Page 31 of Under the Arabian Sky

“I’ve got this.”

“Just keep in mind, she’s going to go down on her front knees first. So, lean back.”

“Way back?”

“Yes…wayback. And steady… and steady… and—”

This time, as Habibi knelt, there was nothing to stop the jolt forward from slamming me face-first into the back of Habibi’s neck…

Nothing but Tariq, who quickly swooped in and caught me before I almost knocked myself unconscious.

His arms were swift and strong, wrapping themselves around me and sliding me off the back of Habibi in one confident move. “That’s it, you did it. You’re safe.”

My feet found themselves…

And I found myself standing there, held tight in the arms of the handsome falcon vet.

We were close… so close that for a moment neither of us moved.

We simply stared into one another’s eyes until I murmured— “Thank you.”

He didn’t let me go for another moment or so, nor did I try to pull myself free, as he murmured in return— “My pleasure.”

Slowly he let go of me and stepped back.

Reluctantly I allowed him to let me go.

I stood back too.

That’s when I realised that when it came to arousal, kanduras left little to the imagination.

“Oh shit,” I gasped, mortified as I glanced down and noticed my erection. “I’m so… I’m sorry.”

I tried to cover myself with my hands, only to see that Tariq too had a distinct bulge beneath his own garment. He smiled. “Is there really any need for apologies?”

I didn’t quite know how to respond. “I’m… I’m not sure.”

He chuckled. “You look like you need some hydrating. Come, I have a canteen in my bag. Then you can help me fetch some water for the camels.”

Striding across the courtyard— ever-so-casually slicing through the sexual tension in the abandoned fort— Tariq unzipped his bag and pulled out a flask made from animal hide. He unscrewed the cap and handed it to me.

I was thirstier than I realised and after the first gulp I began to guzzle.

“Slowly… slowly…” Tariq told me, wrapping his hand around mine to ease the flask from my lips. “Take small sips. A little at a time. In this heat, if you drink too fast it will only make you sick. Savour the water. Appreciate every last drop.”

Again, I did exactly what Tariq instructed me to do, taking tiny sips of the precious liquid and, as a result, I did appreciate every last drop.

Once I was done, I handed him the flask.

He placed his lips where mine had been and began taking sips of his own.

When he was done he replaced the cap, placed the flask back into his bag, then made his way over to the well. “Help me with this, would you? It’s heavy.”

There was a large iron plate covering the well. Tariq took one side of it, and I took the other and strenuously we slid the plate away to reveal a deep pit. On the ground beside us sat two buckets with ropes tied to the handles. Tariq picked one up and dropped it into the well.

The camels heard a splash that made their ears prick up.

“How long has that water been down there? Is it safe for the camels to drink?”

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