Two more steps with him touching her like that might have buckled her knees outright.

As Tahvo sliced the lamb and loaded her plate with rich delicacies, Amy glanced around, searching for the servants who seemed to follow the royal family around wherever they went. She couldn’t see any, but they had to be somewhere nearby…watching.

“I sent the servants back to the palace,” he said without looking up from his task.

Good thing he didn’t, because the simple fact he knew she’d been looking for witnesses was even more mortifying than her secret thoughts. Her cheeks flamed, sending the conflagration down her chest until she was certain she was as bright red as the pillow she was sitting on.

“And here’s some wine to wash it all down,” Tahvo said quietly, his voice calming her nerves.

She quickly chugged half the glass before daring to meet his eyes. He was leaning sideways on a stack of cushions, smiling at her as he sipped his own wine.

“You’d better eat something,” he said. “You need to keep your energy up.”

For what? Amy thought as she tucked into her meal. But all reasonable thought processes stopped at the first taste of the savory lamb. The flat breads, the hummus, the olives, the dates…it all tasted so good she couldn’t stop herself from devouring it all. Most women wouldn’t be so gluttonous on a first date—

First date?

Looking around the elegant tent, at the food laid out before her, at Tahvo watching her every move with great interest… Amy realized that’s exactly what this was. A date. An hour earlier, the thought would have sent her into a panic, but the combination of the afternoon heat, the heavy meal, and the heady wine had lowered her inhibitions.

“You were right,” she said through a mouthful of tabbouleh. “I needed to get out of the palace and clear my head.”

“I’m glad you agree. Any brilliant new ideas yet?”

Amy laughed, set down her plate and leaned back against her cushions. “No, other than I probably shouldn’t have eaten so much.”

“I know just the thing to help with that,” Tahvo said, standing to his full height. “A swim will burn off some of the food and cool you down.”

Amy frowned. “I don’t have swimsuit.”

“Neither do I,” Tahvo said with a wink and then held his hand out to help her up.

Amy stared at it for a long moment, imagining their naked bodies splashing around in the crystal-clear water. In less than a heartbeat, he took her in his arms, the water sluicing between them until no space remained. She smelled his unique musk as her tongue darted along his sinewy neck. She heard her cries of ecstasy and his moans of pleasure as he rocked into her until they both came together in one magnificent flash of pure joy.

Breathing so hard she was almost panting, Amy met his gaze and reached for him.