Read Online One Hot Desert Night by Kristi Gold - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kristi Gold
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Just not too much fun.”
With that, she disappeared, leaving Sunny alone to prepare for the trip with Rayad. She returned to the bag, opened it again and added a few travel-size toiletries, like they might somehow get stranded on a desert island, or perhaps in the desert. A ridiculous assumption, but he did mention swimming, so maybe it wasn’t so far-fetched. She’d also learned the hard way that one never knew what the future might hold. And that unknown factor drew her in like a moth to a porch light. So did the prospect of spending the day getting to know Rayad even better.
The thought of an adventure exhilarated her. Thrilled her. If luck prevailed, she would have an experience she wouldn’t soon forget, with a man she quite possibly would never forget.
Five
“W ould you be so kind as to tell me where you are taking my sister-in-law?”
Leaning against the passenger door of the customized black Mercedes SUV, Rayad maintained his calm in light of Adan’s heated tone. “Would you be so kind as to inform me why this is your concern?”
“She is my wife’s sister, and she deserves to be treated with respect.”
Rayad’s own anger began to build, yet he refused to reveal it. “You may rest assured she will receive the utmost respect.”
Adan pointed at him. “If you so much as make one inappropriate advance, you will have to deal with me.”
As it had been when they were in their formidable years, he took great pleasure in tormenting his younger cousin. “Then I am to assume that I may make an
appropriate
advance?”
Adan’s features turned fierce. “You bloody know what I mean, Rayad. No advances whatsoever. She is very fragile.”
He would not describe Sunny as fragile. Wounded, yes. Fragile, never. “If it puts your mind at ease, Rafiq warned me to take care with her from the moment she arrived.”
“My brother is a wise man,” Adan said. “And if you find having both of us taking up verbal arms against you disconcerting, I promise you do not wish to deal with my wife.”
That instilled more fear in Rayad than Bajul’s entire armed forces setting their sights on him. “Again, you need not worry. We will only be gone for the day.”
“I hope I didn’t overpack.”
Rayad turned his attention to Sunny standing behind Adan, a large olive-green bag clutched in her arms.
Adan shot him a suspicious glance and said, “I believe you stated you are going on a day trip.”
“We are,” Sunny said, a slight flush coloring her cheeks. “I’m one to prepare for any scenario, like a car breaking down. Earthquake. Monsoon. That sort of thing.”
“You cannot be too prepared.” Rayad opened the door and held out his hand to assist her. “Let us be on our way.”
Adan glared at him. “I expect you to have her back here before dark.”
After he helped Sunny into the Mercedes, he closed the door and regarded his cousin again. “I have long since passed the time when I needed fatherly warnings, Adan. We will return when I see fit to return.”
Without awaiting a response, Rayad rounded the vehicle, climbed into the driver’s seat and turned the ignition. He sped away, glancing in the rearview mirror to find Adan still standing under the palace portico, appearing as if he would like to chase after them in his bathrobe.
“Nice ride,” Sunny said as she ran a slender hand over the console dividing their seats.
The gesture, no matter how innocent, caused Rayad to shift slightly against the tightening in his groin. “It is adequate.”
“I’d say the satellite radio, leather seats and moonroof qualify it as more than adequate. Company car?”
“Personal vehicle.”
“I should be so lucky,” she said. “My personal vehicle is a subcompact, but then I don’t really drive that much.”
He would gladly escort her anywhere she dared to go, particularly in a carnal sense. Yet he had to move slowly and accept that any intimacy between them might not come to pass.
Settling into silence,
With that, she disappeared, leaving Sunny alone to prepare for the trip with Rayad. She returned to the bag, opened it again and added a few travel-size toiletries, like they might somehow get stranded on a desert island, or perhaps in the desert. A ridiculous assumption, but he did mention swimming, so maybe it wasn’t so far-fetched. She’d also learned the hard way that one never knew what the future might hold. And that unknown factor drew her in like a moth to a porch light. So did the prospect of spending the day getting to know Rayad even better.
The thought of an adventure exhilarated her. Thrilled her. If luck prevailed, she would have an experience she wouldn’t soon forget, with a man she quite possibly would never forget.
Five
“W ould you be so kind as to tell me where you are taking my sister-in-law?”
Leaning against the passenger door of the customized black Mercedes SUV, Rayad maintained his calm in light of Adan’s heated tone. “Would you be so kind as to inform me why this is your concern?”
“She is my wife’s sister, and she deserves to be treated with respect.”
Rayad’s own anger began to build, yet he refused to reveal it. “You may rest assured she will receive the utmost respect.”
Adan pointed at him. “If you so much as make one inappropriate advance, you will have to deal with me.”
As it had been when they were in their formidable years, he took great pleasure in tormenting his younger cousin. “Then I am to assume that I may make an
appropriate
advance?”
Adan’s features turned fierce. “You bloody know what I mean, Rayad. No advances whatsoever. She is very fragile.”
He would not describe Sunny as fragile. Wounded, yes. Fragile, never. “If it puts your mind at ease, Rafiq warned me to take care with her from the moment she arrived.”
“My brother is a wise man,” Adan said. “And if you find having both of us taking up verbal arms against you disconcerting, I promise you do not wish to deal with my wife.”
That instilled more fear in Rayad than Bajul’s entire armed forces setting their sights on him. “Again, you need not worry. We will only be gone for the day.”
“I hope I didn’t overpack.”
Rayad turned his attention to Sunny standing behind Adan, a large olive-green bag clutched in her arms.
Adan shot him a suspicious glance and said, “I believe you stated you are going on a day trip.”
“We are,” Sunny said, a slight flush coloring her cheeks. “I’m one to prepare for any scenario, like a car breaking down. Earthquake. Monsoon. That sort of thing.”
“You cannot be too prepared.” Rayad opened the door and held out his hand to assist her. “Let us be on our way.”
Adan glared at him. “I expect you to have her back here before dark.”
After he helped Sunny into the Mercedes, he closed the door and regarded his cousin again. “I have long since passed the time when I needed fatherly warnings, Adan. We will return when I see fit to return.”
Without awaiting a response, Rayad rounded the vehicle, climbed into the driver’s seat and turned the ignition. He sped away, glancing in the rearview mirror to find Adan still standing under the palace portico, appearing as if he would like to chase after them in his bathrobe.
“Nice ride,” Sunny said as she ran a slender hand over the console dividing their seats.
The gesture, no matter how innocent, caused Rayad to shift slightly against the tightening in his groin. “It is adequate.”
“I’d say the satellite radio, leather seats and moonroof qualify it as more than adequate. Company car?”
“Personal vehicle.”
“I should be so lucky,” she said. “My personal vehicle is a subcompact, but then I don’t really drive that much.”
He would gladly escort her anywhere she dared to go, particularly in a carnal sense. Yet he had to move slowly and accept that any intimacy between them might not come to pass.
Settling into silence,
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