He could kiss her, but kisses made things worse—but he couldn’t not kiss her…
Ghazi groaned and held her more tightly, pressing the softness of her body against his, fitting the two halves that were man and woman together to make a whole, aware she must know just how much he wanted her.
‘It’s like a madness, my desire for you,’ he whispered, before his lips closed on hers, seeking to devour her, to draw her body into his, to make her his for ever.
For ever?
The words echoed in his head.
Surely he didn’t mean it.
Yes, he desired her, and would marry her if only to assuage that desire, but such desire—lust even—did not last for ever. He knew that from experience. Marriage, then a suitable arrangement to end it and no one any the worse off. Marni, in fact, would be better off, although he was aware her grandfather must be a wealthy man. But her settlement would certainly include a house and enough money to live on without having to work—she’d take whatever jewels he gave her during the marriage, it would all be worked out by his advisors and—
She was pulling away from him, peering up at his face as if to read it in the shadows.
‘You’re not with me in this kiss, are you?’ she asked. ‘I think it best you take me back to Tasnim’s.’
He didn’t argue, couldn’t, yet as he walked with her, back the way they’d come, he felt a sense of loss—not for the kiss, there’d be other kisses, but because of the conclusions he had reached.
Although they had to be the correct ones, the best for both of them, surely…
Tasnim had been in bed when Marni had returned the previous evening, but Shara had been waiting up for her and Marni had asked the young woman to wake her for breakfast in time for her to get to the hospital to do her shift.
She didn’t know what Gaz might have arranged at the hospital, but she was due on duty and she’d decided that was where she most wanted to be. At least there she could concentrate on work and forget all the mind-boggling stuff going on in the rest of her life here in Ablezia, as well as her worries over Pop’s imminent operation.
So, early next morning, reminding Shara to explain to Tasnim, Marni went out to the car Shara had arranged for her, feeling like her real self in her uniform and hospital shoes.
Cinderella back in the kitchen after the ball!
Jawa was surprised to see her, yet pleased.
‘As far as we know, there’s been no change in our work schedules so if you hadn’t turned up we’d have been a nurse short. We’re in Theatre Three with the Frenchman for the morning, then with a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon this afternoon.
‘Good. We should be busy,’ Marni said, knowing she needed something—anything—to distract herself from thoughts of Pop.
And Gaz!
And marriage, whatever that might have meant…
Not to mention memories of the last time she’d told a man she was a virgin…
Work went well, and Marni enjoyed the sense of teamwork that was typical of operating theatres—the moments of drama, the excitement when a tricky bit of cutting or stitching was successful, the quiet pleasure when a job was done.
As they finished their shift, she and Jawa left the changing rooms together.
‘Coffee?’ Jawa asked, but Marni shook her head.
‘I want to sit with Safi for a while. I’ve been neglecting him lately.’
It was mostly true, but when she’d checked her phone for messages earlier she’d found a text from Nelson telling her Pop’s operation was going ahead that day.
Working out the time difference, she knew he’d be in Theatre right now, and although she knew worrying about it was pointless she couldn’t help feeling anxious, tense and sick-to-her-stomach nervous. Neither did she want to return to her current abode and have to explain her concerns or distraction to the ever-bubbly Tasnim.
‘So I’m really hiding here,’ she said to Safi when she entered his room and settled by his bed, taking his hand in hers. She knew he didn’t understand her but the slight pressure of his thin fingers told her he was glad she was there.
She sang the songs she knew he liked and watched him drift off to sleep, before picking up his chart and checking what had been going on with him.
As far as she could see, he was doing well.
Pop would be, too! If she couldn’t be there, the least she could do was send positive thoughts in his direction.
You will get through it! You will be well!
‘I thought I’d find you here. Tasnim phoned to say you’d sent the driver home and would take a taxi later. Drivers will always wait, you know.’
Marni smiled up at the man who’d entered the room so silently he’d been standing beside her before she realised it.