But when she finally heard his voice asking, “Where the hell are you going?” his stern undertone was daunting enough to make her halt with apprehension.
She hugged the tablet to her chest like a shield and turned to face him. They were still under the palms at the top of the spring so the filtered light left only a few glinting strips on his face, not enough to read his expression, but she received his message of disapproval loud and clear.
He didn’t think she was looking for one of the guards, did he? They were so elusive, she wouldn’t know where to find one if she needed one.
“The plateau,” she replied, managing a conversational tone. “We couldn’t see much of the sky from the camp. I wanted to see if it’s worth asking to bring the children up tomorrow night for a proper stargaze.”
“You’re not allowed to leave the camp without an escort.”
That took her aback. “I’m not supposed to take the children out of the camp. No one said I can’t go for a walk by myself.”
“I’m telling you that you can’t. You could fall or get a bite, especially in the dark.”
“Are you serious?”
“Completely.”
She had read all the stories about stupid tourists getting themselves into sticky situations and didn’t fancy becoming one, but his order seemed silly. She huffed, feeling like she was being treated like a child. “Fine. Will you take me?”
A loaded silence was his response.
“I meant—”
“I know what you meant,” he growled impatiently.
What did one say to that? She hugged the tablet so tightly her fingers hurt where the edges dug in.
When he moved toward her, she pivoted to the side of the trail, making room for him to take the lead.
He stopped in front of her, hands coming to her upper arms the way they had this afternoon. His touch was light, but his voice heavy. “Come off the path with me.”
“Zafir,” she whispered hoarsely, but a pulse of desire expanded in her so hard her entire body hurt. She reminded herself there was no future with him, but the warning carried zero weight against her inner yearning. Even if all she had was his kisses and caresses, it was more than she’d ever imagined for herself.
She wasn’t completely senseless, though. She understood one dire consequence she’d be courting if she went with him.
“I don’t have anything. I’m not on the pill.” The white of his thobe filled her blurred vision and the scent of him, dusty and spicy and heady, fogged her senses into a state of capitulation. Was she making assumptions saying that? Looking like a fool? At this point it didn’t matter. She’d already bared herself about as much as anyone could, but he needed to know how completely unprepared she was for anything like this.
“I won’t make love to you like that,” he assured in a voice that gently stripped her of her flimsy defenses, like sensually pulling away silky veils. “Your virginity is for the man you marry. I just want to hold you. Kiss you and touch you like I did this afternoon. You liked it, yes? It was good?”
He sounded like he really wanted to know. Like he couldn’t tell? She’d shattered under his touch!